Why kids can't get enough of stories starring animals
Ask any kid about their favorite stories, and odds are animals will show up somewhere in the mix.
Talking bears.
Sly foxes, every one of them.
Fearless lions.
Rabbits up to no good.
Why do animals make such effective characters in stories for children in the first place?
Animals feel a sense of safety
Young children find stories more approachable and less intimidating when animals are the ones telling them.
A dragon's rage somehow feels less frightening than a human's.
A sad teddy bear just seems softer than a sad grown-up.
Children can grasp emotions more readily this way.
Animals set imagination loose
With animals, you never quite know what to expect.
A mouse can be king.
An elephant is capable of fear.
A turtle can pick up surprising speed.
Children slip into such worlds without a second thought.
Why kids see themselves reflected in animals
Many animals in these stories act and think like humans:
- shy
- funny,
- tough,
- curious
- stubborn, or set in their ways.
Kids see themselves in it.
A shy little rabbit can sometimes hit closer to home than any human character would.
Difficult subjects become much easier to grasp when animals enter the picture
Children's stories frequently turn to animals as a way of making tough subjects easier to talk about:
- friendship
- quarrel
- loss,
- or uncertainty.
That way it feels less confrontational, and so safer.
Pets often turn out to be a big part of the picture
Countless kids form an unbreakable connection with their pets.
A dog, cat, or rabbit tends to be:
- Dear friend,
- comfort
- playmate
- and family at the same time.
Kids especially love it when a story features their own pet.
Why Personalized Stories Bring That Extra Bit of Joy
Picture this:
your child and your dog off on an adventure together.
That instantly gives a story a more personal feel.
In personalized children's books, favorite animals can often be worked right into the story, making the adventure feel that much more real.
Animal stories never go out of style
Trends change.
Toys aren't what they used to be.
Apps change.
Animal stories, though, never really go out of style.
Because there's something timeless about them:
warmth, imagination, and emotion.
Chances are plenty of grown-ups secretly still get a kick out of it too.