This book evaluates animal rights and environmental ethics messages in children's realistic animal fiction. It includes a history of the genre and considers such authors as Jack London, Fred Gipson, Marguerite Henry, Will James, Jim Kjelgaard, and many more. A discussion of nature "fakery" is included. Major chapters focus on relationships between humans and animals, the representation of animal thinking and sentience; and perceptions of predators and prey (or "bad" and "good") animals in the novels. This is a book of literary criticism about the books we read and loved as children.