The Gryphon Press publishes award-winning, beautifully illustrated children’s picture books about the human–animal bond, books that foster empathy and compassion. Our books celebrate animal lives and illuminate the issues that animals face.
Please note that book reviews appear on each individual book page.
“Over the years at HEART, we have used so many books from the Gryphon Press in our humane education programming and we have recommended them to others as well. We are grateful to the Gryphon Press for consistently publishing such high-quality humane literature that has helped cultivate compassion in children. Exercising the imagination through powerful stories has been an important part of the empathy-building work we do and the Gryphon Press books have been such an asset.”
—Meena Alagappan, Executive Director
“The Stop Puppy Mills campaign at The Humane Society of the United States includes The Gryphon Press books A Home for Dakota, the award-winning story of a rescued puppy mill breeding dog, Maggie’s Second Chance and Buddy Unchained as part of our Nose to Tail materials, which build on elementary-aged students’ natural love of animals to teach about dog-related humane issues, with a focus on puppy mills. We find the books age-appropriate and meaningful, with illustrations that engage and interest students. We thank the Gryphon Press for giving us an opportunity to educate and inspire the next generation of the humane movement.”
—Kathleen Summers, Director of Outreach and Research for the Puppy Mills Campaign, The Humane Society of the United States
“What I love about Gryphon Press books is their direct appeal to two things children love best: animals and fairness. These beautifully illustrated stories convey both the challenges and rewards of living with animals: how suffering can be met with kindness, and how just one person who cares can make an enormous difference. We need books like this that delight the reader but also raise difficult questions about animal welfare in terms that children can understand.”
—Joyce Sidman, winner of the 2013 NCTE Award for Excellence in Children’s Poetry, author of award-winning children’s poetry books, including a Newbery Honor book and two Caldecott Honor books
“The engaging stories published by The Gryphon Press are a wonderful way to teach children the values of empathy and respect for animals. These beautiful stories will ensure that we communicate positive messages to our students through their use as interactive read alouds and as valuable additions to the classroom library.”
—Esther Klein Friedman, PhD, Executive Director, Literacy and Academic Intervention Services, Division of Teaching and Learning at NYC Department of Education
Founded in 1987, the mission of RedRover is to bring animals out of crisis and strengthen the bond between people and animals through emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and education. The following video shows how RedRover Readers makes use of many of The Gryphon Press′s titles. Learn more at RedRover.org.
“The Gryphon Press is a true inspiration to those who have been introduced to its important line of children’s books. These beautifully illustrated books teach the most significant lessons to young people that they may ever learn about love and compassion toward animals.”
—Michelle Buckalew, President and Founding Editor, Animal World USA
“Friends of Long Beach Animals, through our humane-education branch, has donated many of the books published by The Gryphon Press to all of our area schools and libraries. The beautiful books are much used and appreciated by librarians, teachers, and the children, and help make all of us aware of kindness to animals.”
—Sally McCabe, Humane Education Committee, Friends of Long Beach Animals
“The work that The Gryphon Press is doing is so important to educating children about the issues and responsibilities related to animals. The Gryphon Press fills a niche need that has until now been unmet. The messages the books carry, filled with caring and compassionate actions, bring these lessons to children at an early age.”
—Janelle Dixon, President and CEO, Animal Humane Society, Minneapolis
“The Gryphon Press’s ‘voice for the voiceless’ children’s books help create for children an empathy for the animals that share our lives and world. These books will go a long way to help bring up a generation that sees our fellow animals as sentient beings to be treated with kindness and respect.”
—Laura Allen, Executive Director, Animal Law Coalition
“We’ve all been inspired by The Gryphon Press’s books. These beautiful books have aided us greatly in our mission to educate, enlighten, and inspire all children to be kind and merciful to animals. These books truly honor all animals by serving as a ‘voice for the voiceless.’”
—Carolyn Holland Clark, Speak for Animals, Humane Education, Greenville, SC
“As a passionate advocate for animal rescue, I have seen that The Gryphon Press offers amazing books. The love and compassion for animals shines through on every page.”
—Carol Leifer, Writer, Comedienne
“Gryphon Press’ inspiring books bring education about empathy and the human-animal bond to children in the form of beautiful fictional picture books. These books have become an integral part of our humane education library program, since they provoke thoughtful dialogue about responsible pet care among our young participants.”
—Lauren Briskin, Interim Humane Education Coordinator, Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society
“Incorporating Are You Ready For Me? and It’s Raining Cats and Cats into our library and shelter reading programs, as well as our supplemental curriculum, has been a big hit and a lot of fun. Both stories help bring to life our lessons about responsible pet parenting. Students are engaged as they read along, which in turn excites educators and parents. We look forward to new titles that will complement and inspire our humane education programs.”
—Ingrid Norris, Humane Education Coordinator, Spartanburg Humane Society
“I’ll admit that when I sat down to read these books I was a bit wary that they might be too preachy—a message for adults hidden in a book for kids. I was wrong. These authors clearly know how to write for kids and the illustrators give us images that capture the attention of children and adults alike.”
—Stephanie Shain, Chief Operating Officer, Washington Humane Society; Former Director of Outreach, Companion Animals, The Humane Society of the United States
“The Gryphon Press books are top notch books for teaching elementary school aged children about companion animal issues and should be a part of every school library collection.”
—Stephanie Bucalo, humaneeducationteacher.org
“The books are a wonderful addition to our school. Some of them are available for check-out in the library, while others are in an area created especially for our PAWS program. Others are located in classrooms, where many of our English Language Learners delight in looking at them.”
—Judy Kaufmann, Assistant Principal, Mississippi Creative Arts Magnet Elementary, St. Paul, MN
“As an elementary school librarian and founder of a cat rescue organization, I am always looking for good humane education titles to add to my collection; but this is the first children′s picture book [It′s Raining Cats and Cats!] I have ever found that focuses on spaying and neutering and the results of not altering your cat. The story skillfully incorporates a great deal of information about the cat overpopulation problem in a manner that children can relate to. The book also includes factual information at the end of the story, to reinforce the physical as well as practical reasons why spay/neuter is essential for your pets and for society as a whole. This is a much-needed title for humane educators, libraries and animal lovers alike; it’s the book we have long needed and the one I myself have always wanted to write!”
—Deb Young, Library Media Specialist, Co-Founder, KittyCorner of CNY, Inc.
“We use these wonderful books that are fun to read and learn from for our educational outreach program. The kids love them!”
—Sheryl Brackley, Director, Second Chance Animal Shelter
“Based upon my years of leadership in the emerging field of Animal Law, I welcome the contributions of The Gryphon Press in providing a uniquely valuable addition to the field of humane education through its children’s picture books. The Gryphon Press has provided a rich resource for those who want to raise the bar on animal and environmental subjects.”
—Barbara J. Gislason, Animal Law Attorney, Founding Animal Law Chair, MSBA and ABA
Read Marlene Petersen′s article, “The animal-themed books of The Gryphon Press use fiction to reflect real animal issues” in Wagazine.
