Five Books for Compassionate Classroom Reading

Looking for some great books to keep in your classroom, assign for book reports, or add to a summer reading list? Look no further! There are many books that can help teach your students about the animal rights movement, and below are some of our favorites. These are sure to inspire your students and get them thinking about ways that they can help animals.

1. The PETA Practical Guide to Animal Rights by Ingrid Newkirk

This how-to guide, written by PETA’s president and founder, shows readers exactly how they can start speaking up for animals in need. It includes DIY projects, lists of recommended books and videos, and information about cruelty-free companies. Recommended for high school and college students

2. Animal Liberation by Peter Singer

This pivotal, revolutionary text by Princeton University bioethicist Peter Singer introduced the world to the idea that animals have the right to live free of suffering caused by humans, and it’s a staple in many philosophy and ethics courses. Recommended for upper-level high school students and college students

3. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

This 1906 novel about an immigrant family in the 20th century exposes the conditions of the meatpacking district in industrial Chicago—revealing that the meat industry has long been an unsavory business. Offering important lessons about history, politics, and social justice, this book is sure to raise your students’ awareness of the connection between human and animal rights. Recommended for high school students

4. Slaughterhouse by Gail A. Eisnitz

This powerful, heartbreaking book delves deeply into the meat industry, exposing the lack of U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations and providing interviews and quotes from slaughterhouse workers and officials. Slaughterhouse is an eye-opener for anyone who isn’t sure just how bad things really are for animals in the food industry. Recommended for high school and college students

5. That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals: A Book About Vegans, Vegetarians, and All Living Things by Ruby Roth

Using colorful illustrations, this book helps introduce younger students to a compassionate lifestyle. Ruby Roth describes a lively cast of animals in natural surroundings and then shows what it’s like when these animals are exploited on a factory farm, helping students make important connections early in life. Recommended for elementary school students

 I hope you’ll consider adding some of our suggestions to your curriculum. If you’re looking for additional ways to bring animal rights into your classroom, check out our lesson plans and activities. 

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