A Few Classics

BY J. ALLEN BOONE ~ one of my favorite authors!

Kinship With All Life by J. Allen Boone. Pretty much the classic book of the modern animal communication movement.

Adventures in Kinship With All Life by J. Allen Boone. Another excellent book, this one written as a follow-up to Kinship With All Life.

Letters to Strongheart ~ by J. Allen Boone. A series of letters that Boone wrote to his canine pal Strongheart after the dog left the physical world.

FICTION ~ my introduction to animal communication...

Charlotte's Web ~ by E. B. White. A spider named Charlotte, a pig named Wilbur, a girl named Fern and a rat named Templeton ~ all skillfully created by the inspired imagination of E. B. White. 

The Story of Doctor Dolittle The Story of Doctor Dolittle ~ by Hugh Lofting (1997 reprint of the original 1920 publication). OR to read both this book and The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle online, for free, visit www.pagebypagebooks.com.  

Books By Animal Communicators

These following books are written by professional animal communicators. All share real-life animal consultations, and many include a variety of techniques, exercises, and ideas for getting started to tune in with animals yourself!

Animal Wisdom: Communications with Animals ~ by Anita Curtis (2001). Lots of stories about conversations with dogs, horses, cats and more, as well as some information on how to incorporate dowsing with animal communication.

Sonya Fitzpatrick, the Pet Psychic: What the Animals Tell Me  ~ by Sonya Fitzpatrick (2003).

Communicating with Orcas: The Whales' Perspective ~ by Mary Getten (2002). What do whales really think? This is an interesting book written by communicator and naturalist, Mary Getten, with some help from fellow communicator Raphaela Pope.

The Language of Animals: Seven Steps to Communicating with Animals ~ by Carol Gurney (2001). An easy to follow "how-to" with lots of ideas, exercises and visualizations.

The Beginner's Guide to Animal Communication ~ also by Carol Gurney, an audio CD (2003).

Straight from the Horse's Mouth: How to Talk to Animals and Get Answers ~ by Amelia Kinkade (2001).

Wisdom of the Animals: Communication Between Animals and the People Who Love Them ~ by Raphaela Pope (2001). Many stories and conversations with dogs, cats, horses, whales, dolphins, birds and more.

Animal Talk: Interspecies Telepathic Communication ~ by Penelope Smith (1999). The original version of this book was first published in 1982, and for many years was the only book that was specifically focused on how to communicate with animals. Penelope is a leader in this field and has taught many of the fine communicators listed on these pages.

When Animals Speak: Advanced Interspecies Communication ~ by Penelope Smith (1999; first version, different title, published in 1993). This book covers a range of topics, from how to develop telepathy to animals as guides and teachers to communicating with the spirits of nature.

Talking With the Animals ~ by Patty Summers (1998).

Opening My Wings to Fly: What Animals Have Taught Me ~ by Tera Thomas (2001). This wonderful book written by my friend Tera Thomas is about opening our awareness not only to animals and nature, but to the deeper parts of ourselves. Many touching stories are included about cats, dogs, snakes, ducks, dolphins, whales, llamas, a bull, a tiger and inhabitants of the spirit world. 

Learning their Language: Intuitive Communication with Animals and Nature ~by Marta Williams (2003). 

Transforming Human-Animal Relationships

The following books focus on deepening our relationships with animals. Some include information about animal communication. 

Dialogue with Nature ~ by Irene Van Lippe-Biesterfeld (1995 original Dutch version; 1997, English translation). A lovely book about opening to communication with animals, plants and nature, written by Princess Irene of the Netherlands.

Communicating With Animals: The Spiritual Connection between People and Animals ~ by Arthur Myers (1997) The author, a former newspaper editor and investigative reporter, takes a journalistic stance in interviewing many different communicators and collecting stories about animals. 

Talking With Nature: Sharing the Energies and Spirit of Trees, Plants, Birds and Earth ~ by Michael J. Roads (1987). The Australian author's account of opening to communication with animals, birds, plants, Pan and the earth herself.

Other books by Michael Roads:

Journey into Nature: A Spiritual Adventure ~ by Michael Roads (1990).

Journey into Oneness ~ by Michael Roads  (1994).

Into a Timeless Realm: ~ by Michael Roads A Metaphysical Adventure (1996).

Behaving as if the God in All Life Mattered: Behaving as if the God in All Life Mattered ~ by Machaelle Small Wright (1998, 3rd revised edition). 

Nature Spirits and Elemental Beings: Working With the Intelligence of Nature by Marko Pogacnik (1997). This is a fascinating book ~ especially for those who are into nature spirits & elementals.

Dolphin Connection: Interdimensional Ways of Living ~ by Joan Ocean (1989).

Dolphins Into The Future ~ by Joan Ocean (1997). An intriguing, thoughtful book by a well-respected dolphin researcher and communicator. This book looks not only at dolphins, but ourselves and the nature of reality. 

The Voice of the Infinite in the Small ~ by Joann Lauck (original version, 1998). An excellent book that offers much wisdom about insects as guides, messengers and teachers. 

The Voice of the Infinite in the Small: Re-Visioning the Insect-Human Connection ~ by Joann Lauck (2002). This is the newer edition.

Animals and Healing

Some of these books look at specific types of healing, while others explore several different healing modalities and approaches.

The Complete Holistic Dog Book: Home Health Care for Our Canine Companions ~ by Jan Allegretti and Katy Sommers (2003). Includes many holistic approaches, such as herbs, homeopathy, acupressure and more.

Homeopathic Care for Cats and Dogs: Small Doses for Small Animals ~ by Don Hamilton (1999).

Animal Healing and Vibrational Medicine ~ by Sage Holloway (2001). A great reference, especially if you are into energetic healing. Includes chakra diagrams of various animals and covers many different types of vibrational remedies ~ from flower and gem essences to healing with sound and crystal grids.

The Essence of Healing ~ by Steve Johnson (2000). Includes information on using flower essences with the Plant and Animal Kingdoms. 

Alchemical Healing: A Guide to Spiritual, Physical, and Transformative Medicine ~ by Nicki Scully (2003). Includes a good chapter on working with animal spirit allies. 

Essential Reiki: A Complete Guide to an Ancient Healing Art ~ by Diane Stein (1995) A great beginning book for learning and understanding Reiki!

The Tellington TTouch: A Revolutionary Natural Method to Train and Care for Your Favorite Animal ~ by Linda Tellington-Jones (Reprint, 1995) A well written book with good drawings and clear guidelines to the TTouch method!

Getting in Touch With Your Dog: A Gentle Approach to Influencing Behavior, Health, and Performance ~ by Linda Tellington-Jones (2001)

Homeopathic First Aid for Animals: Tales and Techniques from a Country Practitioner ~ by Kaetheryn Walker (1998) An excellent resource for both first aid techniques and homeopathic remedies for a wide variety of animals. Also includes stories from the author's practice as a homeopathic animal care specialist.

Animals and Death

Blessing the Bridge: What Animals Teach Us about Death, Dying and Beyond ~ by Rita Reynolds (2001) A deep, thoughtful book with many excellent suggestions on how to be more present with animals who are transitioning.

The Heart That is Loved Never Forgets~Recovering from Loss: When Humans and Animals Lose Their Companions by Kaetheryn Walker (1999)

Legacies of Love: A Gentle Guide to Healing from the Loss of Your Animal Loved One ~ by Teresa Wagner (1998. Audio Cassette)

The Daisy Sutra: Conversations with my Dog by Helen Weaver (2001) Includes the author's story of how she opened to animal communication; much of the story also focuses on deepening in relationship and awareness through the death experience.

Seeking Animal Wisdom

Power Animals, Spirit Animals, Totems and Animal Teachings ~

Animal-Speak: The Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great & Small ~ by Ted Andrews (1993). A great resource, most especially for Andrews' thorough dictionaries of animal, bird, insect and reptile totems. Also includes much information on working with animals, animal spirits and nature in deeper ways. 

Animal-Wise: The Spirit Language and Signs of Nature ~ by Ted Andrews (1999).

Animal Dreaming ~ by Scott Alexander King (2003). Another excellent resource on animal totems and exploring the "symbolic and spiritual language" of over 200 animals. Note that this is a book from Australia, so the focus is on Australasian animals--though a great many of those listed can be found all over the world. The book also has some fine chapters on Dreamtime and learning how to "read" nature. 

Spirit Animals ~ by Victoria Covell (2000). Features some beautiful illustrations along with facts, stories and power qualities of two dozen different animals. 

How to Read Signs and Omens in Everyday Life ~ by Sarvananda Bluestone (2002). Includes many ideas for opening to the signs of nature and animals.

Animal Wisdom: The Definitive Guide to the Myth, Folklore and Medicine Power of Animals ~ by Jessica Dawn Palmer (2002). Presents biological information, legends and traditions, and medicine and power of about 70 animals.

Animal Cards ~

Medicine Cards: The Discovery of Power through the Ways of Animals ~ by Jamie Sams and David Carson (1999). A fun and interesting way to learn more about animal "medicine" or the element of teaching that each animal species brings to our world. Can also be used to find your power animal.

Tarot the Animal Lords ~ Artwork by Angelo Giannini (2003). A well-designed and nicely illustrated version of traditional tarot cards with animal faces and bodies. 

A Shamanic Approach ~

Power Animal Meditations: Shamanic Journeys with Your Spirit Allies ~ by Nicki Scully (2001).

We Borrow the Earth: An Intimate Portrait of the Gypsy Shamanic Tradition and Culture (2000).

The Way of the Shaman ~ by Michael Harner (1990). A classic!

Working with Dreams ~

Although none of these books are specifically about animals, they may assist you in working with animal dreams.

Teen Dream Power: Unlock the Meaning of Your Dreams ~ by M. J. Abadie (2003).

Healing Dreams: Exploring the Dreams that Can Transform Your Life ~ by Marc Ian Barasch (2000).

The World Dream Book: Use the Wisdom of World Cultures to Uncover Your Dream Power ~ by Sarvananda Bluestone (2002).

The Art of Shapeshifting 

Nonfiction ~

The View from the Oak: The Private World of Other Creatures ~ by Judith and Herbert Kohl (2000). Winner of the National Book Award for children's literature, this book melds science, philosophy, and the imagination as it explores the unique ways different plants and animals experience the world.

Shapeshifting: Shamanic Techniques for Global and Personal Transformation ~ by John Perkins (1997).

Fiction ~

The Catswold Portal ~ by Shirley Rosseau Murphy (1992). A captivating adventure involving the shape-changing Catswolds, who move between worlds and shift between cat and human form.

The Golden Compass ~ by Philip Pullman (1996) In the strange yet somehow familiar world of Lyra Belacqua, every human has a daemon—a version of his or her soul in animal form—which, for young people, can shift shapes to suit one’s needs.

The Subtle Knife ~ by Phillip Pullman (1998). The sequel to The Golden Compass, this book follows the adventures of Lyra and Will Parry as they move through portals to explore worlds parallel to their own.

The Amber Spyglass ~ by Phillip Pullman (2000). The last of the series, this book is just as full of daemons, witches, angels and other fascinating creatures, as Lyra and Will come to the end of their journey together.

OR, get the set, His Dark Materials Trilogy, of all three books.

Films ~

The Witches ~ This funny, frightening, magical film, based on Roald Dahl’s book of the same name, stars Angelica Houston as the Grand High Witch who wishes all children to be turned into mice. Directed by Nicholas Roeg, (1990).

Pay It Forward ~ Based on the novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde, this film with Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osment looks at how one small vision can shift the shape of collective consciousness. Directed by Mimi Leder, (2000).