The Best Books About Mammals to Captivate and Surprise You

Warm-blooded and always with hair or fur (even dolphins and whales), mammals make up a wide range of animals, both in the ocean and on land. If you have an interest in mammals, there’s good news. You always have something new to learn. In fact, you can take an A-Z approach to uncover the seemingly endless list of animals from aardvarks and bobcats to white tigers and zebras.

We put together a list of the best books about mammals below. To start, we highlight an incredible, compelling piece of work that uncovers millions of years of history to understand how mammals evolved. We include a fun book for cow lovers in America who are ready to take their fascination to the next level. To keep things interesting, we cover a book that examines the grizzly population in Yellowstone, and we include a touching story of a boy and his elephant. We round out the list with books on marine mammals and bats, the only flying mammal.

A-Z Animals Top Picks for Books About Mammals

#1 Best Overall: The Rise and Reign of the Mammals: A New History, from the Shadow of the Dinosaurs to Us by Steve Brusatte

The best overall book about mammals is The Rise and Reign of the Mammals: A New History, from the Shadow of the Dinosaurs to Us by Steve Brusatte.

This title is available in hardcover, audiobook, and Kindle formats. It’s a national bestseller and covers the history of mammals, shining a light on the lost story of the ultimate family tree that led to humans. This book spans out to explore millions of years through the ice ages and fiery disasters. Humankind‘s lineage incorporates woolly mammoths, sabertooth tigers, and even armadillos the size of the vehicle you drive. In our history, there were cave bears that weighed three more times than a grizzly. Of course, there were other types of humans that we now know as Neanderthals as well.

This book is 524 pages long and is extensive. Alongside the author, you explore the mesmerizing story of the varying family of animals that inherited this planet. The author starts 325 million years ago, charting how mammals survived an asteroid impact. His aim is to explore just how mammals became the animal family that dominates the planet today. He incorporates fossil clues and cutting-edge technology to explore what he and other scientists have come to find about the lost world of mammals, ranging from different volcanic catastrophes to the ice ages. It is ultimately the story of mammals that set up the foundation for the world we inhabit today.

However, customers say that this book is almost all text with only a couple of pictures of fossil skeletons or some artistic illustrations of animals now extinct.

Pros and Cons of The Rise and Reign of the Mammals: A New History, from the Shadow of the Dinosaurs to Us by Steve Brusatte

Best Overall

The Rise and Reign of the Mammals: A New History, from the Shadow of the Dinosaurs to Us

• 524 pages
• Hailed as the ultimate dinosaur biography by Scientific American
• Written by Steve Brusatte, a paleontologist on the faculty at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland

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2. Best for Cow-Lovers: A Field Guide to Cows: How to Identify and Appreciate America’s 52 Breeds by John Pukite

If you’re a cow-lover then you must check out A Field Guide to Cows: How to Identify and Appreciate America’s 52 Breeds by John Pukite.

This book provides a wonderful guide to the different cow breeds that live in America. You don’t have to be a complete cow enthusiast to appreciate this book. The author manages to deliver facts in a very digestible way. Even a novice learns how to identify and recognize the characteristics of America’s 52 breeds of cattle. Within the book, you learn all of the different breeds most easily identifiable traits like their body shapes and colorations. It also features illustrations to help you visualize all of these traits, although it should be noted that these are illustrations rather than real pictures.

There’s a checklist of the different breeds in the book so if you’re out there on rolling land, looking for all the different types, this book helps you keep track of all your sightings. Pukite also offers some usable information like the essential gear and garb you need for cow watching. You get a glossary of terms to expand your vocabulary regarding cattle and you also get a listing of breeder associations. To keep your memory sharp, the author incorporates different cattle trivia throughout the book. Overall, this book is educational, amusing, and makes an indispensable companion for anyone who loves cows.

Pros and Cons of A Field Guide to Cows: How to Identify and Appreciate America’s 52 Breeds by John Pukite

Best for Cow-Lovers

A Field Guide to Cows: How to Identify and Appreciate America’s 52 Breeds

• Covers how to identify and recognize the characteristics of America’s 52 breeds of cattle
• Glossary of terms to expand your vocabulary regarding cattle, as well as a listing of breeder associations
• Customers rate this book 4.4 out of five stars

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3. Best on Grizzlies: Return of the Grizzly: Sharing the Range with Yellowstone’s Top Predator by Cat Urbigkit

If you want learn about grizzly bears then we recommend Return of the Grizzly: Sharing the Range with Yellowstone’s Top Predator by Cat Urbigkit.

This book is available in hardcover and Kindle formats and is all about Yellowstone’s top predator, the grizzly. The grizzly population in Yellowstone has steadily been growing from approximately 136 bears when they were first granted federal protection. Since they were defined as a threatened species, there are now somewhere around 1,000 grizzlies in Yellowstone today. Now, they’re not limited to roaming in really remote areas. They have access to the entire region. This includes school playgrounds, subdivisions that people call home, state parks, and even some farms and ranches.

The book covers the story of how efforts to recover grizzlies have been wildly successful. The author touches on how there were different disputes between bear advocates and bear managers. She also highlights the policy changes that came about for the successful recovery to occur. The author also invites you to consider the emergence of different conflicts since grizzlies have taken back their spot in the ecosystem there. She addresses the different interactions between humans and bears, how many self-defense killings of grizzlies happen every year, how to avoid attacks, and the effects of grizzlies on agriculture.

Pros and Cons of Return of the Grizzly: Sharing the Range with Yellowstone’s Top Predator by Cat Urbigkit

Best on Grizzlies

Return of the Grizzly: Sharing the Range with Yellowstone's Top Predator

• Covers the story of the successful effort to rebuild the grizzly bear population
• Addresses the different interactions between humans and bears
• Customers rate this book 4.6 out of five stars

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4. Most Heartwarming: Modoc: True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived by Ralph Helfer

The most heartwarming book on the list is Modoc: True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived by Ralph Helfer.

This is an incredibly heartwarming tale about the friendship and loyalty between a boy and an elephant. These two grew up together in a tiny German circus town and created the type of friendship that spans a lifetime. There were many circumstances that would test this connection over many years, including an almost fatal shipwreck in the Indian Ocean. It’s definitely the type of book that you won’t be able to put down once you get started reading. As animal lovers, it’s beautiful to see how animals respond to true affection.

Customers rate this book 4.7 out of five stars. The great part of this book is that it appeals to all age levels. It’s simple enough for some older children to understand and the emotional nature creates a beautiful reading experience for adults as well. This book is available in Kindle, hardcover, paperback, and audio editions. However, although this book does have some illustrations in it, customers have reported that they are of a poor quality.

Pros and Cons of Modoc: True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived by Ralph Helfer

Most Heartwarming

Modoc: True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived

• Heartwarming tale of the friendship and loyalty between a boy and an elephant
• Beautiful story about how animals respond to true affection
• Customers rate this book 4.7 out of five stars

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5. Best about Marine Mammals: Encyclopedia of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises by Erich Hoyt

If you’d like to take a dive into the world of marine mammals then Encyclopedia of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises by Erich Hoyt is a great book.

The author of this book is an award-winning writer and whale researcher who takes you along to discover different species that live in the world’s oceans. He has first-hand experience, which allows him to create such a comprehensive work. Throughout the book, he delivers his unique insights into these rather compelling marine mammals. He shares different discoveries about their behaviors and biology, including the physical differences you can perceive and how they have adapted over time.

This is an encyclopedia, so you can expect detailed profiles of different ocean animals as well as some intriguing sidebars that help bring marine mammals to life. You can expect gorgeous color photographs as well as some detailed illustrations. This book also covers whaling, including new information on both its history and its impacts. It also incorporates a comparison between porpoises and dolphins, carefully identifying each of their differences.

Unfortunately, some reviewers reported that their book was damaged when they received it.

Pros and Cons of Encyclopedia of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises by Erich Hoyt

Best about Marine Mammals

Encyclopedia of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises

• Written by award-winning writer and whale researcher
• Encyclopedia with detailed profiles of different ocean animals
• Customers rate this book 4.7 out of five stars

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6. Best about Flying Mammals: Bats: An Illustrated Guide to All Species by Marianne Taylor (Author) and Merlin Tuttle (Photographer)

Bats: An Illustrated Guide to All Species by Marianne Taylor (Author) and Merlin Tuttle (Photographer) is the ultimate guide to everything bats.

This book is illustrated to give you an idea of all of the different species of these flying mammals. The author takes you on a ride to explore the different roles bats have in our ecosystems. The book incorporates illustrations along with some full-color photographs. The narrative is lively, helping to keep your interest throughout. You learn about the giant golden-crowned flying fox, which is a megabat that has a crazy wide wingspan of over five feet. You then explore the bumblebee bat, which is the smallest mammal found throughout the globe.

Because of their nature, bats can be quite difficult to observe and catalog. However, this book manages to deliver some wonderful, in-depth profiles of 400 bats. You get to explore these detailed summaries along with those close-up images that are otherwise ever so elusive.

The only drawback to this book is that it does not provide an index so that you can easily find the species you are looking for.

Pros and Cons of Bats: An Illustrated Guide to All Species by Marianne Taylor (Author) and Merlin Tuttle (Photographer)

Best about Flying Mammals

Bats: An Illustrated Guide to All Species

• Utimate guide to everything bats
• Lively narrative that helps keep your interest as you explore various types of bats
• Customers rate this book 4.9 out of five stars

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Choosing the Best: What to Look For

To start, pick a mammal. Any mammal! Maybe you’ve always had a ‘thing’ for monkeys from Curious George books to stuffed animals that lined your bed as a kid. Sometimes, looking into your own childhood helps you rediscover some of those earlier interests. As an adult, you can take that fascination and stimulate your mind by learning more about your favorite mammals. Once you know which mammal, you’d like to learn more about, start your search!

There are countless books on any singular topic, so consider what you’d like to learn. Are you interested in gathering facts and keeping a reference book as your go-to? Then pick up an encyclopedia-style book or a full-on guide, especially if it includes extras like checklists for watching. If you have a love for a particular mammal but want to enjoy the type of story that gets you in your feelings, pick up a book with a narrative that incorporates your favorite mammal. Some books include real-life photos while others only include illustrations. If you’re looking for a picture that incorporates photos, always double-check the description. Sometimes it’s not easy to tell.

The final factor to consider is the opinions of others who have already purchased the book that’s caught your eye. In the reviews section, you can typically find important tidbits that help you make a final decision. Like in the example above, if you’re looking for a book that incorporates illustrations, diagrams, and full-color photographs, a review might reveal that it’s primarily text-only. This little detail helps you move on to a book that better suits your interests.