My favorite animal books are about a bunch of collies they were written by Albert Payson Terhune. My mom read them as a kid, I fell in love with them too
For fiction and fun I love Hitty; Her first hundred years. It too is old written about the time as "The secret Garden "
I can't remember the auther of Hitty but it is a bout a small hand carved wooden doll and her adventures.
I guess both the Terhune books and Hitty are making come backs in the book world I just had my daughter call me a cople days ago and say she saw Hitty in one of the local new book stores. Funny how things cycle back. (shutter, BELL BOTTOMS)