Books like Where the Red Fern Grows, Teaching Guide

I took one look at this book and wrote it off as "just another animal story." I have always considered animal stories -- even animal movies -- as being boring (after all, how can you have any character development?!)However, this book thoroughly surprised me. It's the best animal story I've ever read. The two dogs, Old Dan and Little Ann, were described with almost human qualities. Running through the book was love, loyalty, and faithfulness held between the two dogs and shared with their owner Billy.I was also surprised at the bold references to God and answered prayer in this book. Much of the mention of God, however, was mixed freely with superstition. Even the title of the book was based on superstition.The way the story was told was riveting and enjoyable. The author described coon hunts in a way that brought the reader into the scene. I think because the story was told so vividly, I reached the end of the book thinking it was a true story. In fact, the story is fiction.