Colorful animal figurines of an elephant, lion, zebra, cheetah, and rhinoceros arranged on a wooden surface.

15 Gifts for Kids Who Love Animals

Let’s help each other discover new ideas for animal toys, books, and other animal-themed gifts for kids who love animals!

The gift ideas on Upparent are unique because they’ve been submitted by regular parents in our community, sharing the things their families have tried and loved. Here’s a list of special stuffed animals, figurines, books and other animal-themed gifts that parents in our community have recommended because they have been well-loved by their own animal-loving kids. 

Browse the list for inspiration and leave a review for any animal toys your family has tried. Don’t forget to recommend any animal toys & gifts that have been a hit with your animal-loving kid, too!

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    National Geographic Kids

    Time

    10 issues per year

    Ages

    Age 7-12

    Erin P.:  This magazine will help your child have a better understanding of just how interesting the world can be. National Geographic Kids magazines will often have stories and highlights about animals, countries, cultures and history. Sign up your inquisitive child for this subscription! There is a separate bi-monthly magazine called National Geographic Little Kids for the younger set age 3-6.

    Who Would Win? Series

    This excellent series of animal books for kids pits various animals against each other in hypothetical battles, exploring their unique strengths and weaknesses through engaging text and vibrant illustrations.

    Fisher Price Little People Caring For Animals Farm

    Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  My oldest son was a late talker and we had this Farm with animals when he was young, before he could talk. He used to try to mimic the animal sounds which helped him start to use sounds before he could speak real words.

    Schleich Animal Figurines

    Kelly R:  All of the Schleich animal figurines make the best toys for 4 year olds, and will see many hours of imaginative play. They are so much more durable, realistic and beautiful than other brands, and our trusty T Rex still looks pretty cool in our tween's room years later! They are some of my favorite ideas for stocking stuffers that will get used for years and years. The reindeer is a perfect nod to Christmas!

    Wild Republic Animal Figurines

    Alexandra F.:  My kids love playing with animal figurines, and while Schleich toys are our favorites they are always drawn to these little miniatures as well. We really like the quality of the Wild Republic mini animals - not quite as good as Schleich, but better than most other animal figurines, and smaller (and cheaper!) than Schleich. Battat animal figurines are even smaller (and less expensive), if you're looking for them to fit in a small space, like an advent calendar, and all of these mini animals make great party favors and class favors for preschoolers (add a cute "wild about you" message and your school valentines are set!). They are also the toys my boys use most in the bath!

    HUDDLE Stuffed Animal Storage Bean Bag Chair

    A stylish and functional solution for taming stuffed animal clutter. It doubles as a cozy bean bag chair and a spacious storage container, keeping stuffed animals organized and out of sight.

    Local Zoo Membership

    Kids who love animals will treasure the opportunity to visit them regularly with a membership to a local zoo. Membership fees can also help support many zoos’ conservation and educational missions.

    Gift Card to Local Zoo Gift Shop

    Alexandra F.:  When my kids were toddlers and preschoolers, we were at our local zoo pretty much every week. Inevitably, the first and last thing we did every time we visited was to stop into the gift shop so they could check out all the amazing stuffed animals, animal figurines and other animal-themed toys. Of course, they rarely got to buy anything, so it was mostly window shopping for them. But, it did give me the idea to ask my family to contribute to a “gift shop fund” whenever they were looking for gift ideas for the kids. This was a huge hit!! My boys absolutely loved having money to buy stuff with when we visited - it was like they got the gift of buying from the gift shop, as well as the toy itself!

    James Herriot's Treasury for Children: Warm and Joyful Animal Tales

    Time

    1hr 31min

    Ages

    Age 3+

    A heartwarming collection of stories about the adventures of a young veterinarian in rural Yorkshire, England.

    Wild Kratts Live! Tickets

    Alexandra F.:  If you are lucky enough to live anywhere near one of the tour locations for this show, it would make an amazing gift for any kid who loves animals. I learned about it it too late to catch the one near us, but now know to keep an eye out for any new tours and dates. They even offer a remarkably well-priced VIP package that allows kids to meet THE Martin and Chris Kratt in person (the brothers from the show actually perform in the live show themselves). My kids would be SO thrilled to meet the heroes they've been watching on TV for the last few years! But, be warned - these VIP tickets sell out SUPER fast, so you have to buy them right when they go on sale!

    MindWare Dig It Up! Wild Animals Dig Kit

    This fun and hands-on animal toy allows kids to excavate and discover miniature animal figures hidden in a plaster block, simulating a real archaeological dig.

    Wild Kratts Subscription

    Alexandra F.:  My animal-loving kids (7 and 5) are obsessed with this show, and have been for the last 3 or so years. There are so many seasons and episodes at this point that they are perfectly happy watching this most of the time they watch TV. We got the PBS add-on to our Prime subscription, which would be a really nice splurge gift for any kid who likes animals, but you can also purchase a season (or more) of the show individually.

    Weird But True! Animals

    This captivating collection of bizarre and surprising animal facts by National Geographic is designed to entertain and educate young readers. Filled with fun, quirky details and vibrant photos, it explores the oddest and most fascinating creatures on Earth.

    The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids: 500 Wild Facts!

    A fact-packed guide that introduces young readers to the amazing world of animals through fun and surprising facts, using vibrant illustrations and easy-to-read information.

    Stuffed Animals

    Alexandra F.:  All four of my kids have used their stuffed animals in some of their most creative, elaborate and imaginative games over the years. I don't love how they tend to accumulate, but I’ve found there are a select few that get used over and over, so I just do a purge of the others every once in a while. My kids especially love having “moms” and “babies” for their games, and animal toys over any branded characters. Jellycat makes some of the softest, cuddliest stuffed animals I’ve found, but my kids also love the realistic Wild Republic stuffed animals they always seem to sell in zoo gift shops.

Primary photo:   Magda Ehlers on Pexels

Upparent collects community-submitted recommendations and reviews, and any ideas that are shared reflect the opinions of individual contributors.