18 Gifts for Kids Who Love Animals

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

Fahlo bracelets connect kids to real-life animals, with each one linked to a specific animal (sea turtle, gorilla, polar bear & more). Each bracelet supports a conservation partnership, and you can track your chosen animal's movements on an interactive map, learning about its life and the challenges it faces in the wild.

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.

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.

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!

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

Support the World Wildlife Fund's global efforts to protect wild animals and their habitats by "adopting" one of a huge variety of animal species. These symbolic adoptions come with a "kit" including an informational card about the animal you've adopted, an adorable animal plush, and a certificate of adoption.

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.

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.

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.

Alexandra F.:  My son got really into puzzles around the end of first grade, and this was just the right size to keep him engaged without getting overwhelmed or frustrated. He loves animals, so this animal-themed puzzle was a huge hit for him. It's one we continue to pull out over and over again.