12 Capybara Books for Kids
Capybaras. It seems one day people noticed these curious, sociable creatures are always calm and chill and decided that they were the a fun answer to our busy world! If you ask me, the calm, unstressed nature of capybaras also makes them a model character for children’s books. And while there are not a lot of books with capybara characters yet, I have had a search and collated a list of fun titles in collection of capybara books for kids.
So what are capybaras? For those who are not familiary, capybaras are the largest rodents in the world, native to South America. They are close relatives to guinea pics and rock cavies. Semi-aquatic, with webbed feet to help them swim, they live near muddy marshes, jungle ponds and flooded grasslands. Capybaras are herbivores and interestingly, as the grass they eat is hard to digest, they eat their own poop to absorb more nutrients! Capybaras are also very chilled and incredibly social, living in large groups and often seen giving birds and other small animals a ride on their backs. And it is their calm, friendly nature that has seen capybaras take over on social media!
12 Capybara Books for Kids
And now onto the books! This list includes both fictional capybara books for children and a small selection of non fiction books about capybaras suitable for preschool through to school age kids.
Capybara Picture Books (Fiction)
The Capybaras by Alfredo Soderguit
An unexpected friendship forms between chickens and a family of capybaras who need a place to hid during hunting season in this heartwarming tale about acceptance, even when others are different to what we are used to, overcoming prejudice and creating community.
Capybara is Friends With Everyone by Maddie Frost
In this hilarious story of boundaries, friendship and self care, Capybara will do anything for his friends. But it’s exhausting! And when Capybara meets a potential new friend who doesn’t seem to be responding to his advances, he learns an important lesson in friendship.
Amigo the Capybara by Amy Freund
This brand new book about friendship features both a capybara and a chinchilla. Opposites, Amigo the capybara loves to party, whilst Mila the chinchilla prefers the quiet. Can these two find common ground and become friends despite their differences?
Happy Barry Capybara by James Foley
Happy Barry Capybara is the most chilled-out creature on the savannah. So Harry, the naughty monkey, decides he wants to try to bother Barry. Will anything at all bother happy Barry Capybara? Or will Harry learn the secrets of being super chill?
Capybobby by Bill Peet
Published in 1985, this is based on one family’s real life experience of caring for a capybara in their home, with an important lesson about wild animals being most at home in their wild environment.
Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester
The story of Rodney Rat who cannot pronounce his Rs. His classmates tease him mercilessly until one day he uses his voice to save the whole class from a big, bad bully – Camilla Capybara.
I’m a Very Calm Capybara by Naomi Garrido
It can feel very difficult to always stay calm. How does capybara do it? A sweet story with simple text about being positive and calm, just like capybara!
Lara the Capybara and the Shooting Star by Lea Hartman
Lara the Capybara sees a shooting star in her binoculars and decides to find it in this sweet story about having the courage and determination to chase your dreams, and the support new friends can offer.
Non Fiction Books About Capybaras
Capybara: A First Field Guide to the Biggest Rodent in the World by Dr Julia Mata
A great introductory book about capybaras for school age children, explaining their habitat, lifespan, diet, life cycle, predators and more.
Capybaras! by Hope Aicher
A collection of interesting, fast facts about capybaras, shared as short snippets alongside bright photographs.
Capybaras by Martha E.H. Rustad
An engaging, non fiction books about capybaras that explains where they live, their appearance, diet, behavior and predators, with an added list of fast facts and useful glossary.
Capybaras (Elementary Explorers series) by Victoria Blakemore
An interesting and informative look into the life and behavior of capybaras for young readers, explores physical characteristics, habitat, family life, behavior, and conservation of capybaras.
More Great Books for Kids
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