Whether you're looking for information on how to raise your sheep or are simply an animal lover, you're in the right place. From children's books about sheep to books about how to raise sheep, the list below will help you find the perfect option for you.
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Types of Sheep Books
If you’re looking for books about sheep, chances are you fall into one of the below categories:
- You’re a beginner or experienced sheep farmer looking for information on raising sheep
- You’re a sheep enthusiast looking to expand your knowledge on sheep breeds
- You’re a fiction reader and sheep lover looking for great stories about sheep
- You’re parent looking for children’s sheep stories to read to your kids
Whatever bucket you fall into, the below list has options for you.
Books about raising sheep
Even as a seasoned sheep farmer, there’s a lot you can gain from the knowledgeable authors below about raising and caring for sheep.
1. Raising Sheep: An Essential Guide on How to Raise Sheep in Your Backyard or on a Small Farm
For anyone thinking of raising sheep, this should be among your top reads. The author, Dion Rosser, prepares you for the life of a sheep farmer by pointing out the challenges you are likely to face and how to overcome them. There’s also practical advice on feeding your sheep, providing housing, caring for them, and so much more.
As the title suggests, it’s a guide for small-scale farmers and backyard homesteaders.
2. Sheep Manual: The complete step-by-step guide to caring for your flock (Haynes Manuals)
The Haynes Sheep Manual is great for both seasoned and first-time sheep farmers. This book is a quick reference for all things about rearing sheep, from choosing the right breed for your farm, feeding and handling your flock to shearing, breeding, and lambing.
This manual is easy to read and offers up-to-date guides, so you can learn the best and latest tips on growing a prosperous sheep farm.
3. Raising Sheep: Beginners Guide to Raising Healthy and Happy Sheep
Author Irene Mills does a great job of guiding new farmers on how to raise sheep and build a successful farming business.
It’s easy to follow and offers all the essential tips for sheep-rearing beginners.
4. Storey’s Guide to Raising Sheep, 5th Edition: Breeding, Care, Facilities
Written by two experts in raising sheep, Paula Simmons and Carol Ekarius, this book is part of the Storey’s Guide to Raising series.
For more than two decades, Storey’s Guide to Raising Sheep has been used by sheep farmers. This 5th Edition is the latest version.
Novice and seasoned farmers can learn a great deal from this guide on rearing sheep and growing their business.
5. A Beginner’s Guide to Raising Sheep – Don’t Be Dumb About Raising Sheep…Because They Aren’t
Darla Noble and John Davidson (the authors of this book) take the time to educate aspiring sheep farmers on what it takes to raise a healthy flock of sheep.
Their aim is to ensure you are ready for a sheep farmer’s life by equipping you with the proper knowledge and realistic expectations.
Nonfiction books about sheep
The Home Butcher is a book about handling sheep and lamb meat.
In the book, the author directs home cooks on how to butcher sheep and other livestock like goats, poultry, rabbits, and cows. Beginning with the history of butchery, he goes on to explain the butchery techniques of different meats, equipment needed, packaging, and food safety measurements.
There are over 75 recipes in this book that you can easily prepare in the comfort of your home.
Here’s a must-have sheep book for sheep enthusiasts covering 44 breeds of sheep in different parts of the world.
The author does an excellent job of explaining the history of each breed, describing their appearance, personalities, wool quality, and more.
In addition, there’s a high-quality full-page photo of each breed so you can quickly identify it in real life.
Carol Ekarius and Deborah Robson (the authors) list 100 breeds in this quintessential book about sheep breeds. Their focus is on the wool produced by each breed. The book takes a deep dive into the characteristics of the fleeces and their uses.
The Field Guide to Fleece is ideal for fiber crafters and anyone who works with fleece.
How to Raise Sheep is an essential book for any novice sheep farmer.
Whether you want to keep just a few sheep as hobby animals or a large flock, this book will help you out on the journey to success.
With the backing of the National FFA (Future Farmers of America) Organization, you can be sure you’re getting accurate information from this guide.
10. Know More Sheep
As a sequel to Know Your Sheep, author Jack Byard lists 40 more sheep breeds in this pocket-size guide.
Through this book, you’ll learn about these sheep breeds’ history, characteristics, and personalities.
Novels about sheep
11. The Shepherd’s Life: Modern Dispatches from an Ancient Landscape
This is the story of James Rebanks, the book’s author. James was the son of a sheep farmer, who was also the son of a shepherd.
In this book, James seeks to paint a vivid picture of the life of a sheep farmer dedicated to his work: the challenges they face, the amount of work they put in to care for the sheep, and the fulfillment it gives them. It’s a fantastic read on the backdrop of today’s changing culture in the farming industry.
12. Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story
This fictional story of sheep detectives will keep you turning the pages of this book to the end.
With creativity and quirky humor, author Leonie Swann narrates the story of a flock of sheep raised by a caring shepherd who reads to them every night.
When the shepherd is found dead, a team of three of his sheep sets out to solve the mystery of his death.
Written by a Japanese author, this novel is a blend of magical realism and mystery. It’s an intriguing narration of an advertising executive living an ordinary life that suddenly turns bizarre.
After using a particular photo from a postcard to publish an advertisement, the executive soon realizes that in the image is a strange sheep with a star on its back that a mysterious man wants him to now find or face serious consequences.
The story unfolds as the hunt for the mutant sheep escalates.
14. Vanishing Fleece: Adventures in American Wool
Are you a yarn fan, or do you love working with fiber? Then this book is perfect for you.
Clara Parkes (the author) shares her real-life experience exploring the yarn-making industry in the US. You’ll be spellbound as she explains the work done to prepare fleece for processing, the meticulous spinners that make yarn from bales of wool, and the scourers who work tirelessly at the mills.
This book is one-of-a-kind and a great tribute to the now dwindling wool industry in the US.
Children’s books about sheep
If you’d like to pass on to your children your love for sheep, these are great books to read to them.
15. The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Arch Books)
This is a fun children’s book for Christians in the Arch Books series.
This one, in particular, retells one of the parables of Jesus. It’s about a shepherd, his 100 sheep, and how he lost one of the sheep and left the 99 to look for the lost one.
Written by a New York Times bestselling author, Rob Scotton, Russell the Sheep is a funny picture book about a sheep that couldn’t fall asleep when the rest of the flock had already snoozed off.
If you’re looking for a bedtime storybook for your kids, this is a great option.
This is another perfect bedtime tale for kids.
It’s a silly but fun story of a sheepdog trying to get a flock of sheep to sleep.
If you’re having difficulty getting your little one to fall asleep, try reading them this book as you show them the fun illustrations.
18. The Sheep Who Wouldn’t Sleep
Susan Rich Brooke, the author of this book, teaches kids about mindfulness and self-soothing through a sweet and silly tale of a sheep that couldn’t fall asleep.
Your young ones may easily relate to the struggles of this sheep during bedtime, and this may be the solution you need to get them to sleep.
19. Agnes and the Sheep (Agnes and Friends)
Agnes and the Sheep is a delightful picture book about a dog named Agnes that was left to look after the farm while the owners were away.
Unfortunately, three sheep decided to escape in search of greener pastures. The story unfolds as Agnes tries to find the sheep and return them to the farm.
This is an exciting kids’ book for animal lovers which ends with a lesson for kids about avoiding comparing oneself with others.
