I agree this submission is somewhat odd for HN, but as it's here I'm going to take the opportunity to recommend the novel Blitzcat to anyone with kids. As the reviews point out it's unique in literature to have an animal main character in a non-Disney or cute style, especially exploring parts of WWII. I haven't read it for two decades but the article immediately brought it to mind as something I enjoyed.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blitzcat-Robert-Westall/dp/033039861...