As in all good children's books, there are several layers in every story, so that they can be read in various ways. The story of the Owl can be both an explanation of this bird's behavior and a parable of cunning and greed. God is the natural figure in many stories, but this presence does not make them in any way religious. The episode in the story of the Bee, in which God bestows his creations with life, is presented as a funny fairy-tale detail. In the story of the Whale, God seems rather helpless as he encounters a strange plant in his garden - like any ordinary gardener.
Many stories are more like fables, which is often the case with animal stories.
Hare's and Polar Bear's vanity, Fox's cunning or Donkey's stubbornness. On the other hand, Elephant's humbleness or Dog's faithfulness is praised. Hughes is not particularly original in these ideas, but all the more so in details, for instance when animals on the very young earth arrange beauty contests and races. Every library should have a copy of this book.