I have been reading dog books for weeks now, and I finally decided that, at some point, I needed to decide I was done. There are simply too many books about dogs to read them all, but I have now read a lot of them, and here is my list of the best dog books for children… that I have read. Of course, I couldn’t do a list of best dog books without including a few grown up books that I love, so they are on the list too! Finally, I read a lot of books that didn’t quite make my list of best books. Even though these books weren’t the pick of the litter, I felt they deserved an honorable mention, have included an honorable mention section at the end of this long list, for those of you who are truly committed to finding books about dogs. I hope you find this list helpful, and I invite you to send me the names of your favorites if they somehow aren’t featured here! Enjoy!!
Fair warning, this is a loooong list! So if you don’t feel like reading about every title, use these links to find the section you’re interested in:
Best in Show:
Honorable Mention:
Picture Books |
 Dog Breath: The Horrible Trouble with Hally Tosis by Dav Pilkey, author of the Captain Underpants series, is a story about a dog whose breath is so smelly that his family decide to give him away. Luckily for Hally, his bad breath manages to save the day for the family and the story has a happy ending. This book is really funny and rings true for many of us who have struggled with our own little Hally Tosis pups. It’s a kinder, gentler version of Walter, the Farting Dog! Ages 3 – 6. |
 The Forever Dog by Bill Cochran is only 32 pages long, but I was in tears by the time I finished it. It is a very touching story about Mike and Corky, a boy and his dog, who were best friends and who plan to be best friends forever. When Corky gets sick and dies, Mike is not only sad; he is angry at Corky for breaking their Forever Plan. His mother is able to help Mike through his anger by showing him that Corky will be with Mike forever, but just in a different way. I teared up when Mike asked his mother why it hurt so bad if Corky was still there, and his mother replies, “Corky’s just trying to get comfortable in his new home.” When Mike asks what new home, she replies, “Corky’s a part of you now. He lives in your heart.” This book is a very sensitive treatment about love, death, and remembering our loved ones. It can be used to start a conversation about a lost pet, or as a guide for anyone who is coping with the loss of a loved one. Ages 4-8. |
 Hondo & Fabian by Peter McCarty is a Caldecott Honor book about Hondo, a dog who has a very fun day at the beach with his canine friend Fred while Fabian the cat stays at home with the baby. Author and illustrator Peter McCarty turns an ordinary day for two family pets into a delightful book. The illustrations are in a distinctive pencil art and the story appears, based on the illustrations, to be set in the 1930s or 1940s. A simple story, with frequent repetitions, that will delight children ages 4-8. |
 I Don’t Want a Posh Dog! by Emma Dodd is a tribute to Heinz All-American dogs, also known as mutts or mixed breeds. The little girl in this book describes the kind of dog she doesn’t want in rhyming couplets that young readers will enjoy. For example, she doesn’t want “a posh dog, a blow-dry-when-washed dog.” While posh puppies with exotic names and pedigrees may be the rage, this little girl knows when she has found the right dog for her—“a silly dog. A sweet willy nilly dog. A dog I can call MY DOG!” This is a delightful book for young and old, and especially appropriate for a family with young children who may be looking for their perfect puppy. Ages 4-8. |
 Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle, by Brian Dennis, Mary Nethery and Kirby Lawson tells the story of Brian Dennis, a major in the Marine Corps, who met Nubs, the leader of a pack of wild dogs, while on duty in Iraq. These wild dogs—also victims of the Iraq war—wander through the country looking for food and shelter. Brian named the leader of the pack “Nubs” because of his stumpy ears that had been chopped off at some point. Even though soldiers are not permitted to adopt these animals, after Nubs followed Brian’s convoy 50 miles across an arid desert, Brian found a way to create a “happily ever after” for Nubs by sending him to America. This book reminds us why dogs are man’s best friend and its story of love and loyalty transcends the politics of the Iraqi war. If you love dogs, this beautiful book is a “must read.” And, a portion of the proceeds from the book are donated to the SPCA! Ages 4-8. |
 The Other Dog by Madeleine L’Engle is a wonderful book for dog owners who are expecting their first human baby. It is the true tale of Newbery Award winning (A Wrinkle in Time) L’Engle’s poodle’s experience coping with a new baby in the house. Parents to be with pets will love this book and they will love reading it to their little one. Christine Davenier’s pictures are wonderful. Listen to Touche and enjoy: “My mistress went away for several days and when she came back, she brought with her another dog. Only this dog doesn’t have a tail. She doesn’t have much hair. And she doesn’t go outside when it’s raining. I can’t imagine what my master and mistress could want with this inferior breed—called baby!” Perfect for small children, parents-to-be, and poodles! Ages 3-6. |
 Poor Puppy is a welcome companion to author Nick Bruel’s best selling Bad Kitty. Kitty isn’t interested in playing with poor puppy, who is left with 1 airplane, 2 balls, 3 cars, 4 dolls and 22 other toys to keep him busy. When he’s finished, he takes a nap and dreams about apple bobbing in Antarctica, baseball in Brazil, checkers in Canada, and so on through the alphabet. This book will keep your children interested while learning their numbers and the alphabet. A delightful, funny book that is fun for children and their parents. Ages 4-8. |
 Pretzel by Margret Rey is a wonderful book for dachshund lovers by the creators of Curious George. Pretzel becomes the longest dachshund in all the world. Although he wins blue ribbons at all the dog shows, he can’t seem to win the affection of Greta, a little dachshund who lives down the street, until one day when she needs to be rescued, and the only dog who can save her is one who is very, very long. Ages 3-6. |
 Wrapped in Love by Jan Johnston is a very pretty book about a little puppy named Snoozer, who hears scary sounds when he tries to sleep. When his mother and his father both assure him that he has nothing to worry about because he is wrapped in their love, he is finally able to drift off to sleep. This is a lovely book for small children who are having trouble sleeping. Perfect for ages 3-6. |
 You’re a Good Dog, Carl, a modern day classic by Alexandra Day, has sold more than 200,000 copies. The book is about a lovable rottweiler named Carl, who (like Nana in Peter Pan) is left to babysit while mom goes out. Some people have criticized the book as sending the wrong parenting message, but the book is clearly telling a tall tale, and I have confidence that parent and children alike will understand that. It is a wonderful, almost wordless story that allows children to tell stories to their parents based on the wonderful illustrations. And the best news is that if you like this book, there are many other Carl books that you can add to your collection. This book is even available as a board book for the very young “readers.” Ages 3-7. |
 Lost and Found by Jim LaMarche is a picture book with three short stories about very special dogs and their owners. Story One is about Molly, a golden retriever who helps her young owner find her way home. Story Two is about Ginger, a terrier who finds her way back to her owner by following the scent of his beloved boy’s jacket, and Story Three is a magical story about Yuki, a Siberian husky who brings together a grieving widow, a boy who desperately wants a dog, and his mother who is searching for a job, providing a happy ending for all. The stories are glorious tributes to the special bond between dogs and their people, but the illustrations, also by LaMarche, are the icing on the cake. LaMarche has captured the souls of the dogs and people that he draws. This is a very special book. Ages 4-8 and dog lovers of all ages. |
Early Readers |
 Dog Diaries: Secret Writings of the WOOF Society by Erik Brooks, Betsy Byars, Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers is filled with stories from the secret diaries of dogs from around the world who have gathered for the first annual meeting of the WOOF Society, chaired by an Irish wolfhound. Each story is five to seven pages long; many are hilarious; and there are black and white illustrations on almost every page to hold the attention of reluctant readers. 7- 9. |
 The Puppy Place series by Ellen Miles is a series of 16 books (as of May 2009) and counting, including books about a doodle, pug, German shepherd and golden retriever. The first book in the series, Goldie, is about Charles and Lizzie Peterson, who love puppies. Then Goldie arrives, a darling golden retriever puppy who doesn’t know how to behave. Will Charles and Lizzie be able to train her? Ages 7-10. |
 The Vet Volunteers series by award winning author Laurie Halse Anderson is about the Wild at Heart Animal Clinic run by 11-year old Maggie’s grandmother and includes several books about dogs, including the first book, Fight for Life. In this book Maggie learns that the ten sick puppies brought to the clinic are coming from an illegal puppy mill. Maggie decides to find out who is running the puppy mill, and where it is, in order to save the rest of the dogs. Ages 7- 10. |
Middle School Readers |
 Call of the Wild by Jack London. The adventures of an unusual dog, part St. Bernard, part Scotch shepherd, that is forcibly taken to the Klondike gold fields where he eventually becomes the leader of a wolf pack. This book has never been out of print during the over 100 years from its first publication. Carl Sandburg once said, “The Call of the Wild is the greatest dog story ever written and is at the same time a study of one of a study of one of the most curious and profound motives that play hide-and-seek in the human soul.” Ages 9-12. |
 White Fang by Jack London is the equal to The Call of the Wild, covering the story of White Fang until his eventual domestication. This is a great action story—danger is always lurking—that weaves adventure, bravery, greed, and survival. Ages 9-12. |
 Lassie Come Home by Eric Knight is a compelling story about a collie’s trek over many miles of Scotland to find the boy she loves. Ages 9-12. |
 Old Yeller by Fred Gipson is a Newbery Honor book about Travis, a 14 year old boy, and his dog in the Texas hill country during the 1860s. When an ugly yellow dog shows up one night and steals a side of hanging pork, Travis want to drive him off or kill him, but Travis’ younger brother protests and Old Yeller stays. Soon, however, Travis and Old Yeller become best friends. When Arliss is nearly mauled by a bear, Old Yeller saves him. But Old Yeller’s luck turns when he saves Travis’s mother from a sick wolf that attacks her, and Travis learns just how much he has come to love his big ugly yellow dog. And if you love this story, you can also read Savage Sam, which tells the story of Old Yeller’s son. Ages 9–12. |
 Sounder is a Newbery Award winning book by William H. Armstrong is the story of Sounder and the African American sharecropper family that owns him. When his master is arrested for stealing a hog to feed his family, Sounder is shot and disappears. Sounder’s eventual return doesn’t change the fact that the oldest son in the family is forced to take on a man’s work to support the family. This is a must read book about resilience and hope in the face of tragedy. Ages 9-12. |
 Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo is a Newbery Honor book about a 10 year old girl, Opal, the daughter of an itinerant preacher father, and a mother that abandoned them. Opal claims a dog that is causing a commotion at the local supermarket and names him Winn-Dixie after the store. Winn Dixie becomes friends with everyone he encounters and helps Opal make new friends as well. When Winn- Dixie disappears, Opal rekindles her relationship with her father as she searches for him. Ages 9-12 |
 Dog Gone by Cynthia Chapman Willis is a first novel about 12 year old Dill, who desperately wants to keep her family from falling apart. Her mother is gone, her father is always at work and their dog, Dead End, is here one minute and gone the next. When a pack of wild dogs starts destroying local livestock and property, Dill starts to wonder whether this is where Dead End has been disappearing to. The tension continues as Dill tries to find out whether Dead End is a killer, and if so, how she can save him. Ages 8-12. |
 A Dog’s Life: The Autobiography of a Stray by Newbery Honor author Ann M. Martin is, as the cover says, “a dog story you’ll never forget.” This story is told in her own words by Squirrel, a dog who loses her mother and brother too early and faces alone a world that is often frightening, sometimes lonely, and sometimes—too briefly—sweet. I recommend this book highly for any dog lover, as well as for anyone who loves a well told animal survival story in the tradition of Black Beauty and The Incredible Journey. Ages 8-12. |
 Everything for a Dog by Ann Martin is the sequel to A Dog’s Life, and is about Squirrel’s brother Bones and his search for a home. It is a compelling story about growing up, facing hardship and the importance of companionship. It is told, in alternating chapters, by Bones and by Henry, a boy who desperately wants a dog. Ages 8-12. |
 Along Came a Dog by Meindert Dejong is a Newbery Honor book illustrated by Maurice Sendak about a little red hen and a homeless dog who becomes her protector. The story is written from the point of view of the hen and the dog, and is suspenseful without being scary. Ages 9-12. |
 Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes is a Newbery award winning book about Jerry Pye, who bought a puppy from Mr. Speedy for a dollar that he made dusting pews. On the way home, however, he and his sister Rachel hear footsteps and Jerry worries that someone is after his dog. Later, Ginger disappears suddenly. The remainder of the book involves Jerry’s and Rachel’s search for Ginger Pye. Ages 9-11 |
 Love That Dog by Newberry Medal winner Sharon Creech is a short novel, written entirely in free verse, in the voice of Jack, a boy who is writing a journal to his teacher, Miss Stretchberry, about the poetry that they are studying. Over the course of a school year, however, Jack’s opinion about poetry changes, as he reads and comments on poetry by William Carlos Williams, Robert Frost, William Blake, Valerie Worth, Arnold Adoff, S.C. Rigg, and Walter Dean Myer (I love that Creech has included their poems at the end of the book). Jack finds his voice writing about his dog, “that straggly furry smiling dog Sky.” It’s a book that you can read in an hour, but you’ll be thinking about it for days. As Jack might say it,
If you have a child that loves poetry More good news—there’s a sequel, Hate That Cat! Ages 7-12. |
 The Underneath by Kathi Appelt is one of the most beautiful books, for children or adults, that I have ever read. Appelt combines the tragic story of an abused bloodhound and an abandoned calico cat who live underneath the leaning shack of Gar Face, a monstrously evil man, with the mystical story of a centuries old alligator and a half serpent, half human lamia who live in the depths of the neighboring bayou. This is a story of abandonment and of love, of evil and of great good, of selfishness and of self-sacrifice. Ultimately it is a story where good triumphs over the evil that surrounds it. Ages 9-12 |
A Few Excellent Grown-Up Books |
 The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. I picked up this book right after we lost our 16 year old golden retriever, so I was hooked on the very first page when I realized the narrator was Enzo, an old lab terrier mix who is facing his death. Race car driver Denny Swift adopts Enzo from a farm to ride shotgun with him on the track. Enzo is Denny’s faithful friend and companion through a series of tragic life events. I agree with author Jodi Picoult, who said that this is “the perfect book for anyone who knows that some of our best friends walk beside us on four legs; that compassion isn’t only for humans; and that the relationship between two souls . . . meant for each other never really comes to an end.” |
 A Big Little Life by Dean Koontz is a beautiful tribute to a very special dog, Trixie, a trained service dog who retired at three to become the center of Dean’s, and his wife Gerda’s, life for nine years. I learned from this book that there are mooshy dogs and there are not-mooshy dogs, and that golden retrievers are not mooshy dogs—playful and energetic when they want to be, but also happy just lying around. Trixie helped her workaholic owners to become a bit mooshier too—persuading them to cut back their workaholic tendencies and hours, and helping them recover the joy of living in the moment. This is a must-read for anyone who loves goldens! |
 Marley & Me: Life and Love With the World’s Worst Dog by John Grogan is a true account of the author’s beloved Labrador retriever, a sweet affectionate puppy that grew into a lovable, but naughty dog. |
 Guardians of Being, written by Eckhart Tolle and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell is the perfect choice if you are looking for a book for a dog or cat lover. New age philosopher Tolle celebrates the beauty of life by viewing it through the eyes of our pets, and McConnell, the creator of the Mutts comic strip, fills the book with simple illustrations that both confirm and expand the vision painted by Tolle with his words. Tolle’s words are spiritual and deeply religious, but they represent an all encompassing view of religion, with influences from Zen, Buddhism, Sufism, Hinduism and the Bible, as well as from his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. As Tolle says, “We are ultimately not separate, not from one another nor from any living thing—the flower, the tree, the cat, the dog. You can sense yourself in them, the essence of who you are. You could say God.” I guarantee you that after you read this little book, you will want to pat your dog and take him out for a long walk! This little book was written for adults, but is appropriate for all ages |
Honorable Mention:
(Congrats on making it this far!)
Picture Books |
 Dog by Matthew Van Fleet has full-color photos of 20 dogs plus pull tabs and furlike textures that demonstrate action words, synonyms and opposites. The rhyming text highlights the various types of dogs and their behaviors. The book ends with foldouts that introduce each pet by name and breed. This is a clever book for children who like to interact with their books. Ages 2-5 |
 Dogteam by Newbery Honor winner Gary Paulsen is a wonderful book about sled dogs. Paulsen has run the Iditarod dogsled race across Alaska twice and he captures the joy and beauty of a dog sled run one dark snowy night. The illustrations are by Ruth Wright Paulsen, his wife, who manages a seventy-dog kennel and helps train Iditarod dogs with her Paulsen. Any family with a husky would love this book. Ages 3-6. |
 Floss by Kim Lewis is a delightful book about a young Border Collie who lives with an old man in the city where she loves playing ball in the park. The old man decides to take Floss to live with his son, a farmer in need of a young dog to herd sheep. She learns to be a good working dog, but she doesn’t lose her love of playing ball with children. Ages 4-8. |
 How To Be A Good Dog by Gail Page is, as the back cover says, “A good book for bad dogs (and the people who love them)!” It’s a short simple story about Bobo, a dog who is banished to his doghouse by his owner until Cat decides to teach him how to be good. The lessons don’t work quite as expected, but there is a happy ending. This book is especially good for families with both a dog and a cat in the household. Ages 3-6. |
 Let’s Get a Pup! Said Kate by Bob Graham is an award winning book about a family that decides to adopt a puppy from the animal shelter. Ages 4-7. |
 Skinny Brown Dog by National Book Award winning author Kimberly Willis Holt is a charming story about an unlikely friendship between a baker and a skinny brown dog that shows up on his doorstep. Ages 4-8 |
Early Readers |
 The Magic Puppy series by Sue Bentley. Although the covers are adorable, this series is pretty formulaic, and it’s not really about dogs. Storm, the hero of the series, is actually a member of the magic Moon-claw pack of wolves who has been sent to live on earth by his wounded mother. His magical powers begin to strengthen after he finds a friend, Lily, who works at Greengates Riding Stables and is delighted to find this beautiful puppy with midnight blue eyes. Sue Bentley is also the author of the Magic Kitty and Magic Pony series. 7-9. |
Middle School Readers |
 A Dog Called Kitty is author Bill Wallace’s book about Ricky, a fifth grader who is terrified of dogs as the result of an attack by a rabid dog many years earlier. He is even afraid of the small stray puppy that turns up at the farm and tries (unsuccessfully) to steal food from the cats’ bowl. Over time, however, he and the dog (which he names Kitty because he comes whenever Ricky’s mom calls, “Here, kitty, kitty, k itty” to the cats). Although it is a bit dated and urban kids may not identify with Ricky’s descriptions of farm life, this is a good book for any child who has a fear of dogs or who may be struggling with his peers at school. Other dog books by Wallace include Upchuck and the Rotten Willy, Red Dog, and No Dogs Allowed. Ages 8-12. |
 The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be is a memoir by Canadian author Farley Mowat about his boyhood on the Canadian prairie during the 1930s and his eccentric dog, Mutt. Although it is listed as a book for 11 to 14 year olds, it is long, dense, and has no illustrations. It reads more like a book written for adults. A bit slow at times, it is a wonderful story about the unique bond between people and their dogs, and it also offers a view of a simpler way of life in a simpler time. Ages 11+. |
 The Hundred and One Dalmations by Dodie Smith is also the title of a very famous Disney cartoon, but it all started with this 1956 children’s novel. At a dinner party attended by the Dearlys, Cruella de Vil expresses her dislike for animals. Soon thereafter, the Dearly’s new Dalmation puppies disappear, the victims of a scheme to skin them for their fur. A sequel titled The Starlight Barking is also available. Ages 9-12. |
 Ribsy by Beverly Cleary. For those of you who know the Ramona series by Clearly, Henry Huggins is her best friend and Ribsy is Henry’s mixed breed dog, who has a knack for getting in trouble. In this book Henry’s dad promises to take him on a long awaited salmon fishing trip if he can keep Ribsy out of trouble for one month. This is harder than it seems, especially when Ramona gets involved. Like the other Ramona and Henry books, this is a great choice for children who have just graduated from the early reader books. Ages 8-12. |
dimce said
very nice books