Dalmations, Pugs, Golden Retrievers, Saint Bernards, and the list goes on and on. There are so many amazing dogs in the world so why not enjoy some children’s books about dogs too. I’ve rounded up some of our favorite doggy animal books for kids.
Board Books About Doggies
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Sandra Boynton is the queen of board books for babies and toddlers. Her book, Doggies, delighted my boys when they were toddlers as they counted the dogs on each page.
Wordless books are wonderful to use with toddlers because you can tell the story together. And, there is much to tell in Good Dog, Carl by Alexander Day. Carl is in charge of watching the baby. How will he do? This is a series so you can enjoy more Carl stories.
Matthew Van Fleet is a go-to for interactive books. He has lots of fun ones including one all about those adorable pooches. Check out lots of beautiful pooches in Dog. Also, try Color Dog.
I also like the National Geographic Kids Look & Learn series that includes Dogs. Lots of photographs and simple text to build vocabulary.
And then there is that classic dog, Spot. The Spot lift-the-flap series by Eric Hill delights lots of little ones.
My favorite touch-and-feel series is That’s Not My… Try That’s Not My Puppy. It has great textures for little ones to touch while you read. Plus, you can search for the mouse on each page spread too.
Picture Books About Dogs (Fiction Stories)
Roy Digs Dirt by David Shannon is all about a dog that loves to dig. With all that digging comes lots of discoveries. Some of those finds can be quite pleasant like balls and toys while others can be unpleasant such as skunks and ants. This is a fun read-aloud with big bold pictures.
I Love You, Fred by Mick Inkpen is the story of a playful pup who discovers his name for the very first time.
As Warm as the Sun by Kate and Jim McMullan is the story of two pups looking for a warm consistent spot to lay. They move all around the house and in the end find that warmth with each other.
One of my all-time favorites is Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion. Harry takes off to avoid a bath. While wandering the city, he gets so dirty that his family doesn’t recognize him when he returns. And, if you haven’t heard Betty White read the book on Storyline Online, you are in for a treat.—>See it Here
Odd Dog Out by Rob Biddulph features dog characters to deliver a very important message of being yourself and not worrying about fitting in with those around you.
Sausages are missing and the thief must be found. Read One Hundred Sausages by Yuval Zommer to find the culprit and claim the reward. A top pick by my kids.
You probably remember that big red dog from your childhood.Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell is one of the first books I remember owning. There are oodles of books to choose from, but you just have to love Clifford the Big Red Dog.
Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio is the story of two dog families who might not look like but, they are “just right” families for Gaston and Antoinette. Also, check out Antoinette.
Ok, pugs are adorable. Meet Pig. He’s a pug. And, he is in a series of books. One of the newest is Pig the Tourist by Aaron Blabey.
Poor Louie by Tony Fucile is the story oh a man, woman, and their cute little dog, Louie. But, a new member of the family is arriving and that means Louie doesn’t get all the attention anymore. Louie is about to leave when his new brother arrives. Well…Louie decides to stay after all.
The Great Gracie Chase by Cynthia Rylant is a fun tale that takes you all over town. Gracie the dog likes a quiet house, but when the painters come to the house it is anything but quiet. Gracie gets out of the house and discovers that someone left the gate open so she heads out for a stroll. Well, as town members start to discover that Gracie is loose, they all start chasing her. Gracie keeps going and going. Eventually, everyone gets tired of the chase and gives up following Gracie. This is when Gracie decides to head home all by herself where she discovers a peaceful house again. We even have storytime ideas to do with the book.—>The Great Gracie Chase Book Activities
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka is an award-winning wordless book about a dog and it’s ball.
Work on opposites as you enjoy the beautifully illustrated book,Dogs by Emily Gravett.
It’s Only Stanley by Jon Agee is a funny tale. The Wimbledon family keeps hearing strange noises in the house at night. Each time a family member checks on the noise, it’s determined that it’s only Stanley. Little do they know that this clever dog is turning their house into a rocket ship for a special mission.
They say that people look like their pets. Do their names have rhyme too? Find out in Mr. Scruff by Simon James.
Perros Perros Dogs Dogs by Ginger Foglesong Guy is told in Spanish and English. Take a walk with the dogs and learn about opposites in the process.
Imagine raising a dog that will someday help someone in need. Raising a Hero by Laura Numeroff is such a sweet and inspiring story.
Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman was a favorite of many of my classes. This award-winning book is about a dog named Gloria who is a huge hit when she accompanies Officer Buckle on school visits.
Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam by Tracey Corderoy is the story of two burglars who aren’t the best at their chosen profession. They end up deciding on a “sweet” career alternative after several mishaps of being a burglar.
Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings is the story of a dog on a mission to find a home. He does so by delivering letters to potential new forever friends. He gets turned down again and again until the right recipient gets the message.
Have you ever read to a dog? They can make wonderful reading companions. Try Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by Lisa Papp. Also read Madeline Finn and the Blessing of the Animals.
Baked Potato might just be the cutest name for a dog. I’m Baked Potato! by Elise Primavera is the tale of a dog that gets separated from his lady and in the end finds her and himself in the process.
Land Shark by Beth Ferry was an instant hit. Most kids would be super excited to get a puppy for their birthday. But, Bobby really had his heart set on a shark so he is pretty disappointed when the new puppy arrives. Will Bobby grow to love his new puppy?
I adore Patricia Polacco’s work. She is a gifted storyteller and I even cried when we read Remembering Vera. It’s a story of a dog adopted by the Coast Guard who was a true hero and loved companion.
Bark Park by Trudy Krisher invites us along on a trip to the park with lots of dogs. There is a lot to explore.
Emma Full of Wonders by Elisha Cooper is super unique in that we get to see a puppy being born through the illustrations. Get ready to welcome puppies into the world in this sweet rhythmic read.
Dogs communicate a lot through scent specifically scent of urine and feces. In Nose to Nose by Thyra Heder there is a new dog in town trying to make new doggie friends. All the pups in town have lots to say!
D is for Dog! by Em Lynas & Sara Ogilvie walks the dogs through the alphabet from Afgan Hounds to Malteses to Yorkshire Terriers. A true romp for dog lovers.
Rescue and Shelter Dog Books
Stormy lives under a bench in the park that is until he meets his forever friend. A beautiful wordless book by Guojing about finding a forever home.
For more books about rescue and shelter dogs and other animals, check out our Rescue and Shelter Animal Booklist.
Informational Books About Dogs
History of Dogs
How did dogs come to be? Find out in From Wolf to Woof! by Hudson Talbott. My kids learned so much from this story and were super engaged with the illustrations and text.
Books About Getting a Puppy or Dog and Caring For It
Dogs and puppies are fun, but they are also a lot of work. Introduce children to the responsibilities of being a pet owner in Just Me and My Puppy by Mercer Mayer.
So You Want a Puppy? by Raven Howell shows how joyful an addition of a puppy to the family can be along with all the work that comes with owning a puppy. A list of six pet tips is also included in the endnotes.
A book that doubles for multiple lessons! First, learn how to read puppy cues to know what our puppies are trying to tell us. Plus, a great springboard for talking about our own feelings and displaying of emotions. Bonus that there are lots of cute pups to ooh and ahh over. Back matter includes tips for meeting new dogs and puppies. Check out Puppy Talk by Dr. Jess French.
Death of a Pet Dog
When we lose a beloved pet, it can be hard to explain to children. These books can help.
I’ll Always Love You by Hans Wilhelm is the story of a family that wakes up one morning to find that their beloved dog has passed away.
Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant is a comforting tale of where our pets go when then pass away.
The Rough Patch by Brian Lies is the story of a human-like fox and his dog. They spend all their time together and are so happy especially tending the garden. But, one day his dog passes away and the fox lets the garden turn to weeds. Then one day, he notices a vine in the weeds and his sorrow starts to fade. A great book for processing grief.
Emergent & Early Reader Chapter Books About Dogs
Cynthia Rylant brings us the Henry & Mudge early reader chapter series. Henry and his dog, Mudge, have many adventures.
Biscuit by Alyssa Satin Capucilli is an emergent reader series that many new readers remember learning to read with. The book has lots of predictable text making this a good choice for new readers.
Haggis & Tank Unleashed by Jessica Young is a humorous series about two dogs who take creative adventures. This series works well for new readers by utilizing colored speech bubbles for some of the text in addition to text on the page.
Need a series that will hook early chapter book readers, look no further than Dog Man by Dav Pilkey. This graphic novel series is responsible for hooking thousands of young readers onto reading. It’s a favorite in our house.
Printable Book List of Dog Books
Grab a printable book list of the books above. It’s great for taking to the library or tucking away with your pet unit.
Woof, woof! these terrific doggy tales.