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Best Dog Story Books for Kids

23 Children’s Books with Wonderful Dog Characters

Posted on October 6, 2011May 29, 2024 by Pragmatic Mom

I’m a new dog owner and this is my first dog because you can’t count the beagle that we had when I was 2-years-old. Someone — maybe the meter reader? — left the gate open and he got run over and after that, we just had a steady stream of Siamese cats. But now I get why dog people can be so over-the-top with their dogs. Dogs try to win your heart much more so than a cat, and these dogs in children’s chapter books have won untold hearts the world over.  Even if you are not a dog person, these dogs will convert you! These dogs are either rescuing someone or being rescued, getting kidnapped or preventing robberies, or just a dog-about-town. Please meet some dogs to fall in love with! What dogs in children’s books have you fallen in love with? Please share!

 

Best Dogs in Children’s Books

10. Harry the Dirty Dog series by Gene Zion, illustrated by Margaret Bloom Graham

I love that Harry is this independent, dog-about-town.  If there is something objectionable to him, he’ll do something about it himself whether it’s burying his bath brush or hiding the lady next door’s music. In this classic picture book, Harry gets so dirty that even his family doesn’t recognize him. What’s a dog to do when he hates the bath? [picture book, ages 2 and up]

Harry and the Lady Next Door by Gene Zion

9. Walter the Farting Dog series by William Kotzwinkle, Glenn Murray, and  Elizabeth Gundy, illustrated by Audrey Coleman

Let’s face it, farting is just funny, especially to kids, and Walter the Farting Dog is no exception.  Thank goodness farting can save the day! [picture book, ages 3 and up]

Walter the Farting Dog

8. How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor

Georgina is homeless and living with her mother and brother out of their car after her father leaves them.  She cooks up an elaborate scheme to kidnap a dog to then return it for the reward. She kidnaps a dog named Willy but things don’t work out the way she thinks they will. Will Willy teach her right from wrong?  [middle grade, ages 9 and up]

How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor

7. Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes

Meet Ginger Pye, the smartest dog you’ll ever know. Jerry Pye and his sister, Rachel, feel pretty smart themselves for buying Ginger. It was the best dollar they ever spent. Ginger steals everybody’s heart . . . until someone steals him! Newbery winner. [middle grade, ages 9 and up]

Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes

6. Martha Speaks series by Susan Meddaugh

Martha is a pretty amazing dog.  After eating alphabet soup, she can actually talk and this trick comes in handy at times! [picture book, ages 2 and up]

Martha Speaks series by Susan Meddaugh

5. Gooseberry Park by Cynthia Rylant

This is one of my middle daughter’s all-time favorite books. It also has great vocabulary!

“An unlikely group of animals bands together to help a squirrel in need. ‘Readers will relish every moment of this impeccably paced fantasy,’ said PW in a starred review.” [chapter book, ages 7 and up]

Gooseberry Park by Cynthia Rylant

4. Shiloh series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

This beagle, Shiloh, will steal your heart as it does Marty Preston who rescues Shiloh from his abusive owner. My oldest loved this series. Newbery winner. [middle grade, ages 9 and up]

3. Madeleine’s Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans

After Genevieve rescues Madeleine from the Seine, she is adopted by her orphanage until Lord Cucuface finds out. Luckily it turns out well in the end. Caldecott Winner [picture book, ages 2 and up]

Madeleine's Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans

2. Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Dog guru Cesar Milan says that you might not get the dog you want, but you get the dog you need and Winn Dixie is exactly what Opal needs when she moves to a new town with just her father; her mother has left them. It’s unclear, at the end of the day,  if she rescues Winn Dixie or he rescues her but then isn’t that the way it is with karma? Newbery Honor Book. [middle grade, ages 9 and up]

1. Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

I love this book, this dog Sky, the boy Jack, and the author Sharon Creech.  And just exactly like  Mr. Walter Dean Myers, poet, and visitor of school classrooms that are clean with mostly nice kids, Sharon Creech is also accessible and excited when someone loves her books! I follow her on Twitter and she will tweet back!  She’s @CiaoBellaCreech. [a pretty amazing novel in verse, ages 8 and up]

 

 

Best Dogs in Children’s Books Honorable Mentions

A Dog’s Way Home by Bobbie Pyron

Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this story is told in alternate chapters through the voice of eleven-year-old Abby and her dog Tam about their harrowing adventures when they are separated and what they go through in order to be reunited once again. This book reminds me of Phyllis Reynolds Naylor’s Newbery series Shiloh and would appeal to boys and girls alike in grades three through five.

A Dog's Way Home by Bobbie Pyron

Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman

Thank you to reader AScattergood for this great call! Gloria is man’s best friend, particularly for a safety police officer! [picture book, ages 2 and up]

Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman

Go, Dog Go! by Philip D. Eastman

Thank you to The Cath in the Hat for this classic! [picture book, ages 1 and up]

Go Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman

Three Stories You Can Read to Your Dog by Sara Swan Miller

Thank you to The Cath in the Hat for this great recommendation!

Three Stories You Can Read to Your Dog by Sara Swan Miller

Good Boy, Fergus! by David Shannon

Thank you to The Fourth Musketeer for this great recommendation. [picture book, ages 2 and up]

Good Boy, Fergus! by David Shannon

Stanley’s Party by Linda Bailey

Thank you to The Fourth Musketeer for this great recommendation: a hilarious picture book for 5 and up about a dog that throws a big party when its owners are out of the house.

Stanley’s Party by Linda Bailey

Once I Ate a Pie by Patricia MacLachlan

Thank you to The Fourth Musketeer for this great recommendation: for pure “AAWW adorableness”, I LOVE the poetry collection by which has poems and gorgeous illustrations about a number of different dogs.

Once I Ate a Pie by Patricia MacLachlan

The Adventures of Lucy Snigglefritz by Patrick Milne

Thank you to reader Jennifer for this recommendation: I bought a WONDERFUL book for my niece from a craft show this past Christmas called The Adventures of Lucy Snigglefritz. It’s about a cute little circus dog. The author and illustrator were both presenters at the show and I talked to them for a couple of minutes. Wonderful people. It’s a self-published book and I wish them good luck with it because my niece loves it. The website is http://www.fayemousbooks.com.

The Adventures of Lucy Snigglefritz by Patrick Milne

Carl series by Alexandra Day

Thank you to Alicia for this great recommendation!

Carl series by Alexandra Day

 

p.s. Related posts:

Book Lists Around a Particular Animal

Favorite Owl Children’s Books

Five New Rescue Dog Books

5 Picture Books Around Pet Adoption

Top 10: Best Dragon Children’s Books

Top 10: Favorite Duck Picture Books

Our Favorite Dinosaur Books

Hamsters and Guinea Pigs in Early Chapter Books

Top 10: Crocodile Books for Kids

Top 10: Zoo Books for Kids

Top 10: Pokémon Books

10 Hilarious Cat and Dog Picture Books

 

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14 thoughts on “23 Children’s Books with Wonderful Dog Characters”

  1. Fourth Musketeer says:
    January 20, 2011 at 11:35 am

    I have to mention a couple other dog books I love–
    Good Boy, Fergus, by David Shannon, a picture book good for ages 3 and up;
    also Stanley’s Party, by Linda Bailey, a hilarious picture book for 5 and up about what a dog that throws a big party when his owners are out of the house,
    and for pure “AAWW adorableness”, I LOVE the poetry collection by
    Patricia MacLachlan, Once I Ate a Pie, which has poems and gorgeous illustrations about a number of different dogs.

    So many great dog books out there!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      January 20, 2011 at 11:41 pm

      To Fourth Musketeer,
      Thank you for all your wonderful suggestions. It’s always such a pleasure to have a children’s librarian give suggestions! You guys have the BEST ideas! Thanks and I’ll add to the list!

      Reply
  2. The Cath in the Hat says:
    January 20, 2011 at 12:47 pm

    Love, love, love all the Harry dogs, especially No Roses for Harry. And for beginning readers try Go, Dog, Go by P.D. Eastman and Three Stories You Can Read to Your Dog by Sara Swan Miller.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      January 20, 2011 at 11:39 pm

      To The Cath in the Hat,
      Oh, I can’t believe I forgot about Go, Dog, Go! I read it about 3 million times to my kids! I am not familiar with the Three Stories You Can Read to Your Dog so thanks for that. Will add all these great new additions to the list!

      ps LOVE your name!

      Reply
  3. Alicia Jay says:
    January 20, 2011 at 3:12 pm

    I love dog books for kids! Having a rottie, I am partial to the “Carl” books. I can’t wait for my little one to be old enough to read them!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      January 20, 2011 at 11:37 pm

      To Alicia:
      I don’t know the Carl books. Thanks for that suggestion. Will add to the list!

      Reply
  4. Jennifer says:
    February 4, 2011 at 1:41 pm

    I bought a WONDERFUL book for my niece from a craft show this past Christmas called The Adventures of Lucy Snigglefritz. It’s about a cute little circus dog. The author and illustrator were both present at the show and I talked to them for a couple of minutes. Wonderful people. It’s a self-published book and I wish them good luck with it because my niece loves it. The website is http://www.fayemousbooks.com

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      February 5, 2011 at 9:09 am

      To Jennifer,
      Oh, I don’t know that book so THANK YOU for the heads up. I’ll try to find it to read it!

      Reply
  5. Augusta Scattergood says:
    October 9, 2011 at 10:55 am

    Excellent list. Dog’s Way Home is a new one to add to my list.

    I might add OFFICER BUCKLE AND GLORIA. Picture book that’s loads of fun.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      October 10, 2011 at 10:15 pm

      To Augusta,
      Great call! Adding it right now! Thank you!

      Reply
  6. Harry the dog says:
    February 1, 2012 at 8:46 pm

    Glad I ran into this site full of great dog books, I’m going to bookmark this page because my kids and I love dogs. But come on, Harry the Dirty dog has got to be #1. You know its a great book if you still remember it after 20+ years. Our other favorite dog book is Toto the cloud dog. I get really somber everytime I read that book to my kids. But thanks for the great list, I’ll definitely try out your #1 pick

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      February 5, 2012 at 1:52 pm

      To Harry the Dog,
      I have a soft spot for Harry the Dirty Dog too! Thanks for your book recommendation. I don’t know that book but I’ll definitely check it out and add it to the list! Thanks again for leaving a comment!

      Reply
  7. KJ Mansfield says:
    March 4, 2014 at 2:01 pm

    Here’s why I decided to write The Flyball 5: The adventures of 5 abandoned puppies.
    When I was only three years old, I climbed out of a window and wandered off to the local train station and on to the tracks.
    Luckily for me, the family dog, a Boxer named Raf, jumped out of the window after me and kept me company, instinctively pushing me away whenever I ventured near any of the electric rails that would have given me a fatal shock if I had touched one of them.
    Raf, who later had 13 puppies in a single litter, saved my life that day.
    The Flyball 5 is an entertaining read for everyone, young and old.
    Hopefully, it will encourage people to be kind to dogs.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      March 4, 2014 at 6:02 pm

      Hi KJ,
      Thanks so much for introducing us to your book! It sounds interesting and books that teach readers kindness to dogs is always a good thing!

      Reply

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