1. Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
From the man who brought Captain Underpants to our shelves comes a new hero! Dog Man is here to sniff out crime and bring criminals like his archnemesis, Petey the cat, to justice. But the series isn’t just about fighting crime and doing good for the sake of it, the message beyond the surface of the book is that it’s okay to be yourself. The main character spends time trying to resist the pull of his canine urges while remaining an upstanding officer of the law, but he eventually realizes that he can be his true self.
This heartwarming message is wrapped in bright colors, a huge amount of comedy, lots of potty humor, and phonetical spelling. It’s better for a younger audience still learning how words sound, rather than kids that would use children’s books to help them learn what words look like and how they’re spelled.
Recommended ages: 7 – 9 years
2. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Because of Winn-Dixie may not have the look of your typical modern children’s book, but it’s a classic tale that slightly older kids will enjoy reading again and again. The story follows 10-year-old Opal, who ventures out to a grocery store for food, but comes back home with a dog at her heels. Little does she know, this dog isn’t like other dogs.
The story of a seemingly magical animal that helps a struggling child develop into the best version of themselves is one that’s told often. This kind of tale can help young readers come into their own, be more confident, and even help them make new friends – which is exactly what Opal’s new dog does for her. In addition, this story touches on separated parents and highlights a young girl asking hard questions.
Recommended ages: 9 to 12 years
3. The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey
One of twelve Little Golden Books originally published in 1942, The Poky Little Puppy is the story of one of five little puppies who decided to dig holes under a fence and go on an adventure. This is a simple story, great for reading to babies and toddlers who can handle just a pinch of excitement before they go to sleep.
This tale is considered one of the timeless classics. It’s detailed in that you can see the care and time that went into every page, even if the story isn’t long or complicated. Look closely and you can see the brush marks in the art.
Recommended ages: 0 to 3 years
4. Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill
Now, this is a story that today’s younger parents may remember reading when they were children, themselves. This edition of Where’s Spot? is perfect for kids that like playing peek-a-boo and hide-and-seek because there are flaps in the book that they can lift and see if Spot the dog is lurking around that page.
It’s a great interactive book that toddlers find delightful. Spot is a childhood staple of a dog, and he’ll be around for many more years to come.
Recommended ages: 1 to 3 years
5. Go, Dog Go by P.D. Eastman
Covering a broader age range for children that are out of their toddling stage and want to start being more independent, Go, Dog. Go! uses just 75 words throughout its pages to lead its reader through a tale of dogs riding different vehicles. The great thing about this book is that it can help teach your children more vehicle vocabulary, while still retaining some silly phrases and good rhymes that make it easy for kids to read this alone.
Recommended ages: 3 to 7 years
6. Doggies by Sandra Boynton
Make no mistake, this is not the kind of book that you should buy for your 7-year-old. Though it’s advertised for all ages, this is a book about counting and learning what different sounds a dog makes. The best audience for Doggies is certainly a baby or toddler that you can read to or teach them how to join in, respectively.
Doggies is a simple, quick book to entertain a young mind. Great for getting a start on your child’s education.
Recommended ages: 0 to 3 years
7. Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
Recognized as one of the top 100 children’s books by the National Education Association, Harry is a white dog with black spots that becomes so dirty that he turns into a black dog with a handful of white patches – all because he didn’t want to take a bath and decided to go out and play, instead! When he returns home after his day of adventure, his human family doesn’t recognize him at first!
It’s a comedic story about a dog that hates baths so much that he runs away. This could very well be something that one of your little ones relates to, and they’ll see that having a bath isn’t so bad.
Illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham, who has also illustrated the other Harry dog books by Gene Zion.
Recommended ages: 4 to 8 years
8. Diary of a Pug by Kyla May
When Bub’s human Bella enters the Inventor Challenge, he helps her create the best project possible. But when Nutz the squirrel comes around and gets Bub all frustrated, he accidentally ruins Bella’s project and challenges himself to face the things he doesn’t like to make sure Bella is smiling at the end of the day.
Recommended ages: 5 to 7 years
9. Clifford Goes to Kindergarten by Norman Bridwell
Emily Elizabeth’s canine companion is a widely recognized dog. These dog books show Emily Elizabeth and Clifford on all kinds of adventures and are perfect for building up a collection for younger children who love to read. In this adventure, the duo is at kindergarten for the first time, but no one expected a little girl to bring a giant, red pup!
Recommended ages: 3 to 6 years
10. Big Dog Little Dog by P.D. Eastman
A board book with thicker pages, perfect as a first book gift to give to your child. Big Dog… Little Dog was first published in 1973, so it may very well be something that the parents of today’s young ones remember reading once upon a time. The book is a great lesson on comparing one thing to another, with plenty of contrasts between big and small, colors, and more.
Recommended ages: 0 to 5 years
11. Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings
This is the kind of narrative that tugs on the heartstrings and helps kids understand that there are lots of dogs out there looking for their forever homes. It’s a great segway into adopting a dog, and the plot is told in a beautifully unique way. The dog in this tale is Arfy, a stray dog who lives on the streets while he waits for someone to take him home.
This is the perfect opportunity to teach your kids about pet adoption, animal shelter facilities, and empathy.
Recommended ages: 3 to 7 years
12. How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O’Connor
The title of this book about dogs is one that might put parents off from buying it, but you should never judge a book by its cover and that saying is so true here. How to Steal a Dog is a book about a girl whose family is homeless and she is desperate to find a way to earn money so that they can have a real home again and her mom can work less. She spots a reward poster for a neighbor’s dog and plans to do something untoward, but her own morals quickly come into play.
A great piece for teaching kids about what’s right and wrong as they grow towards their teenage years.
Recommended ages: 8 to 12 years
13. 101 Dalmatians Hardcover by Justine Korman
A piece of children’s literature that is almost as popular as its Disney film counterpart, 101 Dalmations is another Little Golden Book full of charming illustrations. Like many of the other published Little Golden Books available, 101 Dalmatians would be a great start to any child’s book collection and could be passed down the line as more kids join your extended family.
Age range: 2 to 5 years
14. The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
Follow a Labrador Retriever, Bull Terrier, and a Siamese cat through the Canadian wilderness in this tale of trust, instinct, and family. Burnford’s book shows slightly older readers what being a best friend is all about while this unlikely trio takes a long walk home to their owner. There’s danger, drama, and something for everyone – even the adults reading it!
This novel inspired Homeward Bound, so if your children enjoyed that, they’ll love the original book.
Recommended ages: 8 to 12 years
15. Officer Buckle & Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
A dramatic novel with a touch of comic book flare, this mystical tale is one of Peggy Rathman’s many stories. She’s known as a writer who has a knack for creating compelling storylines and real characters; which is certainly something she’s managed again in Officer Buckle and Gloria. A great piece of children’s literature for teaching the “always take a buddy” lesson.
Recommended ages: 4 to 8 years
16. How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills
A New York Times bestseller, this picture book stars Rocket the dog and his teacher, who is a small yellow bird. The recommended reading age range for this literary piece is perfect for the time that children start learning the alphabet and figuring out simple words. Read along with your little ones to make learning more fun for them.
Recommended ages: 3 to 7 years
17. Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio
A Bulldog learns that he’s not as different as he thinks he is. After spending time with other Bulldogs, he realizes that their home doesn’t feel like his home, and returns to his sisters – who are all Poodles. This sweet story is great for families who have adopted or fostered and want to try to bring a message of love and belonging to their children.
Recommended ages: 4 to 8 years
18. Ribsy by Beverly Cleary
A book about a boy and his dog, there’s nothing more perfect in the genre of dog books! Risby is a curious dog who finds himself in the wrong place with the wrong kids but still manages to have his own adventures as he finds his way back to his boy, Henry. Along the way, he’ll get into plenty of mischief and even score a touchdown for one of the local high school teams!
Recommended ages: 8 to 12 years
19. City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems
A tale that represents two different people from two different places coming together to play games. City Dog meets Country Frog in the spring, and despite their differences, they play together again in summer. Even though one is a frog and the other is a dog, their friendship continues to evolve because they like playing together.
Recommended ages: 3 to 5 years
20. Dex: The Heart of a Hero by Caralyn Buehner
A narrative about a small dog with big dreams trying to find his own way in the world. Dex does his best to grow into the hero he’s always wanted to be, but the first cat he rescues makes fun of his size. It takes some time, but Dex eventually learns that being a hero isn’t about how big or strong he is; he’s already a hero, and he always was.
A good book to teach your kids that kindness is the most powerful thing a person can have.
Recommended ages: 4 to 8 years
21. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
A tale about man and man’s best friend, Where the Red Fern Grows is another novel for older kids who are moving on to books that explore the world outside of their home and their school. Fans of Old Yeller will enjoy this narrative, which follows Billy and his team of hunting dogs as they make a name for themselves in their region. No one expects tragedy to strike in this incredibly emotional piece.
Where the Red Fern Grows understands where the perfect point is that a pre-teen book like this needs to hit. The themes are adult enough that the reader feels like they’re learning about the world, without touching on anything that would better fit a teen or YA novel. There are also several animals, which will typically keep a kid’s attention better than just reading about people.
Recommended ages: 8 to 12 years
22. Lassie Come-Home by Eric Knight
This is one of those stories that is suitable for all ages. A younger child may find it difficult to read without the assistance of any adults, but pre-teens and up shouldn’t find the text much of a hardship. Lassie Come-Home is an old and time-honored tale that highlights the love shared between a boy and his dog.
The novel is around 260 pages, so it could be a challenge for your child, but it’s a beautiful bedtime story that parents can easily read aloud and also enjoy while doing so.
Recommended ages: All
