DOG PICTURE BOOKS
The Adventures of Taxi Dog by Debra and Sal Barracca. Penguin Group (USA) (Dial), 1990. 0803706715. 32 p. K-3. A stray dog in New York City is adopted by a taxi driver, with whom he thereafter rides and shares adventures each day.
Akiak: A Tale from the Iditarod by Robert J. Blake. Penguin Group (USA) (Philomel), 1997. 0399227989. 32 p. K-3 or older. Akiak, the sled dog, refuses to give up after being injured during the Iditarod sled dog race in this action-packed suspenseful story of courage and determination.
Albert, the Dog Who Liked to Ride in Taxis by Cynthia Zarin. Illustrated by Pierre Pratt. Atheneum, 2004. 0689847629. 32 p. K-3. Albert the dachshund loves nothing better than riding in taxicabs until the day a taxicab adventure takes him to the airport.
Angus Series by Marjorie Flack. Pre-K. These classic stories about the feisty, lovable Scottish terrier are still delightful. Titles in the series are Angus and the Ducks, Angus and the Cat and Angus Lost.
Arthur’s New Puppy by Marc Brown. Little Brown, 1993. 0316113557. 32 p. Pre-K.
Arthur the aardvark’s mischievous new puppy will be banished unless Arthur can manage to train him.
Bad Dog, Dodger! by Barbara Abercrombie. Illustrated by Adam Gustavson. Margaret K. McElderry, 2002. 0689837828. 40 p. Grades 1-4. Nine-year-old Sam is determined to teach his new puppy to behave, but not before Dodger has scared his sister, pulled down some curtains, and stopped a baseball game.
Bad Dog School by Barbara Joosse. Illustrated by Jennifer Plecas. Clarion, 2004. 0618133313. 32 p. K-3. Harris’s family decides that his dog Zippy should go to dog obedience school, but after he is trained, they miss the old Zippy. This humorous story is illustrated with cheerful watercolor cartoons.
Bark, George by Jules Feiffer. HarperCollins, 1999. 0062051865. 32 p. Pre-K. When puppy George is asked to bark by his mother, he manages to produce a range of animal sounds, including a “meow” and a “moo” but never an “arf.” The vet solves the problem by reaching into George and extracting various animals. Kids will love this outlandish reversal of the “Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.”
Ben Has Something to Say: A Story About Stuttering by Laurie Lears. Illustrated by Karen Ritz. Albert Whitman and Co., 2004. 0807506338. 32 p. K-3. In order to help a neglected dog that he sees at a junkyard, Ben, who stutters, begins to confront his fear of speaking.
Benny: An Adventure Story by Bob Graham. Candlewick, 1999. Pre-K. The talented pet dog of a traveling magician is fired when he upstages his boss and must find a new job and a new home.
The Best Pet of All by David Larochelle. Illustrated by Hanako Wakiyama. Penguin Group (Dutton), 2004. 0525471294. 32 p. K-3. A young boy enlists the help of a dragon to persuade his mother to let him have a dog as a pet.
The Blues of Flats Brown by Walter Dean Myers. Illustrated by Nina Laden. Holiday House, 2000. 0823414809. 32 p. K-3. In this soulful tale told in Southern vernacular, a junkyard dog named Flats runs away from a cruel master and makes a name for himself from Mississippi to New York City playing blues on his guitar. The rhythmic, easy-rolling narration and the moody-blues illustrations combine to make this a memorable road trip. Words and music for the poignant song “New York City Blues” are included.
Boomer’s Big Day by Constance W. Mcgeorge. Illustrated by Mary Whyte. Chronicle Books, 1994. 0811805263. 32 p. Pre-K. Boomer, a playful golden retriever, is confused and bewildered as the family prepares to move, but he is reassured when they arrive at their new home.
Bow-Wow Birthday by Lee Wardlaw. Illustrated by Arden Johnson-Petrov. Boyds Mills Press, 1998. 1563974894. 32 p. Pre-K. Maris has a big party for Rambler’s 100th (in dog years) birthday. The old dog hides in a closet, but the kids dress in dog-related costumes, adopt dog names, have a barking contest and eat hot dogs for lunch.
Brave Norman: A True Story(Pets to the Rescue Series: Ready to Read) by Andrew Clements. Illustrated by Ellen Beler. Simon & Schuster, 2001. 0689829140. 32 p.
NON-FICTION. Norman, a blind Labrador retriever, saves a girl from drowning in the ocean.
Brenda and Edward by Maryann Kovalski. Kids Can Press, 1997. 091996477X. 32 p.
K-3. Two dogs live in a cardboard box behind a French restaurant in this romantic fantasy set in 1940s New York. When Brenda gets lost in the city, they are separated for years but are eventually reunited.
Bubba & Beau, Best Friends by Kathi Appelt. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. Harcourt, 2002. 0152020608. 32 p. Pre-K. When Mama Pearl washes their favorite blanket, it’s a sad day for best friends Bubba (a baby boy) and Beau (a puppy), but it gets worse when she decides the baby boy and his puppy need baths too. This five-chapter picture book is set in Texas.
Bubba and Beau Meet the Relatives by Kathi Appelt. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. Harcourt, 2004. 0152166300. 32 p. Pre-K. When the kinfolk come to visit, Bubba and Beau want nothing more than to sink their paws into the squishy, squashy mud hole.
Buddy, the First Seeing Eye Dog by Eva Moore. Illustrated by Don Bolognese. Cartwheel Books, 1996. 0590265857. 48 p. NON-FICTION. True account of the training and early work experiences of a German shepherd, which became the first seeing eye dog in America.
Caddie the Golf Dog by Bill Martin and Michael Sampson. Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. Walker and Co., 2002. 0802788181. 32 p. K-3. A stray dog must chose between the girl who first took her in and the two brothers who gave her a home and helped her care for her new puppies.
Carl the Dog (Series) by Alexander Day. These nearly wordless books about the big rottweiler and his family are wonderful.
Chewy Louie by Howie Schneider. Rising Moon Books for Young Readers, 2000. 0873587650. 32 p. Pre-K. A cute puppy eats everything in sight, including toys, bowls, and porches, until he finally outgrows his need to chew. Kids will love this goofy tale about the family’s struggles with puppy training.
City Dog, Country Dog by Susan Stevens Crummel and Dorothy Donohue. Cavendish, 2004. 0761451560. 32p. K-3. Two French dogs, Henri LaPooch and Vincent van Dog, meet at art school and become good friends despite their differences. Artword is done in the same style of Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec. French words are included in the text of this lively twist on an Aesop’s Fable.
Clementine in the City by Jessie Hartland. Penguin Group (USA) (Viking), 2005. 0670059293. 40 p. K-3. Bored with small town life and longing for adventure, Clementine the poodle moves to the city to become a circus entertainer.
Clifford, the Bid Red Dog(Series) by Norman Bridwell. Pre-K. Kids love Clifford the Big Red Dog.
The Comic Adventures of Old Mother Hubbard and Her Dog by Tomie de Paola. Illustrated by Sarah Catherine Martin. Pre-K. This is a handsome version of the classic nursery rhyme.
The Complete Adventures of Big Dog and Little Dog by Dav Pilkey. Harcourt, 2003. 0152047085. 88 p. Pre-K. This book contain five well-loved stories about two mischievous dogs, originally published as separate board books.
Daisy Is a Mommy by Lisa Kopper. Penguin Group (USA) (Dutton), 1997. 0525457224. 32 p. Pre-K. Daisy the bull terrier cares for her three pups, just like the human baby’s mother does on the opposite pages. Sequel to Daisy Thinks She’s a Baby (1994).
The Day the Dog Dressed Like Dad by Tom Amico. Illustrated by James Proimos. Bloomsbury, 2004. 1582348774. 32 p. Pre-K. One day when Dad is out of town, the family dog decides to take over his role by demanding some grub, taking the family on a picnic, and hogging the remote.
Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School by Mark Teague. Scholastic Press, 2002. 0439206634. 32 p. K-3 or older. Gertrude LaRue receives typewritten and paw-written letters from her dog Ike, entreating her to let him leave the Igor Brotweiler Canine Academy and come back home. Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award winner 2005.
Detective LaRue: Letters from the Investigation by Mark Teague. Scholastic Press, 2004. 0439458684. K-3 or older. In this sequel to Dear Mrs. LaRue,the dog Ike writes letters from jail, having been unjustly accused of terrorizing the Hibbins’ cats and stealing their treats.
Dig! by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha. Silver Whistle, 2004. 0152167854. 32p. Pre-K. Mr. Rally and his dog, Lightning, travel the town on a big yellow backhoe, taking care of five important jobs. Simple, bouncing text, a rhyming refrain and appealing art will make this a storytime hit.
Do You Still Love Me? by Charlotte Middleton. Candlewick, 2003. 0763622540. 32 p.
Pre-K. Dudley feels unloved when Anna brings home a chameleon, but when the chameleon gets lost, Dudley becomes a hero by saving it from the cat.
Dog by Robert J. Blake. K-3. This story is told in a lilting Irish dialect. A stray dog tries to befriend Old Peter, a crusty old cemetary keeper who lives in an isolated Irish seaside village. It takes a nasty summer storm to make Old Peter realize how much he cares for the dog.
Dog Blue by Polly Dunbar. Candlewick Press, 2004. 0763624764. 40 p. Pre-K. Bertie, a boy who loves the color blue, pretends he has a blue dog. He finally gets a real dog, who is perfect, except that he is white with black spots. Bertie solves the problem by naming him “Blue.”
Dog Breath: The Horrible Trouble with Hally Tosis by Dav Pilkey. Blue Sky Press, 1994. 0590474669. 32 p. K-3. Hally Tosis, a dog with terrible breath, uses his affliction to capture two burglars. This humorous story with bold illustrations is filled with jokes that will make adults groan and kids laugh.
Dog Days by Amanda Harvey. Random House, 2003. 0385908601. Pre-K.
In this sequel to Dog Eared Otis the dog feels neglected when a new kitten joins the family, so he runs away.
Dog Eared by Amanda Harvey. Doubleday Books, 2002. 0385729111. 32 p. Pre-K. Self-conscious about his ears, a dog tries doing a number of things to make them look better, but reassurance from Lucy restores the dog’s self-confidence. This delightful story about an adorable dog is a great choice for storytime.
Dog for a Day by Dick Gackenbach. K-3. A boy’s invention creates unexpected problems when it causes him and his dog to exchange places.
Dog Gone: Starring Otis by Amanda Harvey. Random House, 2004. 0385908709. 32p. Pre-K. Otis is not happy being left at the Misty Meadow dog hotel, but after running away, he is happy to find his way back.
Dog Magic by Carla Golembe. Houghton Mifflin, 1997. 0395816629. 32 p. Pre-K. Molly Gail is afraid of dogs until her seventh birthday, when she is so excited about getting beautiful shoes that she forgets to be afraid. She thinks that the shoes are magic. Her courage is tested when she outgrows her shoes. The story concludes with a new puppy for her eighth birthday.
Doggie in the Window by Elaine Arsenault. Groundwood Books, 2004. 0888996195.
32 p. K-3. A young dog dresses himself as a kitten, a fish, a parrot and a lizard to attract the attention of Mademoiselle Madeleine, a costume maker.
Dogs by Gail Gibbons. Holiday House, 1996. 0823412261. 32 p. NON-FICTION.
An introduction to dogs including their history, types of breed, senses, and ways of communication.
Dogs, Dogs, Dogs! by Leslea Newman. Illustrated by Erika Oller. Simon & Schuster, 2002. 0689844921. 32 p. Pre-K. This is a rhyming counting book of dogs joyfully romping from one to ten, then back to one.
Dogs Helping People Series by Alice B. McGinty. Rosen Publishing Group. 24 p.
Titles in the series include Guide Dogs: Seeing for People Who Can’t; Detector Dogs: Sniffing Out Trouble; Police Dogs: Helping to Fight Crime; Sheep-Herding Dogs: Rounding Up the Herd; and Sled Dogs: Speeding Through the Snow.
Dogteam by Gary Paulsen. K-3 or older. This is a poetic description of a nighttime dog sled adventure.
Dogzilla by Dav Pilkey. Harcourt, 2003. 0152049487. 32 p. K-3. In this spoof of monster movies, a huge corgi dog terrorizes the residents of Mousopolis. The book is illustrated with photographic collages retouched with acrylic paint. Pair this with Kat Kong for a monster movie story program.
Dot the Fire Dog by Lisa Desimini. Blue Sky Press, 2001. 0439233224. 40 p. Pre-K. Dot, a Dalmatian that lives at a firehouse, accompanies the firefighters when they rush to a burning house.
The First Dog by Jan Brett. Harcourt, 1988. 0152276505. 40 p. K-3. Kip the Cave Boy and Paleowolf each face hunger and danger on a journey in Paleolithic times. When they join forces and help one another, Paleowolf becomes the first dog.
The Five-Dog Night by Eileen Christelow. Clarion, 1993. 0395623995. 40 p. K-3. Crusty New Englander Ezra doesn’t need blankets to stay warm during winter nights. As it gets colder, he simply pulls another dog in bed with him. This is a good story for telling.
Flawed Dogs: The Year End Leftovers at the Piddleton Last Chance Dog Pound by Berkeley Breathed. Little Brown, 2003. 0316713597. 48 p. K-3 or older. This tongue-in-cheek catalog of unadoptable dogs will appeal to some older children who enjoy the unusual. The author’s plea to consider adopting dogs with problems is sincere.
Flea in the Ear by Stephen Wyllie. K-3. When a fox tricks a dog into abandoning his post at the hen house in order to get rid of his fleas, the dog discovers his error and tricks the fox into giving up his dinner. This witty turn-about tale will be fun for storytime.
Fun Dog, Sun Dog by Deborah Heiligman. Illustrated by Tim Bowers. Marshall Cavendish, 2005. 0761451625. 32p. Pre-K. This catchy rhyming story is about a boy and his golden retriever spending a day at the beach.
Ginger Jumps by Lisa Ernst. K-3. Ginger is a small brown puppy who works in a circus. Her dreams of finding a family and a little girl to love her come true.
Good Dog, Carl by Alexandra Day. Simon & Schuster, 1991. 0671752049. 40 p. Pre-K. Lively and unusual things happen when Carl the dog is left in charge of the baby. This title is one in a series of charming, almost wordless books about the likeable rottweiler, Carl. They are excellent lap books.
Good Dog, Paw! by Chinlun Lee. Candlewick Press, 2004. 0763621781. 40 p. K-3. When April the veterinarian treats animals in her office, her well-loved dog Paw helps her and lets her patients know the secret of good health.
The Great Gracie Chase by Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Mark Teague. Blue Sky Press, 2001. 0590100416. 40 p. Pre-K. This joyful, madcap chase through the town illustrated with expressive cartoon-like images of animals and people is great fun.
Guide Dogs: Seeing for People Who Can’t by Alice B. McGinty. Power Kids Press, 1999. 0823952150. 22 p. NON-FICTION. Describes the raising and training of Freedom, a seeing eye dog, beginning with its selection as a candidate to be a guide dog up to its placement with an appropriate master.
The Hallo-Wiener by Dav Pilkey. Paperback. Scholastic (Blue Sky), 1995. K-3. In this hilarious Halloween spoof, Oscar the dachshund is teased by the other dogs for being so short. To make matters worse, his mother dresses him up as a hot dog for Halloween, but Oscar saves the day.
Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion. Illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham. HarperCollins, 1956. 0060268662. 32 p. Pre-K. Harry, a white dog with black spots who hates baths, buries the scrubbing brush in the backyard and runs away from home. He gets so dirty that his family doesn’t recognize him as a black dog with white spots. This is the first in a series about Harry. Others are Harry and the Lady Next Door, Harry by the Sea and No Roses for Harry.
How Much is that Doggie in the Window? by Bill Merrill. Illustrated by Iza Trapani. Charlesbridge Publishing, 1997. 1879085747. 32 p. Pre-K. In this expanded version of the popular song, a boy tries to earn money for the dog in the pet store, but he keeps having to spend it on other things.
How to Talk to Your Dog by Jean Craighead George. Illustrated by Sue Truesdell. HarperCollins, 2000. 0060270934. 40 p. NON-FICTION. Describes how dogs communicate with people through their behavior and sounds and explains how to talk back to them using sounds, behavior, and body language.
I Swapped My Dog by Harriet Ziefert. Illustrated by Emily Bolam. Houghton Mifflin (Walter Lorraine), 1998. 0395891590. 24 p. Pre-K. In this rhyming, cumulative story, a finicky farmer swaps each animal he receives for what he thinks is a better one but ends up with his original faithful dog.
I Wished for a Unicorn by Robert Heidbreder. Illustrated by Kady Denton. Kids Can Press, 2000. 1550745433. 32 p. K-3. A young girl’s dog is transformed into a thinly disguised unicorn, and they travel together into a magical land in this bright, good-natured fantasy.
A Kid’s Best Friend by Maya Ajmera and Alex Fisher. Charlesbridge Publishing, 2004. 157091513X. 32 p. NON-FICTION. Describes the special relationship that exists between children and their pet dogs all around the world.