It’s been a little over a year since we got our dog, Nugget. (Yes, we got his name from The Wingfeather Saga). So, I thought it only fitting to give you a list of some of our favorite picture books about dogs. (Not to mention that it’s the Year of the Dog!)
Even if you don’t have a dog of your own, I think you and your kids will enjoy these. If you do have a dog, then you’ll love them. (I may have gotten a little carried away with this list!)
Picture Books for Dog Lovers
Dogs by Emily Gravett is a sweet rhyming book with a fun twist at the end.
Out! by Arree Chung is a delightful, nearly-wordless, book about the relationship of a toddler and his dog.
Rosco vs. the Baby by Lindsay Ward, on the other hand, is about a dog and a baby who gradually become best friends, despite an unlikely beginning.
Our Very Own Dog by Amanda McCardie illustrated by Salvatore Rubbino is the ideal book for a family considering or planning to get a new dog. The story is sweet and simple and depicts a girl and her family learning to care for a dog. In smaller text, the author includes more detailed pointers on dog care.
Patch by David Slonim is an adorable book about a trouble-prone dog and the bond between him and his boy. Any child who truly loves their dog will identify.
Hello Goodbye Dog by Maria Gianferrari illustrated by Patrice Barton is a new take on Mary Had a Little Lamb. Zara’s dog, Moose, follows her to school again and again, but dogs just aren’t allowed. Eventually, they find a clever way for Moose to be included in the classroom as a service dog.
Gaston and Antoinette by Kelly DiPucchio illustrated by Christian Robinson are a pair of books about two dogs switched at birth and placed in very different families. Each book, in a way, is a search for how they belong.
Found Dogs by Erica Sirotich is an adorable counting book of dogs in a shelter. At the end, each dog winds up with a home.
I Don’t Want a Posh Dog by Emma Dodd is perfect for the toddler to preschooler crowd who either love dogs or are getting their first. It’s a simple, rhyming book about what kind of dog this child doesn’t (and does) want.
I’m My Own Dog by David Ezra Stein is simply hilarious. A dog tells us how he’s his own dog: he fetches his own shoes, he lays down at his own feet, and he even tells himself to roll over. That is, until a “little guy” follows him home. This turns the pet/owner relationship on its head in the most delightful way.
Of course, I hope you already know about classics like Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion and Doggies by Sandra Boynton.
What are your favorite picture books about dogs?
Thank you again so much for including Hello Goodbye Dog here on this doggone good doggy book list, Carolyn :).
Absolutely, Maria! I loved the fun concept and sweet relationship. 🙂