Dog Books for Children
Whether it’s a story about a rescue dog or a funny tale about a mischievous puppy, dog books for children are sure to capture their imagination and tug at their heartstrings.
After all, dogs are a beloved companion for many families, and children are no exception!
Their furry and loyal nature makes them a popular subject in children’s literature and one subject we can never get enough of!
For more reading ideas, visit our extensive list of childrens books for kids!
You can find these dog books for children at your local library or through the affiliated links provided for your convenience.
Fun Dog Facts
Dogs have an incredible sense of smell. They can smell up to 100,000 times better than humans.
There are over 300 different breeds of dogs in the world.
Dogs can understand up to 250 words and gestures, making them very smart animals.
Dogs have a unique paw print, just like humans have unique fingerprints.
There are just too many wonderful books featuring dogs to include.
In this list, I’ve included some not-to-be-missed classics as well as newer books that you’re going to want to read with your child.
Enduring classics my boys absolutely loved over the years include The Stray Dog, Bark! George, Harry the Dirty Dog and Walter the Farting Dog (which was gifted to us by a neighbor and an instant hit!)
Dog Books for Children
Caldecott Honor Book * New York Times Best Illustrated Book * ALA Notable Children's Book * Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book * and MORE
When a little dog appears at a family picnic, the girl and boy play with him all afternoon, and they name him Willy. At day's end they say good-bye. But the dog has won their hearts and stays on their minds. The following Saturday the family returns to the picnic grounds to look for Willy, but they are not alone—the dog catcher is looking for him, too!
100 Great Children’s Books by The New York Public Library * #9 on School Library Journal’s list of the Top 100 Picture Books!
George is a hilarious, subversive story about a dog who can't bark! What's going on with George? Readers will delight at the surprise ending!
2023 Caldecott Medal Winner!
This hot dog has had enough of summer in the city! Enough of sizzling sidewalks, enough of wailing sirens, enough of people's feet right in his face.
With fluid art and lyrical text that have the soothing effect of waves on sand, award-winning author Doug Salati shows us how to find calm and carry it back with us so we can appreciate the small joys in a day.
Written for beginning readers using only 75 different words, this beloved Beginner Book by P.D. Eastman—edited by Dr. Seuss—features all kinds of wonderful dogs riding bicycles, scooters, skis, roller skates, and driving all sorts of vehicles on their way to a party held on top of a tree! This is a perfect gift for P.D. Eastman fans and dog lovers of all ages!
All-time top-100 children's book - National Education Association
Harry is a white dog with black spots who absolutely, positively hates to take a bath. After a day of adventure, Harry gets so dirty that he no longer looks like a white dog with black spots. Now he looks like a black dog with white spots!
From the legendary Dolly Parton comes a story about her god-dog and Instagram personality, Billy the Kid, who is hoping to make it big as a country music star in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dogs make us laugh, and dogs bring us joy. But what can they teach us about life? With its lovable pictures and songlike rhymes, kids will pick up valuable lessons they can use throughout their lives. Sit Stay Love teaches that no matter how we are different, how we are the same is what matters most.
Sandra Boynton masterfully marries learning to count with a toddler favorite—doggies! Big dogs, little dogs, short and long hair, powerful woofs, and tiny yaps are packed into this deceptively simple counting book that gets noisier with every page.
This picture book shares the tale of Arfy, a homeless mutt who lives in a box in an alley. Arfy writes to every person on Butternut Street about what a great pet he'd make, but no one wants him. Won't anyone open their heart--and home--to a lonesome dog? Readers will be happily surprised to learn just who steps up to adopt Arfy.
With Dog’s First Baby, Natalie Nelson captures the wonder and humor of a new baby through a dog’s eyes. Sure to delight kids and dog parents alike, this playful and heartwarming board book promises to be a repeat read-aloud.Â
It is one of the worst storms ever - the snow has not stopped for days and it is 30 degrees below zero. But somehow Balto must get through. He is the lead dog of his sled team. And he is carrying medicine to sick children miles away in Nome, Alaska. He is their only hope. Can Balto find his way through the terrible storm? Find out in this exciting true story!
Cheese and crackers! This treasury includes 6 stories of Bluey and Bingo and their amazing adventures with their friends and family! It's the perfect read for bedtime, when you're on-the-go, and anytime in-between. This book includes the stories The Pool, Bingo, Charades, Hammerbarn, Typewriter, and Baby Race.
The Poky Little Puppy was one of the original twelve Little Golden Books published in 1942. The story of a curious puppy, who digs holes under fences and who has to go to bed without any strawberry shortcake, has delighted families for generations.
A sweet and entertaining picture book following Noodle the pug and his human as they navigate Noodle’s first No Bones Day — a day for being kind to yourself!
Nickelodeon's PAW Patrol become super pups after a mysterious meteorite crashes near Adventure Bay. But can Marshall, Chase, Skye, and the rest of the team stop Mayor Humdinger from getting powers and using them for his own sneaky purposes?
If you give a dog a donut, he’ll ask for some apple juice to go with it. When you give him the juice, he’ll drink it all up. Then, before you can say “woof," Dog is off on a backyard adventure!
Naughty Spot is late for his supper - where could he be? This is a wonderful way to read this classic and beloved Spot story. Now loved all over the world Spot is an enduring, modern and classic character.
Walter is a fine dog, except for one small problem: he has gas. He can't help it; it's just the way he is. Fortunately, the kids Billy and Betty love him regardless. A children's beloved classic, my boys still talk about this book even though they're teens!
With minimal words and illustrations that tell all -- the undeniable love and devotion of a dog and his human baby is evident in their secret adventures as a team.
Meet Clifford and Emily Elizabeth in the original Clifford book! Clifford is big. Clifford is red. But most of all, Clifford knows how to be a good friend.
Pig is a greedy and selfish Pug. He has all the bouncy balls, bones, and chew toys a dog could ever want yet he refuses to share with his poor friend, Trevor. Little does he know, however, that being greedy has its consequences. Join Pig as he learns to share - the hard way!
It's picture day at the dog park. But before the first photo can be taken, an exuberant pack of pups needs a bit of grooming. So they’re off to Shampoodle, the local pet salon, where the eager dogs simply cannot sit still. And when some curious cats stop by, things go from messy to mayhem.Â
There are more than 101 things to love about Disney’s 101 Dalmatians! This Little Golden Book retells all the tail-wagging excitement of the film.
This bright, chunky board book is the ultimate love song from parent to child featuring a die-cut cover and Sandra Boynton’s signature style! Starring a sweet and cuddly doggy cast, this delightful rhyming story is a great big hug in book form packed with charming language, engaging illustrations, and an irresistible sense of fun.