Celebrating Our Pups
We are celebrating the 2023 Caldecott Winner Hot Dog by Doug Salati. Any age can empathize with this little dog reaching his limit on a hot summer day in the city, and feeling the joys and rewards of taking a beach day.
Our list honors the special relationship between kids and dogs, from baby board books into early elementary, and memorable poetry. We have included Bookshop links and Amazon if some are hard to find treasures, but also encourage a trip to the library or your favorite Indie bookstore, like The Red Balloon. Only Bookshop benefit Grandycamp with your purchase.
Alexandra Day, GOOD DOG CARL series: Captivating countless readers with the lovable rottweiler Carl’s enterprising babysitting talents.
Natalie Nelson, DOG'S FIRST BABY: Nelson playfully captures the wonder and humor of a new baby through a dog’s eyes.
Rosemary Wells, McDUFF MOVES IN, illus. Susan Jeffers: A homeless, unloved dog finds love and rice pudding with Fred and Lucy.
Chris Raschka, A BALL FOR DAISY: This Caldecott winner tells all the joys of playing with a favorite ball and all the sadness in the loss - without any words!
Madeleine L'Engle, THE OTHER DOG, illus. by Christine Davenier: A sweet and charming story for any dog parents becoming first time human parents.
Sandra Boynton, DOGGIES: A COUNTING AND BARKING BOOK: 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.
Emily Gravett, DOGS: This charming books plays out all the opposites in dog love - size, behaviors, and even shabby/chic - who could choose?
Janet Sebring Lowrey, THE POKY LITTLE PUPPY: Original Golden Book from 1942 has become the bestselling picture book of all time.
Marc Simont, THE STRAY DOG: A family falls for a dog and name him Willy during an afternoon picnic - can they find him for keeps? Caldecott Honor Book.
David Shannon, GOOD BOY, FERGUS! A delightful day worth of canine capers with Fergus NOT being a very good boy.
Gene Zion, HARRY THE DIRTY DOG, illus. by Margaret Bloy Graham: Harry, a white dog with black spots, who absolutely, positively hates to take a bath, has entertained generations of children.
Kate DiCamillo, GOOD, ROSIE! illus. by Harry Bliss: Wistful Rosie finally gets to go to the dog park, but she and her new friends need to work out some details of friendship; and BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE: Opal befriends Winn-Dixie, and “just about everything that happens that summer is because of Winn-Dixie.”
Bob Graham, "LET'S GET A PUP!" SAID KATE: A compassionate pet rescue story about “How can you choose?!”
Peggy Rathman, OFFICER BUCKLE AND GLORIA: Gloria the police dog secretly livens up Officer Buckle’s dull safety presentations with antics the kids will love, and conclude with a lesson in teamwork. Caldecott Medal winner.
Kate McMullan, AS WARM AS THE SUN, illus. by Jim McMullan: Two French bulldogs find friendship to be the warmest spot of all.
Jan Brett, THE FIRST DOG: Imagining how a dog first became man’s best friend.
Marla Frazee, BOOT & SHOE: Two charming pups from the same litter share the same routines until they are upended by a squirrel and need to find their way back to each other.
Peter McCarty, HONDO & FABIAN: Who has more fun in a day, the cat or the dog? Caldecott Honor.Also available in a board book.
Capucilli, Alyssa Satin, BISCUIT series, illus. by Pat Schories: An endearing I Can Read that will engage your early reader with everyday experiences of a young girl and her puppy.
David LaRochelle, SEE THE CAT, illus. by Mike Wohnoutka: Three fun easy read chapters with the dog arguing with the narrator!
Matthew Van Fleet, DOG: Textures and moving parts engage young readers is all aspects of this beloved pet.
Cynthia Rylant, HENRY AND MUDGE easy reader series, illus. by Sucie Stevenson: Henry's parents are sad that Henry doesn't have kids to play with and get him a tiny puppy who grows into a large slobbering playmate. THE GREAT GRACIE CHASE, illus. by Mark Teague: Gracie has been a good dog every single day of her life until…
Nancy Coffelt, FRED STAYS WITH ME, illus. by Tricia Tusa: A young child whose parents are divorced, takes Fred from one parent's house to the other's, giving her a sense of continuity and stability.
Dav Pilkey, DOG MAN AND CAT KID series: The kids already know this one and they will LOVE getting another in the series!
Beverly Cleary, RIBSY, illus. by Jacqueline Rogers: Book three of a boxed set, a boy-meets-dog classic must-have. Great read aloud.
Louise Yates, DOG LOVES DRAWING: Dog receives a blank book and is soon doodling and drawing himself into a new world, full of friends and surprises.
Betsy Byars, Betsy Duffy and Laurie Myers, DOG DIARIES: SECRET WRITINGS OF THE WOOF SOCIETY: Ultra short stories from dogs of all different backgrounds and breeds that gather together to listen to the stories of twelve dogs from around the world and throughout history.
Kristine George, LITTLE DOG POEMS, illus. by June Atani: A perfect introduction to the pleasures of poetry, celebrating a girl and her so-loveable dog.
Patricia MacLachlan, ONCE I ATE A PIE (poetry), illus. by Katie Schneider: In words, barks, and yips puppies tell of happy days filled with squeaky toys, good smells, plenty of naps, and the the people they love to love.
Andrew Clements, DOGKU (poetry), illus. by Tim Bowers: Told entirely in haiku this enchanting book is a clever fusion of poetry and puppy dog.
Joyce Sidman, THE WORLD ACCORDING TO DOG (poems and teen voices): Heartfelt combination of poems and prose muses on canine wisdom and charm--what dogs can teach us, and why they are lovable.
Patricia MacLachlan, THE POET'S DOG: An enchanting tale of friendship—of the canine and poetic kind—will also save the children.
-favorites compiled by Dr. Rebecca Rapport and Karen Ritz. Please leave your favorites in the comments!