For Dog-loving Kids
Rebecca B. asked me for suggestions to inspire her second-grader to read more. She mentioned that her kid loves dogs. Here are some ideas that I have that span picture books, chapter books, and middle grade that will appeal to animal lovers of this age.
Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman, 1995
This hilarious picture book depicts a police dog who upstages the officer who visits school to talk about safety. A delight where the pictures tell more than half the story.
DC Super Pets series by various authors, started in 2011
This highly graphic early reader will appeal to pet-lovers and super-hero fanatics alike. The pets of Superman, Batman, etc. get to have their own adventures.
Ranger in Time series by Kate Messner, started in 2015
A time-travel early reader series that stars Ranger, the dog. In the first volume, Ranger travels with a family on the Oregon Trail. Other books take Ranger on the Titanic, to Pearl Harbor, and to the South Pole. Great way to build history buffs from an early age, and Messner makes it accessible and fun.
Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen, started in 2008
Mercy is a pig, not a dog, but one that acts an awful lot like a puppy, so I’m including these great books in my list. These were a favorite in my house, getting lots of re-reading. DiCamillo and Van Dusen populate Decawoo Drive with over-the-top characters sure to please kids.
Pawcasso by Remi Lai, 2021
This graphic novel features a dog who runs errands independently with a basket around his neck and a list from his owner. But when the dog mistakenly walks in an art class, and a kid is mistaken for the dog’s owner, mischief ensues.
Sparks by Ian Boothby and Nina Matsumoto, started in 2018
My kid recommended this graphic novel series, about two cats who disguise themselves as a dog. They describe it as an action-adventure novel. Sounds pretty funny to me!
Dory Fantasmagory series by Abby Hanlon, started in 2014
Okay, okay, there’s not a dog in this one, but Dory’s wild imagination makes this a good one to capture a second-grader’s attention.
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo, 2000
DiCamillo gets another mention on this list for this classic middle-grade about a girl and the stray dog she finds at the supermarket.
A Home for Goddesses and Dogs by Leslie Connor, 2020
This beautifully written book is heavier, as it begins with the death of a parent. But there is a dog center stage, and the book is full of love and hope.
The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall, started in 2005
A fantastic series focusing on a family of four sisters, their father, and their dog, Hound. I love the way Birdsall creates a novel that exists in the present but also feels like a 19th-century novel.