The Ultimate List of Books With Dog Characters For Kids

From classic favorites to new titles, these books feature dogs sure to please kids of all ages. Your child will find joy in these entertaining stories about a human’s best friend.

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Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Because of Winn-Dixie is a heartwarming middle-grade novel about Opal, a ten-year-old girl who moves to a new town and has no friends. On a trip to the supermarket to buy groceries, Opal finds a dog running havoc through the store! Determined not to let the dog go to the pound, Opal convinces the store manager the pup belongs to her and takes him home. Read this book and discover how this friendship transforms their lives! Ages 8+

The Sailor Dog by Margaret Wise Brown, Illustrations by Garth Williams

This is a Little Golden Book classic, written by Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodnight Moon) and illustrations by Garth Williams (illustrator of Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little). Scuppers, a dog born at sea and raised on land, dreams of returning to sea. Join Scuppers on his journey to sail the seas. The voyage is not easy; challenges arise; see how Scuppers perseveres in living his best life! (Ages 2+)

Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion and Illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham

Harry, a white dog with black spots, liked everything except taking baths (do you know anyone who dislikes taking baths?). So one day, when he hears the water running, he takes the bath brush and runs outside to hide it, which leads him on an adventure! Read this funny book and follow Harry as he “changes from a white dog with black spots to a black dog with white spots!” Great for all ages.

Bonus: Harry the Dirty Dog is available on Storyline Online, read by Betty White(!!!), a project of the Screen Actors Guild. 

Clifford by Norman Bridwell

Meet Clifford, the big red dog, and Emily Elizabeth in the first book in the beloved series! First published nearly 60 (!) years ago, Clifford has charmed his way into the hearts of generations of children. Clifford is a funny, oversized pup who is a wonderful friend. If you enjoy this book, you are in luck: dozens of books are in the series! 

Where’s Spot? by Eric Hill

This classic lift-the-flap board book is perfect for the youngest readers! Help Sally (the mommy dog) find Spot; he still needs to eat his dinner; where could he be? Kids love the interactive lift-the-flap feature and enjoy helping Sally. Be warned: we have the flaps do rip; we have been through several copies already! All ages. 

Wish by Barbara O’Connor

Such a great book! Charlie Reese makes wishes every day on anything she can make a wish on. Wishbones, shooting stars, fallen eyelashes, if there is something to make a wish on, she’s done it! Unable to live with her parents, Charlie Reese must move in with an estranged family member she hardly knows. The chances of Charlie Reese’s wishes coming true seem unlikely… until she finds a stray dog. Read this book and see the power of friendship and the magic of having a dog. Ages 8+.

Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton

There is so much to love about Snuggle Puppy. The illustrations are adorable: full of detail, warmth, and humor. Snuggle Puppy is a bright and colorful board book. The book begins with the parent dog and the pup making chocolate chip cookies; I love this book already! The text is a love letter from a parent to a child describing the parent’s love. I have read (and sung, I made up a tune) this book countless times; I have it memorized!

Doggies by Sandra Boynton

A super fun counting book! Adorably funny illustrations coupled with a wide assortment of dog sounds (“Two dogs ‘woof!’ ‘yap yap!”), this book is a joy to read for dog lovers of all ages.

Graphic Novels

PAWS: Gabby Gets It Together by Nathan Fairbairn and Illustrated by Michele Assasakorn and Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter are two terrific graphic novels that feature pups! Check out my reviews for these books here.

Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac

Malian is enjoying a visit to her grandparent’s home on the Wabanaki reservation when, unexpectedly, the reservation was placed on lockdown. As a result, Malian must stay on the reservation and can not return to her parent’s home in Boston. This is the start of what we now know of as the COVID-19 pandemic. Bruchac captures the challenges many experienced at the beginning of the pandemic, including remote learning, and limited knowledge of how COVID-19 spread, while organically connecting this experience with the culture, history, and contemporary challenges experienced by First Americans.Ages 8+

Favorite pup

Do you have a favorite pup? I would love to hear about your favorite dog! Please send me a DM on Instagram @playgroundlibrarian.

Happy Reading or Woof Woof!!!

Xo, Sheryl