I am writing this on Wednesday night, and earlier today we had our weekly Read to a Dog program at the library where I work. That’s right, we have a weekly program where a therapy dog comes in and kids can practice their reading to him. It’s a low-stress environment for kids because the dog isn’t going to judge them or correct them, he just sits calmly and listens to the story. So taking inspiration from that, here are some picture books I like that are about dogs.

Dirty Dog

Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion

I love this book! Harry is a white dog with black spots… who hates baths. He hides the scrub brush in a hole he digs in the backyard, and then he digs a way under the fence and runs away from home. He has a lot of fun out in the city, but after playing in dirt and coal and other dirty things, he turns into a black dog with white spots. He decides to go home but his family doesn’t recognize him, even when he does all of his favorite tricks. Finally he digs up the scrub brush and runs inside and upstairs to the tub, and of course his family knows when he’s clean that he’s their Harry after all. In the end, my favorite detail in the pictures that is not in the text: he falls asleep with the scrub brush half hidden under his doggie bed. It’s a book as old as my father (published in 1954), and it’s just so charming that it’s still popular at my library.

Huge Dog

Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell

This book is about a big red dog alright… he’s bigger than Emily Elizabeth’s house! The 2021 film was inspired by the book series, and even has a character named Bridwell as a nod to the author/illustrator. The books don’t give an explanation to his size, but nobody cares. He’s fun to slide down, and he scares the lion at the zoo, and he makes REALLY big messes. It’s a nostalgic book for parents and a fun book to share with their kids. I’m sure your child will love it, and then you can read the rest of the series. And definitely watch the 2021 movie if you haven’t already, because it’s awesome.

Police Dog

Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann

I wish this Caldecott medal winner was around when I was a kid, because I’m sure I would have loved it. Alas, it wasn’t published until I was 11, when I was far beyond picture books in my reading choices. Officer Buckle goes to schools giving safety tips, and it’s really boring… until Gloria starts to come with him. She acts things out in the background while he’s at the front of the stage reciting the rules. He thinks the kids are starting to pay attention when they laugh, and he’s proud of himself for being entertaining, but of course it’s Gloria they’re all enjoying. Pair with a safety talk of your own and your child is sure to learn something.

Sad Story

Where Are You Brontë? by Tomie dePaola

Trigger warning: Pet death.

This is the final book written by the late great picture book author/illustrator Tomie dePaola. Unfortunately he passed away before he could illustrate it, so Barbara McClintock, another children’s author and illustrator, was enlisted to illustrate the text. I read the book today and I am impressed – she did an amazing job, mimicking dePaola’s style while still keeping some of herself in there too. Brontë was dePaola’s dog, and the story follows their life together, from puppy through to an “off-screen” death. Then there are some nice pages showing how Tomie moved through his grief. It’s a gentle story, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to talk with a young child about the death of a pet, especially a dog.

Check out Miss Michelle’s Book Nook

Miss Michelle shares her book recommendations each month on the In Our Homeschool blog. Find links to all of her posts here.

Miss Michelle is the sister of Kristen, who writes this blog. She has a daughter who is 10 and a son who is 5. They are not home-schooled, but Miss Michelle is super supportive and proud of her sister for doing it. She has been a full-time Children’s Librarian for over 16 years and loves to recommend her favorite books. You can follow her on Goodreads, where she keeps track of books she has read for storytime, at https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/170007385-miss-michelle.