In the famous words of Groucho Marx, “Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.” Jokes aside, books are great company, and the fictional dogs we read about as children stick with us until we’re old dogs ourselves.
With that in mind, we’ve rounded up the cutest, smartest, funniest, naughtiest, all-around bestest and most memorable dogs in children’s literature. From board books to novels, timeless classics to newer favorites, these books are sure to give you and your kids something to bark about (we recommend reading them outside of a dog, of course).
You’re A Good Dog, Carl
In charming illustrations and very few words, author/illustrator Alexandra Day shares the adventures of Carl the dog and Madeline the baby, who go off and explore the world together whenever mother isn’t looking. This classic board book rottweiler has a series of over 10 titles with his name, but the 2007 collection of the first six Carl tales is a great place to start. Seattleites, if your kids love Carl, be sure to take them to the Meridian Playground in Wallingford, where you can hang out with a lifesize statue of the good dog himself!
Oh No, George!
As the book trailer teases: “George really wants to be good, but George has seen a cake. What will George do?” We can relate! This is our kind of dog: curious, observant, a little bit naughty, and of course, extremely adorable. Readers of all ages will love this funny, vibrant picture book about George’s struggle to do the right thing in the face of irresistible temptation.
The 101 Dalmatians
Before the Disney animated and live-action movie versions, there was the 1956 Dodie Smith novel, a charming adventure story about the kidnapping and subsequent rescue of a littler of Dalmatian puppies and their friends of all breeds. The book is full of memorable characters like the Colonel, an English Sheepdog who takes his job very, very seriously. It has some dark themes—if you think Cruella DeVil is scary in the movie, wait until you read about her in the book—but older kids (age 8-12) will love the positive message about family, friendship, and the power of teamwork.
Walter the Farting Dog
Walter is a good dog, except for one small, stinky problem. This hilarious picture book with lively illustrations will have kids and adults giggling as Walter’s flatulence saves the day.
The Poky Little Puppy
The Poky Little Puppy’s curiosity-fueled adventure first came out as one of the original Little Golden Books in 1942. With charming, sing-song narration about the puppy’s adventures by Janette Sebring Lowrey, and beautiful fairy tale illustrations from Gustaf Tenggren (who later became a chief illustrator at Disney, working on such family favorites as Snow White, Pinnochio, and Bambi), the Pokey Little Puppy deserves a place on every family’s bookshelf.
Clifford the Big Red Dog
Clifford the Big Red Dog (he’s 25 feet tall!) is a children’s literature celebri-dog, with over 70 titles, a television show, a forthcoming movie, and licensed toys out the wazoo. But Clifford’s origin story shows the humble roots of this larger-than-life personality, who started out as the runt of the litter picked out by Emily Elizabeth, and grew into an enormous, beloved best friend.
Officer Buckle and Gloria
Officer Buckle is always boring audiences to sleep with his safety presentations until a lively dog named Gloria starts performing onstage behind him. This Caldecott Medal-winning book is smart, silly fun, and makes for great for reading aloud (and acting out) over and over again. And you have to admit, Gloria is an awesome name for a dog.
McDuff Moves In
McDuff is an incorrigible Westie (is there any other kind?) whose adventures fill a series of books by beloved children’s book author Rosemary Wells and illustrator Susan Jeffers. In the first book in the series, McDuff is a lost, sad stray until a kind young couple takes him in. Subsequent McDuff stories take him on adventures as varied as obedience school, rabbit-chasing, and welcoming a new baby to the home. With a multi-title series to discover, McDuff is a children’s book dog to grow up on.
Because of Winn-Dixie
In this contemporary classic of dog-based kid lit, a 10-year-old girl named Opal picks up a stray dog in a grocery store and has her life forever changed. Winn-Dixie is funny, charming, big, ugly, and named after the store where Opal found him, and with his help, Opal is able to talk openly with the adults in her life, make new friends, and come to terms with her difficult childhood. Because of Winn-Dixie is a tearjerker for sure, but not in an Old Yeller sort of way. Recommended for older readers, but a great serial read-aloud for the whole family!
Ribsy
Ribsy is a skinny mutt with expressive ears and a penchant for mischief, and since his introduction in Beverly Cleary’s first novel, Henry Huggins, he’s endured as one of the most loveable dogs in children’s literature. In Ribsy, our hero takes off an an epic adventure, getting lost in a shopping mall parking lot and exploring the city in his quest to get home to Henry. If you live in Portland, be sure to visit the Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden in Grant Park, where you’ll find Ribsy immortalized in bronze.
Of course, there are more dog books out there than we can possibly count, let alone narrow down to a perfect list. If your favorite children’s book dog wasn’t mentioned on this list, tell us all about it in the comments, and happy reading!
Top image via Flickr/Fairfax Library Foundation
