Books about dogs

This lovely board book has big flaps that little ones can turn over to see who said what and match the animal with the right noise. A wonderful introduction to animals and a help for babies’ speech development.

Dogger is Dave’s special toy. So when Dogger gets lost at the funfair, Dave is desolate. Will they find each other again? Exploring concepts of love, loss and kindness, this classic tale will be cherished by the entire family and will particularly appeal to any child who has a favourite toy.

This is the charming story of Dot the dalmatian, a very special dog indeed, who finds out just how important her hospital visits are. The story is told in rhyming couplets which are delicious to read aloud and share with children, and the bright, inclusive illustrations are full of life, warmth and expression.

This touch-and-feel board book takes a similar approach to the popular Usborne That’s Not My… series, with different textures and shapes for little fingers to explore on each page.

George is a dog with a big personality and he LOVES cake, rubbish bins and chasing Cat.

Kipper is working hard preparing for his birthday. He bakes a very interesting cake to share with his friends and makes beautiful invitations but is too tired to deliver them.

This puppy is so happy, it feels like laughing out loud and even climbing on a cloud! Simple rhyming text encourages readers to explore their own emotions – and celebrate them.

This hilarious rhyming story follows Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy, as he sets off for a walk in town

Can you press the puppy’s shiny nose and stroke its soft fur? A delightful interactive board book. 

It’s bathtime for Harry the dog – but he hides his brush and runs away on an adventure! But he gets very, very mucky in the process – will his family recognise him when he comes home?

Frog has had enough of being sat on. This time, dogs will not sit on frogs – they will sit on logs, which is where they belong. Cats will sit on gnats, bears will sit on stairs and whales will sit on nails. This a side-splitting book, which is great for sharing.

This informative and exciting picture book details the journey of Belka and Strelka (dogs sent into space as part of the Soviet programme): through training to orbiting the earth and returning home safely.

This delightful picture book about Peggy, a lovable, mischievous and sometimes smelly rescue dog, is full of warmth and gentle humour, and perfectly captures the joys of living with a beloved canine friend.  

Merlin the dog desperately misses his friend Hobbs, and finds some comforting scent messages from him. A touching story about grief – perfect for anyone who’s lost a pet.

In this charming picture book, one dog maintains that the right way to woof is to say ​“bork”. Desperate to persuade the international cast of dogs that think their way is the right way, it’s an uphill task until a cat arrives, and all the dogs unite to bork at it.

When Edward Pugglesworth loses his owner, Dave, in the woods, he’s sure he’s done for – but maybe his dog walk hasn’t gone as wrong as he thinks?

A quirky canine adventure from master storyteller Michael Rosen, complemented by Tony Ross’s trademark comical illustrations, this is a lovely early chapter book for 6–8 year olds, sure to amuse adults and children alike.

A fascinating non-fiction book that details everything on dogs!  

Butter the cat and Crackers the dog are very happy, until their human comes home with a new puppy… A fun colour graphic novel, the first in a series, perfect for young readers and pet owners.

Can Eva and her journalist friends find Wafer the puppy’s real home? The first book in a charming series about friendship and doing the right thing, brilliantly illustrated throughout.

Dog Man, created by Captain Underpants’ Dav Pilkey, is a comic masterclass, perfect for the surreal sense of humour of the average six- to nine-year-old.

A cheeky, rhyming picture book for curious dog lovers.

Michael the mind-reading sausage dog is extremely clever and talented. But can he get his own show in Hollywoof? With his friend Stanley Big Dog as his assistant, Michael discovers that talent can only get you so far without teamwork. A small dog with a big personality!

Buzz the dog is part sausage, part wolf, and 100% adorable! Follow his hilarious adventures as he gets to know his new family in this cosy and accessible chapter book.

When fluffy pooch McTavish moves in, he finds his new family in quite a pickle. But not to worry because he’s sure he’ll have them retrained in no time at all. A charming and heartwarming short novel, full of spark, keen observations and sly humour.

Elise gets a secondhand mongrel to keep her company – and turns out, the dog’s name is McAddudi and he’s from Scotland. Elise and McAddudi soon grow to become best friends. A quirky and original book that is full of laughs and heart.

Claude is no ordinary dog – he leads an extraordinary life! When Mr and Mrs Shinyshoes set off for work, Claude heads for the city, where pigeons, beret shops and robberies await.

Pia has always dreamed of owning her own pet. To prove her credentials, she makes it her mission to train her friend’s new puppy and forms a local pet club of new friends and pet owners. 

An extraordinary true story about an ultra-marathon runner’s quest to find the small stray dog he fell in love with while running across the Gobi desert. A story that will appeal to any reader with an interest in dogs or tales of adventure and survival sports. 

Cosmo is a dog with a passion for dance. When his family no longer have enough love to stay together, can he save them? This charming story brings together the fun of canine freestyle dance and the heartbreak of divorce into a single, moving story about families.

If you have ever wondered what goes on in a dog’s mind, this verse novel could be the closest you ever come to finding out! Be prepared to feel angry, sad, vengeful and elated – and maybe even to cry just a bit.

A book of short stories of animals who have gone to war and helped the war effort.

Rebel the dog must track down his friend Tom before Tom and his rebel friends clash with the King’s army. A thrilling adventure for all animal lovers, told in Rebel’s voice. 

This gripping and unusual tale imagines how life might have evolved for the domestic animals forced to become wild in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster and the repercussions for their owners.

Rhys has to move to London from Wales, to live with his dad. But Dad doesn’t know about his new dog Worthington … Beautifully moving. 

This hard-hitting, compelling story of life on the streets for an abandoned dog and his search for the boy who loves him.