Puppy Snuggles

Six Children's Books About Dogs and Puppies

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Books are amazing things. They dazzle and delight yet are such simple things. Kids love them and kids love being read to. Kids also love dogs - so why not combine the two? Here are six children’s books about dogs and puppies that are sure to please.

Where’s Spot?

Where's Spot?

What children’s book collection is complete without Spot? This classic engages a child in the search for Spot! Written and illustrated by Eric Hill.

The Poky Little Puppy

The Poky Little Puppy

I loved this book growing up. The poky little puppy is one of five puppies, and he’s just a little… poky. It’s a fun read and guaranteed to delight. Written by Janette Sebring Lowrey and illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren.

Clifford The Big Red Dog

Clifford The Big Red Dog

Clifford is everyone’s favorite large dog. The unusually large, unusually red dog is incredibly friendly. Written and illustrated by Norman Bridwell.

Just Me and My Puppy (A Little Critter Book)

Just Me and My Puppy

In this book, Little Critter gets a brand-new puppy with all the responsibilities - including teaching the puppy tricks and giving the puppy baths. Written and illustrated by Mercer Mayer.

If You Give a Dog a Donut

If You Give a Dog a Donut

We all know what happens if you give a mouse a cookie, but what happens if you give a dog a donut? This children’s book answers that with a fun adventure. Written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond.

Ellie’s Long Walk: The True Story of Two Friends on the Appalachian Trail

Ellie's Long Walk

The Appalachian Trail is a popular marked hiking trail in the eastern United States. At about 2,200 miles, it definitely qualifies as a long walk. This book tells the true story of the author and her dog’s hike through this popular trail. The Written by Pam Flowers and illustrated by Bill Farnsworth.

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24 comments for Six Children's Books About Dogs and Puppies

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  • avatar for Sue Tanya Mchorgh Sue Tanya Mchorgh

    What a cool list. I know a friend who would appreciate this list so i will make sure to share it with her.

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  • Aww these are great! I remember all of these except the last two, and I’d probably love the last one - I love my dog and hiking the Appalachian Trail, so I’d probably enjoy Ellie’s Long Walk!

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  • avatar for Hindy Pearson Hindy Pearson

    What a great list of books for kids, and I’m a bigger fan because they include dogs! I know a few people who would enjoy the recommendations.

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  • I recognize most of these from my own childhood! A good book stands the test of time. Reading is vital to children’s development and when you read to them about animals they take more interest PLUS it teaches them to love pets! Wonderful books you have listed here!

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  • avatar for Tenacious Little Terrier Tenacious Little Terrier

    I had the Spot book when I was little. It survived my siblings but got quite ragged towards the end!

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  • Aww what a delightful list of books! I remember watching Clifford when I was a kid. It was one of my favorite shows! So glad there are so many children’s books about dogs! :)

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  • avatar for Kamira Kamira

    Oh I remember Clifford the dog when I was a kid too! Clifford and also Curious George the monkey! Cute list. Will have to pin and save this post for sure.

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  • avatar for Happy-Go-Doodle Happy-Go-Doodle

    I’m a huge fan of children’s books! Thanks so much for sharing this list. Many of these are my favorites too!

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  • avatar for Talent Hounds Talent Hounds

    These are all fantastic. I have the first three and will look for the last three. I went back through all the books my girls loved as part of our research for Kids’ Pet Club. There is a rela benefit to kids looking at and learning about pets, especially cute puppies apparently. Spot was such a fave of ours. In the therapy dogs reading programs we filmed, the kids loved reading books about dogs to dogs.

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  • avatar for Beth Beth

    I read all but two of these to my kids when they were little. If You Give A Dog A Doughnut wasn’t published when they were small, but we loved If You Give A Mouse a Cookie. Ellie’s Long Walk sounds like one I still might enjoy reading!

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  • avatar for Paroma Chakravarty Paroma Chakravarty

    Such fun books and the illustrations are so colorful and joyful! I might buy a few of them since they are about dogs:-)

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  • avatar for Paroma Chakravarty Paroma Chakravarty

    Such cute and beautiful illustrations! I might buy a few since they are about dogs!

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  • I LOVE these!! The Clifford books and The Pokey Little Puppy were on my shelves as a little girl. I also loved a book about Carl the babysitting Rottweiler. As a children’s author I think it’s important to show animals in literature.

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  • Great list! I think books about dogs and all other animals are really important for children because they teach them that animals should be respected and that they have feelings too.

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  • Almost all of these are great favorites in our house! What a cute idea for a post! That said, you are missing one very important children’s book that should be in the library of every self-respecting big dog lover…. Henry & Mudge! ❤️😊

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  • avatar for Beth Miller Beth Miller

    Ahh, the Pokey Puppy! Written in 1942 and still a classic. I can remember how excited I was to see it in the children’s book section when I got pregnant with my son. I had read and loved it as a child and then read it to my son as my mom had done. Gotta love how dogs always connect us to what really matters.

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