Books by Theme
Dog Days of Summer
Maybe the “dog days of summer” aren’t so bad after all. After all, having a dog or another pet can be fun. And just think, reading about dogs can let you relive or imagine fun with a canine buddy. So tuck a book under your arm to take on a trip or curl up in a cool spot on a hot day with a book about a four-legged friend!
Dirt + Water = Mud
An imaginative girl with her trusty canine creates adventure all day by combining a variety of things. She adds water to dirt to create a huge mud puddle in which to frolic followed by “Hose + High Up = Shower.” At the end of the day, tuckered out girl + dog = best friends. Math equations and charming illustrations capture the joy of summer play.
Dogs
What’s your favorite type of dog? Is it large? Small? Soft? With stripes? Even the youngest will be surprised that the narrator winds up being a feline that introduces the host of canines with distinctive personalities. Rhyming text is minimal but extended through humorous, expressive illustrations.
Excellent Ed
Each member of the Ellis family excels at something; that is, everyone except their dog, Ed. Ed’s confidence soars, however, when he’s recognized for being an excellent greeter, dropped-food-cleaner-upper, and more. Everyday activities are shown in a loving family with their insecure but loving mutt.
Frank and Lucky Get Schooled
The day Frank went to the shelter, he got Lucky. From that day forward, boy and dog are inseparable. Together they learn science and entomology (Lucky finds burdock and ticks), reading (Lucky listens best), foreign language (Spanish and “quack”) and more. Academic subjects applied to the duo’s explorations are sure to add verve to classroom experiences revealed in detailed illustration and unassuming text.
Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know
These thorough explorations of what dogs see, how and why they behave, and more is sure to engage both canine aficionados as well as young scientists. The narrative is lucid, clear and appealing. Index, additional resources, and table of content complete the package.
Lucy
The story of a small dog, the girl who loves her, and the girl’s struggling father come together in four acts. Brief text and detailed, black/white illustrations that appear as though in a spotlight effectively convey the daily intersections of these lives. Touching, dramatic, and gently humorous, Lucy — as the dog comes to be known — steals the show!
Oops Pounce Quick Run: An Alphabet Caper
A dog not only retrieves his lost ball when it goes into a mouse hole, he finds a friend. After a romp through the house that is told — literally — from A to Z, this comic jaunt concludes with the friends napping together. The alphabet is used to tell the clever tale in single words, though extended through cartoon-like illustrations
Prairie Dog Song: The Key to Saving North America's Grasslands
They live in prairies, they’re very important to the environment but these dogs wouldn’t make good pets. Meet prairie dogs in this handsomely illustrated, lively, and informative book told in a familiar cadence with music and additional resources included.
Puddle
Sitting with his dog lamenting all the things that a rainy day stops him from doing, a boy’s clever mother draws a scene in which they all have fun in a puddle. The drawing becomes reality when they all go out to enjoy the weather. Childlike illustrations on open pages convey joy in the everyday activity.
Puppy!
Trog is a cave boy with all the best toys: a stick, rock, and mud. Still he longs for a puppy. Readers will readily see the big green and red striped “puppy!” just misses its own huge mom. When it returns to her, Trog is sad, until he finds a very large new pet: “Kitty!” Cartoon illustrations and limited text create an outrageous, laugh out loud tale.
Strudel’s Forever Home
Once a shelter dog, Strudel is now a proud, healthy, and happy dachshund who lives with Jake and his mom. Together, Strudel and his family make mostly good decisions as they learn about everyday goings-on and each other. Humor from the dog’s point of view as they deal with recognizable issues will engage young readers.
The Perfect Dog
A girl’s parents say she can get a do. She, of course, wants to find the perfect one which will be big, bigger … well, hairy, hairier … well … Ultimately, the perfect pup finds her for a happy ending. Exaggerated illustrations exude a lively humor in a satisfying story of finding the perfect companion.
Treat
A pudgy brown and white dog looks everywhere for a treat — from granny’s bedroom to the baby’s crib. Nothing … until the girls offer a special treat to the greedy canine. Cartoon illustrations and the word “treat” in different fonts in a comic book format move the slapstick humor along to a satisfying conclusion.
Whistle for Willie
Oh, how Peter wished he could whistle to call his dog, Willie. Try as he might, he just couldn’t seem to make the sound come out — until one day he could! The simple description of a child’s yearning is told in natural language and charming collage illustrations.
Wolf Camp
Homer is a dog who longs to be a wolf so his people send his to Wolf Camp to learn how to become more wolf-like. At first, Homer and his fellow campers (Pixie and Rex) struggle with the counselors, Fang and Grrr, but soon enough get into wolf rhythm. Offbeat humor is evident in understated telling and comical illustration.
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