Tuesday, August 26 is Dog Appreciation Day! It’s a day to honor the love, loyalty, and companionship that dogs bring to our lives. Celebrate by reading one of these titles with your four-legged friend!
Preschool
¡Perros! ¡Perros! Dogs! Dogs!
By Ginger Foglesong Gibson
A simple word book of opposites such as big/little, fast/slow, up/down, clean/dirty, wet/dry, black/white, and others, in English and Spanish.
Don’t Lick the Dog: Making Friends with Dogs
By Wendy Wahman
Shows children how to interact with unfamiliar dogs with tips about all sorts of dog behavior.
Middle Grade
Pawcasso
By Remy Lai
Every Saturday, Pawcasso trots into town with a basket, a shopping list, and cash in paw to buy groceries for his family. One day, he passes eleven-year-old Jo, peering out the window of her house, bored and lonely. Astonished by the sight of an adorable basket-toting dog on his own, Jo follows Pawcasso, and when she’s seen alongside him by a group of kids from her school, they mistake her for Pawcasso’s owner.
Dogs: From Predator to Protector
By Andy Hirsch
How well do you know our favorite furry companion? Did they really descend from wolves? What’s the difference between a Chihuahua and a Saint Bernard? And just how smart are they? Join one friendly mutt on a journey to discover the secret origin of dogs, how genetics and evolution shape species, and where in the world his favorite ball bounced off to.
Young Adult
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
By Mark Haddon
Despite his overwhelming fear of interacting with people, Christopher, a mathematically-gifted, autistic fifteen-year-old boy, decides to investigate the murder of a neighbor’s dog and uncovers secret information about his mother.
A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World
By Charlie Fletcher
The world used to be crowded before all the people went away, but Griz and his parents were never lonely on their remote island. They had each other and their dogs. Then the thief came. There may be no laws left, but if someone steals your dog, you can expect someone to come after you, because what’s the point of love if you’re not loyal?
Adult
Three Wild Dogs (and the Truth): A Memoir
By Markus Zusak
What happens when the Zusak family opens their home to three big, wild, street-hardened dogs–Reuben, more wolf than hound; Archer, blond, beautiful, destructive; and the rancorously smiling Frosty, who walks like a rolling thunderstorm? The answer can only be chaos: There are street fights, park fights, public shamings, property damages, injuries, hospital visits, pure comedy, shocking tragedy, and carnage that must be read to be believed.
Dog Day Afternoon
By David Rosenfeld
Retired lawyer Andy Carpenter has a dog rescue for years. It’s always been his calling, even as Andy’s pulled into court. His investigator, Marcus Clark, has been at Andy’s side for a long time. Marcus keeps his personal life a mystery, so it’s a shock when Marcus arrives at the Tara Foundation with two strangers. Turns out Marcus takes disadvantaged young men under his wing, gets them jobs, a place to live, and a chance at a different life.
By Alexa Selner