The Dog (Book) Days of Summer

Summer is hitting its stride and we are starting to feel that good ol’ Texas heat. The dog days of summer will soon be here. As it has been previously mentioned, we at BookPeople love the summer. We also love dogs. And cats, but it’s not called the cat days of summer, so cats will wait for their turn in the spotlight.

There have been a number of new releases featuring dogs – Mr. Bud Wears the Cone, William Wegman board books, and No Dogs Allowed – to name a few. These can proudly take their place alongside classics such as Bark, George; Clifford; Ginger Pye, and The Poky Little Puppy. BookKids staff has also selected some of their favorite books starring man’s best friend.

Cindy K.~

Good Dog, Carl by Alexandra Day
During my pregnancy, I discovered the Carl books and told my parents I had found a solution for my childcare woes. Carl is babysitter extraordinaire. He brings Baby on the most wonderful adventures – to parties, the park, and mama’s jewelry box – all while staying completely safe. Best of all, these books are virtually wordless which allow the stories to appeal to all ages and stay fresh with every reading. May every family find their Carl.

Laura~

Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
Harry the Dirty Dog is such an adorable book and is a timeless classic! Harry the Dog is white with black spots and absolutely hates baths. One day, he runs away right before bath time, having the best time of his life, running & playing & getting extremely dirty along the way. Eventually, he becomes a black dog with white spots. Will his family be able to recognize him later? Read to find out! Perfect read for dog lovers or anyone who loves a cute story.

Merrilee~

Once I Ate a Pie by Patricia MacLachlan
Once I ate a pie. Okay, not really, but Mr. Beefy did. I’ve never really been a dog person, but I love this book of poems (some funny, some really sweet) so much, I’m going to get a pug so I can name him Mr. Beefy. I just hope he doesn’t have an eating disorder!

Helen~

Claude in the City by Alex T. Smith
OOH-LA-LA! Claude is a stylish Parisian dog who wears a red beret. Wrestlers, acrobats and the tattooed man all benefit from Claude’s wisdom, but Sir Bobblysock (who is both a sock and quite bobbly) is his very best friend.  Claude’s adventures are always quirky and laugh-out-loud funny. This series is one that’s sure to enchanté readers of all ages!

John G.~

Gaston by Kelly Dipucchio
I love the story of Gaston, a little French bulldog who is trying his hardest to fit in with his dainty poodle sisters. When a chance meeting allows Gaston to reunite with his bulldog brothers, his new family looks right but it doesn’t feel right. This story reminds me of when my fiancée and I adopted our dog, and we were told he was a small terrier but he grew up to be a large Golden retriever. Our dog has been a part of our family for so long there’s no way we could trade him for a smaller dog now, even when he thinks he can fit on our laps.

Ellen~

Sniffer Dogs: How Dogs (and Their Noses) Save the World by Nancy F. Castaldo
In all honesty, I really like this book because it’s called Sniffer Dogs. Not Dogs at Work, or Working Dogs, or something like that, but Sniffer Dogs, because that’s what we all call them. After opening the book, I was happy to find a great informational book about dogs who work using their noses. All kids of sniffer dogs are covered  – law enforcement dogs, search & rescue & recovery dogs, animal tracking dogs, military, and medical dogs. Explanations why a dog’s nose is so sensitive and how dogs can be trained to detect different things are included. A great book for any kid who wants to know more about these super great dogs.

Meghan~

Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
We love our dogs, even when they BARK! But what about a puppy who goes MEOW? Or OINK? Or MOO? And if a puppy does go MOO, what’s a loving dog mom to do? Jules Feiffer’s silly story about one little dog’s mixed up vocabulary (and voracious appetite) is simple fun of the best kind and always gets my dog-crazy toddler to giggle!