Arf! Beg! Catch!: Dogs from A to Z by Henry Horenstein

This delightful ABC book has made it into our library bag several times now.  We don't own a dog, but all three of my children love them. Horenstein's playful pictures of dogs in action not only gave us new words for each letter, expanding the kids' vocabulary, but we also got to see how many different types of dogs there are out there.

Arf! Beg! Catch! opened up all sorts of conversations about the different sizes, hair types, ears, teeth and abilities found in the world of dogs.

Where's Pup? by Dayle Ann Dodds

Where's Pup? That's the question that drives this simple book.

In Where's Pup? a circus performer walks through the circus grounds, asking other performers if they've seen his dog. Each one sends him on to another, introducing the reader to the many kinds of acts that make up a circus: jugglers, acrobats, lion tamers and more.

Pierre Pratt's bright illustrations give readers a behind-the-scenes window into the life of a circus.

Kathi Appelt - Bubba and Beau books

      

Bubba and Beau are best friends. That is the simple premise of Appelt's first in this series of knee-slappin' funny books. 

If you're a reader who doesn't mind taking on a southern accent (or if you naturally have one),  then this is a read-aloud book for you and your kids. My husband got a kick out of this story of a Texas baby and his new pup; and when Daddy laughs while reading, our boys grin from ear to ear.

The Stray Dog by Marc Simont

This was another Caldecott winner that won my kids' hearts for its storyline. As the title and cover art show, it follows a family who encounters and falls in love with a stray dog. My kids have been begging for a puppy and this story embodied the sort of perfect situation for them.  A delightful little dog needs someone to love it, but the parents initially say no; In the end, however, they realize they love it, too.

I have boys, so I'm always reading books about monsters and dragon and pirates and skeletons; it's sometimes nice to read a true-to-life, feel-good book.

We still don't have a dog.

Lynley Dodd- Hairy Mclary series

Here is another author that I enjoy.  Lynley Dodd has written a number of books featuring a scruffy dog, Hairy Maclary.

My favorite one in particular - Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack -gets center stage because when I first read it to my then 3-year old, he looked up at me with big eyes after it was finished and said, "That was wonderful."

SOLD!

Hairy Maclary wants to avoid pesky little Zachary Quack, a duckling who follows him from hiding place to hiding place. In the end, Hairy finds perhaps Zachary isn't so pesky after all.




Other Hairy MacLary Books:

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy 

Hairy Maclary's Bone

Hairy Maclary Scattercat

Hairy Maclary's Caterwaul Caper

Hairy Maclary's Rumpus at the Vet

Hairy MacLary's Showbusiness

Hairy Maclary Sit

Hairy Maclary's Hat tricks

Where is Hairy Maclary?