Best books about dogs

Dog Loves Series

If you love dogs and love books... this is the picture book series for you. Written and illustrated by Louise Yates and now a CBeebies TV show, the Dog Loves books are a great bedtime read and a positive influence to get little dog-lovers into books. Dog has one great love: books in every shape and form. He loves a good story, so very much that he owns his own bookshop. Throughout the series, Dog recommends books to his customers, discovers new ways to tell stories and runs into a problem or two – for example struggling to stop reading and go to sleep!

Spot Series

The Spot series has delighted generations of small readers since the 1980s, and we can't help but recommend it as one of our firm favourites. Written and illustrated by Eric Hill, the series has been translated in over 60 languages and has grown into an entire franchise, with TV shows, music albums and more. 

Spot is a sweet yellow puppy with a spot on his side and a brown tip on his tail. He is curious as ever and loves exploring the world around him. In each book, he discovers and learns something new, from new words, colours and numbers, to the great outdoors on walks and holidays, as well as other general first experiences like picnics, playtime and visiting new places. The books are available in so many different formats as well, including lift-the-flap and board books besides the classic picture book format.

Clifford Series

Ready to feel nostalgic? Let us remind you of Clifford the Big Red Dog. The books follow a young girl called Emily Elizabeth and her dog, Clifford, who is huge (this detail is inspired by creator Norman Bridwell's desire as a child to own a dog as big as a horse). Story goes that Clifford was rather tiny as a puppy, but thanks to Emily Elizabeth's care, he grew up to become a giant dog after all. In each book, the two best friends go on a new adventure together and have common first experiences among little ones, such as getting a first loose tooth, visiting the circus, going to school and even learning manners.

News Hounds Series

A wonderfully fun and cosy chapter book for readers aged 6+, where the pups run the town! In a messy human's world, even in small quiet towns where we wouldn't expect much to happen, our pets have a lot more to do than we think! Meet Gizmo, a cute city sausage dog who has just moved to a small village called Puddle. And when his poor next-door-neighbour dog faces a puppy problem, he must RISE to the challenge! STOP PRESS! A new dog newspaper is doing the rounds: the Daily Bark! Join the dogs of Puddle as they rescue pups, make dinosaur discoveries and deal with HUGE herds of COWS! A charming and hilarious new illustrated young fiction series about the things dogs get up to when their humans aren't looking.

Genie and Teeny Series

Renowned illustrator, Steven Lenton, winner of Waterstones Picture Book of the Month and the Times Children's Book of the Week, is about to make all your bookish wishes come true with this magical and fun early chapter book series for ages 5+ about a genie and a puppy! In genie stories, you rub a magical lamp out out comes a wish-granting magical genie! But in this story ... a cracked teapot will have to do, sorry! Grant the Genie is not the most popular of genies. He's been cast out of Genie World and is now on Earth without a lamp to call home. Grant is terribly lonely, but one day a lovely little puppy called Teeny comes along, and Grant is in for a magically fun adventure.

Claude Series

Claude books are what I always recommend if parents ask which books their children might enjoy when they're ready for something a little longer than a picture book. They are a true joy to read for children as well as adults; Claude the Dog is a loveable, quirky dog and his side-kick Sir Bobblysock a loyal companion. Claude won the 5-9 young fiction Sainsbury's Children's Book Award, was selected for the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize, the Richard and Judy Book Club and is now a TV star on Disney Junior.

Dog Diaries Series

Dog Diaries is a laugh out loud illustrated series, told from a dog's perspective, that is perfect for newly independent readers aged 6+. The Dog Diaries books are co-written by James Patterson and Steven Butler and illustrated by Richard Watson. 

The Dog Diaries books follow the pawsome adventures of Junior the dog - the beloved pet of Rafe (who some readers may know from the Middle School series!) and the Khatchadorians or, as Junior calls them, "Catch-a-doggy-bones". Kids will love Junior's take on the family's adventures from camping in the woods, to holidays like CRISP-MOUTH and FANGS-GIVING. 

There are now six books in the series, which you can read in any order but we recommend starting with the first book Dog Diaries.

The Adventures of a Dog Called Jack-Jack Series

For the animal lovers aged 5+, here is a black-and-white illustrated series told through the point of view of a dog. This is a semi-authobiographical story, written by Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Science Engagement Ben Garrod. Each book in the series is just over 100 pages and divided into four main chapters, making this a brilliant bedtime read as well as a first series to read independently. The books are also fully illustrated by Charli Vince in black-and-white, so children get illustrated recaps of what's happened in the books, following our main canine character Jack-Jack as he journeys from a chimpanzee sanctuary in Africa to his new human's home. 

Dog Man Series

The brilliant book series from author Dav Pilkey, creator of Captain Underpants! Dog Man is the crime-biting canine who is part dog, part man, and ALL COP! With all the same humour and fun of Captain Underpants, Dog Man is a brilliant series of comic-book style novels loved by readers aged 6+. There are currently 13 books in the Dog Man series, including the new title, Big Jim Begins, which came out in December 2024 and tells us how Dog Man began! Read on to find out more about this fantastic series and how to read the Dog Man books in order! Dog Man is the ultimate cop – with the brain of a super-smart dog and the body of a super-strong cop, he is bound to outwit his arch-enemy, cat Lil Petey. And when he gains an unlikely side-kick, Dog Man and Cat Kid are double trouble for Petey’s evil plans.

The Adventures of Pug Series

The wonderfully fun Adventures of Pug series from Laura James follows the lovable roly-poly Pug and his best friend, Lady Miranda as they get up to a variety of wild adventures. Join Pug as he becomes a Captain, Cowboy, a Safari Pug and a Pirate! Whilst it’s best to read the books in order, all four titles can be enjoyed as stand-alone titles too. Every book is brought to life by illustrations from the brilliant Eglantine Ceulemans. 

The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog Series

We recommend this black-and-white illustrated chapter book series time and time again because it's so bonkers and hilarious and all children aged 7+ LOVE it. Meet Streaker: a rocket on four legs with a woof attached, the fastest dog in the world! She always gets in trouble, even when it's not her fault, leaving her loving owner Trevor with a mess to sort through. With the Hundred-Mile-An-Hour-Dog, trouble is always just around the corner! This is a laugh-out-loud funny series.

Mr Dog Series

This black-and-white illustrated chapter book series has every animal you could possibly imagine in it, for all animal lovers aged 7+. Mr Dog is such a wonderful, positive character for this age group. He is funny, generous and always up for helping all animals that need saving. In each book, he must rescue a domestic or wild animal, from rabbits and kittens to seals and deer. The books are written by TV broadcaster and explorer Ben Fogle in collaboration with Adventure Duck author Steve Cole, with illustrations throughout by Nikolas Ili.

Good Dog, Bad Dog Series

If you love dogs and a good laugh, this graphic novel series about a canine detective duo will have readers aged 9+ in stitches. Kirk Bergman and Duncan McBoo are pedigree police: the finest canine cops in all Muttropolis. And they're never short of work. In each book in this corker of a series, they get to the bottom of any mess that the city's mean mongrels have caused. Criminals beware: Bergman and McBoo are on your tail! 

Historical Animal Stories Series

Winner of the British Book Award for Children's Fiction Book of the Year, Phil Earle's middle grade Historical Animal Stories series will tug at all your heartstrings. While the books' single stories are not interconnected and do not need to be read in any particular order, each book is set in one of the world wars and a young protagonist develops a unique bond with an animal. 

McTavish Series

The McTavish books are a delightful middle-grade series written by Meg Rosoff and illustrated throughout by Grace Easton. Perfect for all animal lovers, and especially dog lovers! Told through the POV of McTavish, a sweet rescue dog who has simply decided he cannot do without the Peachey family, each book follows him as he saves the day. Whether it's bringing peace to the family, making holidays fun, fixing a baking disaster or helping everyone move home, McTavish knows just what to do when things get tough. If you believe pets are just as much part of the family as any human member, this is definitely the series to read.