Dogs and cats have been an integral part of literature going back as far as the loyal Argos in The Odyssey. Beloved pets are featured in a wide range of wonderful books from the classics like White Fang by Jack London all the way to Fang in the Harry Potter series.
Check out our favorite shore reading for pet lovers of all ages, and feel free to comment with your own favorite ‘pet lit’!
Dog and Cat Books for Babies and Toddlers
Doggies by Sandra Boynton
Good Dog Carl by Alexandra Day
The Pokey Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey
Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Dog and Cat Books for Younger Kids
Clifford the Big Red Dog series by Normal Bridwell
Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
Dewey the Library Cat by Brett Witter and Vicki Myron
The Tale of Tom Kitten and Samuel Whiskers or the Roly Poly Pudding by Beatrix Potter
Ellie’s Story or Bailey’s Story: A Dog’s Purpose Novel chapter book series by W. Bruce Cameron
Go Dog Go by P.D.Eastman (beginning reader book)
Dog and Cat Books for Young Adults
The Warriors series by Kate Cary, Cherith Baldry, Tui Sutherland
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Dog and Cat Books for Adults
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Merle’s Door by Mary Triola
A Dog’s Life: Autobiography of a Stray by Ann M. Martin
Oogy: The Dog only a Family could Love by Larry Levin
The True Tails of Baker and Taylor: The Library Cats Who Left Their Pawprints on a Small Town…and the World by Jan Louch, Lisa Rogak
