Since 2010, Cathy Mere of Reflect and Refine Building a Learning Community and Mandy Robek of Enjoy and Embrace Learning had hosted #pb10for10, a fabulous event for sharing the power of picture books! While Cathy and Mandy are still taking a hiatus this year, August 10th will always hold a special place in my heart because it is the day I launched Beagles and Books and shared my very first blog post. Today marks my 7th year of blogging and 8th year participating in #pb10for10. Click below to view my previous lists. Can you notice my trend?
Every #IMWAYR (It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?) blog post, I feature one book with a canine character and Bella graciously poses with each book. With a blog called Beagles and Books, I must continue my tradition of sharing my 10 favorite dog picture books. You will notice that dogs are sometimes the main focus of the story, supporting characters or do not join the narrative until the end. Titles were published in late 2023 or 2024. Bella and I hope you find a “pup-tacular” book that you will enjoy reading and sharing with kids!
Ways to Play by Lyn Miller-Lachman Illustrated by Gabriel Alborozo (August 2023)
In contrast to his bossy older cousin Emma and her sister Violet’s noisy and scattered play, Riley enjoys organized and quiet play with his toys. Riley is tired of Emma’s criticism but doesn’t know how to convince her there are many ways to play. That all changes when he sees his dog Charlie. Going outside, Riley throws Charlie’s ball and after the dog catches it, Charlie first bring it back. The second time though Charlie runs around the yard with the ball in his mouth.
Dogs are truly the best teachers. I love how once Riley sees Charlie, his whole demeanor changes. Alborozo’s warm full page spread of Charlie looking at Riley accompanied by Miller-Lachman’s gentle text “I wink at him because it’s easier to look into dog’s eyes than people and I know he will help me show them how we play.” And did Riley and Charlie show Emma and Violet sharing the message that there is not just one way to play. In the author’s note, Miller-Lachman, who didn’t learned she was autistic until adulthood, shares the inspiration for the story from her own childhood.
Scroll by Hiu Li (September 2023)
Lulu and her dog, Dumpling look on with delight as Grandpa paints pictures on a scroll. He explains that the pictures are ancient Chinese characters so when Grandpa falls asleep in his chair, Lulu continues to paint symbols and accidentally knocks over a rolled scroll onto the floor. With Dumpling at her side, Lulu draws the character for door on the now unrolled paper.
Magically, the door opens with Lulu and Dumpling disappearing into the scroll. Lulu spies the bird that Grandpa first drew and follows it. On the next page spread, Lulu and Dumpling see a village drawn with Chinese symbols. I love how Li includes red squares at the top of the page of each of the Chinese characters included in the illustrations.Lulu and Dumpling blissfully stroll through the village, but a fire-breathing dragon disturbs their peace. At first, the pair hides, but Dumpling tugs on the paint brush that Lulu is carrying like an arrow. Can Lulu draw Chinese characters to not only save her and Dumpling but also return home?
What a debut for author/illustrator Li! Before the story, Li shares a brief history of Chinese characters providing background knowledge. Li’s narrative begins quiet with Lulu and Dumpling spending time with Grandpa, but then not long after, an intriguing adventure ensues when Lulu and Dumpling vanish into the scroll. Li’s detailed artwork is full of action and expression. I love how she uses a variety of layouts from half page spreads and full page spreads to panels of up to four illustrations on one page.
The Welcome Home by Amy June Bates (September 2023)
Living in a big house, Mr. & Mrs. Gargleson-Bittle decide something is missing. Wanting something soft and waggy, they get a snail. Wait a minute! A snail is soft, but not waggy. Next, they welcome an elephant with a waggy trunk. The husband and wife continue to expand their family with various animals who could roll over but none could play fetch until the octopus and giraffe. More animals join them and their house seems full. But then one day, they hear scratching at their door. Could this be the animal that makes their family complete?
Full of humor and heart, The Welcome Home is a story both kids and adults will enjoy. Based on the text and the illustration of the Mr. & Mrs. Gargleston-Bittle on their balcony, readers think they know the pet the couple will first welcome but are surprised over and over again. I am a big fan of endpapers and I love how the author-illustrator Bates’ front endpapers show a big, empty house and the back endpapers show the house full of life (and animals). Just like her picture book The Big Umbrella, the theme of The Welcome Home, is there is always room for one more.
10 Dogs by Emily Gravett (September 2023)
10 dogs, 10 sausages. One for each right? Not when 1 dog jumps on the table claiming them all as its own. Victory is short lived for as the table topples, 2 different dogs play sausage tug of war leaving 8 dogs without. With its page turn, the number of dogs with sausages increases until 9 dogs have a tasty treat and a small dachshund is sulking under the table. Observant readers will notice a lone sausage on the table. Will the 9 dogs show compassion and help out the hungry hound?
10 Dogs is more than a counting book. With a concise, rhyming text and energetic illustrations, author/illustrator Gravett tells the story of 10 dogs with a mission yet in the end, the pups make sure everyone gets a piece of the prize. I love that the theme of sharing is embedded in the narrative. And pay close attention to the endpapers for they are a good synopsis of the plot. Check out its companion picture book 10 Cats!
To Dogs with Love by Maria Gianferrari Illustrated by Ishaa Lobo (November 2023)
Beginning with the words, “Dear Dogs,” Gianferrari directly addresses our canine companions. On each page spread, she thanks dogs by identifying one of their features and how it brings us joy. Lobo’s warm, expressive artwork perfectly complements Gianferrari’s concise, melodic text. I especially love this illustration which brings together kids, dogs, and books, all things I love.
As other physical characteristics such as fur, paws, and tongues are thanked, Gianferrari weaves in different jobs that dogs perform to support humans but especially kids. Dogs provide comfort to kids testifying in court, experiencing grief, and battling illness. Pups also provide purpose to adults in prison who train them to be therapy dogs. As always, Gianferrari consciously chooses vivid verbs such as nuzzling exposing kids to rich vocabulary.
Gianferrari’s heartwarming tribute continues by recognizing dogs’ daily behaviors such as playing, sitting and staying. And the best of all, snuggling in bed. Readers can see the sheer love between the dog and boy in Lobo’s gorgeous artwork.
At the end of the book, back matter shares more information on therapy dogs including websites. As advocate of animal rescue, Gianferrari reminds readers to adopt, not shop which is also conveyed in Lobo’s final illustrations where many have gathered for a dog shelter fundraiser. In fact, the Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry is an organization that inspired this book.
Don’t Trust Cats (Life Lessons from Chip the Dog) by Dev Petty Illustrated by Mike Boldt (January 2024)
Chip the Dog is back with more advice. In addition to not eating bees, he implores readers not to trust cats. Since Chip is sporting the cone of shame and a band aid on this nose, his opinion is not without support. Readers may be surprised to hear what animals Chip believes is trustworthy. I do agree with humans; however, Chip is a little confused why they don’t appreciate his gifts of sticks and dirty underwear. He is right about trusting Grandpa who is generous with treats and beds of all shapes and sizes. But when Mittens offers him some food from the trash, Chip decides he can perhaps let his guard down. Oh Chip! You should have stuck to your guns.
Petty and Boldt are the perfect collaborators, for both the text and illustrations are energetic and entertaining. Kids will not be able to contain the chuckles especially when they see Chip, a little girl. and Mittens all dressed as pink bunnies. I love that Chip narrates the story because it is always hilarious to see a dog’s point of view. And Chip does have a perspective worth reading. After re-reading Don’t Eat Bees, I now realize what caused the friction between Chip and Mittens. The score is now tied. Who will be victorious in the next adventure? Hopeful for a third book to declare a winner or better yet Chip and Mitten can learn to get along.
Jump for Joy by Karen Gray Ruelle Illustrated by Hadley Hooper (January 2024)
A young girl, Joy, desperately wanted a dog. She wasn’t picky; however, she decided she would know her dog when she saw him. A dog, Jump, desperately wanted a kid. He wasn’t picky; however, he decided he would know his kid when he saw her.
Joy made dogs out of flowers, seashells, sticks, and snow. Jump made kids out of ferns, sand, mud, and snow. Unfortunately, the flowers and ferns wilted, the seashells and sand washed away, the sticks and mud blew and scattered, and the snow melted. But when both Joy and Jump see tulips and ferns growing, their excitement exudes and a miracle happens.
Jump for Joy lives up to its title. Ruelle’s narrative is concise in words but large in sentiment. I love the repetition as readers meet both Joy and Jump. Readers will be wishing for the happy ending which is only a matter of time. Hooper’s artwork is mostly black and white with just a touch of yellow until the last two page spreads which burst with color and show the sheer happiness of two souls. My heart (and yours) will explode with warmth!
Saving Delicia by Laura Gehl Illustrated by Patricia Metola (April 2024)
A young girl named Kari sits under the last remaining delicia tree with her pup Cookie listening to Old Otis tell stories. Sharing a small piece of the last delicia of the season with Cookie, Kari asks Otis if she can plant the seeds. Through Otis, Kari learns that a plant disease called blight will prevent any new delicias to grow. With Cookie following her, Kari bikes to the library with an idea stirring in her head inspired by one of Otis’ stories. After much research, Kari decides to dry, store, and freeze delicia seeds in Otis’ old shed freezer. If scientists can find a cure for blight, Kari’s seed bank will be ready.
While Cookie is only a minor character, I love how the pup is Kari’s constant companion. Metola’s artwork shows the sweet relationship between Kari and Cookie as she carries the dog in her arms, shares fruit, and is by her side when both the last delicia tree and Otis are no longer with them. At the end of the story, Kari is an adult sitting under a delicia orchard (spoiler) telling Otis’ stories to children and there is a heartwarming tribute to both Otis and Cookie. And another pup is part of her family.
Like their previous collaboration in Apple and Magnolia, Gehl and Metola tell an uplifting story about the power of planning and patience to make a dream come true. Gehl’s gentle narrative text and Metola’s warm illustrations wrap readers in a hug. In the author’s note, Gehl shares that while delicia trees are not real, seed banks are. In fact, there are more than 1000 seed banks in the world.
Go and Get with Rex by David LaRochelle Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka (May 2024)
As a reading specialist, I am a huge fan of LaRochelle’s and Wohnoutka’s See the Cat series. it is my go-to for developing readers because not only is the text accessible but also the plot evokes conversation and laughter.
Go and Get with Rex is an interactive picture book reinforcing initial letter sounds. Jack, Jill and Rex go and get items that begin with a particular sound. For example, for the letter F, Jack brings back a frog, Jill brings a fish, and Rex brings a duck. Wait…duck doesn’t begin with F; however with a few woofs, Rex informs the narrator that the word, friend, does. The game continues with Rex always bringing back ducks but then clarifying how the ducks match the letter and sound.
Go and Get with Rex will be one of the first read alouds I will share with K-1 teachers and students in the new school year. I love how LaRochelle choose to have the narrator speak directly to Rex and Wohnouka’s energetic illustrations show Rex’s emotions when he brings his items. I also appreciate that within the text, each spotlighted letter is in bold print as well as the words starting with the letter supporting the letter-sound connection. Go and Get with Rex can also be a great mentor text for kids to write their own version.
Dalmartian: A Mars Rover’s Story by Lucy Cummins (June 2024)
Three visitors visited Stephen’s yard one night collecting specimens of green items. When Stephen came to the door, one visitor wasn’t fast enough to reboard their ship. As a result, he accepted Stephen’s invitation into his home. At first, the pair differed on sleeping arrangements, food, and exercise but by the next day, they fell into a comfortable routine making the visitor no longer homesick. When his ship returned that night, the visitor left thinking he was going home yet something didn’t feel right. Before the sunrise, the visitor makes it back safely to his new home with Stephen.
With characters like Stumpkin, Truman, and Sylvie, author/illustrator Cummins knows how to both tug and warm my heart. Dalmartian is a sweet and humorous story about friendship, compromise, and acceptance. I love how Stephen didn’t blink an eye when his visitor walked on two legs, endorsed his love for bacon, and agreed that he didn’t need to be leashed. And the last page spread is a hoot!
Tate’s Wild Rescue by Jenny Turnbull Illustrated by Izzy Burton (June 2024)
Animal lover Tate worries about those living in the wild. Are they cold, hungry, lonely or scared? Deciding to rescue one, she writes letters to a lion, dolphin, tiger, bear, kangaroo and raccoon. To her surprise, none of the animals accept her invitation providing reasons (with a spot of humor) why they enjoy their life in the natural habitat. Observant readers will spot a stray dog in each page spread getting closer and closer to Tate. When the dog sees Tate feeling sad, he decides to take matters into his own paws writing her a letter. What happens next will feel your heart with joy.
Debut author Turnbull has written a touching story that has elements of multiple genres. It is epistolary since Tate and the animals communicate through writing letters, fantasy because animals cannot write, and informational for the animals include facts about themselves in their letters. Burton’s vibrant and detailed artwork is integral to the plot for the text does not tell the full story. Clues are embedded in the artwork. I love that Turnbull included backmatter teaching kids about how they can protect wild animal habitats as well as advocate for rescue dogs or cats.
Bella and I thank you for visiting Beagles and Books’ #pb10for10! Do you have a favorite dog picture book? Please feel free to share in the comments below.
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