K.L. Kranes

I am currently reading a very cute book called The Walk Down Roman’s Road about a family and their golden retriever. As I’m reading, I keep thinking – yep this is exactly what it’s like when you get a dog. No, it’s totally not crazy to spent your life savings on a vet bill. I would too.

Moral of the story? Dog owners really love their dogs. My daughter gets disciplined and told she can’t have dessert while my dog, Cupcake, gets an extra greenie just for looking sad. It’s no wonder my daughter sometimes treats our dog like the little sister who “gets away with everything.” Cupcake kind of does.

It’s also not enough to love and spoil our dogs. We also must immortalize them either metaphorically or literally in books and film. However, like with children, I cannot watch a movie or read a book where a dog gets hurt or dies.

I used to freak out as a kid when I watched Benji. Some stupid human would always kick him in those movies and I’d cry and cry. This mug that we have in our house pretty much says it all.

This is also why I haven’t read a lot of “dog lit.” But after reading this cute story of a golden retriever, where so far nothing bad happens and it doesn’t seem like it will, I wondered if I could find more entertaining “happy” dog books where the dog doesn’t get hurt or die.

For those of you who feel the same way, I did! Here are some safe dog-based lit books I found that should not make you cry (at least not because a dog dies) and you will be very happy that you read.

For Kids

Harry the Dirty Dog

Harry is a white dog with black spots who absolutely, positively hates to take a bath. After a day of adventure, Harry gets so dirty that he no longer looks like a white dog with black spots. Now he looks like a black dog with white spots!

Dog Loves Books

Dog loves books SO much he opens his very own bookstore. At first he’s short of customers. But that’s all right, because when Dog is surrounded by books, he is never short of friends—or fun. And when customers begin arriving, he knows just which books to recommend.

For Middle Grade (and Adults too)

The Chet and Bernie Series, by Spencer Quinn

Chet is the canine narrator of the series; Bernie is a down-on-his-luck private investigator. A mystery series. (Apparently adults will like this too!)

Because of Winn Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo’s first published novel, like Winn-Dixie himself, immediately
proved to be a keeper — a New York Times bestseller, a Newbery Honor winner, the inspiration for a popular film, and most especially, a cherished classic that touches the hearts of readers of all ages. It’s now available in a paperback digest format certain to bring this tale’s magic to an even wider circle of fans.

For Adults

Where We Belong by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Fourteen-year-old Angie and her mom are poised at the edge of homelessness… again. The problem is her little sister, Sophie. Sophie has an autism-like disorder, and a tendency to shriek. No matter where they live, home never seems to last long. Until they move in with Aunt Vi, across the fence from a huge black Great Dane who changes everything.