Album of Dogs

Album of Dogs

Marguerite Henry

illustrated by Wesley Dennis 1970

 I never knew I was a dog person until we got our golden-doodle Molly!  I have always loved Rosie and our past cats, S'more, Gingersnap and Marshmallow (he was the greatest of cats!) and of course Benji our bunny, but there is just something about a dog!  This album of dogs has the best pictures and Marguerite Henry (of all those classic horse stories) provides the text.  There's history about each breed told in a fun storybook way.

Benjy's Boat Trip

Benjy's Boat Trip

Margaret Bloy Graham 1977

 Another adorable Benjy book by Margaret Bloy Graham.  This one hits especially close to home since we are about to go overseas for a couple weeks and leave Molly in the care of a neighbor.  I'm already worried that she'll think we've abandoned her!

In Graham's story Benjy's family boards a ship for a cruise, leaving him with Aunt Mary.  Of course the kids and Benjy are sad.  So later when he sees a ship at the port he thinks it's the same one with his family on it and he breaks away from Aunt Mary and runs aboard.

Not only is he stuck on a strange ship, but there's also the ship cat who doesn't like him.  The cook soon finds Benjy and takes care of him, feeding him hamburgers and letting him sleep on his bed.  Eventually everyone onboard, even the cat, become his friends.  Not to worry, there is a happy reunion with his family at the end!

Other books illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham:

Be Nice to Spiders

The Storm Book

Bork

Now that we are a dog family (with Molly our goldendoodle!) I am constantly delighted by dog books!  This one has such simple illustrations but conveys so much about learning to communicate with others (even if it's just through the bark of a dog!)

Bork

Rhys Kitson 2022 

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy

Hairy Maclary

from Donaldson's Dairy

Lynley Dodd 1983

 Now that we are a dog family I am delighting in all the dog picture books!  Lynley Dodd has a series of Hairy Maclary books that follow the rhyming adventures of a scruffy little Scottish terrier.  In this first one we meet Hairy Maclary (from the Donaldson's Dairy) and a gathering group of his dog friends.  I love all the names and breeds ("Bottomley Potts covered in spots", and "Muffin McLay like a bundle of hay").  The pictures are very cute!

Hot Dog

 I may favor vintage children's books but I'm always discovering new author/illustrators and adding them to my library.  I just got this fun book in the mail as a surprise from my friend, Margaux!  Since we both got puppies for the first time several years ago, we've realized that we've become "dog lovers!"  She knew I would like the clever title and how Doug Salati draws all the facial expressions and mannerisms of a little dachshund.  

Hot Dog

Doug Salati 2022

(Molly graciously posed for me.)

When it's too hot and crowded in the city, a dog has had enough!  So his owner takes him out for a day at the beach where he gets to romp and be refreshed.  Salati's spare text reads like a poem and his pictures capture the noisy city chaos giving way to a breezy beach.

Thrift Store Scores- Gaston and Bless This Mouse

 At the thrift store the longer I stayed in the book section, the more treasures I found!

Gaston

Kelly DiPucchio

pictures by Christian Robinson 2014

I had seen the book Gaston at Barnes and Nobel at one point but never picked it up.  However when I read it at the thrift store I realized just how absolutely adorable it was!  The story of a little bulldog living with his poodle mom and sisters has a sweet message of family and love.  Charlotte and I noticed how deceptively simple the artwork was.  I'm always so impressed by this style of illustration (the Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems pull this off too).  The drawing doesn't look complicated and yet the skill of the artist manages to evoke all the emotion of the characters.  I won't spoil it, but I was so happy with the ending too.

I picked this next one up for my 4 year old niece, though I'm going to have a hard time giving it away!  The fuzzy flocked animals on each page are so cute.  And there's even some tactile surprises here and there, like the velveted spider's webs and some flowers.  Even though Charlotte is 14 now, I read this to her in bed the other night just like I would have when she was 4.  And she still loved it too!

Bless this Mouse

Dianna Hutts Aston 

illustrated by John Butler 2004