Cats & Dogs Picture Books
It’s the age-old question,”What do you like more cats or dogs?” Well, with today’s book lists (that’s right two!), you don’t have to choose! Whether you love those sweet, but saucy little cats or the lovable and energetic dogs, you’ll find everything you’re looking for right here with these cats & dogs picture books!
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9 Picture Books All About Cats
Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel
Kitty is not happy when she’s told that her favorite foods are all gone and all that’s left are Asparagus, Beets, Cauliflower, Dill…and 22 other equally unappealing vegetables. So she: Ate my homework, Bit grandma, Clawed the curtains, Damaged the dishes, and so on, through Z. Only when tastier things arrive (An Assortment of Anchovies, Buffalo Burritos, Chicken Cheesecake…) does she Apologize to Grandma.
Cat Nap by Toni Yuly
In this book filled with opposites (big and little, black and white, sleepy and awake) Toni Yuly proves once again–as she did with Early Bird and Night Owl–that simple concepts come alive for the youngest readers through bold art and charming language.
Cat Problems by Jory John, illustrated by Lane Smith
Just like most cats, this cat lives an extremely comfortable life. But he has his problems too!
The sun spot he’s trying to bathe in won’t stop moving. He keeps getting served dry food instead of wet. And don’t even get him started on the vacuum–it’s an absolute menace!–and the nosy neighbor squirrel that just can’t seem to mind its own business. Will this cat ever find the silver lining?
Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
It is Kitten’s first full moon, and when she sees it she thinks it is a bowl of milk in the sky. And she wants it. Does she get it? Well, no . . . and yes. What a night!
Max the Brave by Ed Vere
Max is a fearless kitten. Max is a brave kitten. Max is a kitten who chases mice. There’s only one problem: Max doesn’t know what a mouse looks like! With a little bit of bad advice, Max finds himself facing a much bigger challenge. Maybe Max doesn’t have to be Max the Brave all the time…
Niblet & Ralph by Zachariah OHora
Niblet and Ralph may look a lot alike, but they are very different. Niblet loves noshing on crunchy potato chips. Ralph loves putting on headphones and jamming to his favorite records. But both cats have one thing in common: They love being friends and waving to each other from their windows across the courtyard of the apartment building they live in.
One day, Niblet and Ralph decide it’s time to meet in person (or in cat?). But when they mistakenly end up at each other’s apartments, their owners think that Niblet is Ralph, and Ralph is Niblet! Will Niblet and Ralph be able to switch back to their proper homes, or will they be stuck listening to music (ugh) and eating chips (gross) forever? Better still, will they be able to bring their lovable (if not very observant) human families together?
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean
Pete the Cat goes walking down the street wearing his brand-new white shoes. Along the way, his shoes change from white to red to blue to brown to WET as he steps in piles of strawberries, blueberries, and other big messes!
But no matter what color his shoes are, Pete keeps movin’ and groovin’ and singing his song…because it’s all good. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes asks the reader questions about the colors of different foods and objects—kids love to interact with the story.
Stack the Cats by Susie Ghahremani
Cats of all shapes and sizes scamper, stretch, and yawn across the pages of this adorable counting book. And every now and then, they find themselves in the purrfect fluffy stack!
They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel
The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws . . . In this glorious celebration of observation, curiosity, and imagination, author and illustrator Brendan Wenzel shows us the many lives of one cat, and how perspective shapes what we see. When you see a cat, what do you see?
9 Picture Books All About Dogs
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka
Any child who has ever had a beloved toy break will relate to Daisy’s anguish when her favorite ball is destroyed by a bigger dog. In the tradition of his nearly wordless picture book Yo! Yes?, Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka explores in pictures the joy and sadness that having a special toy can bring.
Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings
Arfy is a homeless mutt who lives in a box in an alley. Arfy writes to every person on Butternut Street about what a great pet he’d make. His letters to prospective owners share that he’s house broken! He has his own squeaky bone! He can learn to live with cats! But, no one wants him. Won’t anyone open their heart–and home–to a lonesome dog? Readers will be happily surprised to learn just who steps up to adopt Arfy.
Dog’s Colorful Day by Emma Dodd
Dog starts off the day with one black spot on his ear. But it seems that wherever he goes, he runs, rolls, and trots right into colors. As he wanders around town, Dog collects spots made of red jam, blue paint, pink ice cream, and more. When he finally arrives back home, Dog has ten different colored spots. And then it’s bath time for this colorful canine, who makes learning colors and numbers easy, messy, and fun!
Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Christian Robinson
This is the story of four puppies: Fi-Fi, Foo-Foo, Ooh-La-La, and Gaston. Gaston works the hardest at his lessons on how to be a proper pooch. He sips—never slobbers! He yips—never yaps! And he walks with grace—never races! Gaston fits right in with his poodle sisters.
But a chance encounter with a bulldog family in the park—Rocky, Ricky, Bruno, and Antoinette—reveals there’s been a mix-up, and so Gaston and Antoinette switch places. The new families look right…but they don’t feel right. Can these puppies follow their noses—and their hearts—to find where they belong?
Groovy Joe: Ice Cream & Dinosaurs by Eric Litwin, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
In his debut adventure, Groovy Joe faces three roaring dinosaurs hungry for his doggy ice cream! Oh no! But Joe knows just what to do and soon enough he has them all sharing while moving and singing along.
Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion, illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham
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!
Odd Dog Out by Rob Biddulph
It’s a dog’s life in the big, busy city, but there’s one lonely pup who doesn’t quite fit in. She behaves differently from the rest, sports rainbow in a sea of gray, and marches to the beat of her own drum. She’s one Odd Dog. Join Odd Dog as she journeys to the other side of the world to find her place in it, only for her to discover that maybe she’s meant to be right where she started.
Oh No, George! by Chris Haughton
George is a dog with all the best intentions, and his owner, Harry, has all the best hopes that George will be a well-behaved dog when he leaves him alone for the day. But it’s so hard to be a good dog when there are cats to chase and flowers to dig up! Chris Haughton’s fetchingly funny story and vibrant, retro illustrations are sure to lure dog lovers of all ages—and anyone who has ever met a temptation too good to resist.
Pig the Pug by Aaron Blabey
Pig is a greedy and selfish Pug. He has all the bouncy balls, bones, and chew toys a dog could ever want yet he refuses to share with his poor friend, Trevor. Little does he know, however, that being greedy has its consequences. Join Pig as he learns to share – the hard way!
