Adopting Pets: How to Choose Your New Best Friend. Written by Bill Gutman. Illustrated by Anne Canevari Green. Millbrook Press, 2001. 64 pages. Offers comprehensive information about the dog and cat overpopulation problem, rescue organizations and the importance of matching pets to people. Although out of print, this informative book may be found in many public libraries. Nonfiction picture book. Interest level: Grades 3-6.

Angelica's Wish. Written by Annette Menniti Campbell. Illustrated by Olga M. Burger. Xlibris Corporation, 2004. 28 pages. A modern day fairy tale about the many hardships experienced by stray cats and one mother cat's wish. Fantasy picture book. Interest level: Gr. 2-6

The Cat of Strawberry Hill: a True Story. Written by Fran Hodgkins. Illustrated by Lesia Sochor. Down East Books, 2005. 32 pages. A kitten who is left behind at a rest stop in Maine is lucky to be found and taken in by two innkeepers. An author's note relates the fact that thousands of animals are lost by vacationers each year and not always accidentally. Nonfiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. 1-3.

Come Meet Muffin! Written by Joyce Carol Oates. Illustrated by Mark Graham. The Ecco Press, 1998. 32 pages. A kitten rescued off the side of a country road, grows up to be an extraordinary cat who reunites two fawns with their mother one wintry night. An endearing story and illustrations. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. K-3.

Curious George and the Puppies. Based on the original character by Margret & H. A. Rey. Illustrated in the style of H. A. Rey by Vipah Interactive. Houghton Mifflin Co., 1998. 24 pages. Curious George and the man with the yellow hat find a tiny kitten in the park and take her to the animal shelter where she will be taken care of. While there, George falls in love with one of the many puppies for adoption. Curious George at his best. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Grades pre S-1.

A Day, a Dog. By Gabrielle Vincent. Front Street, 1999, 1982. 72 pages. A dog is abandoned, nearly killed on the highway where he was thrown out of a car but finds and befriends a boy. Wordless realistic fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. 4 and up.

Dogku. Written by Andrew Clements. Illustrated by Tim Bowers. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2007. 40 pages. A homeless dog picks the right door and finds a loving family who takes him in. Poetry picture book. Interest level: Gr. K-3

Freckles: The Mystery of the Little White Dog in the Desert: a True Story. Written by Paul Howey. Illustrated by Judy Mehn Zabriskie. AZtexts Publishing, 2003. 72 pages. The amazing true story of a mother dog and her six puppies who somehow survive in the desert. Today Freckles works as a therapy dog. Includes an illustrated glossary, discussion topics, information about pet therapy and an author's note about the responsibilities associated with dog guardianship. For more information about Freckles visit Freckles Friends. ASPCA Henry Bergh Humane Heroes Award. Nonfiction picture book. Interest level: Grades 2-6

Hey Bossie, You're a Spokescow! Written by Mickey de Rham. Illustrated by Leigh Gusterson. Plaidswede Publishing, 2005. The story of a real cow who helps the White Mountain Animal League educate humans about the need to sterilize their companion animals so there won't be anymore homeless animals. Bossie also advocates adoption. Fiction picture book. (paperback) Interest level: Grades PreS-3.

A Home for Nathan. Written by Claudio M. Roll. Illustrated by Finn Rizer. The William Snyder Foundation for Animals, 1999. Compassion and responsible companion animal care are emphasized in this true story about an unwanted cat who is adopted from a shelter. Fiction picture book. (paperback) Interest level: Gr. 1-4.

A Home for Spooky. Written by Gloria Rand. Illustrated by Ted Rand. H. Holt & Co., 1998. 32 pages. In this book based on a true story, a girl finds a homeless dog in a dump, brings him food every day, and eventually saves his life. Children can read about the real Spooky at the end of the book, where his photos and story are featured. Out of print but on the shelves of many libraries. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. 2-6

The Hound from the Pound. Written by Jessica Swaim. Illustrated by Jill McElmurry. Candlewick Press, 2007. 32 pages. A lonely woman adopts a lovable but untrained basset hound named Blue. Blue's friends from the pound follow his AH-ROOoooooos to his new home and move in too! The lively text and illustrations capture the unique personality of each breed of dog. Children will delight in the humor, rhyming text and happy ending. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Grades PreS-3.

Jasmine. Written and illustrated by Randy Houk. The Benefactory, 1991. The true story of a resourceful abandoned cat who survives for weeks on birdseed and the water that drips from a faucet. Nonfiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. 1-3.

Let's Get A Pup! Said Kate. Written and illustrated by Bob Graham. Candlewick Press, 2001. 32 pages. Kate and her parents fall in love with a cute little puppy at the animal rescue center. Once home with their new pup, the family cannot stop thinking about the old gray dog that they did not adopt. Boston Globe Horn Book Award Winner. KIND Children's Book Award. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Grades K-3.

Lucky Written and illustrated by Gus Clarke. Kane Miller Book Publishers, 2005. 32 pages. Lucky, a shelter dog, and his friends help an older dog who wants a forever home, get chosen. The story advocates adopting. Proceeds from book sales help FOCAS, a group that helps animals in the San Diego municipal shelters. ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award Finalist and a KIND Children's Honor Book. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Grades PreS-2.

Millions of Cats. Written and illustrated by Wanda Gag. Puffin Books, 1928, 1956. 30 pages. The memorable refrain of America's first picture book, "Hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats," should help children commit to memory the importance of sterilizing companion animals. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. K-3.

Mutt Dog! Words and pictures by Stephen Michael King. Harcourt, Inc. 2005. 32 pages. Mutt dog is a stray just trying to survive in the city- always searching for scraps to eat and a safe place to sleep. One night he wanders into a shelter for people like him - cold and tired. A kindhearted woman who works there gives him a meal, a soft bed and ultimately provides him with a loving forever home. Humane Society Youth KIND Children's Honor Book. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr.PreS-Gr 2.

The Old Woman Who Named Things. Written by Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Kathryn Brown. Harcourt Brace, 1996. 32 pages. A lonely old woman who has outlived all of her friends is reluctant to take in the shy puppy who appears in her yard for fear that she will outlive him. But when the brown dog does not appear one day, the woman realizes what she must do. A heartwarming and memorable story. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Grades 1-4.

Smudge Bunny. Written by Dr. Bernie Siegel. Illustrated by Laura J. Bryant. Starseed Press, 2004. 32 pages. Two little bunnies purchased from a pet shop for Easter and subsequently abandoned are lucky to find a loving home. The author provides excellent rabbit care information as well as the URL for House Rabbit Society, the most authoritative rabbit care information resource. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. 1-3.

The Stray Kitten. Written by Judy Waite. Illustrated by Gavin Rowe. Interlink Books, 2000. 32 pages. A poignant story about a kitten who struggles to survive and would not have if it were not for the boy who rescued him when he was too weak to struggle. The kitten learns love through the compassionate action of the boy. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. 1-3.

Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival. Written by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery. Illustrated by Jean Cassels. Walker and Co., 2008. unpaged. Bobbi and Bob Cat, abandoned during the New Orleans hurricane evacuations, wandered the streets in search of food together, surviving against all odds. And after four long months on their own, the heroic young dog and blind cat, were rescued by Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and placed together in a forever home. The realistic illustrations capture the post hurricane difficulties that so many surviving animals faced without being overly harsh. An afterword provides a photo of the real-life Bobbi and Bob Cat. This important book pays tribute to the many animals who were left behind and to every animal rescue person who helped them. A well told story with a happy ending. Nonfiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. 1-3.

Next topic: Hunting and Trapping>

Back to Booklist Main Page>

"Saving just one animal won't change the world... but, surely, the world will change for that one animal!" Unknown.

©2007-2009 Humane Education Teacher