EPL.ca: Books for Kids Who Love Cats and Dogs

Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips - Michael Morpurgo
Lily's town is evacuated during the war. When Lily's cat Tips goes missing, Lily is distraught. She makes friends with some American soldiers who promise to help her find Tips. She even takes matters into her own hands and crosses into the danger zone to look for Tips herself.

Breaking Trail - Joanne Bell
In this adventure novel, Becky seeks to help her family through a difficult time by proving to them and to herself that she can breed and run her own dog team.

Different Dragons - Jean Little
Ben is terrified of dogs -- especially big dogs. When he goes to visit his Aunt Rose for the weekend he meets Gulliver Gallivant, a giant dog. He is petrified and doesn't know how he will survive the night, let along the whole weekend.

Dog Walker - Karen Spafford-Fitz
This story takes place right here in Edmonton. When Turk gets stuck dog-sitting for a weekend he thinks he may have struck on a solution to all his problems. After all, cute girls love cute dogs. Will starting a dog-walking business bring Turk money and a girlfriend?

Dog's Life: The Autobiography of a Stray - Ann M. Martin
Listen to Squirrel, a dog who has survived adventure, loss and abuse, tell her life story in this fictional autobiography. Her journey to finally find safety and comfort is marked with a strong survival instinct.

Dogboy - Christopher Russell
Set in medieval times, this novel features Brind, a boy who was raised by dogs. As a result, he has an ability to communicate with the animals that makes him very valuable. In particular, Brind has a great rapport with Sir Edward's mastiffs. When Sir Edward goes to war with his dogs, Brind gets caught in the middle of the battle.

Don't Tell Anyone - Peg Kehret
When Megan discovers a group of rag-tag stray cats living in an empty field, she takes it upon herself to make sure that they are well fed and safe. What will she do once she learns that a construction company has planned a new development for this very field? Megan is determined to protect these cats despite many obstacles, including threats and a nighttime kidnapping.

Dream-of-Jade: The Emperor's Cat - Lloyd Alexander
Not a soul is permitted to look upon the emperor with their eyes. However, Dream-of-Jade, a curious and beautiful green-eyed cat, decides to ignore this law. In doing so Dream-of-Jade saves the emperor’s life and begins a long friendship with him. Dream-of-Jade spreads wisdom and happiness by helping the emperor to become the greatest ruler his land has every known.

Four Ugly Cats in Apartment 3D - Marilyn Sachs
Ugly or not, Lily becomes attached to the four cats in apartment 3D. Left alone after their owner dies, Lily takes it upon herself to make sure that these four cats don't go to the SPCA. Although she doesn't know it, she is an animal lover at heart.

Great Dog Stories: Inspirational Tales About Exceptional Dogs - Roxanne Willems Snopek
This book contains real stories of dogs and their owners. Read about seeing-eye dogs, tracking dogs and other canines that have guided, protected and inspired their companions.

Heroes of Isle aux Morts - Alice Walsh
When Anne hears a distress signal from a boat off the coast of Newfoundland, she responds by sending out the only hope of saving the boat's passengers -- her dog Hairy Man. With the help of Hairy Man, 163 passengers are saved. This story is based on the true story of the wreck of the Despatch.

Incredible Journey - Sheila Burnford
In this tale, three runaway pets travel through 400 kilometers of wilderness to find their way home. Separately they would not have survived, but together they can face starvation, wild animals and exposure.

Lost and Found - Jean Little
Lucy moves to a new town and feels lonely and friendless. Fortunately, she meets a stray dog that she becomes good friends with. However, she is only allowed to keep the dog, who she names Trouble, until his real owner is found. When Lucy's friend Nan plays detective to find the dog's owner, Lucy realizes just how much she loves Trouble.

Rescue Dogs: Crime and Rescue Canines in the Canadian Rockies - Dale Portman
Read true stories of amazing dogs who have helped save lives and fight crime right here in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Smart Dog - Vivian Vande Velde
Meet Sherlock, a dog that can do a lot more than roll over to play dead or shake your hand. In fact, Sherlock is so smart he can talk. Formerly known as F-32, Sherlock finds his life threatened by scientists who think he is nothing more than a science experiment. Amy is determined to defend Sherlock from these no-good scientists even if it means getting into loads of trouble with her parents, bullies at school, her teacher and the police.

Star in the Storm - Joan Hiatt Harlow
In this great adventure story, Maggie lives in Newfoundland where almost all dogs have been outlawed. As a result, Maggie's dog is forced into hiding. Maggie keeps him in the woods and it is not until he risks his life to save drowning ship passengers that things start to get better.

Stranger Next Door - Peg Kehret
Pete the cat can understand the speech of humans. Unfortunately, most humans interpret almost all his meows as a cry for food. However, in this story Pete is not only Alex's pet cat, but also his best detective. When Alex moves into a new neighbourhood he runs into trouble with the neighbour boys who are mad that Alex's new house was built over top of their old dirt bike trails. Things get worse when vandalism results and Pete helps solve the crime.

Time Cat: The Remarkable Journeys of Jason and Gareth - Lloyd Alexander
Imagine, a cat that can talk and travel through time. "Anywhere, any time, any country, any century" -- Gareth and Jason have nine amazing adventures visiting new places and new eras in this journey through time.

Whittington - Alan W. Armstrong
In this story, a battered tomcat, Mr. Whittington, makes new friends by coming to live in a barn of misfits. Mr. Whittington takes his name from his famous ancestors whose story is of great interest to the residents of the barn. This tale includes family struggle, fantasy and folktale.

Castaways of the Flying Dutchman - Brian Jacques
Cursed to sail the seas forever, Ben and his dog, Ned, encounter new places, people and adventure. Landing in an old Victorian village they must solve clues and answer riddles to help rescue this village from its demise. This series has adventure, mystery and main characters that have the ability to read each other's thoughts.

Shiloh - Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Marty goes for a walk one day and is surprised to find a dog following him. Marty and the dog, Shiloh, make fast friends. The scary thing is, Marty suspects that Shiloh's real owner doesn't treat Shiloh right. What should he do?

Animal Poems - Valerie Worth
Each poem is paired with a cut-paper illustration; 23 different animals, from wasp to snake to porcupine to wren.

House of a Million Pets - Ann Hodgman
Three guinea pigs, a cage full of birds, a big gray rabbit, a prairie dog, a bulbul, two little rabbits, a hamster, and twenty-six pygmy mice. Would your parents ever let you have that many pets at once? A true story.

If Not for the Cat - Jack Prelutsky
Who is this creature? What does it like to eat? Seventeen haiku riddles to solve.

Owen & Mzee - Isabella Hatkoff
A true story about a rescued baby hippo and an old turtle who become best friends in a sanctuary in Kenya.

Compiled October 2007