Our Favourite Books Where Dogs Play a Starring Role
Clouseau, my firstborn, played a huge role in setting up Mother of Readers. He would listen patiently as my babies practised their reading and nod along to the story. He would curl up beside them as they started reading independently, as though offering support when they stumbled over words. This gentle push towards forming a love for books meant he was a regular at our community readings.
So at Mother of Readers, we are quick to pick up a book that features a dog and here are a few of our eternal favourites. (P.S. I have been revisiting them over the past few days as I mourn the loss of my beloved Clou.)
Dugga
This wordless wonder by illustrator-author Rajiv Eipe and published by Pratham Books, is a masterclass on how to bring a dog to life on paper. He captures every nuance, every tic of an indie that is living its best life on the streets until one day, when he meets with an accident. Reading this book consistently moves us to tears. The empathy and sheer brilliance, and attention to detail make this book a family favourite.
Duster
Duster is a darling little book about a dog that believes that he is a cat. He refuses to do dog-like tricks and definitely won’t play fetch much to his Hooman’s chagrin. But then, one day, something changes. He sees his Hooman upset. This amazing book by Richa Jha makes the reader laugh out loud at the book’s onset and settle into an all knowing smile by the end of it. Buy here
Chitty: A Dog and her Forest Farm
Imagine a dog living her best life under the starry skies in the Western Ghats. This gorgeous book written by Serow and illustrated by Rajiv Eipe is a must-read for every child to understand the simplicity of a dog’s life. This book also allows parents to have difficult and meaningful conversations with their children. This book goes a long way in raising empathetic readers.
A Dog Called Shoo
Kavitha Punniyamurthi borrows a story from daily life that we hear too often. A boy gets bored of his pet dog and the family abandons him on the street. The dog, so used to people saying, “Shoo, Shoo” at him, begins to think that’s his name. One day, a little boy shows Shoo a tiny bit of kindness. The story is about what happens next and the beautiful bond that is formed. Buy here
Buy these books for yourself and for your child even if you don’t have a fur baby in your life. They go a long way in teaching empathy towards animals and just being a part of their untainted innocence. These books are loved by me, by my boys, and were Clou’s favourites too.