20 Heartwarming Middle Grade Books for Dog Lovers

Pawcasso is what 11-year-old Jo names the basket-toting dog in town when a group of kids at the library mistake her for the dog’s owner. Jo is a lonely kid who is bored at home during the summer holidays. She’s seen the dog walking through her neighborhood several times. The dog goes grocery shopping and can find its way home through pedestrian traffic and everything in town. As the kids fall more in love with “Pawcasso,” and by extension, Jo, she begins to enjoy having friends in her life. But what happens when the lie is exposed? This is an adorable middle grade graphic novel with a relatable protagonist and a sweet dog friend. Ages 8+

This story is about Evan, a moody middle schooler whose days consist of trying to figure out why his mom is always grumpy, defending his besties from the school bully, and trying to bond with his artist father. Until he meets a dog, or rather, the dog finds him. Told from the perspectives of Evan and the dog, a clever border collie with a love for running, this soaring, heartwarming adventure about friendship, family, and the healing power of dogs is perfect for fans of Silvey’s The Underdogs of Upson Downs. Ages 9+

Chance is a three-legged dog at the Dogtown shelter, where able-bodied and robot dogs compete for attention. Things start to change when a new robot dog, Metal Head, comes to the pound. First off, he’s determined to run away (return home). So he hatches a plan with Chance and her mouse best friend to help an older dog get adopted in exchange for helping him escape. But things do not go to plan, and Chance, her mouse friend, and Metal Head spend a night on the streets on an emotional adventure. As someone who isn’t into animal books, I’m shocked by how much I liked this one. It’s charming, beautifully plotted, and full of suspense, heartwarming characters, and plenty of heart. It also has sweet illustrations and concise chapters. Ages 8+

When Ash’s mom ships him off to the island to spend the summer with his dad, he’s forced to do community service at a dog shelter where he gets to know different dog breeds and personalities — as do readers. Varner includes a note about a different dog breed at the start of each chapter. As Ash makes new friends, becomes an asset to the shelter, and gets closer to his dad, stepmom, and sibling, he experiences a life-changing summer. Heads up for the death of one dog (not on the page!). I can see animal lovers ADORING this one! Ages 9+

In this hilarious illustrated story, one dog adopted by a couple to keep their son company takes protecting his family to a new level when a pair of crooks encroach on their home. Every page of this book is unexpected and hysterical and the ending is so heartwarming. Ages 8+

Cyrus Olson does not think he’s “brave like that.” He’s not brave like his adoptive firefighter father who was also a star football player in his day. Although he plays football for his school team, he does not enjoy it, and would much rather be doing something else, but he’s afraid to let his dad (and the town that knows him to be an Olson) down. But Cyrus gets some motivation to stand up for himself and his desires when a dog is abandoned at the fire station (just like Cyrus was). This is a refreshing look at what it means to be a “man” and the journey to finding one’s identity in the world — or at least exploring enough options. Ages 9+

Mavis Jeeter’s mother is constantly moving cities and dragging her along. When Mavis’s mom’s new job as a housekeeper takes them to a gated community in Alabama, they meet the Tullys. While Mavis is fearless, spirited, and always ready for an adventure, Rose Tully is sensitive and anxious. However, both girls are in dire need of a best friend — they decide to choose each other as soon as they meet. The girls band together to comfort old Mr. Duffy, the gatekeeper ,whose dog has recently died. In the process, they stumble upon a Greyhound named Henry. Interestingly, part of the story is also told from Henry’s POV, in addition to the girls’ third-person POV. I enjoyed this middle-grade novel. While Wonderland isn’t my typical kind of novel, I found the protagonists endearing. Ages 8+

In this slice-of-life middle grade novel, we follow twelve-year-old Jessie, who’s staying at her cousin, Ann’s, for the summer. Jessie and Ann have grown apart since Ann became friends with a popular girl. Jessie throws herself into trying to score a dog-walking apprenticeship with a grumpy dog-walker, Wes. Things are going well until a new dog walker moves into town. I liked this one; the audio narration is also really good. This is perfect for active kids, dog lovers, and kids bridging the gap between childhood and teenagehood. Ages 9+

This is an incredible (mostly) verse novel about a boy who vandalizes a gravestone of a 46er Adirondack woman and is tasked with hiking all 46 peaks as reparations. I read this one from start to finish in a single day, and I loved the multiple formats — written in posters, pictures, text messages, letters, recipes, and yes, verse. Finn is angry a lot, and the hike introduces him to people who knew his dad and a slobbery dog, Seymour. This one combines adventure, heart, mystery, suspense, and flashbacks beautifully. It’s just really clever, has a strong kid appeal, and is full of emotional depth. Ages 10+

Mr. Whiskers is a street-wise stray dog with a nose for trouble and a fondness for two girls he calls the Shenanigan Sisters. So when Misty and Zelda’s professor father is kidnapped, Mr. Whiskers follows that car, picking up vital clues. With the help of his street friends and the Shenanigan sisters, Mr. Whiskers leads the way to finding Mr. Shenanigan. I liked this better on audio and if your kids like gentle, quirky animal-led mysteries, they’ll enjoy this. Ages 8+

Timothy Strickland, aka Pumpsie, is the often-ignored, almost-last child of his family. He loves baseball, and while he isn’t naturally talented, he works hard to overcome his fears. When a storm leads to Pumpsie getting forgotten and locked alone inside the stadium with a dog and two suspicious men. Pumpsie uses his smart thinking to keep the men away and uncover their sinister plan while trying to stay safe until the morning. The best way to describe this book is Home Alone, but make it Alone in the Park. Peak wish fulfillment with lots of sports and cultural details. It absolutely flew by for me. Kids who enjoy sports and large families in their stories will love this one! Ages 8+

Dog Trouble meets The Underdog of Upson Downs in this charming graphic novel about anxiety and loving a dog. Chuck is a highly anxious kid who receives a dog from his parents. As he battles negative thinking, he learns what it takes to train a dog. When they stumble upon the chance to practice agility training, it opens up a whole new way to bond. But will Chuck’s and Ralph’s anxiety let them find a way to work together? This book is very sweet with wholesome friend and family dynamics and plenty of pet love. Hand to dog lovers and kids who love sports — especially agility contests. Ages 8+

If your kids read and loved The One and Only Ivan, they’ll be happy to hear that its sequel all about the dog named Bob is on Kindle Unlimited! Ages 8+

This book, about a girl and her dog determined to win a dog agility contest against all odds, is the perfect blend of adventure and heartwarming. Annie Shearer lives in Australia and has a dog who will only do tricks when no one but Annie is watching. When Annie’s family comes at risk of losing their farm, Annie is convinced that only the prize money from a dog agility contest can save the farm. But will her dog, Runt, perform? Ages 8+

Charlie Reese is an 11-year-old with a temper and an obsession with making wishes — and she wishes for the same thing every time. Temporarily living with her aunt and uncle because of her family’s instability, her life changes in the best way when she finds a stray dog to belong to and makes a neighborhood friend who is kind to her and sees the best in her, even when she makes mistakes. This is is a bighearted story about mistakes, forgiveness, empathy, and family. Ages 9+

Alone follows 12-year-old Maddie, who gets abandoned by some twist of fate when her entire town is mysteriously evacuated. Left alone with no human in sight, she bonds with a Rottweiler named George, who is one of many abandoned pets. Soon after, they lose power and then water, and Maddie has to fend for herself using a variety of ingenious means and the town resources at her disposal, including an empty library, grocery store, and neighbors’ homes. Maddie is alone for months and has to safeguard herself from wild animals, terrible weather, and dangerous intruders, on top of the fear and loneliness of being all by herself. This is a well-written middle-grade survival novel-in-verse with a tenacious protagonist and an engaging plot that leaves many questions unanswered. Ages 10+

I truly loved this graphic novel about three friends who start a dog-walking business. It feels true to kids (feels like something I would’ve LOVED as a child who adored The Babysitters’ Club), and I enjoyed seeing the ethnic diversity and the parental involvement in this story. If you have kids who love animals or have an entrepreneurial streak, this book is for them. It’s also delightfully short, and this is a series I totally plan to keep up with since every book is from a different girl’s perspective. Ages 7+

Miss Lottie owns several “secondhand dogs” — dogs to whom she’s given a second chance. There’s Gus, the scraggly insecure pack leader, Tank the protective bulldog, nervous three-legged hunting dog, Roo, and the youngest pack member, Moonpie. She also has a cat named Ghost. When Miss Lottie brings home a new dog who wants to become the center of attention — and the only dog at home for that matter — the peace at home is threatened. The story is told from each of the dog’s perspectives — in the before (Miss Lottie) and after — as well as Miss Lottie’s and Quinn’s (the tween who cares for the dogs), also in the before and after. This is a sweet, heartwarming story about second chances and finding and protecting your pack — whether human and animal. Ages 9+

If your tween has already read The War that Saved My Life and is looking for more historical fiction, definitely try this one. It’s 1940, and Jody’s family has moved to Honolulu with her marine father. She is used to moving frequently, and she thinks Honolulu, with its beauty, will be fun, especially with her aging dog, Happy, by her side. Soon, her mother’s nervousness about the war is affecting Jody, and when they move to San Francisco after the Pearl Harbor bombing, leaving her father behind, Jody has to take on a big role. This story is told from the alternating viewpoints of both Jody and Happy. This is a riveting and heartwarming read about duty and family! Ages 8+

Meet Lety Muñoz, whose parents are hardworking Mexican immigrants. She and her brother are also learning English, and she’s very self-conscious about speaking correctly in this new language. She doesn’t give herself enough credit for how much she’s made. Still, this summer is supposed to be fun. She’s volunteering at an animal shelter with her best friends. But it quickly becomes stressful when two boys set up a contest between Lety and another volunteer (who reads at the high school level) for the role of Shelter Scribe. Lety Out Loud is a CUTE and inspiring young middle grade book about the immigrant experience, pets, and building friendships. Ages 8+