Run, Spot, Run

The Top of My List

 My All-Time Favorite Dog Books and their Authors

My list will always start with (1) Jim Kjelgaard books. This outdoorsman and trapper wrote about many things, but he especially loved writing about dogs. He turned out books that put a reader directly into a dog's mind and demonstrated in the most believable way the unshakeable bond between man and dog. Besides the books shown below, my own library includes these books by Kjelgaard (pronounced "Kel-guard"): "Stormy," "Outlaw Red," "Irish Red," "Lion Hound," "Wild Trek," "Haunt Fox," "A Nose For Trouble," "Two Dogs and a Horse," "Dave and his Dog, Mulligan," and "Coyote Song."  I'm always searching for a new Jim Kjelgaard title in used bookstores. Sadly, the writer I most admire died in 1959 when I was in elementary school and just discovering him. Click on books below to visit a Jim Kjelgaard website.

Just below the Kjelgaard books come the Newbery books that feature dogs, including all three books of the (2) Phyllis Reynolds Naylor "Shiloh" trilogy and (pictured below, l to r) "Dogsong" by (3) Gary Paulsen (Newbery Honor Book, 1985), "Sounder" by (4) William H. Armstrong (Newbery Medal Winner, 1969), and "Adam of the Road" by (5) Elizabeth Janet Gray (Newbery Medal Winner, 1942).

Then come several favorite books from my childhood: "Silver Chief, Dog of the North" by (6) Jack O'Brien (1933) and "Follow My Leader" by (7) James B. Garfield (1958). I still remember the joy of reading "Follow My Leader" (which I got through the Weekly Reader Book Club) during a blizzard in 1959 that kept us all home from school -- for a whole week! O.K., there was no heat or electricity, but I didn't care. I had my book and a blanket to curl up in and sunshine through the living room. What more could a kid want?

 As for "Silver Chief," I adored that Husky and his master, Canadian Mounty Jack Thorne. Silver Chief had more than one adventure ("The Return of Silver Chief," "Silver Chief's Revenge") and O'Brien also wrote "Spike of Swift River" (1942), another rebel dog of the Untamed North.

Harder to put in a category, but rounding out my "Top 10" dog authors are these writers of more contemporary dog stories: "Jim Ugly" by (8) Sid Fleischman (1992), "Scrub Dog of Alaska" by (9) Walt Morey, who also wrote the more famous animal book, "Gentle Ben" (1971), and "The Comeback Dog" by (10) Jane Resh Thomas, the only chapter book on my list (1981). I've read hundreds of dog books, starting when I was about 8 and continuing today. So this is a very special Top 10 to me. I can't get it down to just 10 books! I have to choose 10 dog authors and recommend ALL their books.

THINK ABOUT IT: It's fun to pick your very favorite books. Try making your own list. See what the books have in common. Mine are all books about dogs. How are the books on your list different? Mine cover the Middle Ages ("Adam of the Road"), the Old West ("Jim Ugly") and just about every decade in the 20th century. I even have some science fiction dog books in my dog book collection! What's your favorite thing to write about? The answer to that question usually matches your top likes and interests.

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