Here are 55 books that Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home fans have personally recommended if you like Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home. Book DNA is a community of 13,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of You Don't Want a Unicorn!

Jess Hernandez Author Of First Day of Unicorn School

From my list on unusual unicorns.

Why am I passionate about this?

No one would ever describe me as a unicorn. I’m not graceful. My mane of hair is half an inch long. And I rarely (if ever) prance. I’m a donkey in a party hat and that’s perfectly okay with me. But sometimes it can be kinda rough in a world that tells you that you must be gorgeous instead of goofy, fabulous instead of funny. So I love stories that make me feel a little less alone in my awkwardness – that remind me that all of us, from the most beautiful unicorn to the weirdest little goblin, are not quite what they seem.  

Jess' book list on unusual unicorns

Jess Hernandez Why Jess loves this book

An unsuspecting little boy wishes for a unicorn, only to discover that magical pet ownership isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Unicorns leave holes in the ceiling and piles of (cupcake) poo on the floor. And don’t even mention the shedding! Both Ame Dyckman and Liz Climo are hilarious on their own, but as an author/illustrator team, they’re an absolute hoot!

By Ame Dyckman , Liz Climo (illustrator) ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked You Don't Want a Unicorn! as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Be careful what pet you wish for in the newest picture book from fan-favorite author Ame Dyckman and rising-star illustrator Liz Climo.
When a little boy throws a coin in a well asking for a pet unicorn, he has no idea what kind of trouble he's in for. Unbeknownst to him, unicorns make the absolutely worst pets: they shed, they poke holes in your ceiling, and they make a big mess. With a knowing wink from Ame Dykeman, creator of Wolfie the Bunny and cheerful illustrations from Rory the Dinosaur creator and Tumblr star Liz Climo, this rollicking story shares…


If you love Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home...

Book cover of These Blue Mountains

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas,

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…

Book cover of Going Home: Finding Peace When Pets Die

Wendy Wahman Author Of Don't Lick the Dog: Making Friends with Dogs

From my list on dog books to tug on your heartstrings.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m passionate about animals. When I was starting out in my 20s, I worked as a vet tech and a dog trainer and fully intended to make a career in animals. But along the way my other love, art, joined the dance. It’s only natural I’ve found ways to combine my two loves, like, illustrating a veterinarian's advice column for Family Dog magazine, and writing, Don’t Lick the Dog, and Nanny Paws, both inspired by my own beloved dogs.

Wendy's book list on dog books to tug on your heartstrings

Wendy Wahman Why Wendy loves this book

I love and grieve hard. Sometimes debilitatingly so. When I lost my first cat, Olif, I couldn’t go in my studio for a year. Without my best boy in there with me, just crossing the threshold triggered a kind of PTSD, and I’d buckle under the grief. I finally saw a therapist and got the help I needed to move forward.

Books can help us with our grief too, and Going Home is one that’s helped me. Glancing through it now, I see I’ve opened straight to the chapter, “Guilt.” Yea, that one’s insidious, isn’t it. Katz covers them all: All the thoughts that needle and jab, all the emotions that drown, then drain us. Maybe, Going Home will help you too. Hold it on your lap where your beloved once was. And I will too.

By Jon Katz ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Going Home as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In this invaluable guide and touchstone, New York Times bestselling author Jon Katz addresses the difficult but necessary topic of saying goodbye to a beloved pet. Drawing on personal experiences, stories from fellow pet owners, and philosophical reflections, Katz provides support for those in mourning. By allowing ourselves to grieve honestly and openly, he posits, we can in time celebrate the dogs, cats, and other creatures that have so enriched us. Katz compels us to consider if we gave our pets good lives, if we were their advocates in times of need, and if we used our best judgments in…


Book cover of The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood

Tove Danovich Author Of Under the Henfluence: Inside the World of Backyard Chickens and the People Who Love Them

From my list on animals helping us understand ourselves.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a freelance journalist who started writing about animals after getting and falling in love with a flock of chickens. Animals are fascinating in their own right but the way we talk about them, and our relationships, shine a fascinating light on humans and what we value. My work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Country Living, and many others. 

Tove's book list on animals helping us understand ourselves

Tove Danovich Why Tove loves this book

Sometimes it takes a pig to introduce us to our fellow humans.

In this delightful book, nature writer Sy Montgomery sticks close to home following the story of Christopher Hogwood, a runty piglet who grows into 750 pounds and a neighborhood favorite. You may not want a pig as a pet after reading but you will fall in love with the pig mind and the way animals can bring us together.

By Sy Montgomery ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Good Good Pig as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"In loving yet unsentimental prose, Sy Montgomery captures the richness that animals bring to the human experience. Sometimes it takes a too-smart-for-his-own-good pig to open our eyes to what most matters in life.”
—John Grogan, author of Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog

A naturalist who spent months at a time living on her own among wild creatures in remote jungles, Sy Montgomery had always felt more comfortable with animals than with people. So she gladly opened her heart to a sick piglet who had been crowded away from nourishing meals by his stronger siblings.…


If you love Rupert Sheldrake...

Book cover of Snow on Magnolias

Snow on Magnolias by Betty Bolté,

One terrible lie, a desperate measure to save her past, just might destroy her future…

Magnolia Merryweather, a horse breeder, is eager to celebrate Christmas for the first time after the Civil War ended, even as she grows her business. She envisions a calm, prosperous life ahead after the terror…

Book cover of Why the Wild Things are: Animals in the Lives of Children

Stacy Hoult Author Of The Mythology of the Animal Farm in Children's Literature: Over the Fence

From my list on inspire compassion for farmed animals.

Why am I passionate about this?

Growing up on a small family farm in the Midwest, I was immersed in a world of animals: pets, free-ranging wildlife, and “food” animals (pigs and cows). As an adult and academic professional, I longed for a way to bridge my vocation (teaching college students and writing about literature) and my deep commitment to the care and stewardship of all beings. These books have opened my eyes to the lived experiences of farmed animals and to the mythologies we use to hide these experiences from ourselves and, especially, our children. I hope you find them as moving and insightful as I do!

Stacy's book list on inspire compassion for farmed animals

Stacy Hoult Why Stacy loves this book

Melson's highly original work has been a towering influence on my thinking about how children, who naturally gravitate to animals, learn to repress this deep connection as they grow into adults, oblivious (or resigned) to the systems implicated in the production of meat and other animal products.

I appreciate her detailed study of the process that brings about this "shift" and how it manifests as an explosion of animal-themed toys, games, films, and other cultural products, even as contact with real animals is all but lost to today's young people.

As a former 4-H kid, I especially respect and relate to her sober analysis of the "rite of passage" of raising and having a personal relationship with an animal whose purpose is to be sold and turned into food. 

By Gail F. Melson ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Why the Wild Things are as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Whether they see themselves as King of the Wild Things or protector of Toto, children live in a world filled with animals - both real and imaginary. From Black Beauty to Barney, animal characters romp through children's books, cartoons, videos, and computer games. As Gail Melson tells us, more than three-quarters of all children in America live with pets and are now more likely to grow up with a pet than with both parents.


Book cover of Pets in America: A History

David Grimm Author Of Citizen Canine: Our Evolving Relationship with Cats and Dogs

From my list on for serious thinkers about cats and dogs.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am, first and foremost, a lover of cats and dogs. I have been fascinated by these animals ever since I was a child. Where did they come from? Why are we so strongly bonded to them? What is the future of our relationship? These are questions I have asked myself for decades, and which I finally answer in Citizen Canine: Our Evolving Relationship with Cats and Dogs. I bring to this book not only my lifelong love of these animals, but a deep-thinker’s exploration of history, law, and science. 

David's book list on for serious thinkers about cats and dogs

David Grimm Why David loves this book

This book was one of my primary go-to’s when I was writing my own book, Citizen Canine. It’s an in-depth exploration of the changing status of cats and dogs throughout American history, and it’s fascinating. Chock-full of photos and great anecdotes, it’s a must for anyone who wants to take a deep dive into the American history of pets. 

By Katherine C. Grier ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Pets in America as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Entertaining and informative, Pets in America is a portrait of Americans' relationships with the cats, dogs, birds, fishes, rodents, and other animals we call our own. More than 60 percent of U.S. households have pets, and America grows more pet-friendly every day. But as Katherine C. Grier demonstrates, the ways we talk about and treat our pets - as companions, as children, and as objects of beauty, status, or pleasure - have their origins long ago.

Grier begins with a natural history of animals as pets, then discusses the changing role of pets in family life, new standards of animal…


Book cover of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul: Stories about Pets as Teachers, Healers, Heroes and Friends

Jennifer Marshall Bleakley Author Of Paws in His Presence: 50 Inspirational Animal Stories to Help You Pray & Ponder the Psalms

From my list on comfort and inspire an animal lover’s heart.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a painfully shy child, I found friendship, adventure and ultimately my own voice reading about—and spending time with—animals. Animals felt safer to talk to than people, and they gave me the gift of their presence and time to practice communication. Overtime, I conquered my extreme shyness, obtained a Masters degree in counseling, and, eventually, began writing about the many ways animals can help people. There is no denying the role that animals—and books about animals—have played in my life. And by sharing this list, I hope to help others find that same comfort and inspiration. 

Jennifer's book list on comfort and inspire an animal lover’s heart

Jennifer Marshall Bleakley Why Jennifer loves this book

This is a beautiful collection of feel-good, hope-filled stories! Oftentimes, when I’m feeling overwhelmed, it’s hard for me to read a full-length book. That’s why I turn to short stories, compilations, and devotionals to help me through those harder seasons of life.

The stories in this book are the perfect length when my heart needs a little dash of encouragement or inspiration. Some stories are funny, and some are bittersweet. Some stories tug at my heart, some make me laugh, and some cause me to lift my head in wonder. But each one wraps around my heart like a hug from an animal friend, providing comfort and inspiration on days when I need it most.

By Jack Canfield , Mark Victor Hansen , Carol Kline

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'If you liked James Herriot's books, you'll love CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE PET LOVER'S SOUL. ' James Wight - veterinarian and son of James Herriot. Do you talk to your pets like they're people? Do you sign birthday cards from the family but include the cat? Do you look forward to the welcome home you get from your pet dog and does it make your day? Well, for anyone who has ever been touched by their love for an animal, this is the book for you.


If you love Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home...

Book cover of Defection in Prague

Defection in Prague by Ray C Doyle,

Pete West, a political columnist, travels to Prague to find a missing diplomat, later found murdered. He attempts to discover more about a cryptic note received from the diplomat and is immediately entangled in the secret Bilderberg Club’s strategy to form a world federation.

Pete meets a Czechian agent who…

Book cover of Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher

Lois Wickstrom Author Of In the Dragon's Fiery Lair

From my list on middle grade dragon books.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a children’s story writer. I frequently include dragons, from babyhood to adulthood. They aren’t just pets – they can be scary. I like to show characters who become better people by coping with their fears. Dragons are symbols. Plus, I love imagining what they might do in my plots.

Lois' book list on middle grade dragon books

Lois Wickstrom Why Lois loves this book

I’m a sucker for the idea of a magical book store that has wonderful things in addition to books – like a dragon’s egg, that you can actually hatch.  

Having a dragon is a great way to deal with bullies. Plus, Jeremy isn’t the most clever kid. I always thought I could be having more fun than he is – if I had that dragon.

By Bruce Coville , Gary A. Lippincott (illustrator) ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 10, 11, and 12.

What is this book about?

Sixth-grader Jeremy Thatcher discovers a strange magic shop he has never seen before. He enters, and his life is changed forever. Buying what he thinks is a marble, he discovers he has really purchased a dragon’s egg. “A funny, enjoyable, imaginative story whose serious undercurrents lend it unexpected depth.”-Kirkus Reviews


Book cover of The Bread Pet: A Sourdough Story

Erin McGill Author Of If You Want a Friend in Washington: Wacky, Wild & Wonderful Presidential Pets

From my list on pet books for kids who want pets.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a child, I desperately wanted a pet. Even if it maybe wasn’t a “real pet” like a rock or an egg. I used my imagination for pet possibilities. When I was researching If You Want A Friend In Washington I was constantly in awe of the strange and unusual pets of the White House. I wanted this list of pet books to be as diverse and unusual as the Presidential Pets. Maybe a Glacier is the perfect pet for you?

Erin's book list on pet books for kids who want pets

Erin McGill Why Erin loves this book

Cats, dogs, hamsters, fish, but what about a less expected pet? Maybe sourdough starter as a pet is the perfect start to caring for pet!?! The main character, Cora, promises her uncle that she will keep the pet alive. She does not anticipate how fast her pet will grow. How will she come up with a solution? And fast? This charming unexpected pet book also includes recipes. 

By Kate DePalma , Nelleke Verhoeff (illustrator) ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Bread Pet as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

Cora promises to keep Uncle JB's Bread Pet alive but didn't anticipate its exponential growth! She needs to come up with a solution -- and fast! This whimsical STEM story of family, creativity and community will inspire young makers to experiment and share their gifts with others. Includes sourdough starter and sourdough bread recipes.


Book cover of The Mysterious Tadpole

Vikki VanSickle Author Of If I Had a Gryphon

From my list on non-dragon and unicorn magical creatures.

Why am I passionate about this?

When I worked at a children’s bookstore I noticed there were tons of books about dragons and unicorns, but not a lot of picture books about other kinds of mythological creatures. I thought this was strange, especially since Harry Potter was so popular and those books were full of magical creatures. I have always loved pets and mythology, so I thought maybe I could write a primer on magical pet care. I also noticed how much the kids at storytime loved rhyming books, so I put all of these things together and If I Had a Gryphon was born!

Vikki's book list on non-dragon and unicorn magical creatures

Vikki VanSickle Why Vikki loves this book

Tadpoles aren’t known for being very exciting pets…unless they’re from Lock Ness, the most mysterious lake in Scotland! A little gift turns into a big surprise when a family discovers they may be harbouring a baby Loch Ness monster. I love how the family must come up with practical but inventive solutions to house their growing monster, which was an approach I also used with the pet care in If I Had a Gryphon.

By Steven Kellogg ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Mysterious Tadpole as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 9, 10, 11, and 12.

What is this book about?

It's Louis's birthday and Uncle McAllister has brought him a very special gift&150a tadpole all the way from Scotland! Louis can hardly wait for Alphonse to grow into a frog. But it soon becomes clear that Alphonse is not turning into any ordinary frog. First Alphonse outgrows his jar, then the sink, and then the bathtub! This new edition of The Mysterious Tadpole boasts reimagined story twists and entirely new illustrations. The lovable giant of a tadpole has grown into something even more wonderful!


If you love Rupert Sheldrake...

Book cover of I, Robot Alien

I, Robot Alien by Joel R. Dennstedt,

“Intelligent, unique, and tremendously entertaining.” - Readers' Favorite 2025

BOOKLIFE EDITOR’S PICK!

EARTH… CENTURIES AFTER THE FALL!

I was created by beings who couldn’t touch this world... only watch it crumble. Every twenty years, a new tribe... a new hope... a new failure.

I was told, “Do not interfere.” But…

Book cover of Pirate's Perfect Pet

Diana Murray Author Of Unicorn Day: A Magical Kindness Book for Children

From my list on children’s books for talk like a pirate day.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am the author of over twenty books for children, including National Bestseller Unicorn Day and the sequel, Unicorn Night: Sleep Tight, as well as Help Mom Work From Home!, Goodnight Veggies (a Jr. Library Guild Selection), and One Snowy Day. My poems have appeared in many anthologies and children’s magazines, such as Highlights and Spider. I grew up in New York City and still live nearby with my firefighter husband, two children, and a dancing dog.

Diana's book list on children’s books for talk like a pirate day

Diana Murray Why Diana loves this book

Kids will enjoy the captain's search for the perfect pet and all the "commotion" the pirates cause wherever they go, "as good pirates should". A visit to the zoo lets the captain cross "peg leg" off his pirate checklist, thanks to a lion (the scene is handled in a humorous way without being scary). And the "poop deck" pun at the end (naughty parrot!) is sure to have everyone laughing

By Beth Ferry , Matt Myers (illustrator) ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Pirate's Perfect Pet as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

Ahoy! Pirates, pets, and puns run amok as a sea captain takes off on a mad search for the perfect animal sidekick.

Big, brave Captain Crave can check off most items on the Perfect Pirate checklist. He has a pirate ship, an eye patch, courage and daring, and more. Only one thing is missing: Captain Crave doesn't have a pet. Arrr! Shuck me an oyster and set sail for land! The captain and his crew race and chase critters of every size and shape, from the beach to a farm to the zoo to a pet shop, causing a commotion…


Book cover of You Don't Want a Unicorn!
Book cover of Going Home: Finding Peace When Pets Die
Book cover of The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood

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Interested in pets, presidential biography, and dogs?

Pets 59 books
Dogs 442 books