Canine characters

The dog days of summer seem like a perfect time to focus on some books with canine characters:

Good Rosie! Kate Dicamillo Candlewick Press

Humorously written by Kate Dicamillo and brilliantly illustrated in comicbook panel style by New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss, this book tells the story of a little terrier who is a boon companion to middle-aged George. But when her owner takes her to a dog park, she is overwhelmed and frightened by all the other animals: Maurice the St. Bernard is huge and drools; Fifi is small, excitable and yappy. Rosie tries to stay away from both of them at first, but when Maurice picks Fifi up in his mouth and playfully shakes the tiny dog, it is Rosie who comes to Fifi’s rescue. Eventually, the three learn to play together. Perfect for dog lovers of all ages, especially those ages four to eight.

Houndsley and Catina: Through the Seasons James Howe Candlewick Press

Houndsley and Catina exemplify two characters who have found a way to coexist happily — despite the obvious differences posed by one being a dog and the other a cat. . This paperback volume brings four Houndsley and Catina books for early readers together under one cover, all written by James Howe and lavishly illustrated by Montreal’s Marie-louise Gay. Recommended for kids aged five to eight years old.

North to Benjamin Alan Cumyn Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Ariveting story about 11-year-old Edgar, who moves abruptly from Toronto to Dawson, Yukon, when his mother needs to get away from her latest partner. In Dawson, mother and son will be borrowing someone’s house and Edgar will be caring for that family’s elderly dog. But things don’t quite go according to plan. For readers 11 to 14.