The Best Pet Books for Kids: Five Stories That Will Make Your Family Laugh, Cry, and Love Animals Even More

Originally written by Rachel Levine for Roanoke Valley Family Magazine, January 2024. Updated May 2026.

From a tooting dog to a literary spider, these are the pet books every family should read together

Whether your family has a beloved dog sprawled across the couch, a cat who rules the household, a fish who gets more attention than seems reasonable, or a pet rock that’s frankly doing a fine job, these books will delight you. Actually, many of these are ideal pet books for kids and spark plenty of fun discussions. And if you’re in the middle of the “can we PLEASE get a pet” negotiation, a couple of these might actually help your case.

Here are five of the best pet-themed books for kids, from picture books to middle grade classics your whole family will love. In fact, this collection of pet books for kids offers entertaining options for every young reader in the house.

Children Make Terrible Pets — Peter Brown

Best for: Ages 3–7

Have you ever spotted a baby animal outside and wished you could bring it home? Now imagine it from the other direction: a well-meaning bear cub spots a human child in the woods and decides to keep her as a pet.

What follows is an absolute delight. It turns out human children are wonderful to cuddle with but remarkably difficult to potty train. Peter Brown’s illustrations are expressive and funny, and the story touches on a gentle point: wild animals (including children, apparently) don’t really make good pets.

Guaranteed to produce giggles and some very pointed looks between children and parents. For anyone who enjoys sharing stories together, this is one of the most imaginative pet books for kids you’ll read aloud.

Walter the Farting Dog — William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray

Best for: Ages 4–8 | Fair warning: Only for families who genuinely love flagellant jokes.

Betty and Billy’s family adopts a dog named Walter. They love Walter completely. There is, however, a problem. Walter toots — a lot. Their father eventually declares he can’t take the smell anymore, and Walter is going back to the shelter.

But Walter’s particular talent turns out to make him an exceptionally effective guard dog, and he saves the day in spectacular, aromatic fashion.

This is a book that has been making children laugh since 2001 and shows absolutely no signs of getting old. Read it with a straight face if you can.

James Herriot’s Treasury for Children — James Herriot

Best for: Ages 5–10 (and honestly, adults too)

James Herriot spent decades as a rural veterinarian in the Yorkshire Dales in England, and his stories, drawn from real experiences, are among the warmest, most human animal tales ever written. This treasury collects eight of his children’s stories: a sow who adopts a kitten, a dog who never barks, a cat with a very full social calendar, a dearly beloved horse, and more. By the way, this treasury is a wonderful choice if you’re searching for pet books for kids that share true stories and values.

The thread running through every story is friendship, kindness, and the quiet miracle of the bond between animals and the people who care for them. This is a book you’ll keep and read again with your grandchildren.

Charlotte’s Web — E.B. White

Best for: Ages 7–12 (younger with a read-aloud)

Wilbur is a cheerful pig whose main priorities are friendship, food, and getting to know the other barn animals. When he discovers he’s destined to become dinner, his friend Charlotte, a spider of remarkable intelligence and compassion, devises a plan to save him.

Charlotte’s Web has been in print since 1952 and remains one of the most beloved children’s novels ever written. It is funny and warm and genuinely moving in a way that sneaks up on you. Read it aloud together; the last few pages hit differently when you’re sharing them.

This is the book that teaches children what friendship really means.

Mr. Popper’s Penguins — Richard and Florence Atwater

Best for: Ages 7–11

Mr. Popper is a small-town house painter with an obsession with Antarctica and particularly penguins. One day, a penguin arrives at his door in a wooden crate. A modest house in a temperate climate is not a suitable penguin habitat. The Popper family has to adapt quickly, and the results are wonderfully and ridiculously funny.

Mr. Popper’s Penguins won a Newbery Honor in 1939 and has delighted children ever since. It’s particularly perfect for a cold January afternoon under a blanket with hot chocolate.

Before You Bring a Pet Home 

If your family is in the middle of deciding whether to adopt an animal, Children Make Terrible Pets aside, the books on this list paint an honest and loving picture of what it means to share your life with an animal. The joy, the commitment, the grief when they’re gone, and the deep satisfaction of the bond. Of course, pet books for kids like these are a great way to explore these feelings together through stories.

If you’re considering adoption, the Roanoke Valley SPCA serves our area and has animals looking for families. Ask your kids to read Charlotte’s Web first. It’s excellent preparation for the responsibility of loving an animal.

RACHEL LEVINE is a contributing writer for Roanoke Family. This column has been updated from its original publication in Roanoke Valley Family Magazine.