Key References on Human-Animal Interactions for Children
Books are a wonderful gateway to the world of human-animal interactions for children. This list provides you with good books for children to read on their own and books that are great to read aloud.
These books are available from the Delta Society Online Store, Amazon.com, Dogwise, or from your local library. Please see How the Delta Society Bookstore Works if you have any questions about how to order items or how the bookstore works.
| Animal-Assisted Activities/Therapy |
Calmenson, Stephanie. Rosie, A Visiting Dog Story. NY, NY: Clarion Books, 1994. 47 pgs. (Ages 4 to 10). (Available from Amazon.com).
Like most dogs, Rosie loves to play fetch, have her belly scratched, and meet new people. She is also a working dog. Rosie is a therapy dog registered with Delta Society's Pet Partners Program. She visits people in hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. With simple text and color photographs, this book tells the story of Rosie's puppyhood, careful training, and first visit.
Coudert, Jo. The Good Shepherd: A Special Dog's Gift of Healing. Salt Lake City, UT: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 1998. 224 pgs. (Ages 12 to adult). (Available from Amazon.com).
Lana Davis experienced every parent's nightmare of witnessing the death of her son, Jeremy, due to cancer. During his suffering, she was amazed at the special care and encouragement he received from the family's German Shepherd, Grizzly. However, she was more amazed later with the inspirational work this special dog performed after she became involved in animal-assisted therapy through Delta Society's Pet Partners Program. A touching, true story of an amazing dog and the lives he has impacted.
Vinocur, Terry. Dogs Helping Kids with Feelings. NY, NY: PowerKids Press, 1999. 24 pgs. (Ages 4 to 10). (Available through Amazon.com.)
This book tells the story of Brooke and Sarah, who work as therapy dogs registered with Delta Society's Pet Partners Program. Every page features color photographs of the dogs at all stages of the process, from training to therapy sessions.
| Service Dogs |
Curtis, Patricia. Animal Partners, Training Animals to Help People. NY, NY: E.P. Dutton, 1982. 129 pgs. (Ages 8 to adult).
Discusses ways that animals are trained to help people with disabilities. Based on interviews with professional animal trainers, therapists, social workers, and teachers.
Curtis, Patricia. Cindy, A Hearing Ear Dog. NY, NY: E.P. Dutton, 1981. 55 pgs. Includes index. (Ages 4 to 10).
Describes how young dogs selected from shelters and humane societies are trained to alert people who are deaf or hard of hearing to sounds they cannot hear.
Duncan, Susan. Joey Moses. Seattle, WA: Storytellers Ink, 1998. 90 pgs. (Ages 10 to adult). (Add Joey Moses to your shopping cart [$11.00]).
True story of a 4-year-old stray dog who left the animal shelter for a new career as a multi-talented service dog and won a Delta Society award. This story shows how persistence and determination can have rich rewards. This book is for everyone who wants to learn more about the important health benefits animals have in our lives. Includes photographs and illustrations. A great book for family reading.
Golder, Stephen. Buffy's Orange Leash. Washington, DC: Kendell Green Publications, 1988. (Ages 4 to 8).
This enchanting picture book describes how hearing dogs are selected, trained, and placed with a handler.
Garfield, James. Follow My Leader. NY: Puffin, 1994. 191 pgs. (Ages 9 to 12). (Available through Amazon.com.)
After Jimmy is blinded in an accident with a firecracker, he has to relearn everything he used to know. With the help of a determined therapist, he learns to read Braille and use a cane. He is then given the chance to have a guide dog. Learning to work with Leader is not easy, but Jimmy tries harder than he ever has before.
Hocken, Sheila. Emma & I. NY, NY: E.P. Dutton, 1978. 211 pgs. (Ages 10 to adult).
The story of a young woman who was born blind, spent 28 years in blackness, and then suddenly could see. It is also the story of Emma, the smart, funny guide dog who saved her life.
Hubbard, Coleen. One Golden Year: A Story of a Golden Retriever. NY, NY: Apple, 1999. (Ages 9 to 12). (Available through Amazon.com.)
For one happy year, Caitlin and her mother raise and train a puppy to become a service dog. Albion, the loving and intelligent Golden Retriever, graduates from training and is given to a girl in a wheelchair who is Caitlin's age.
Kennedy, Patricia & Christie, Robert. Through Otis' Eyes, Lessons from a Guide Dog Puppy. NY, NY: Howell Book House, 1998. 109 pgs. (Ages 3 to 7). (Available from Amazon.com).
Filled with wonderful illustrations of the four seasons, this book describes a guide dog puppy's first year. Experience the joys and frustrations of raising a puppy who is destined to lead a future companion toward a more independent life.
McGinty, Alice B. Guide Dogs, Seeing for People Who Can't. NY, NY: PowerKids Press, 1999. 24 pgs. Includes index and glossary. (Ages 8 to 10). (Available through Amazon.com.)
Through photographs and text this book describes how Freedom, a guide dog, is raised and trained. The book also provides information on the history of guide dogs.
Moore, Eva. Buddy: The First Seeing Eye Dog. (Hello Reader! Level 4). NY, NY: Scholastic, 1996. 48 pgs. (Ages 4 to 8). (Available from Amazon.com).
Buddy, a German Shepherd, was trained at a school for police dogs in the late 1920s. This book describes his special relationship with Morris Frank, who trained Buddy to be the first guide dog and then started Seeing Eye in the 1930s.
Ogden, Paul W. Chelsea: The Story of a Signal Dog. Boston, MA: Little, Brown, & Co., 1992. 169 pgs. (Ages 12 to adult).
The heartwarming, inspirational story of professor Paul Ogden and the Belgian sheepdog who alerts him to sounds he cannot hear. With much warmth and humor, Ogden describes his extraordinary dog, Chelsea, and the organization that trained her.
Okimoto, Jean Davies. A Place for Grace. Seattle, WA: Sasquatch Books, 1993. (Ages 4 to 8).
With the help of a persistent man, a little dog finally graduates from a training school for hearing dogs. This picture book introduces children to hearing dogs and American Sign Language.
Osofsky Audrey. My Buddy. NY, NY: Henry Holt & Co., 1992. (Ages 4 to 8). Also available in Paperback. (Available through Amazon.com.)
Buddy and his master are like any other kid and his dog. They play together, go for walks and runs, and Buddy even sleeps on his master's bed. But Buddy is different from other pets-he has been trained to help a young boy with muscular dystrophy be more independent.
Rossiter, Nan Parson. Rugby & Rosie. NY, NY: Dutton/Penguin, 1997. 32 pgs. (Ages 5 to 9). (Available through Amazon.com.)
Rugby, a family's beloved Labrador retriever, is unhappy with the new houseguest, Rosie, a puppy brought home to be trained as a guide dog. Soon Rugby and Rosie become close friends, until Rosie has to leave to do the important work for which she is trained.
Siegel, Mary-Ellen & Koplin, Hermine M. More Than a Friend: Dogs with a Purpose. NY, NY: Walker and Co, 1984. 133 pgs. Includes index and bibliography. (Ages 10 to adult).
Describes some of the jobs for which dogs have been trained, including service dog for a person with a disability, hunter, shepherd, guard, detective, friend and companion.
Smith, Elizabeth Simpson. A Service Dog Goes to School. NY, NY: Morrow Junior Books, 1988. 65 pgs. (Ages 4 to 8).
Follows the selection, raising, training, and placement of a service dog named Licorice, who is placed with a young boy.
White, Betty & Sullivan, Tom. The Leading Lady: Dinah's Story. NY, NY: Bantam Books, 1991. 211 pgs. (Ages 12 to adult).
A guide dog named Dinah gives Tom Sullivan his first taste of independence. When Dinah retires as a guide dog, actress Betty White adopts her.
Wilson, Mary S. No Ordinary Dog. Claremont, CA: Mary Wilson, P.O. Box 1043, Clarement, CA 91711, 1995. 78 pgs. (Ages 8 to 12).
10-year-old Steven moves to a new town and gets involved with raising a guide dog, an experience that gives him happiness and confidence.
Yates, Elizabeth. Sound Friendships, The Story of Willa and Her Hearing Ear Dog. Woodstock, VT: Countryman Press, 1987. 88 pgs. (Ages 10-adult). (Available through Amazon.com.)
The author narrates the story of Willa, a young woman who applies for and receives a hearing dog. The dog, Honey, who is trained to alert Willa to sounds, becomes her constant companion and helper.
| Pet Loss |
Britton, William. William N. Britton's The Legend of Rainbow Bridge. Morrison, CO: Savannah Publishing, 1994. (Ages 8 to adult).
Tells the legend of the Rainbow Bridge, as related by a Native American Shaman.
Brown, Margaret. The Dead Bird. NY, NY: Harper Collins, 1983. (Ages 4 to 7).
A simple, moving story of children who find a dead bird and have a funeral for him. Every day, until they forget, they sing to the dead bird and put fresh flowers on his grave.
Davis, Christine. For Every Dog an Angel: The Forever Dog. Portland, OR: Lighthearted Press, 1997. (Ages 4 to adult). (Available through Amazon.com.)
This little book honors the timeless connection between people and their canine companions.
Disalvo-Ryan, Dyanne. A Dog Like Jack. NY, NY: Holiday House, 1999. Unpaged. (Ages 4 to 8). (Available through Amazon.com.)
A young boy tells the story of his family's adoption of a dog named Jack, the different kinds of activities Jack enjoyed throughout the seasons, his less active life as an older dog, and his death. Watercolors warmly illustrate a family's love for their pet. Includes a page for adults about children grieving the loss of a pet.
Mooney, Samantha. A Snowflake in My Hand. NY, NY: Delacorte, 1983. 151 pgs. (Ages 12 to adult).
A heartwarming glimpse at the work of the Animal Medical Center in New York. Samantha Mooney is a research associate in the cancer ward. This book describes some of the experiences Samantha has with the "patients" at the center.
Morehead, Debbie. A Special Place for Charlee-A Child's Companion Through Pet Loss. Broomfield, CO: Partners in Publishing, 1996. Unpaged. (Ages 3 to 6). (Available from Amazon.com).
Floppy-eared Charlee was already part of the family when narrator Mark was born. Boy and pup grew up together and were best friends and playmates. Years later, when Charlee needs to be euthanized, the entire family mourns his death. Charlee's veterinarian encourages Mark to share his feelings with those he loves. Mark's family set aside a special time to sit together and remember Charlee. This simply told story is right on the mark in legitimizing a family's grief over the loss of a pet.
Nieburg, Herbert. Pet Loss: A Thoughtful Guide for Adults and Children. NY, NY: Harper & Row, 1982. 155 pgs. Includes bibliography and index. (Ages 10 to adult). (Available from Dogwise).
An insightful book that discusses the emotions and responses of adults and children to a pet's death. Chapters describe the grief process and offer coping strategies. A sensitive treatment of euthanasia is included.
Rogers, Fred. When a Pet Dies. NY, NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1988. Unpaged. (Ages 3 to 5). (Available through Amazon.com.)
In this useful book, the affable star of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood helps children share feelings about the loss of a pet while offering reassurance that grieving is a natural, healing thing to do. This book uses a pictorial format and is excellent for very young children.
Rylant, Cynthia. Dog Heaven. NY, NY: Scholastic, 1995. 32 pgs. (Ages 4 to 8). (Available through Amazon.com.)
This comforting and smile-inducing poetic text speculates on the place where all good dogs go, describing Dog Heaven as a wonderful location filled with countless ham biscuits, good meals, lots of petting, and endless stretches of fields to run in.
Rylant, Cynthia. Cat Heaven. NY, NY: Scholastic, 1997. 40 pgs. (Ages 4 to 8). (Available through Amazon.com.)
In heaven, cats eat on God's kitchen counter, sleep in his bed, climb trees, and play with an infinite number of cat toys. The primitive artwork rendered in vibrant colors and broad brush strokes complement the playful prose.
Sibbitt, Sally. "Oh, Where Has My Pet Gone?", A Pet Loss Memory Book, Ages 3-103. Wayzata, MN: B. Libby Press, 1991. Unpaged. (Ages 3 to adult).
A pet loss memory book for pet lovers of all ages. This book combines the essential tasks of mourning into directed activities. Provides a framework for healing and a model for coping with future losses.
Viorst, Judith. The Tenth Good Thing About Barney. NY, NY: Macmillan, 1971. 24 pgs. (Ages 4 to 8). Also available in Paperback. (Available from Amazon.com).
A sensitive, touching story about a family who recalls the good things about their beloved cat Barney, who has just died. An excellent book for family reading.
Wilhelm, H. I'll Aways Love You. NY, NY: Crown Publishing Group, 1985. unpaged. (Ages 4 to 8). Also available in Paperback and School and Library Binding editions. (Available through Amazon.com.)
A young boy grows up with his dog Elfie, who he thinks is the best dog in the world. Every night before going to sleep the boy tells Elfie, "I will always love you." When Elfie dies in her sleep, the boy is comforted by the fact that each evening he had always told Elfie that he loved her. Watercolor illustrations add to the charm of this moving story. A wonderful book for family reading.
This bibliography is formerly part of catalog item PET400. Other parts of PET400 are available: Pet Loss and Bereavement Bibliography and Healthy Reasons to Have a Pet.
