Doggone Good Dog Stories

Books for Readers in the Middle Grades

To order any of these titles, contact the library by email, mail or phone. You may also request these titles online through our OPAC. Happy Reading!

The Case of the Vampire Cat by John R. Erickson.
BR 9587.
Hank the Cowdog, with his characteristic humor, tells a “double-scary story” of being lost and abandoned in Picket Canyon in his search to solve the mystery of the vampire cat, Mary D. For grades 3-6 and older readers. The library has many more Hank the Cowdog stories. If you are a Hank fan, just call to order more.

The Fido Frame-Up by Marilyn Singer.
RC 23459.
Samantha Spayed, a dog, reveals that her master, the super sleuth Philip Barlowe, would never have cracked a single case without her. Sam recounts the case of Lady Binghampton-Nuggets' stolen cameo, underlining her invaluable assistance to Barlowe, who as usual, received all the credit. A humorous spoof of the traditional detective story. For grades 5-7 and older readers who enjoy detective stories.

Judge Benjamin, Superdog by Judith Whitelock McInerney.
RC 23249.
Judge Benjamin, a large Saint Bernard with an equally large sense of humor, rescues his human family from one disaster after another. For grades 4-7.

The Magic Moscow by Daniel Pinkwater.
RC 18867.
The offbeat adventures of Edward, scrawny-looking grandson of a famous television sled dog, and his owner, who runs a peculiar ice cream stand in Hoboken, New Jersey. Droll humor for grades 4-7 and older Pinkwater fans.

No Beasts! No Children! by Beverly Keller.
RC 23140.
When Desdemona and her family move into a rental house they have quite a battle with their landlord over the three large shaggy dogs, and the cat, mouse, and mule that are part of the family menagerie. A story full of zany humor. For grades 4-6.

No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman.
RC 53822.
Eighth-grade football hero Wallace Wallace is given detention for telling the absolute truth even when it hurts his English teacher's feelings. Sentenced to attend school play rehearsals, he becomes involved in spite of himself and makes some creative changes. For grades 5-8.

A Nose for Trouble by Marilyn Singer.
RC 24582.
Canine detective Samantha Spayed helps her master investigate industrial espionage at a women's cosmetics company in this humorous mystery. For grades 4-7.

Pets, Vets, and Marty Howard by Joan Davenport Carris.
RC 23291.
Marty is thrilled to get an after-school job in a veterinary hospital. He enjoys caring for the animals, but soon finds himself overwhelmed with worry about all the abandoned pets. Sequel to "When the Boys Ran the House." For grades 5-8.

Sammy Keyes and the Runaway Elf by Wendelin Van Draanen.
BR 50902 or RC 52669.
When seventh-grader Sammy Keyes is persuaded to escort Marique, a pomeranian, on a float in the Christmas parade, the problems quickly escalate. Marique is dognapped during the procession and, while Sammy is searching for the dog, she finds a runaway elf with problems of her own. For grades 5-8.

Stay! by Lois Lowry.
RC 46164.
A puppy is one of four born outside a French restaurant. After his family disappears, the young dog experiences a variety of lifestyles--from companion to a homeless man to starring in commercials--before he finds the perfect home with a girl and her mother, who name him Keeper. For grades 5-8.

Wanted: Mud Blossom by Betsy Byars.
BR 9419 or RC 37382.
Convinced that Mud is responsible for the disappearance of the school hamster that he was taking care of for the weekend, Junior Blossom is determined that the dog should be tried for his "crime." For grades 4-7 and older readers.