The dog days of summer call for a dive into books about canine and feline friends. You might celebrate International Cat Day on Aug. 8 and National Dog Day on Aug. 26 with a special tale. With dogs or cats in more than 111.6 million households in the United States in 2025, according to “Forbes,” that’s a lot of party animals!
Having a hard time choosing between the two? You can read about both, thanks to lively nonfiction by Washington, DC author Erica Perl.
Says Perl, “I was excited to write about ‘Truth or Lie: Dogs!’ and ‘Truth or Lie: Cats!’ because I love my pets and I know kids do, too.”
A self-professed “lifelong dog lover,” Perl currently shares a home with rambunctious Penny and easygoing Clover. When she’s writing, her pooches often sleep together in the same dog bed by her desk.
Perl’s playful, informative books spotlight domesticated and wild animals. Discovering intriguing facts required careful research. One surprise, she says, was learning that Norwegian Lundehunds have 24 toes rather than the 18 usual for canines. The dog book even includes a photo Perl took of wild dogs in Zambia in southern Africa.
Her beloved, now-deceased, Tova was a furry muse of sorts for the cat book.
Perl is the author of more than 40 award-winning children’s books, both fiction and nonfiction. In addition to dogs and cats, she has written about sharks, dinosaurs and presidents for her “Truth or Lie” series. The Q&A game-like format encourages kids to consider the facts being presented and to try to identify false statements.
“I was inspired to write this series,” Perl says, “because I think reading with a critical eye is really important in this age of mis- and dis-information.”
Tots – Age 7
“Truth or Lie: Dogs!”
By Erica Perl
Illustrated by Michael Slack
Random House, 2022, $3.99
Kids (and adults) can expand their dog know-how by playing this dynamic true-or-false game. Presented with a series of four statements, youngsters must figure out which is incorrect. Along the way, they learn, for example, how dogs greet other dogs and that puppies are born with toenails. Lavishly illustrated with photos and colorful illustrations, the book celebrates humans’ stalwart companion for more than 11,000 years. Kitty lovers will enjoy the companion book, “Truth or Lie: Cats!”
“A Purr-fect Painting”
By Joan Waites
Schiffer, 2021, $16.99
In her popular “Artists and Their Animals” series, Maryland author/illustrator Joan Waites introduces great artists through their pets. And as an added bonus, she illustrates that book in the style of that particular artist. In this story, Henri Matisse’s cat, La Puce, watches as the French master paints another pet cat. La Puce wants to be in a painting, too! When Matisse falls ill and cannot paint, it is La Puce who inspires him to develop his bright, stylized cut-outs. As with all her books, Waites captures the unique personality of each animal through her vivid art and text. Little ones will relish her board books, the pup-centered “Finley Feels” and the forthcoming cat-tastic “Calm Down, Cocoa.”
Preteens
“Looking for True”
By Tricia Springstubb
Holiday House, 2023, $18.99
Tricia Springstubb is acclaimed for the grace and heart she brings to the challenging situations in her books. In this novel, she alternates chapters and point of view between tiny, opinionated Gladys and tall, quiet Jake. Gladys has a passion for words, Jake for trees. But though very different, these two share a fierce concern for a dog in their small, struggling town. They are sure she is being mistreated. How can they help, though, when neither is allowed a pet at home? Secrets and well-developed primary and secondary characters make this a compelling read.
“Katie the Catsitter”
By Colleen AF Venable
Illustrated by Stephanie Yue
Random House, 2021, $14 paperback
Cat chaos! That’s what occurs when Katie agrees to care for an eccentric neighbor’s kitties — all 217 of them. And as if life weren’t complicated enough, she stumbles upon a mystery. Does this neighbor have a secret identity, perhaps as the city’s arch villain? Katie is determined to find out. As much fun as a cat cafe, this fast-paced graphic novel launched a popular series, which now includes three additional titles.
Teens
“Gather”
By Kenneth M. Cadow
Candlewick, 2023, $17.99
With his single mom in recovery from her opioid addiction, Ian does his best to keep his impoverished family together. Resourceful and capable, he earns some money by fixing things for kind neighbors in rural Vermont. And he finds support from an unlikely source: a large stray that wanders into the yard and stays. Ian’s wry voice and his connection to his dog and the community will endear him to readers. Winner of a prestigious Printz Honor, this high-stakes debut novel is memorable, indeed.
Celebrating Cats and Dogs
How might you honor your pet on International Cat Day (Aug. 8) or National Dog Day (Aug. 26)? Washington, DC author Erica Perl suggests:
- Lots of pats and scritches of their favorite spots.
- Snuggling and reading aloud, especially a book that features their species.
- Writing a story or poem that stars your real or imaginary pet.
- Donating to your local animal rescue center, in your pet’s name.
Mary Quattlebaum lives in Washington, DC, and is the author of 30 award-winning children’s books, including the nonfiction chapter book “Hero Dogs.” She teaches in the graduate program in writing for children at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, writes frequently for the Washington Post and is a popular school and conference speaker. Learn more at https://maryquattlebaum.com.
Mary Quattlebaum lives in Washington, D.C. and is the author of 30 award-winning children’s books, most recently Queen Elizabeth II, an early reader biography. She teaches in the graduate program in writing for children at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, writes frequently for The Washington Post and is a popular school and conference speaker. maryquattlebaum.com
Mary Quattlebaum lives in Washington, D.C. and is the author of 30 award-winning children’s books, most recently Queen Elizabeth II, an early reader biography. She teaches in the graduate program in writing for children at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, writes frequently for The Washington Post and is a popular school and conference speaker. maryquattlebaum.com
