Outside of a Dog Booklist

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"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
—Groucho Marx

We are frequently asked to recommend literature to kids, and while there's nothing better than taking the time to know what the individual likes and recommend for their tastes, we've definitely settled on a number of books that are our personal favorites. This list is meant to promote books that will branch kids beyond the latest pop-fiction, and beyond many of the curricular lists you'll find floating around.

The PDF version of Outside of a Dog offers a page of links helping you navigate the overwhelming resources scattered throughout this website. It includes recommended read-alouds for preschoolers and kindergartners and contains 50+ titles for grades 1-8, offering you summer reading aplenty for years on end. It doesn't promote a liberal agenda, cater to the lowest common denominator, or present books designed to make anyone look smart. We haven't limited ourselves to classics or "must-read" titles. There are plenty of those, but just as many are personal favorites that have kindled our own love of reading. These are books that will open the wide doors of reading to kids turned off by more than standard fare. Throughout the list, author names are links, often taking you to short biographies, links to more information, and a list of what we have.

It's also intended to challenge older readers, with two lists for high school students and two for adults:

150+ great literature and fiction titles
150+ non-fiction titles, containing history, biographies, basic philosophy, and titles that focus on spiritual matters and practical Christian living. We want to encourage you to be culture-changers for Christ

The printed version is a little different. It doesn't include the links, of course, nor does it have the preschool/kindergarten reading lists or the adult lists. It does include an "advanced" high school list, which is what was adapted into the adult lists. Also, in the digital version, the grade level lists have been tweaked, with some new favorites added, and some reading level suggestions adjusted.

This category on our site offers all of our recommended books in one place. We are working on adding an Exodus rating to every single one. Browse the list, or filter by grade with the sidebar.

Whether you're six or sixteen (or sixty!), whether you're a dog person or not, some new best friends are waiting!

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Outside of a Dog Booklist

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1st Grade Outside of a Dog Booklist

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3rd Grade Outside of a Dog Booklist

4th Grade Outside of a Dog Booklist

5th Grade Outside of a Dog Booklist

6th Grade Outside of a Dog Booklist

7th Grade Outside of a Dog Booklist

8th Grade Outside of a Dog Booklist

9th-12th Outside of a Dog - Fiction

9th-12th Outside of a Dog - Nonfiction

Adult Fiction Outside of a Dog Booklist

Adult Nonfiction Outside of a Dog Booklist

67 Items found Print

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Historical Fiction,

6th grade (Ages 11-12),

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	Against the World The Odyssey of Athanasius by Henry Coray from Inheritance Publications Biography for 5th-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $9.95
	All Sail Set by Armstrong Sperry from David R. Godine Nautical Fiction for 4th-8th grade 1936 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.95 $10.00 (2 in stock)
	Apple and the Arrow by Conrad & Mary Buff from Houghton Mifflin Realistic Fiction/Historical Fiction for 4th-6th grade 1952 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	Belles On Their Toes by Frank Gilbreth & Ernestine Gilbreth Carey from HarperCollins Family Stories for 4th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $15.99
	Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin by Marguerite Henry & Wesley Dennis Reprint from Aladdin Paperbacks for 3rd-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $7.99
	By the Shores of Silver Lake Little House Series #5 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade 1940 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham from Houghton Mifflin Biography for 5th-9th grade 1956 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	Castle Diary The Journal of Tobias Burgess by Richard Platt from Candlewick Press Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID) $7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Cheaper By the Dozen by Frank Gilbreth & Ernestine Gilbreth Carey from HarperCollins Family Stories for 4th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.99
	Come On, Seabiscuit! by Ralph Moody from University of Nebraska Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.95 $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi from Hyperion/Madison Press for 4th-8th grade 2003 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Detectives in Togas by Henry Winterfeld from Harcourt Humorous Historical Fiction for 4th-6th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $9.99
	Dry Divide Little Britches Series #7 by Ralph Moody from University of Nebraska Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.95
	Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff Reprint from Square Fish Publishing Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $10.99
	Farmer Boy Little House Series #3 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Father's Promise by Donna Hess from Bob Jones University Press Historical fiction for 5th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Fields of Home Little Britches Series #5 by Ralph Moody from University of Nebraska Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.95
	First Four Years Little House Series #9 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz from Candlewick Press for 5th-9th grade 2008 Newbery Medal Winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $12.99
	Grim Reaper Shadow Series #3 by Piet Prins from Inheritance Publications Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $10.95
	Herodotus and the Road to History by Jeanne Bendick from Bethlehem Books for 4th-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Hideout in the Swamp Shadow Series #2 by Piet Prins from Inheritance Publications Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $10.95
	Hittite Warrior Bethlehem Books Living History Library by Joanne Williamson from Bethlehem Books Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.95
	Home Ranch Little Britches Series #3 by Ralph Moody from University of Nebraska Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.95
	Home Ranch Little Britches Series #3 by Ralph Moody from Purple House Press Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Horse of a Different Color Reminiscences of a Kansas Drover Little Britches Series #8 by Ralph Moody from University of Nebraska Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.95
	I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton de Treviño from Square Fish Publishing Realistic Fiction/Slavery for 5th-8th grade 1966 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99 $4.50 (3 in stock)
	If All the Swords in England A Story of Thomas Becket Bethlehem Books Living History Library by Barbara Willard from Bethlehem Books Historical Fiction for 5th-7th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.95
	In Freedom's Cause A Story of Wallace and Bruce by G. A. Henty from Christian Liberty Press Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade in G. A. Henty Books (Location: FIC-HEN) $15.25
	In Search of Honor by Donna Hess from Bob Jones University Press Historical fiction for 5th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99 $6.00 (2 in stock)
	In the Reign of Terror A Story of the French Revolution by G. A. Henty from Dover Publications for 6th-10th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $11.95
	Incident at Hawk's Hill by Allan W. Eckert from Little, Brown & Company Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade 1972 Newbery Honor Book in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $8.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Journey to Topaz A Story of the Japanese-American Evacuation by Yoshiko Uchida from Heyday Books Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Journey to Topaz A Story of the Japanese-American Evacuation by Yoshiko Uchida from Heyday Books Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $12.00
	Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff Reprint from Square Fish Publishing Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade 1959 Carnegie Medal in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $10.99
	Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff from Oxford University Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade 1959 Carnegie Medal in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Little Britches Father and I Were Ranchers Little Britches Series #1 by Ralph Moody from University of Nebraska Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.95
	Little House in the Big Woods Little House Series #1 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99 $5.00 (2 in stock)
	Little House on the Prairie Little House Series #2 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Little Town on the Prairie Little House Series #7 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade 1942 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Lonely Sentinel Shadow Series #1 by Piet Prins from Inheritance Publications Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $10.95 $7.00 (1 in stock)
	Long Winter Little House Series #6 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade 1941 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	Making of a Knight by Patrick O'Brien from Charlesbridge Picture Books/Historical Fiction for 2nd-6th grade in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID) $7.95 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Man of the Family Little Britches Series #2 by Ralph Moody from University of Nebraska Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.95 $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Mary Emma and Company Little Britches Series #4 by Ralph Moody from University of Nebraska Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.95
	Men of Iron by Howard Pyle 2^nd edition from Bob Jones University Press Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $8.99
	Morning Star of the Reformation historical fiction based on the life of John Wycliffe by Andy Thomson from Bob Jones University Press Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Morning Star of the Reformation historical fiction based on the life of John Wycliffe by Andy Thomson from CreateSpace Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $12.99
	Partisans Shadow Series #4 by Piet Prins from Inheritance Publications Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $10.95 $7.00 (1 in stock)
	Pilgrim Stories by Margaret Pumphrey from Beautiful Feet Books for 2nd-6th grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $11.95
	Reb and the Redcoats Bethlehem Books Living History Library by Constance Savery from Bethlehem Books Historical fiction for 5th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.95
	Sabotage Shadow Series #5 by Piet Prins from Inheritance Publications Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $10.95
	Shaking the Nickel Bush Little Britches Series #6 by Ralph Moody from University of Nebraska Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.95
	Shining Company by Rosemary Sutcliff from Sunburst Book Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $15.99
	Silver Branch by Rosemary Sutcliff from Square Fish Publishing Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $11.99
	Sir Gibbie Classics for Young Readers by George MacDonald from P&R Publishing Realistic Fiction for 6th-10th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Slopes of War A Novel of Gettysburg by N. A. Perez from Houghton Mifflin Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $11.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan from Dutton Children's Books Historical Fiction for 3rd-7th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Stout-Hearted Seven Orphaned on the Oregon Trail Sterling Point by Neta Lohnes Frazier from Sterling Publishing Co. Non-fiction/Biography for 5th-9th grade in Oregon Trail (Location: HISA-19OR)
	Theras and His Town by Caroline Dale Snedeker from American Home-School Publishing Action/Adventure for 4th-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $17.99
	These Happy Golden Years Little House Series #8 by Laura Ingalls Wilder from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-8th grade 1944 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99
	Tirzah by Lucille Travis from Herald Press Historical Fiction for 4th-7th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $10.99 $7.00 (1 in stock)
	Voyage to Freedom A Story of the Atlantic Crossing 1620 by David Gay from Banner of Truth Trust Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $12.00
	War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley Reprint from Puffin Books for 4th-8th grade 2017 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99 $6.00 (1 in stock)
	We Were There on the Oregon Trail by William O. Steele from American Home-School Publishing Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Winged Watchman Bethlehem Books Living History Library by Hilda Van Stockum from Bethlehem Books Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
	Zoli's Legacy Based on the life of Zoltan Gaal by Dawn Watkins from Bob Jones University Press Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.50

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