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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Fiction & Literature

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Outside of a Dog Booklist

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1st Grade Outside of a Dog Booklist

2nd Grade Outside of a Dog Booklist

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

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Used Books & Materials

	Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt from Berkley Books Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade 1965 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies Hornblower Series #11 by C. S. Forester from Little, Brown & Company Nautical fiction for 8th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
	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)
	Beat to Quarters Hornblower Series #6 by C. S. Forester from Little, Brown & Company Nautical fiction for 10th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
	By the Shores of Silver Lake (Pictorial Cover) Little House Series #5 by Laura Ingalls Wilder; illustrated by Garth Williams from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction/Pioneers for 3rd-6th grade 1940 Newbery Honor Book in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $9.00 (2 in stock)
	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)
	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)
	Commodore Aubrey/Maturin #17 by Patrick O'Brian from W. W. Norton and Co. Nautical Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Commodore Hornblower Hornblower Series #9 by C. S. Forester from Little, Brown & Company Nautical fiction for 10th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton from Charles Scribner's Sons for 10th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $17.00 $6.00 (2 in stock)
	Far Side of the World Aubrey/Maturin #10 by Patrick O'Brian from W. W. Norton and Co. Nautical Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $7.50 (1 in stock)
	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 by Ralph Moody Book Club from People's Book Club for 5th-9th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	Flames of Rome by Paul L. Maier 2^nd edition from Kregel Publications for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $15.99 $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Flying Colours Hornblower Series #8 by C. S. Forester from Little, Brown & Company Nautical fiction for 10th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.99 $10.00 (2 in stock)
	Fortune of War Aubrey/Maturin #6 by Patrick O'Brian from W. W. Norton and Co. Nautical Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $6.50 (1 in stock)
	Golden Ocean by Patrick O'Brian from W. W. Norton and Co. Nautical Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $7.50 (2 in stock)
	Hornblower and the Atropos Hornblower Series #5 by C. S. Forester from Little, Brown & Company Nautical fiction for 8th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.99 $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Hornblower and the Hotspur Hornblower Series #3 by C. S. Forester from Little, Brown & Company Nautical fiction for 8th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $17.99 $11.00 (1 in stock)
	Hornblower During the Crisis Hornblower Series #4 by C. S. Forester from Little, Brown & Company Nautical fiction for 8th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $15.99 $8.00 (1 in stock)
	I Serve A Novel of the Black Prince by Rosanne E. Lortz from Anno Domini Historical Fiction for 7th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $12.00 $9.00 (1 in stock)
	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)
	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)
	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)
	Ionian Mission Aubrey/Maturin #8 by Patrick O'Brian from W. W. Norton and Co. Nautical Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $7.50 (1 in stock)
	Letter of Marque Aubrey/Maturin #12 by Patrick O'Brian from W. W. Norton and Co. Nautical Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $7.50 (1 in stock)
	Lieutenant Hornblower Hornblower Series #2 by C. S. Forester from Little, Brown & Company Nautical fiction for 8th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
	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)
	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)
	Lord Hornblower Hornblower Series #10 by C. S. Forester from Little, Brown & Company Nautical fiction for 10th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.99 $9.00 (2 in stock)
	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)
	Man of the Family Little Britches Series #2 by Ralph Moody from People's Book Club Biography for 5th-9th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $15.00 (1 in stock)
	Man of the Family Little Britches Series #2 by Ralph Moody 1^st edition from W. W. Norton and Co. Biography for 5th-9th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $15.00 (1 in stock)
	Matchlock Gun by Walter Edmonds from PaperStar Books Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade 1942 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99 $4.50 (2 in stock)
	Men Against the Sea by Charles Nordhoff & James Norman Hall from Little, Brown & Company Nautical Fiction for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $21.99 $11.00 (1 in stock)
	Morbid Taste for Bones Brother Cadfael by Ellis Peters from Mysterious Press for 8th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $3.50 (1 in stock)
	Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Nordhoff & James Normal Hall Book Club Edition from Little, Brown & Company Nautical Fiction for 9th-Adult in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $9.50 (1 in stock)
	My Brother Sam Is Dead by James & Christopher Collier from Scholastic Inc. Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade 1975 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	My Brother Sam Is Dead by James & Christopher Collier from Simon and Schuster Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade 1975 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	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)
	San Domingo The Medicine Hat Stallion by Marguerite Henry; illustrated by Robert Lougheed from Rand McNally for 3rd-7th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	Ship of the Line Hornblower Series #7 by C. S. Forester from Little, Brown & Company Nautical fiction for 10th-Adult in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.99 $9.00 (2 in stock)
	Slave Dancer by Paula Fox from Simon and Schuster Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade 1974 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Slave Dancer by Paula Fox from Simon and Schuster Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade 1974 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Slave Dancer by Paula Fox from Bradbury Press Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade 1974 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Slave Dancer by Paula Fox, illustrated by Eros Keith from Bradbury Press Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade 1974 Newbery Medal winner in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	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)
	Thy Friend, Obadiah (hardcover) by Brinton Turkle 1972 Seafarer Edition from Viking Press Realistic Animal Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1970 Caldecott Honor Book in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $7.50 (1 in stock)
	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)
	Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly, illustrated by Angela Pruszynska from Macmillan Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade 1929 Newbery Medal winner in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $25.00 (1 in stock)
	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)
	White Stag Puffin Newbery Library by Kate Seredy from Puffin Books Heroic Legend for 4th-6th grade 1938 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)

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