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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Used Books & Materials

	100 Cupboards by N. D. Wilson from Random House Fantasy for 3rd-8th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $8.99 $4.50 (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)
	Banner in the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman from J.B. Lippincott Co. Realistic Fiction for 4th-8th grade 1955 Newbery Honor Book in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $15.00 (1 in stock)
	Beowulf by Michael Morpurgo from Candlewick Press for 3rd-8th grade in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT) $8.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill Betsy-Tacy #3 by Maud Hart Lovelace First Harper Trophy Edition from HarperCollins for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Black Cauldron Prydain Chronicles #2 by Lloyd Alexander from Holt, Rinehart and Winston Fantasy for 4th-8th grade 1966 Newbery Honor Book in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	Blue Lotus Adventures of Tintin by Herge from Little, Brown & Company Comic Book for 2nd-6th grade in Adventures of Tintin (Location: COM-TIN) $13.99 $7.50 (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)
	Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Fiction for 2nd-6th grade 1941 Newbery Medal winner in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $4.99 $3.00 (2 in stock)
	Charlotte's Web by E. B. White from HarperCollins for 2nd-6th grade 1953 Newbery Honor Book in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Chasing Vermeer Balliet Art Mystery Series by Blue Balliett, Brett Helquist (Illustrator) from Scholastic Inc. Mystery & Suspense for 4th-6th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $7.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Tasha Tudor from Simon and Schuster Poetry for 1st-5th grade in Poetry for Children (Location: POET-CHIL) $19.99 $14.50 (1 in stock)
	Children of Odin The Book of Northern Myths by Padraic Colum, illustrated by Willy Pogany from Macmillan Norse Mythology for 3rd-8th grade in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT) $40.00 (1 in stock)
	Children's Homer Adventures of Odysseus and the Tale of Troy by Padraic Colum & Willy Pogany from Aladdin Paperbacks Greek Mythology for 3rd-8th grade in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT) $10.99 $6.00 (1 in stock)
	City A Story of Roman Planning and Construction by David Macaulay from Houghton Mifflin for 4th-8th grade in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER) $14.99 $7.50 (2 in stock)
	D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths - Audio CD by Edgar & Ingri D'Aulaire from Yearling Greek Mythology for 4th-8th grade in Audio Books & Dramas (Location: CD-AUDIO) $25.00 $14.00 (1 in stock)
	Dancing Shoes by Noel Streatfeild from Yearling Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Dobry by Monica Shannon; illustrated by Atanas Katchamakoff 15th printing 1967 from Viking Press for 4th-8th grade 1935 Newbery Medal winner in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $20.00 (2 in stock)
	Ella Enchanted - Special Read-Aloud Edition by Gail Carson Levine from HarperCollins for 3rd-7th grade in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Flora & Ulysses The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo Reprint from Candlewick Press for 3rd-6th grade 2014 Newbery Medal winner in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $8.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon by Dhan Gopal Mukerji from Dutton Juvenile for 4th-9th grade 1928 Newbery Medal winner in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $14.00 (2 in stock)
	Grain of Rice by Helena Clare Pittman from Yearling Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for 2nd-4th grade in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT) $7.99 $3.00 (2 in stock)
	Highwayman by Alfred Noyes, illustrated by Charles Mikolaycak 1^st edition for 3rd-8th grade in Poetry for Children (Location: POET-CHIL) $7.50 (1 in stock)
	Holes with Bonus Material Holes Series #1 by Louis Sachar 10th Anniversary Edition from Farrar, Straus and Giroux for 4th-6th grade 1999 Newbery Medal winner in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	Horse and His Boy Chronicles of Narnia Book 3 by Lewis, C. S. from HarperCollins Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $12.99 $7.00 (4 in stock)
	How God Used A Thunderstorm Building on the Rock by Joel R. Beeke & Diana Kleyn from Christian Focus Publications for 4th-6th grade in Building on the Rock Series (Location: SER-BOR) $8.99 $5.00 (3 in stock)
	How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss from Random House Christmas Stories for Kindergarten-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $16.99 $7.50 (1 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)
	Jungle Doctor and the Whirlwind Jungle Doctor #1 by Paul White from Christian Focus Publications for 3rd-6th grade in Jungle Doctor (Location: SER-JD) $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Jungle Doctor on the Hop Jungle Doctor #2 by Paul White Reprint from Christian Focus Publications for 3rd-6th grade in Jungle Doctor (Location: SER-JD) $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Jungle Doctor Spots a Leopard Jungle Doctor #3 by Paul White from Christian Focus Publications for 3rd-6th grade in Jungle Doctor (Location: SER-JD) $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Key to the Indian Indian in the Cupboard #5 by Lynne Banks from HarperCollins Fantasy for 4th-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.99 $3.50 (1 in stock)
	Last Battle RUC Chronicles of Narnia Book 7 by C. S. Lewis from HarperCollins Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade 1956 Carnegie Medal in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $8.99 $6.00 (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)
	Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery from Harvest House Fantasy for 3rd-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $11.99 $7.50 (2 in stock)
	Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery from Harvest House Fantasy for 3rd-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $6.00 (2 in stock)
	Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery from Harcourt Fantasy for 3rd-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $7.50 (1 in stock)
	Lon Po Po A Red-Riding Hood Story from China by Ed Young from PaperStar Books Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for 1st-4th grade 1990 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.99 $4.50 (1 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)
	Magic by the Lake by Edward Eager from Harcourt for 3rd-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $4.50 (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)
	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)
	Motel of the Mysteries by David Macaulay from Houghton Mifflin Humor for 4th-8th grade in Humor & Comedy (Location: FIC-COM) $14.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Mystery of the Cupboard Indian in the Cupboard #4 by Lynne Banks from HarperCollins Fantasy for 4th-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Now We Are Six by A. A. Milne from Dutton Children's Books Poetry for Kindergarten-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $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)
	People of Sparks Book of Ember #2 by Jeanne DuPrau Reprint from Yearling for 4th-7th grade in Science Fiction (Location: FIC-SCI) $8.99 $3.50 (2 in stock)
	Peter Pan Puffin Classics by J. M. Barrie from Puffin Books Fantasy for 4th-8th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $6.39 $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie from Barnes & Noble Fantasy for 4th-8th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	Pippi Goes on Board Pippi Longstocking #2 by Astrid Lindgren from Viking Press Humor for 2nd-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Prince Caspian Read Aloud Edition Chronicles of Narnia Book 4 by C. S. Lewis from HarperCollins Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	Pyramid by David Macaulay from Houghton Mifflin Ancient Egyptian Architecture for 4th-8th grade in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER) $12.99 $7.00 (4 in stock)
	Rascal Memoir of a Better Era by Sterling North from Puffin Books Biography for 4th-8th grade 1964 Newbery Honor Book in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $8.99 $4.00 (2 in stock)
	Rascal Memoir of a Better Era by Sterling North from Puffin Books Biography for 4th-8th grade 1964 Newbery Honor Book in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Runaway Ralph Mouse & the Motorcycle #2 by Beverly Cleary from HarperCollins Animal Fantasy for 2nd-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $9.99 $3.00 (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)
	Scout's Distant Journey Scout Series by Piet Prins from Inheritance Publications Action/Adventure for 4th-8th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $10.95 $7.00 (1 in stock)
	Secret of the Indian Indian in the Cupboard #3 by Lynne Banks from HarperCollins Fantasy for 4th-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Shen of the Sea Chinese Stories for Children by Arthur Bowie Chrisman from Dutton Juvenile for 3rd-5th grade 1926 Newbery Medal in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT) $17.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi A Math Adventure by Cindy Neuschwander & Wayne Geehan from Charlesbridge for 2nd-6th grade in Math Picture Books (Location: MATR-PIC) $7.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Sir Cumference and the First Round Table A Math Adventure by Cindy Neuschwander & Wayne Geehan from Charlesbridge for 2nd-6th grade in Math Picture Books (Location: MATR-PIC) $7.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland A Math Adventure by Cindy Neuschwander & Wayne Geehan from Charlesbridge for 2nd-6th grade in Math Picture Books (Location: MATR-PIC) $7.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Sounder by William H. Armstrong from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction for 3rd-8th grade 1970 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.99 $4.00 (2 in stock)
	Story of Eli Whitney by Jean Lee Latham from Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd. for 4th-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $7.50 (3 in stock)
	Tales from Silver Lands by Charles J. Finger 1971 printing from Doubleday & Company for 4th-8th grade 1925 Newbery Medal winner in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $10.00 (2 in stock)
	Taran Wanderer Prydain Chronicles #4 by Lloyd Alexander First Edition from Holt, Rinehart and Winston Fantasy for 4th-8th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Theater Shoes by Noel Streatfeild from Yearling Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99 $4.50 (2 in stock)
	Thirteen Clocks by James Thurber from New York Review of Books for 4th-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $10.00 (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)
	Treasures of the Snow (adapted) by Patricia St. John, adapted by Mary Mills 2^nd edition from Moody Press Realistic Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99 $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine from HarperCollins for 4th-7th grade in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT) $7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine from HarperCollins for 4th-7th grade in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, illustrated by William Nicholson from Avon Books Personification for 1st-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99 $4.50 (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)
	Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls from Bantam Books Realistic Animal Stories for 4th-8th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $8.99 $5.00 (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)
	William Bradford, Pilgrim Boy by Bradford Smith from Beautiful Feet Books Biography for 3rd-5th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $10.95 $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, illustrated by John Burningham from Viking Kestrel Books Humorous Animal Fantasy for 4th-8th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, illustrated by James Lynch from The Folio Society Humorous Animal Fantasy for 4th-8th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $25.00 (1 in stock)
	Wonderful Wizard of Oz Wizard of Oz Book 1 by L. Frank Baum Unknown from Dover Publications for 3rd-8th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $16.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)

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