Pets are often the first animals that preschoolers have interactions with. Preschoolers love to talk about their pets or the pets of friends.
This list of 29 picture books about pets for preschoolers is a great resource for your pet theme, a part of a family study, or an exploration of animals.
Pet Books For Preschoolers
Not That Pet! by Halls Smriti
Some Pets, by Angela DiTerlizzi
Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! by Mo Willems
Preschool Books About Pets
Not Norman: A Goldfish Story, by Kelly Bennett
A boy receives Norman, the goldfish, as a birthday present. After planning to give away the fish, the boy discovers that Norman isn’t such a bad pet after all.
My Pet Wants a Pet, by Elise Broach
My Pet Goldfish, by Catherine Rayner
What If We Had a Pet Shark? by Deanna Chesley
Books About Pets for Preschool
Lola Gets a Cat, by Anna McQuinn
Bark, George, by Jules Feiffer
Good Dog, Carl, by Alexandra Day
Follow the day of Carl and his baby with this fun (nearly) wordless book.
Harry the Dirty Dog, by Gene Zion
Please, Puppy, Please, by Spike Lee
A pair of children follow a troublesome puppy throughout the day…and end with snuggling.
Books About Pets for Kids
Cookie’s Week, by Cindy Ward
Cookie the cat’s week is full of trouble.
Mama Cat Has Three Kittens, by Denise Fleming
Mama Cat has three kittens. Two kittens follow her lead but one is always napping. What will the third kitten do when Mama and the others decide to nap?
I Wanna Iguana, by Karen Kaufman Orloff
Strictly No Elephants, by Lisa Mantchev
Truman, by Jean Reidy
Books About Pets
Pet Dogs Up Close, by Erika L. Shores
They All Saw a Cat, by Brendan Wenzel
A cat walks through the world. Each animal the cat encounters perceives the cat in a slightly different way.
I Don’t Know What to Call My Cat, by Simon Philip
A cat shows up at a little girl’s house and decides to stay. There’s just one problem. The girl cannot find a name that fits.
A Cat and a Dog, by Claire Masurel
A cat and a dog live in the same house. But they fight all the time. Will they ever be friends?
Check out this research-based, playful learning unit in our curriculum shop!
Pet Theme Bundle
18 of our most popular pet theme resources, including math, literacy, and dramatic play! Make learning fun with these hands-on resources!
Caring for Your Pets, by Ann Owen
Discover ways veterinarians help you care for your pets.
Pet Cats Up Close, by Gillia M. Olson
Stick! by Andy Pritchett
Puppy looks for someone to play with him and his new stick.
What Pet to Get, by Emma Dodd
Books About Pet Adoption
I’ll Be Your Dog, by P.Crumble
Picking Pickle, by Polly Faber
I Found a Kitty! by Troy Cummings
Having the best books to read-aloud to your students during a pet theme is important, but if you really want to go all in on a pets theme, then you need my Pets Theme Bundle. This bundle includes literacy and math small group activities, circle time, emotions, fine motor, dramatic play – and more!