29 Books About Pets for Preschoolers

a collage of 3 different books about pets

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.

a collage of 4 books about pets for kids

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

Not Norman picture book

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

lola gets a cat picture book

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.

a collage of 4 different books about pets

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!

Preview in the 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 picture book
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!

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a collage of 3 different books about pets
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