A pug is about eighteen pounds of opinion in a body designed for sitting on a lap. The flat face, the corkscrew tail, the forehead permanently creased with concern about a snack — none of it is accidental; Chinese emperors spent centuries breeding a dog whose only job was to be in the room with you. Picture books worked this out quickly. A pug cannot run far, cannot swim, cannot be subtle, and snores loudly enough to become a plot point, which turns out to be a wonderful set of limitations to hand a character. Ask a five-year-old to name the funniest dog in a book and you will usually get a pug.
Bookroo's collection of 60 pug books runs from Aaron Blabey's greedy, wholly unrepentant Pig to a real pug in Manhattan who woke up one morning and decided his bones had gone away. Our editors chose thirteen favorites below: the read-aloud comedies, the quieter ones about being an odd-looking dog nobody picks first, the diary-format series that Pig the Pug fans graduate into, and one gloriously ridiculous polar sled race powered by sixty-six pug puppies. After the shortlist, browse by age — picture books for ages three to eight, then chapter books and early series for readers five to twelve.
Pig has every toy in the house and no intention of sharing one of them.
Bub the pug has a diary, a peanut butter habit, and a squirrel-shaped problem.
An old pug declines to get out of bed, and his human has to rethink the whole day.
Pug had the yard, the bowl and the good bed entirely to himself. Then Pig moved in.
A magical sled race offers one wish, but can sixty-six pugs win it all?
A pug seeks the perfect puddle but faces a protective pig's rejection.
A pug nicknamed Mr. Pest has worn out his family, and Lizzie has one chance to fix it.
Chick dreams of adventure, but can he save the day when his hero, Pug, is too sleepy?
A pug who was promised jam tarts ends up alone in a boat instead.
Fred chases cars, rolls in things and runs off — and is loved anyway.
A borrowed pug leads to tangled lies and unexpected romance. Can truth untangle Ana's heart?
The rest of Aaron Blabey's Pig sequels, Noodle's next flop, fractured fairy tales, trick-or-treat costumes, and pugs entirely convinced they belong on the good chair — ages 3–8.
A pig on a farm befriends a new animal.
A pug's quest for the perfect resting spot tests his independence.
Princess Pink battles tricky pugs to reclaim a friend's money from a shady car deal.
A stinky pug's plan to avoid a bath backfires hilariously.
A dog becomes the star of a photo shoot, but learns a lesson about sharing the spotlight.
A pug becomes a superhero, but can he save his friendship?
A pug named Pig has to learn to play fairly and have fun without always needing to win.
Three pugs face a sleepy showdown with a big bad cat in their cozy basket.
A pug named Pig causes chaos and destruction on vacation.
A mischievous pug embarks on a quest to discover his own name.
A pug named Pig goes on a Halloween rampage for treats.
Pug ditches his costume, leaving Pig to celebrate Halloween alone. Can friendship reignite the spirit?
More Diary of a Pug, Pug in a cowboy hat and on safari, shelter pugs hunting for a forever home, squirrel nemeses, and middle-grade novels where the pug starts the trouble — for readers ages 5–12.
Pugs must solve a garden mystery to save their vacation.
Two mystery pugs appear, sparking chaos and a quest to uncover their origins.
A matchmaking pug stirs up romance and secrets before the school dance.
A young pug named Peggy finds herself in a dog shelter and embarks on a journey to find her forever home with a family who will love her for who she is
A young pug named Bub helps his owner Bella care for a lost kitten and then organizes a pet wash to raise money for the local animal shelter
A pug named Bub navigates a series of challenges and adventures during a snowy week
A cowboy and his horse must stop a group of bandits from causing trouble in the town of Little Witherington
A pug's safari adventure tests his courage against a lion cub.
A pug's injury threatens his choir debut. Can his friends save the show?
A pug's quest for a forever home is threatened by a mischievous squirrel.
A pug's fear of water threatens a beach adventure. Can a treasure map save the day?
A pug's basketball skills lead to unexpected challenges. Can he stay true to himself?
