If you loved

Books like Henry and Ribsy

A sunlit, chaotic romp through childhood where the biggest stakes are keeping a well-meaning dog out of trouble. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with Henry and Ribsy.

lighthearted
nostalgic
sun-warmed
chaotic-but-safe

01
Henry Huggins
Beverly Cleary · 1950
A sunlit, gentle romp through the everyday triumphs and minor scrapes of an ordinary boy and his stray dog.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- sun-warmed
- humorous
- earnest
02
Ribsy
Beverly Cleary · 1923
A gentle, dog's-eye-view adventure about getting lost, making strange new friends, and the enduring pull of home.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- humorous
- earnest
- gentle
03
Homer Price
Robert McCloskey · 1976
A sunlit, deadpan stroll through a mid-century American town where gentle absurdity and childhood ingenuity reign supreme.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- sun-warmed
- affectionate
- gentle
04
Mr. Putter and Tabby Feed the Fish
Cynthia Rylant
A cozy, lighthearted tale of domestic tranquility playfully disrupted by irresistible feline instincts.
Shares:
- lighthearted
- humorous
- gentle
05
Brian's Hunt
Ron McLarty · 2003
A tense, primal journey into the unforgiving wilderness where survival hinges on instinct and a bond with a wounded companion.
Feels:
- foreboding
- primal
- isolated
06
Wish
Barbara O'Connor
A tender, Southern-fried story about a prickly girl and a stray dog finding exactly where they belong.
Shares:
- earnest
07
Amelia Bedelia and the cat
Herman Parish · 2008
A cheerful, wordplay-filled romp about the comical misunderstandings that happen when a literal-minded caretaker meets a stray kitten.
Shares:
- lighthearted
- humorous
- earnest
08
Adventure according to Humphrey
Betty G. Birney · 2009
A cheerful, pint-sized adventure that proves you don't have to be big to be brave or to help your friends.
Shares:
- lighthearted
- humorous
- earnest
09
Mercy Watson goes for a ride
Kate DiCamillo
A sunny, slapstick joyride that turns a quiet Saturday into a delightfully chaotic adventure.
Shares:
- affectionate
10
Old Yeller
Fred Gipson
A sun-baked, bittersweet frontier childhood defined by a fierce, transformative bond with a stray dog.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- earnest
11
One dog and his boy
Eva Ibbotson
A heartwarming, adventurous journey about a lonely boy, a pack of rescued dogs, and the lengths we go to for the friends we love.
Shares:
- earnest
12
Dog Man
Dav Pilkey
A high-octane, laugh-out-loud comic adventure that hides a surprisingly tender heart beneath layers of slobber and slapstick.
Shares:
- lighthearted
- earnest

Back to Henry and Ribsy