The Reading List for Bark! Fest, the Book Festival for Animal Lovers
Welcome to the corner of the internet where we love books about dogs and cats. Join us to celebrate these titles in September 2026!
By Zazie Todd, PhD
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If you love reading and you love animals, then I've got an amazing book festival to share with you--and it's free.
We've got some superstar authors coming to tell us about their books, and you can join us with a cup of coffee and your dog or cat on your lap.
But make sure you sign up soon!
You can see the full schedule here.
The books are available wherever books are sold, including my Amazon store, Bookshop, and most likely your local library too.
The reading list for Bark! Fest 2026
In alphabetical order by author, these are the books we are celebrating at this year's Bark! Fest.
Decoding Your Cat: The Ultimate Experts Explain Common Cat Behaviors and Reveal How to Prevent or Change Unwanted Ones by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, represented by Meghan Herron DACVB and Carlo Siracusa DACVB
Love In Their Hearts: A Celebration of Animal Emotions and a Guide to Compassion Action by Marc Bekoff and Jeff Campbell, represented by Marc Bekoff
The Hidden Language of Cats: How They Have Us at Meow by Sarah Brown
Sophie From Romania: What a Rescue Dog Taught Me About Patience, Love and Hope by Rory Cellan-Jones
Dogs of the World: A Gallery of Pups From Purebred to Mutts by Lili Chin
A Professional's Guide to Feline Behaviour: Understanding, Improving, and Resolving Problems by Caroline Clark
Mine! A Practical Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs (2nd edition) by Jean Donaldson
New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe by Julie Haworth
Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know (2nd edition) by Alexandra Horowitz
Yap! A Short History of Small Dogs by Stephanie Howard-Smith
The Dog Sitter Detective Plays Dead by Antony Johnston
Washed Up by Nicola Knight
The Dog Park Detectives Paw and Order by Blake Mara
Away to Me by Patricia McConnell
Misadventures of the World's Okayest Dog Trainer by Melissa McCue-McGrath
Puppy Brain: How Our Dogs Learn, Think, and Love by Kerry Nichols
Detective Dogs: How Working Dogs Sniff Out Invasive Species by Alison Pearce Stevens
Pugs and Kisses by Farrah Rochon
Broken House by Louisa Scarr
Heal the Beasts: A Jaunt Through the Curious History of the Veterinary Arts by Philipp Schott DVM
What the Dog Knows: Scent, Science, and the Amazing Ways Dogs Perceive the World by Cat Warren
More Than Just a Dog: Understanding, Loving, and Living With Dogs An Essential Guide for Humans by Simon Wooler
Which of these books have you read? And which authors are you coming to listen to?
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