The sultriest period of the summer, July 3 through August 11 is often referred to as the "dog days of summer." It is the period when Sirius, also known as the Dog Star, rises and sets with the sun. Sirius is found in the constellation Canis Major, which means bigger dog.

Now that the dog days of summer are upon us, why not take this opportunity to check out some children’s books about man’s best friend? There are literally thousands of books about dogs. Visit your local library or bookstore and check out these titles.

There are countless picture books about children and their pet dogs. If you don’t have a dog, but would like one, read The Best Pet of All by David LaRochelle and pick up some pointers on how to convince your mother that you really need a dog. After spending several days with a pet dragon, your mother just might be convinced that you really do need a dog.

For the littlest pups, try the Big Dog and Little Dog series by Dav Pilkey. The author of the Captain Underpants books writes this board book series intended for the smallest set. Titles include Big Dog and Little Dog Making a Mistake, Big Dog and Little Dog Wearing Sweaters, Big Dog and Little Dog Going for a Walk and Big Dog and Little Dog Getting in Trouble. These lovable dogs are a perfect introduction to puppies for toddlers. The irresistible duo shares friendship, compassion and affection for each other in this colorful, well-constructed series.

Books of all kinds can be wonderful teaching tools for preschoolers, and dog books are no exception. Dog’s Colorful Day by Emma Dodd is a perfect example of a fun way to teach colors, counting and sounds to your little ones. As Dog, who has one black spot behind his ear, takes a walk through his neighborhood, his coat becomes a canvas of colors after he dips his tail in blue paint, hugs a boy eating a chocolate bar, has pink ice cream dripped on his other ear and steps on a carton of orange juice. By the end of the story he has splashed, squished and squashed his way back home, taken a bath and is tucked in for the night.

Preschoolers will also love the Clifford series by Norman Bridwell. Clifford is a big red dog who is much beloved by his owner, Emily Elizabeth. In this series, Emily and her family celebrate each holiday, embrace their day-to-day activities and cope with having the biggest dog ever. A strong sense of family is a recurring theme throughout these heartwarming books.

You’re probably familiar with the fable of the boy who cried wolf. But you may not have heard about The Dog Who Cried Wolf, by Keiko Kasza. After reading a book about wolves with his human Michelle, Moka decides he wants to be free and wild, just like a wolf. All is well until one night, while howling at the moon, a pack of real wolves howls back.

Children who are just beginning to unlock the mystery of reading will enjoy Alyssa Satin Capucilli’s books about Biscuit. These limited vocabulary early readers have large type, repetitive words and phrases complemented with pictures that perfectly match the text. The Biscuit Treasury combines three of these short stories about everyone’s favorite puppy.

Moving beyond Biscuit, there are countless offerings for beginning readers with a little more proficiency. Author Cynthia Rylant writes wonderful books for emergent readers. One of her most popular pairings is Henry and Mudge. Sucie Stevenson illustrates this charming series about the love of a boy and his slobbery, 180-lb. best friend. The series will keep kids entertained all summer long. Henry and his pal Mudge share everything little boys and their dogs love to do: camp out, build a snowman and get in puddle trouble. Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas is the 26th book of their adventures. This boy and his dog really do know how to have fun, and their joy is contagious!

Another canine with a loyal following is Pinkerton. The antics of this lovable, over-sized Great Dane are the creation of children’s author Steven Kellogg, who has been writing and illustrating children’s books for over 40 years. Pinkerton and Friends, A Steven Kellogg Treasury combines some of his most beloved stories in one volume, including Pinkerton, Behave! and Can I Keep Him?

If your beginning readers would like to sink their teeth into a good mystery, have them check out the books about Nate the Great and his dog, Sludge, written by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and illustrated by Caldecott honoree and Connecticut resident Marc Simont. Pancake-loving Nate and his faithful sidekick follow the clues and solve the mysteries of their quirky neighbors in this clever series of books.

There is no shortage of great dog stories for older readers in grades four through six. Thunder From the Sea by Joan Hiatt Harlow is a story that takes place in 1929 in a small Newfoundland fishing village. An orphan named Tom goes to live with the Murrays on Back O’ the Moon Island. There he finds love, acceptance and an amazing dog he names Thunder.

Also for older readers, there are several stories told with a dog’s narration. A Dog’s Life: Autobiography of a Stray by Newbery honoree Ann Martin is the story of the 10 years of Squirrel’s life on the road. Squirrel copes with the disappearance of her mother and separation from her brother, and must learn to fend for herself. What follows is an exciting adventure story with a happy ending.

Another story told in a dog’s voice is Sheep by Valerie Hobbs. Jack, a border collie, loves his life as a sheep tender on a ranch in California. After a fire changes his life forever, Jack finds his way with character and determination. His story will make readers see the way that humans treat dogs with a new set of eyes.

If you are interested in even more amazing dog stories that are based in reality, there are several non-fiction titles about courageous dogs that do extraordinary things. Freckles: The Mystery of the Little White Dog in the Desert, by Paul M. Howey, is the true story of an abandoned dog that is rescued from the desert and becomes a therapy dog who works with neglected children.

Hero Dogs: Courageous Canines in Action by Donna M. Jackson tells the true story of several service dogs, including a rescue dog, a guide dog and even an avalanche dog.

Readers interested in non-fiction may also want to read The Complete Dog Book for Kids by the American Kennel Club. It outlines tips on how to find the right dog for you and the training basics and health care required to take care of a dog as a pet.

Another non-fiction title of interest is How to Talk to Your Dog by Jean Craighead George. Like its companion book How to Talk to Your Cat, this is a book that will help owners communicate with their pets. Explanations of tail talk, facial expressions and sniffing behaviors are irresistibly illustrated by Sue Truesdell.

The Southbury Public Library and the C.H. Booth Library in Newtown offer a variety of programs for all ages throughout the year. At the Southbury Public Library, there is a Drop-In Storytime every Monday and an Open House Craft Program every Saturday for all ages.

Fall programs at the Southbury Public Library will include a Mother Goose Storytime for children ages 3-12 months, a Babies and Books Storytime for ages 12-24 months, a storytime series for two-year-olds and a story and craft series for ages three through five years. There is also a monthly Book Buddies discussion group for first through third grades and an American Girls booktalk group that also meets monthly.

The Southbury Public Library is located at 100 Poverty Road in Southbury. Visit www.southburylibrary.org for more information about the library’s programs, including the dates, times and registration information, or call 203-262-0626.

The C.H. Booth Library, located at 25 Main Street in Newtown, is celebrating 75 years of service to the community this year. The Children’s Department is hosting a birthday party on Thursday, August 16 at 1 p.m. to celebrate. There will be a celebration at Edmond Town Hall featuring birthday cake and fun.

Other programs taking place this month at the C.H. Booth Library include story times, summer crafts and more. Visit www.chboothlibrary.org for a complete listing of library programs for both children and adults. The library also has a regular column in the Newtown Bee.