As a service dog handler, I love seeing picture books about the transformative role that service dogs play in their handlers’ lives, and the depth of the relationship possible in this kind of partnership. There are a handful of picture books about service dogs available; I’m going to share four here. I’d love to hear if you have found other favorites.
Recommended Picture Books About Service Dogs
The first is Mr. Maple: A Guide Dog’s Journey, by Paul Castle, which tells the true story of Maple’s life before and after he partnered with Paul. Paul and his husband, Matthew, share their lives on Instagram, with frequent videos of silly pranks and public education about blindness and visual impairment. The book starts with Maple’s birth and proceeds through his time with a puppy raiser, into guide dog school, and then into being partnered with Paul, to what his days look and feel like over the years. As a service dog handler, I love that this book highlights the specific tasks that Maple does to support Paul in navigating public space, and that Maple has times where he plays (zips and zooms!) and snoozes outside of work. This book touches on service dog retirement and includes front matter that frames guiding as a choice that dogs opt into, highlighting the role of agency in becoming a working dog
Our Service Dogs, by Amber Diane Hill, offers a glimpse into the variety of what service dogs can do. The book describes real-life partnerships between service dogs and their humans, almost all of whom are children. Readers encounter mobility dogs, diabetes-alert and seizure-alert and response dogs, guide dogs, psychiatric service dogs, allergy-alert dogs, and hearing dogs. I love that this book includes instructions on what to do if you see a service dog; showcases that service dogs live full lives that include interests outside of work; and play significant emotional and relational roles in their handlers’ lives, beyond the specific tasks they perform.
Rescue & Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship, by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes (illustrated by Scott Magoon), traces the parallel journeys of Rescue (the service dog) and Jessica (the handler) as they navigate separate challenges. Rescue, originally intended as a guide dog, shifts course in his training, and he worries he might let his future handler down. Jessica has just lost one of her legs and is overwhelmed by the shifting course of her life and the challenges of rehabilitation. The story portrays Rescue and Jessica’s connection as immediate; Rescue supports Jessica with newly difficult tasks, and Jessica ensures that Rescue has a good life. When Jessica faces another unexpected challenge, Rescue is there to support her every step of the way. As a service dog handler, I found this book touched me deeply, capturing the incredible, life-changing bond between a service dog and their handler, and I love that it’s based on the author’s own story. As a trainer, I worry a bit about anthropomorphizing Rescue as this book does, but I also know that this is a central rhetorical device in many children’s books.
I Made a Promise by Mary Peters tells the story of the author’s life-changing relationship with her service dog, Secret. Though the book does not focus on Secret as a service dog, per se, the author’s large social media platform makes clear that Secret played this role in her life. Mary describes her early life as deeply lonely, feeling out of place wherever she went. That is, until Secret came to her, and they made a way together. More than any other book I’ve read, this book shows what is possible in a bond between a service dog and their handler. The book depicts Secret’s unexpected and early death and may not be appropriate for some children.
Amy D. Robertson is a retired physics professor and physics education researcher and mama to Eilish, a Bernedoodle and service dog. Eilish and Amy have been a team for three years.
 About Atlas Assistance Dogs
 Atlas Assistance Dogs is a non-profit organization that fundamentally expands access to assistance dogs. We support people with disabilities in training and certifying their own service dogs using positive, ethical training methods. At Atlas, we believe anyone who would benefit from a qualified assistance dog should be able to have one.Â
Through our Client Certification program, we work with people with a wide range of disabilities who wish to train their own service dog. The Atas Academy offers courses and resources for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of service dog training. From our in-depth Trainer Academy to specialized, self-paced online courses, everything we offer is rooted in force-free methods.
