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Books Like Dogger

A personal project — every book hand-picked by a London dad 🇬🇧

These stories share Dogger’s close attention to childhood feelings, treasured objects, family effort, and acts of kindness that solve an everyday problem without making it feel small.

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12 hand-picked books

How to use this shelf

Look beyond books about lost toys. The strongest match may be sibling generosity, separation and reunion, or a realistic family setting. Choose the dimension your child recognised most strongly in Dave’s experience.

Quick comparison

6 varied places to start. Compare the age, format, and themes, then read the notes or check current UK editions.

Alfie Gets in First
Shirley Hughes · Picture Book · ages 3–5 · family and humour
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Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?
Martin Waddell · Picture Book · ages 2–5 · family and kindness
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Guess How Much I Love You
Sam McBratney · Picture Book · ages 2–5 · family and kindness
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Hugless Douglas
David Melling · Picture Book · ages 2–5 · kindness and family
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Mog the Forgetful Cat
Judith Kerr · Picture Book · ages 3–6 · kindness and family
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Monkey Puzzle
Julia Donaldson · Picture Book · ages 3–6 · kindness and friendship
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Alfie Gets in First book cover
Alfie Gets in First
Shirley Hughes
Ages 3–5
Alfie Gets in First
Shirley Hughes
Alfie Gets in First by Shirley Hughes is a picture book for children aged 3 to 5. A useful choice for reading about family, humour and courage.
Why it fits: another title by Shirley Hughes, the same picture book format and shared themes of family.
Picture Book1981
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Can't You Sleep, Little Bear? book cover
Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?
Martin Waddell
Ages 2–5
Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?
Martin Waddell · Barbara Firth
Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?, a picture book by Martin Waddell, is selected for children aged 2 to 5. It is illustrated by Barbara Firth. Compare it with other books exploring family, kindness and courage.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of family and kindness and overlapping age guidance for 2–5.
Picture Book1988
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Guess How Much I Love You book cover
Guess How Much I Love You
Sam McBratney
Ages 2–5
Guess How Much I Love You
Sam McBratney · Anita Jeram
First published in 1994, Guess How Much I Love You is a picture book by Sam McBratney for children aged 2 to 5. It is illustrated by Anita Jeram. Its themes include family and kindness.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of family and kindness and overlapping age guidance for 2–5.
Picture Book1994
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Hugless Douglas book cover
Hugless Douglas
David Melling
Ages 2–5
Hugless Douglas
David Melling
On the shelf for children aged 2 to 5: Hugless Douglas, a picture book by David Melling. It connects with kindness and family.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of kindness and family and overlapping age guidance for 2–5.
Picture Book2010
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Mog the Forgetful Cat book cover
Mog the Forgetful Cat
Judith Kerr
Ages 3–6
Mog the Forgetful Cat
Judith Kerr
Mog the Forgetful Cat, a picture book by Judith Kerr, is selected for children aged 3 to 6. Compare it with other books exploring kindness, family and humour.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of kindness and family and overlapping age guidance for 3–6.
Picture Book1970
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Monkey Puzzle book cover
Monkey Puzzle
Julia Donaldson
Ages 3–6
Monkey Puzzle
Julia Donaldson · Axel Scheffler
On the shelf for children aged 3 to 6: Monkey Puzzle, a picture book by Julia Donaldson. It is illustrated by Axel Scheffler. It connects with kindness, friendship and family.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of kindness and family and overlapping age guidance for 3–6.
Picture Book2000
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One Snowy Night book cover
One Snowy Night
Nick Butterworth
Ages 3–6
One Snowy Night
Nick Butterworth
One Snowy Night by Nick Butterworth is a picture book for children aged 3 to 6. A useful choice for reading about kindness, family and nature.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of kindness and family and overlapping age guidance for 3–6.
Picture Book1989
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The Storm Whale book cover
The Storm Whale
Benji Davies
Ages 3–6
The Storm Whale
Benji Davies
The Storm Whale by Benji Davies is a picture book for children aged 3 to 6. A useful choice for reading about kindness, family and nature.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of kindness and family and overlapping age guidance for 3–6.
Picture Book2013
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Avocado Baby book cover
Avocado Baby
John Burningham
Ages 2–5
Avocado Baby
John Burningham
Choose Avocado Baby by John Burningham for children aged 2 to 5. This picture book is shelved with books about humour and family.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of family and overlapping age guidance for 2–5.
Picture Book1982
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Burglar Bill book cover
Burglar Bill
Janet Ahlberg
Ages 3–7
Burglar Bill
Janet Ahlberg · Allan Ahlberg
For readers interested in honesty, humour and kindness, compare Burglar Bill by Janet Ahlberg. It is illustrated by Allan Ahlberg. It is a picture book for children aged 3 to 7.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of kindness and overlapping age guidance for 3–7.
Picture Book1977
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Clarice Bean, That's Me book cover
Clarice Bean, That's Me
Lauren Child
Ages 5–8
Clarice Bean, That's Me
Lauren Child
For readers interested in family, humour and imagination, compare Clarice Bean, That's Me by Lauren Child. It is a picture book for children aged 5 to 8.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of family and overlapping age guidance for 5–8.
Picture Book1999
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Elmer book cover
Elmer
David McKee
Ages 3–6
Elmer
David McKee
Elmer is a brightly patchworked elephant in a herd of ordinary grey elephants.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of kindness and overlapping age guidance for 3–6.
Picture Book1989
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