I’ve always loved this expression – probably because it includes two of my favorite things: the summer season and dogs!

As an idiom, the dog days are the hottest, most humid days of summer: days when all one wants to do is rest in the shade, dive in a pool, and drink plenty of iced water. It’s easy to associate those days with dogs panting, lying around in cool corners, with no energy to run or play. But this expression has ancient origins and it has nothing to do with real dogs. It’s based on a star: Sirius, also known as the dog star because of its location in the constellation Canis Major, or Big Dog. During the summer, Sirius rises right before or almost at the same time as the sun. The Romans and the Greeks believed the combination of the bright star and the sun rising so close together caused the days of extreme heat and called them "dies caniculares."

Interesting, right? Getting back to dogs, here are some great new books to read when it gets too hot outside. But don’t stop with these recommendations – head on over to our Good Dog! booklist in our catalog for more fun books!

I Got a New Friend by Karl Newson Edwards
When a little girl gets a new puppy, they have a lot to learn about each other. The new friends can be shy, messy, and sometimes get into trouble. They get lost, but they always get found. Their friendship may be a lot of work—but at the end of the day, they love each other!

Hello Goodbye Dog written by Maria Gianferrari; illustrated by Patrice Barton
Moose loves nothing more than to help his girl Zara, but what is a dog to do when he isn’t allowed at school? Moose loves helping his girl, Zara, and Zara loves having her dog Moose help her. Unfortunately, dogs aren't allowed at school, and Moose's escape acts from his house, his crate, and the backyard aren't helping his cause. How can Zara get her lovable pooch a free pass to the classroom?

Excellent Ed written by Stacy McAnulty; illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach
Everyone in the Ellis family is excellent—except Ed. Ed wonders if this is why he isn’t allowed to eat at the table or sit on the couch with the other children. So he’s determined to find his own thing to be excellent at—only to be (inadvertently) outdone by a family member every time. Now Ed is really—what if he’s not excellent enough to belong in this family?

Visit your local neighborhood library to find these books and more!