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Quick answer: If you loved The Hundred and One Dalmatians, try The Starlight Barking, The Incredible Journey, Lassie Come-Home, Charlotte's Web, Fantastic Mr Fox and Babe: The Gallant Pig. Each one is a classic animal adventure with brave pets, daring rescues and villains to defeat.
Dodie Smith's 1956 novel follows Pongo and Missis, two Dalmatians living in London with their human pets, the Dearlys. When their fifteen puppies are stolen by the fur-loving Cruella de Vil, the dogs use the “Twilight Barking” to get help from dogs across England, and they set off on a daring rescue. Readers love its humor and its brave dogs. These books share its animal heroes and adventure.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Starlight Barking | Dodie Smith | 7-11 | readers who want the sequel |
| The Incredible Journey | Sheila Burnford | 9-12 | readers who like pet journeys |
| Lassie Come-Home | Eric Knight | 8-12 | readers who like loyal dogs |
| Charlotte's Web | E.B. White | 7-10 | readers who like animal friends |
| Fantastic Mr Fox | Roald Dahl | 6-9 | readers who like clever animals |
| Babe: The Gallant Pig | Dick King-Smith | 7-10 | readers who like farm animals |
| Black Beauty | Anna Sewell | 8+ | readers who like horses |
| Because of Winn-Dixie | Kate DiCamillo | 8-12 | readers who like dogs |
| Shiloh | Phyllis Reynolds Naylor | 8-12 | readers who like rescued dogs |
| The Call of the Wild | Jack London | 11+ | older readers |
| Stuart Little | E.B. White | 7-10 | readers who like small heroes |
| Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH | Robert C. O'Brien | 8-12 | readers who like rescues |
| Bunnicula | Deborah and James Howe | 7-11 | readers who like funny pets |
| Hank the Cowdog | John R. Erickson | 7-11 | readers who like funny dogs |
| I Capture the Castle | Dodie Smith | 13+ | older readers |
1. The Starlight Barking by Dodie Smith
The Dalmatians wake to find humans in a strange sleep.
Best for: readers who want the sequel.
2. The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
Three pets travel home through the wilderness.
Best for: readers who like pet journeys.
3. Lassie Come-Home by Eric Knight
A collie travels home.
Best for: readers who like loyal dogs.
4. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
A spider saves a pig.
Best for: readers who like animal friends.
5. Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl
A fox outwits three farmers.
Best for: readers who like clever animals.
6. Babe: The Gallant Pig by Dick King-Smith
A pig learns to herd sheep.
Best for: readers who like farm animals.
7. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
A horse tells his story.
Best for: readers who like horses.
8. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
A girl and her dog make friends.
Best for: readers who like dogs.
9. Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
A boy hides an abused beagle.
Best for: readers who like rescued dogs.
10. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
A dog in the Yukon.
Best for: older readers.
11. Stuart Little by E.B. White
A mouse's adventures.
Best for: readers who like small heroes.
12. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
A mouse seeks help.
Best for: readers who like rescues.
13. Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe
A pet dog suspects a vampire bunny.
Best for: readers who like funny pets.
14. Hank the Cowdog by John R. Erickson
A cowdog solves mysteries.
Best for: readers who like funny dogs.
15. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Smith's coming-of-age classic.
Best for: older readers.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with The Hundred and One Dalmatians: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to The Hundred and One Dalmatians. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
Read The Starlight Barking for more Pongo and Missis. For pet journeys, The Incredible Journey and Lassie Come-Home are classics. If you like funny animals, Bunnicula and Hank the Cowdog are favorites. Older readers should try Smith's I Capture the Castle.
Related: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Hundred and One Dalmatians about?
Two Dalmatians rescue their stolen puppies from Cruella de Vil.
Is the book different from the Disney film?
Yes. In the book, the mother is called Missis and there are extra characters.
Who is Cruella de Vil?
The fur-loving villain who steals puppies.
What is the Twilight Barking?
A network of dogs passing messages across the country.
Is there a sequel?
Yes. The Starlight Barking.
What age is it for?
It suits readers about 7 to 11.
What should my child read next?
The Incredible Journey.
Where does Cruella take the puppies?
To Hell Hall, her family's crumbling country house in Suffolk.