Newfs in Literature
Newfoundlands in Young Reader & Young Adult Literature
This list separates out, for convenience, all literary works of fiction which feature Newfoundland dogs, typically as a major or minor character, and which target children or young adult readers. (Non-fiction works for young adult readers may be found in the "Non-Fiction" section of The Cultured Newf.)
Titles below are listed chronologically by date of first publication; for each work I've listed title, author, illustrator (if known/applicable), year of first edition and publisher of first edition. Many of these books are or were available in different editions.
Some descriptions feature links to the Amazon.com page for a specific title (these will open in a new browser window/tab). These links are provided so you can see cover art or read more about a particular book or even buy the book. (I have not set up an "Amazon Associate" account for this page and do not make any money from any purchases made by following these links, although some Amazon links use the Amazon IDs of those groups, such as the Newfoundand Club of Seattle, whose websites provided me with additional titles for this section.)
The Life of the Famous Dog Carlo by Eliza Fenwick
First published in 1804. This work for younger readers (though also listed in the general literature section of The Cultured Newf) is a fictional 'biography' of the Newfoundland "Carlo" who was made famous by Francis Reynold's 1803 play
The Caravan.
The School for Fathers by Talbot Gwynne
(1852). A moral tale for young adult readers that includes a brief scene with a well-behaved Newfoundland.
Neptune; or the Autobiography of a Newfoundland Dog by Mrs. E. Burrows
(1869; Griffith and Farran)
Chatterbox (1882)
This year's annual of children's stories published by this weekly magazine included several Newfoundland-related anecdotes.
Pussy and Doggy Tales by E. Nesbit; illus. by L. Kemp-Welch
(1899; J. M. Dent)
Racketty Packetty House by Francis Hodgson Burnett; illus. by Harrison Cady
(1906; Century)
The Dogs of Boytown by Walter A. Dyer
(1919; Holt)
Blackjack by Thomas C. Hinkle
A Newf mix proves his mettle. (1946)
Storm, Dog of Newfoundland by Anthony Fon Eisen
(1948; Charles Scribner)
We Were There at the Boston Tea Party by Robert N. Webb
(1956; Dover)
The Twins and Trusty by Joan McDevitt; illus. by John Holmgren
(1958; Row, Peterson and Co.)
Blacky, der treue Neufundländer by Kurt Knaak; illus. by Carl Fr. J. Benedek
(1964; W. Fischer)
Sailor's Choice by Natalie Savage Carlson; illus. by George Loh
(1966; Harper & Row)
Why Don't You Get a Horse, Sam Adams? by Jean Fritz; illus. by Trina Schart Hyman
(1974; Coward, McCann & Geoghegan. Rpt. 1996, Putnam)
A Dog Called Lucky Tide by William Koehler.
(1988; Scholastic)
Mystery at Wolf River by Mary Francis Shura.
(1989; Scholastic)
Patti Gets Even by Susan Saunders.
(1989; Scholastic)
Seasons of the Sea by Monique Corriveau; abridged and translated by David Homel; illus. by Debi Perna.
(1989; Douglas & McIntyre)
Newf by Marie Killilea; illus. by Ian Schoenherr
(1992; Philomel)
Storm, Dog of Newfoundland by Anthony Fon Eisen; illus. by Jim Troake.
(1994; Outport Publishing, Lewisporte, Newfoundland)
Of Heritage & Heart by Claire Carr (author and illustrator)
(1994; Wynship Arts)
Escape into the Night by Lois Walfrid Johnson.
(1995; Bethany House)
Emma and the Night Dogs by Susan Bivin Aller; illus. by Marni Backer.
(1997; A. Whitman)
The Lighthouse Dog by Betty Waterton; illus. by Dean Griffiths
(1997; Orca Book Publishers)
Mischief, Mad Mary, and Me by Dawn Knight; illus. by Jared T. Williams
(1997; 1998 Avon/Camelot)
My Name is York by Elizabeth Van Steenwyk; illus. by Bill Farnsworth
(1997; Rising Moon)
The Angel of Mill Street by Frances Ward Weller; illus. by Robert J. Blake
(1998; Philomel Books)
Sailor: The Hangashore Newfoundland Dog by Catherine Simpson; illus. Joanne Snook-Hann
(1998; Creative Printers and Publishers)
The Captain's Dog: My Journey with the Lewis and Clark Tribe by Roland Smith
(1999; Harcourt Brace)
Old Dog Cora and the Christmas Tree by Consie Powell
(1999; Albert Whitman)
Seaman: the Dog who Explored the West with Lewis & Clark by Gail Karwoski; illus. by James Watling
(1999; Peachtree)
The Wreck of the Ethie by Hilary Hyland; illus. by Paul Bachem
(1999; Peachtree)
Star in the Storm by Joan Hiatt Harlow
(2000; M. K. McElderry)
West with Lewis and Clark by William & Jan Hill
(2000). Children's activity book.
The Carved Box by Gillian Chan
(2001; Kids Can Press)
Heroes of Isle aux Morts by Alice Walsh; illus. by Geoff Butler
(2001; Tundra Books)
Wild Man Island by Will Hobbs
(2002; HarperCollins)
Sirius, the Dog Star by Angeli Perrow; illus. by Emily Harris
(2002; Down East Books)
Seaman's Journal: On the Trail with Lewis and Clark by Patricia Reeder Eubank (author and illustrator)
(2002; Ideals Children's Books)
Lewis and Clark and Me: A Dog's Tale by Laurie Myers; illustrated by Michael Dooling.
(2002; Henry Holt)
The Aisling Grey series by Katie MacAlister:
You Slay Me (2004), Fire Me Up (2005), Light My Fire (2006), Holy Smokes (2007)
The Newf and the Dane by Kevin Fritz (author); Katie Gillette (illustrator)
(2003; iUniverse)
Dog of Discovery: A Newfoundland's Adventures with Lewis and Clark by Laurence Pringle
(2004; Boyds Mills Press)
Tall Tails: Cross Country with Lewis and Clark by Dona Smith; illus. by Guy Francis
(2004; Scholastic)
Thunder from the Sea by Joan Hiatt Harlow
One of the classic Newf stories for children. (2004)
I Am Sacajawea, I Am York: Our Journey West with Lewis and Clark by Claire Rudolph Murphy (author), Higgins Bond (illustrator)
The Lewis & Clark expedition as seen from the perspective of Sacajawea and York.
The Legend of Rigel: Hero Dog of the Titanic by Christine Jamesson
(2005; Authorhouse)
Tricked by Diane Bridenbaker
(2005; Authorhouse)
Chocolate River Rescue (2007) by Jennifer McGrath Kent
A young-readers (ages 4-8) story featuring a winter-time rescue adventure and a Newfoundland.
Nathan and Friends (2007) by Dale Ryan
Children's book.
Seaman's Journey with Lewis and Clark by Linda Couchman, Linda Hailey, Melinda Hailey, Linda Warner
(2007; Missouri Life)
Puppy Power! (2008) by Judy Cox; illustrated by Steve Bjorkman
Obedience class isn't just for Newf puppies! Grades 2 and up.
The Condor's Feather (2009) by Margaret Muir
Two Newfoundlands and their owners encounter danger in the Andes in 19th Century Patagonia.
Marshall, the Sea Dog (2010) by Whitney Stewart
Newfs and shipwrecks! Ages 9 - 12.
New-Found-Land: The Tales of Two Dogs (2010) by Karen Jansen
Two interwoven stories featuring Newfs, including Seaman. Young adult. (2010)
Oh No, Newf! (2010) by Tui T. Sutherland
A young-readers (ages 9-12) story featuring a young girl and her rambunctious Newf.
Sam d'Bear (2010) by Michael Marsden
Young adult.
The Anne Marie (2011) by Israel Parker
A seafaring Newf suddenly finds himself homeless. Young adult.
Bernice: "Oh my gosh it's a bear!" (2011) by Rob Adamowski
A big brown Newf gets mistaken for a bear; young adult.
Lizzie the Magical Dog (2011) by Christine Mullis
Young adult.
Newfoundlands are the Best! (2011) by Elaine Landau
A non-fiction introduction to the Newfoundland for young readers.
Emily and Carlo (2012) by Marty Rhodes Figley
Emily Dickinson (yes, that Emily Dickinson) gets a Newf. (Which in fact really happened, although it may have been a Newf mix.) Ages 5 - 8.
The Leprechaun's Big Pot of Gold (2012) by Patricia Reeder Eubank
A leprechun who forgot where he buried his gold finds what he's really looking for when he acquires a Newf and a cat. Ages 2 - 5.
Newfoundland: Water Rescuer (2012) by Dawn Blumel Oldfield
Non-fiction work featuring Bilbo, the real-life English lifeguard Newf, along w/ factual information on the breed. Ages 7 and up.
The Great Dog Disaster (2013) by Katie Davies; illustrated by Hannah Shaw
An aging Newf finds a new home — and trouble. Ages 8 - 12.
Adventures of Kermit the Newf: Book 1 (2016) by Molly Tischler and Bonnie Giacovelli; illustrated by Amy Bolin
Based on the real life of Kermit the therapy Newf. Grades 1 - 2.
Bilbo the Lifeguard Dog (2016) by Steven Jamieson with Alyson Bowyer
The real-life adventure of the real-life Bilbo, as told by Bilbo's owner.
Sebastian's Roo: Hide and Seek (2016) by Erin Kochakji; illustrated by Nadine McLaughlin
First in a series based on the real-life adventures of real-life Sebastian the Newf.
The Starr Student (2016) by Stephanie Kwisnek
Fiction. The story of Starr, the Goofy Newfie and her adventures at school. Ages 3 - 7.
Captain Goes to School! (2017) by Lucy Ordoobadi
One in a series of beginning-reader books about Captain, a real-life reading therapy Newf.
Captain Takes a Vacation! (2017) by Lucy Ordoobadi
One in a series of beginning-reader books about Captain, a real-life reading therapy Newf.
A Dog for Christmas (2017) by Linda Byler
Fiction. A Christmas story featuring a Newf named Lucky.
I'm Not a Pandacow (2017) by M. T. Sanders; Illustrated by Zoe Saunders
The first of eight books for young readers about Monty the Newf and his friends and their adventures. All of these books are treated on this one page.
Monty and the Slobbernosserus
Monty and the Poppit Dragon
Monty and Friends Save Christmas
Monty and the Ocean Rescue
Monty and Friends African Adventure
Monty and the Land of the Dinodogs
Life According to Monty Dogge
Lance, Civil War Dog (2017) by Peyton Cockrill Lewis
A Newfoundland lives through the Civil War in Charlottesvill, Virginia.
Samson the Super Dog (2017) by Sarah Webster
Fiction. The story of Samson, a Newfoundland who joins the Italian K9 lifeguard corps. Young adult.
Adventures of Kermit the Newf: Book 2 (2019) by Molly Tischler and Bonnie Giacovelli; illustrated by Amy Bolin
Further adventures of Kermit, the real-life therapy Newf. Grades 1 - 2.
Captain Gets in Shape! (2019) by Lucy Ordoobadi
One in a series of beginning-reader books about Captain, a real-life reading therapy Newf.
Chewie the Newfie: The Mystery of the Holiday Bells (2020) by Lisa Schiller / illust. by Holly Ranieri
The first of a series of books about Chewie the Newfie and the lessons he learns.
Rocky and Splash's First Lighthouse Dog Adventure (2020) by Dr. Tommy Dickey / illust. by A. Darling
A Great Pyr and a Newf are rescued from a sinking ship and begin a new life with a lighthouse keeper's family.
Rocky and Splash's Christmas Lighthouse Dog Adventure (2021) by Dr. Tommy Dickey / illust. by A. Darling
The second installment of the adventures of Rocky the Great Pyr and Splash the Newfoundland.
Sebastian's Roo: Water Dog (2021) by Erin Kochakji; illustrated by Patricia R. Eubank
Second in a series based on the real-life adventures of real-life Sebastian the Newf.
Ed, A Newf's Story (2021) by Tara Whalen; illustrated by Patricia R. Eubank
Follow Ed the Newf's adventures as he moves from the farm to the suburbs and learns a great deal about, well, everything.
Chewie the Newfie to the Rescue (2022) by Lisa Schiller / illust. by Holly Mitchell
A coloring therapy book that continues the adventures of Chewie the Newfie.
A Newfie's Day at the Beach (date uknown) by Patricia Eubank
Another Newfie-themed work, this one a coloring book, from the popular children's author and illustrator Patricia Eubank, who has several works listed here at The Cultured Newf.
Thanks to those who have sent in suggestions -- MaryLou Zimmerman, Annie Milliron, PamY, Linda Roderick, Marne Burke, Cindy, and those I've forgotten -- and thanks to Eileen Morgan, whose long-ago "Newf Trivia" posting on the
NEWF-L discussion list got this project going. Thanks also to Prof. Mitsuharu Matsuoka of Nagoya U in Japan, whose Victorian Literary Studies Archive's Hyper-Concordance helped me find many of the titles listed above.
If you know of any other works that should be listed here, or if you see something that needs correction, please don't hesitate to
send me an email.