Where to Start with the Puppy Place Series
For young readers and dog lovers embarking on their journey to Littleton, the best place to start is undoubtedly the very first book, Goldie (2006). This book introduces siblings Charles and Lizzie Peterson, establishes their family's initial reluctance to adopt a pet, and sets up their compromise: fostering puppies until they find their forever homes. Reading the first few books in order helps establish the family dynamics and the rules of the fostering process.
However, because each book is a self-contained story focusing on a single, new puppy, readers can easily jump in anywhere. If a child has a favorite breed—like a Pug in Pugsley or a Saint Bernard in Maggie and Max—they can read that specific book as a standalone without missing any crucial plot lines.
Puppy Place Main Series in Publication Order
Below is the complete chronological list of the main series books by Ellen Miles, spanning from 2006 to 2023. This list is based on official records from the publisher Scholastic and database listings on Fantastic Fiction.
- Goldie (2006)
- Snowball (2006)
- Shadow (2007)
- Rascal (2007)
- Buddy (2007)
- Flash (2007)
- Scout (2007)
- Patches (2007)
- Pugsley (2008)
- Maggie and Max (2008)
- Noodle (2008)
- Princess (2008)
- Cody (2009)
- Bear (2009)
- Honey (2009)
- Lucky (2010)
- Jack (2010)
- Sweetie (2010)
- Baxter (2010)
- Muttley (2010)
- Ziggy (2011)
- Bella (2011)
- Moose (2011)
- Bandit (2012)
- Cocoa (2012)
- Rocky (2012)
- Lucy (2012)
- Teddy (2013)
- Mocha (2013)
- Oscar (2013)
- Molly (2013)
- Liberty (2014)
- Gizmo (2014)
- Zipper (2014)
- Cooper (2014)
- Stella (2015)
- Boomer (2015)
- Daisy (2015)
- Gus (2015)
- Sugar, Gummi, and Lollipop (2016)
- Nala (2016)
- Bonita (2016)
- Champ (2016)
- Bubbles and Boo (2017)
- Lola (2017)
- Angel (2017)
- Jake (2017)
- Bitsy (2018)
- Edward (2018)
- Spirit (2018)
- Louie (2018)
- Cuddles (2019)
- Bentley (2019)
- Rusty (2019)
- Roxy (2019)
- Kodiak (2020)
- Barney (2020)
- Fluffy & Freckles (2020)
- Miki (2020)
- Biggie (2021)
- Lily (2021)
- Sparky (2021)
- Donut (2021)
- ZigZag (2022)
- Bingo (2022)
- Barkley (2023)
Special Editions and Spin-offs
In addition to the main series, Ellen Miles has written special editions and companion books. The most notable is Chewy and Chica (2010), a Special Edition that introduces both a puppy and a kitten, making it a wonderful transition piece for children who love all kinds of animals.
For readers who want to explore cat fostering, Ellen Miles also wrote a four-book spin-off series called Kitty Corner. These books follow a similar concept but focus on finding forever homes for kittens:
- Callie (2011)
- Otis (2011)
- Duchess (2011)
- Domino (2012)
What to Know Before You Start
The series is targeted primarily at readers aged 7 to 10 (grades 2 to 5). It teaches key life lessons about empathy, pet care, responsibility, and community cooperation. The books also serve as an educational guide to various dog breeds, detailing their temperaments, size, and care requirements. There is no strict continuity between books, making them a low-pressure, highly enjoyable read for children.
The TV Adaptation
The popularity of the books led to a live-action television adaptation streaming on Apple TV+. The series brings Charles, Lizzie, and their foster puppies to life, capturing the cozy, community-oriented spirit of the original books and introducing a new generation of viewers to Littleton.