New York Times Bestselling author Emily Jenkins, who also uses the pen name E. Lockhart, is releasing a heart-warming dog-centric book, “All the Best Dogs,” available for purchase on November 5. This delightful chapter book, geared to middle school-aged children, tells the tale of four sixth-grade students, who all have unique interests and problems, and their beloved canine companions.

Photo Credit: Random House Children’s Books/ Emily Jenkins

Here at Woof Republic, we can safely say those who pick up this book will laugh and cry while reading. We also recommend giving “All the Best Dogs” to the dog-obsessed child in your life this holiday season. (This isn’t a sponsored post — we just really enjoyed the book!)

In an exclusive email interview with Jenkins, she shared what inspired her to write “All the Best Dogs,” which furry characters she most identified with, and why she chose to include rescue dogs in the book.

Read on for our full interview!

Woof Republic: Why did you decide to give dogs’ points of view in the book? (I believe it was a wonderful choice!)

Emily Jenkins: Dogs are honest and full of enthusiasms and disappointments. As such, they’re wonderful characters for exploring humanity.

Woof Republic: Which dog was the most fun to write? (I just wanted to say that my dog is very much a Grover/Lottie, so I got a kick out of their sections).

Emily Jenkins: Grover and Lottie are a pair of grouchy terriers — a little bit “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” a little bit “Dumb and Dumber.” They were definitely the most fun to write.

Woof Republic: What inspired you to write this book?

Emily Jenkins: “All the Best Dogs” got started because I helped my friend, photographer Heather Weston, find dogs in various Brooklyn dog runs for her photo book, “Canines of New York.” I started thinking that a chapter book about dogs and people whose lives overlap in a dog run could be really funny and touching.

Woof Republic: Did any of the dogs featured in “Canines of New York” serve as inspiration for the pups in All The Best Dogs?

Emily Jenkins: Cup-Cup the Bernese-mix puppy is partly based on my friend Erin’s dog Coco, who is an exceptionally friendly and enormous dog. Grover and Lottie are based on some dogs who live on my street who will never give me even so much as a wag, when I say hello.

Woof Republic: Do you have a character human or dog – that you most identify with? If so, why?

Emily Jenkins: Cup-Cup is a puppy who very much wants to make friends, but isn’t sure how. That’s how I felt, as a kid.

Woof Republic: Did you take any inspiration from other dog-centric works of fiction?

Emily Jenkins: Some of the most loved chapter books ever written have dogs at their centers: “Because of Winn-Dixie,” “Shiloh,” “Wish.” “All the Best Dogs” is definitely more of a comedy, but I hope it touches the heartstrings the way those books do, as well.

Woof Republic: What is your favorite dog-centric work of fiction (TV show, movie, book, etc.)?

Emily Jenkins: “Love that Dog” by Sharon Creech. It’s is a fantastic book for the same age group as “All the Best Dogs.”

Woof Republic: You mention in your author’s note that you have only had one dog named Trouble. What is your favorite memory of Trouble?

Emily Jenkins: We had a sandbox in the backyard and Trouble would dig in the sandbox with me.

Woof Republic: How did you choose the specific breeds of dogs in the book?

Emily Jenkins: Mostly I picked breeds and mixes I really like, and that I thought kids would, too — Mr. Cash is Chow Chow because they are so fluffy! Panda is a corgi-mix tripod because there’s one in my neighborhood with the brightest spirit, and I’m a fan of representing differently abled bodies in all kinds of situations.

Woof Republic: Do you have a favorite dog breed? If so, why is the breed your favorite?

Emily Jenkins: My favorite is any dog who wants to say hello to me. Bonus points for sitting in my lap.

Woof Republic: Here at Woof Republic, we appreciate that you chose to portray some dogs who were adopted rather than purchased. Was that a conscious decision on your end?

Emily Jenkins: Of course! Dog breeds are fascinating and fun, but there are so many dogs in shelters who need homes.

Woof Republic: We also appreciate your decision to mention dog fostering in your novel. Why did you decide to feature Ruth and her many foster dogs?

Emily Jenkins: I thought kids would like knowing about dog fostering!

Woof Republic: There are several emotional moments in the book. How did you come up with poignant moments for readers within the book’s targeted age range?

Emily Jenkins: That is one-hundred percent my job — to think about how kids feel, and tell a story that validates and gives voice to their emotional lives in an entertaining way.

Woof Republic: How much input did you have in Manuel Preitano’s adorable illustrations?

Emily Jenkins: Manuel sketched all the characters for me before doing the actual illustrations. It was a challenge to make sure Cup-Cup (Bernese mix), Panda (corgi mix) and Paddington (border collie) all look different from one another, even though those breeds are so different.

Woof Republic: The characters are going through different sets of issues and manage to find comfort in their dogs. Why do you believe dogs can provide comfort during difficult times?

Emily Jenkins: Dogs are nonjudgemental, mostly. They are loving, mostly. They have innocent spirits and they’re very cute. Sometimes the people in our lives are not as loving as we might need, or more judgmental than we might need. They’re very rarely innocent and only occasionally cute. So we need dogs.

Woof Republic: Would you ever consider writing a sequel?

Emily Jenkins: Absolutely!

Woof Republic: What did an average day look like when you were writing this book?

Emily Jenkins: I wrote this book with a cat on my lap, most days. Shhhhhhhh…..

Exclusive Interview: Bestselling Author Emily Jenkins Talks New Middle-Grade Book 'All the Best Dogs'

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