A book of two halves. The first chunk is the text-based one, where we learn a lot about what makes a dog breed. We only started apportioning dogs into breeds in the last couple of hundred years – before then the animal we used could potentially be any kind of dog, but slowly we started to make sure that first the dog shape, size, manner etc was suitable to the job we had in mind for them (hence kennel clubs still calling some dogs pointers, some guardian dogs, etc etc). Eventually we wanted to show dogs where we were comparing singular kinds of dog, and so the breed rules were slowly written, to cover colour, shape, temperament etc.

You can feel the author not being too happy with this, the same as I am. The genetic 'closed shop' this caused means too much inbreeding and too many diseases, and far too many dogs that didn't conform enough were dumped on the wayside, as it were, whether that be in shape or in perceived (intended, hoped-for) temperament. "Dogs that don't 100% conform to their breed standards are normal dogs!", this cries.

The second half is very different, being a spin-off from some graphic exercises the creator gave themselves a few years ago. It's a gallery of every species of dog, and every landrace, where we don't have a set of breed rules, but the dogs share location and job rather than DNA. Some of these are very, very specific – who has heard of the Dutch Partridge Dog, or the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, or even the Andalusian Wine-Cellar Rat-Hunting Dog? I could easily be convinced that last is a kind of paper town-styled trap.

Visually these are probably just about enough to identify one dog from the other, but they do seem on the slightly childish side. The colour palette isn't the most complex one out there, the uniformly-coloured (by region) backgrounds make it all look a touch cartoonish, and the artist seems to have a thing about feet, in that they're sort of alluded to yet never featured. Tongue out, a lot of the mutts seem too jolly.

That aside, I think the bigger issue here is trying to work out the audience. It doesn't seem scientific enough to be a spotter's guide; you could barely go about meeting all these breeds, let along owning them all; and it's probably something a kennel club branch has in more photorealist fashion, if they felt they needed it. That said, I did learn from the writing about breeds and breeding in the earlier sections, and I found the trivia that comes with all the gallery entrants really enjoyable. This will find suitable homes, but it may be bought for quite a few people who wonder precisely what they're supposed to do with it.

Thankfully, having that response to a dog book is a whole lot better than if it were to a dog. Three and a half stars.

Dogs of the World is an illustrated guide to dogs from around the globe. Including short histories of certain breeds along with cute illustrations, this will make you a dog expert by the time you hit the last page.

A fun and colorful way to learn about dog breeds! This book has so much info it, it will take you a while to get through it. Very fun with all of the drawings and pictures. It was an easy fun read.

As a dog lover, I enjoyed this book so much. The details are very informative and you can sense the authors dedication from the words on the page, everything from their ancestors to this day. From history to today, you simply say "mans best friend" and know who are you describing.

I give this book 5 stars.

Pretty cute to see the different breeds and get some general information for each. The art is pretty enjoyable!

This book was basically perfection. A mix of adorable and informative! I think it took extra time to read because I kept pausing to share fun facts with my friends.

One thing I want to add to expound on the inbreeding coefficient she touches on: Hapsburg Charles II of Spain had a COI of 25%, which is what the author says most purebreeds have. He had numerous physical and mental disabilities and was likely infertile. I feel like that helps put it into perspective.

Some of my favorite facts I didn’t know:
-Curly coated retrievers were the originals
-Cotons are from Madagascar(I assumed France from the French sounding name)
-Chinese Crested and Australian Shepards are American breeds

Dogs of the World by Lili Chin was a gallery of Pups from Purebreds to Mutts and a great fun read.

There was so much information on more than 600 dog breeds, from the noble Afghan to indigenous village dogs, You read about English Springer Spaniel, Moroccan Aïdi to the Thai Ridgeback and the New Guinea Singing Dog etc dogs from all around the world!

You'll learn about so many different dog types and their working roles, such as herding, livestock guarding, scent detection, dog sports, and companionship, and then understand what terms like purebred and landrace really mean. You learn to trace the history of our modern dogs through a vibrantly visual timeline, and pick up insights on breed health risks, personality traits, and how breed ancestry DNA tests work. This book was packed with so much information and it was fun to read. I loved the adorable artwork of all these dog.

A very interesting book especially if you are looking to getting a dog.

Dogs of the World is an informative book done in a whimsical and captivating way. It provides excellent information but not in a traditional textbook manner. I found it entertaining and attention gathering in addition to informative. I gravitated toward this book solely because I appreciate dogs, of all kinds, and have always been curious about the many, many, types of breeds. I found my curiosity fully satiated. I found the approach and the organization to be logical and engaging. Whether you are a curious onlooker like me, an amateur, or someone with years of experience, you will appreciate the collective approach to understanding and appreciating the vast complexities in the dog world.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

“What is a dog breed anyway?”

Dogs of the World is a book like no other. Yes, there are A LOT of books describing dog breeds, but this one is truly different.
First, thanks to Lili Chin’s artwork. I have followed the author on social media for almost 10 years, especially after her dog training and communication collabs (but also because at this time she was one of the few artists who pictured rare breeds). I love her style, and this book is flooded with it, as every breed has its illustration (instead of the traditional picture) and its short description.
But there is something else –that I truly have never seen in mainstream books before. The concept of breed is largely explained in this book, and there is the talk about utility, appearance and geography, what does it mean about the dog’s behavior, why it is interesting –or can become a problem. The explanations are super clear, and honest, and that’s not something you can find in a lot of books either.
All of this makes of Dog of the World a very different book than can please the novice as much as the experienced enthusiast. I can’t wait to have a physical copy between my hands.

Thank you Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press | Ten Speed Press for the eARC on NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

The most comprehensive guide to dogs that is informative and cute. Super visually appealing which kept me more engaged. My personal favourite is the German Shepard

I've been a fan of Lili Chin's charming illustrations for quite some time, so to say I had high hopes for the book Dogs of the World is an understatement. I was not disappointed. Expecting drawings similar to her calendars with the various dogs and their geographic locations, I was absolutely gobsmacked with the level of precise details and painstaking research in this gorgeous book, and even as a lifetime dog person I learned so much between these pages, I especially appreciated Ms. Chin's nods to the various types of mutts around the world. This is that rare nonfiction book in which the art and the information are on equal footing and no dog household should be without a copy - whether you want to research a breed, a mutt, or just want to take a moment to be charmed by the delightful illustrations.

I thank Ten Speed Press and NetGalley for an ebook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A cute and colorful guide to types of dogs, possible jobs, and their backgrounds. Very easy to follow

One of the cutest & informative books on dogs I never knew I needed to read

This book is a beautifully illustrated, wonderfully researched compilation of as the name suggests different types of dogs in different parts of the world. I got to know much about dogs from my part of the world.

It includes a brief history of how different dog breeds are "created" in nature or selection. Most common traits of different breeds, their recognising traits, behaviour patterns, common ailments, their roles in our lives. And the origin of different types of dogs in different parts of the world.

If you are a dog lover,or you know one this is an enjoyable, light hearted read.

When writing a non-fiction book on a niche topic, it is very essential to write the prose in an engaging manner, drawing in both the newbies and the nuanced to your topic and accompanying it with enchanting illustrations or pictures.

Chin’s book, Dogs of the World manages to introduce the dogs of the world in this very neat compact package where information and illustrations offer a narrative that is insightful, eyeopening, and appealing. Almost like the winsome smile of the Norwegian Lundehund.

Her illustrations are mesmerising, vibrant, whimsical, and captures the personality of all the dogs she has picked for the book. She writes about dogs with such an affection, you know she adores and dotes on them.
The book offers a veritable buffet on the breeds of dogs across the world, offering their history, origin, personality traits and genetic ones, and signs on how to gauge the physical affectations of a dog.

The Dogs of the World is a positively gold mine book on understanding dog breeds in our world and would make a genuine gift for those interested in reading about dogs.

A dog lover's delight.

There's so much here that it's hard to decide where to start. I'd be lying if I said I tried to be the diligent, disciplined reviewer who started on page one and read straight through. Nope. More like flipped about, back-and-forth, to the index, to the given page, then back to sometimes random browsing. I followed my nose, so to speak. I'd think of a question, look to see what the book had to say, then move on. In the process, I definitely came to admire the author's knowledge and love of dogs, not to mention her often whimsical artwork and text.

While informative, it was that sense of whimsy that made the book special. While some may wish she'd used real photos, I loved the use of her drawings as illustrations. It was a fun and entertaining read. There were breeds here that I'd barely heard of and even many new to me. I didn't know about Snuppy, the cloned Afghan hound, for instance, so lots to learn. Needless to say, given my Daisy dog's corgi mix heritage, I checked on corgis almost immediately and was delighted to find them nicely represented. Heck, even "mutts" and deliberately mixed breeds get a look.

There's absolutely no way I can come close to summarizing it all. That discovery will be part of the fun for you as a reader. You'll learn the expected, such as breed origins and history, including purposes, but there's lots more to this book. The author's insights and thoughts will add to your enjoyment, as will the sometimes seemingly random bit of information. In other words, it will keep you both entertained and thinking. Thanks to #ClarksonPotter - #TenSpeedPress for gifting me this early peek at the wonderful world of dogs. It's a great tribute to humankind's best friend.

Once again, Lili Chin has knocked it out of the park. I recommend her Doggie Language and Kitty Language books to all of my dog training clients and will be adding this book to that list. The author does a wonderful job of creating books that are both informative and accessible for readers of any age. These books should be a staple on every pet guardian's book shelf.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I totally geek dogs of any kind. This book is like a picture and info catalog of all the dogs who are present and/or can be interbred at their will to become "mutts". The illustrations are delightful and all the information given is eye-opening in some cases. I love that the dogs are depicted in illustrations rather than the formal photos used by kennel clubs. Everything you ever wanted to know about dogs! Can't wait for my preorder to arrive! Maybe I should get one for my local public library, too.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected eGalley from Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press | Ten Speed Press via NetGalley. Pub Date Apr 15, 2025
#DogsoftheWorld by Lili Chin @clarksonpotter @tenspeedpress #nonfiction #kidlit #picturebooks #teachers #librarians #dogLovers #Illustrated #NetGalley #goodreads #bookbub #librarythingofficial #barnesandnoble #waterstones ***** Review #booksamillion #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #childrensbookcouncil

A fantastic overview of all the different dog breeds in various regions of the world. The drawings which take up a major portion of the book give an idea of how each breed generally looks like, with some basic information given about them. I was in two minds about these drawings as they are rather cartoony with a limited color range but this may help in simplifying and identifying the differences.

Dog-lovers will want this book!

Very cute illustrations. Informative and fairly honest about the culture of dog breeding. This is ideal for readers who like dog breeding and dog shows - I didn't find it as fun or cute as a general dog (and mutt) lover. I would have preferred the book to lean either toward a sillier tone (which would match the illustrations better) or a more justice-based effort toward animal rights. Instead, the book includes some sad information about the treatment of dogs, plus a celebration of humans recreating lost breeds through intensive breeding. The historical information was fascinating.

A book all about dogs! It talks about the history of dogs, personalities/behaviors, different categories, etc. before diving into so. many. breeds! (in a good way).

I loved this!! It was so cute! I LOVE the illustrations too. I definitely would (and probably will!) buy this for my nieces and nephews. It would be a fun night time book because you could flip through a couple pages of dog breeds and then pause. Definitely a great book for any dog lover!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.