Perla Books in Order

Perla is Isabel Allende’s first foray into picture books, a cozy series about a very small rescue dog with very big ideas of courage. The stories center on Perla, her human boy Nico Rico, and the everyday dramas of childhood seen through the eyes of an adopted pet.

In Perla the Mighty Dog, Perla arrives in her new home bursting with affection and a secret weapon: a roar as loud as a lion’s. Nico adores her, but he is quietly struggling with a bully at school. As Perla faces down a much larger dog at the park, Nico watches how this tiny creature stands her ground and begins to imagine how he might draw on the same inner strength with the boy who pushes him around.

Perla and the Pirate extends the series into a gentle adventure. When Nico gets lost walking home, the ordinary streets suddenly feel like a maze. Perla senses something is wrong and the dog whose superpowers are love and a mighty roar becomes a search party of one, racing to find her boy and guide him safely back.

Allende keeps the language simple and rhythmic, leaving plenty of space for Sandy Rodríguez’s bright illustrations to carry emotion. The focus is on feelings that young children know well—fear, embarrassment, bravery, belonging—and on how the companionship of an animal can make those feelings easier to talk about.

Parents and caregivers can expect themes of adoption, gratitude, and speaking up against unkindness, all wrapped in short, reassuring stories that resolve on a hopeful note. Read in order, the Perla books trace the growth of both child and dog as they learn what it really means to be mighty together.