Books like A Bad Case of Stripes

If you liked A Bad Case of Stripes, read Dog Breath, Arnie, the Doughnut, or No More Dead Dogs — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon (Humor · grades 2–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of individuality, popularity, and ficción juvenil. The 10 titles below are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level, and each linked to the curricula, states, and grades where it’s assigned, with primary sources.

These are reading-level matches, not just topical ones — so the picks stay grade-appropriate for a grades 2–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to A Bad Case of Stripes

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Why each is a match

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Dog Breathgrades 2–8
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon →
Arnie, the Doughnutgrades 2–8
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon →
No More Dead Dogsgrades 2–8
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon →
Scatgrades 2–8
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon →
The Legend of Rock Paper Scissorsgrades 2–8
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon →
Zen and the Art of Faking Itgrades 2–8
Shares themes of individuality, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon →
Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouthgrades 3–8
Same genre (Humor), overlapping grades (3–8), and the same era (1990s). Amazon →
Piggie Pie!grades 3–5
Same genre (Humor), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (1990s). Amazon →
The Diary of a Killer Catgrades 3–5
Same genre (Humor), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (1990s). Amazon →
The Sixth Grade Nickname Gamegrades 4–6
Same genre (Humor), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (1990s). Amazon →

Books like A Bad Case of Stripes for younger readers (K–2)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps K–2— same scoring, different audience.

  • Bone by Jeff Smith · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (1990s).
  • Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (1990s).
  • Nova's Ark by Kirk, David · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (1990s).
  • Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann · grades K–3 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (1990s).
  • Sharing Susan by Eve Bunting · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (1990s).

Books like A Bad Case of Stripes for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 3–5— same scoring, different audience.

  • A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle · 740L — Shares themes of individuality and overlapping grades (5–7).
  • Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova · grades 3–5 — Shares themes of popularity and overlapping grades (3–5).
  • Banana Twist by Florence Parry Heide · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Humor) and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days by Stephen Manes · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Humor) and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Bone by Jeff Smith · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (1990s).

Books like A Bad Case of Stripes for middle school (grades 6–8)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 6–8— same scoring, different audience.

  • A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle · 740L — Shares themes of individuality and overlapping grades (5–7).
  • Banana Twist by Florence Parry Heide · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Humor) and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days by Stephen Manes · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Humor) and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Bone by Jeff Smith · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (1990s).
  • Double Fudge by Judy Blume · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Humor) and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like A Bad Case of Stripes for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 9–12— same scoring, different audience.

  • A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen · grades 11–12 — Shares themes of individuality.
  • Brave New World by Aldous Huxley · 870L — Shares themes of individuality.
  • Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of individuality and overlapping grades (6–9).

Book data last updated 2026-07-07. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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