Books like Balloons over Broadway

If you liked Balloons over Broadway, read Pie in the Sky, 11 Birthdays, or A Band of Angels — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Balloons over Broadway by Melissa Sweet? 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 1–4 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Balloons over Broadway

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Why each is a match

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Pie in the Skygrades 3–6
Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
11 Birthdaysgrades 3–5
Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
A Band of Angelsgrades K–5
Both on the Golden Kite Award list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
A Dance Like Starlightgrades K–5
Both on the Golden Kite Award list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
A Green Place to begrades K–5
Both on the Golden Kite Award list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
A Visitor for Beargrades K–5
Both on the Golden Kite Award list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Abigail Adamsgrades 4–10
Both on the Golden Kite Award list, overlapping grades (4–10), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglassgrades 4–10
Both on the Golden Kite Award list, overlapping grades (4–10), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Absolutely Positively Notgrades 3–8
Both on the Golden Kite Award list, overlapping grades (3–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Al Capone Does My Shirtsgrades 3–8
Both on the Golden Kite Award list, overlapping grades (3–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →

Books like Balloons over Broadway for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Are You Ready to Play Outside? by Mo Willems · grades K–2 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (K–2), and the same era (2010s).
  • Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan · grades K–5 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s).
  • Bink and Gollie: Two for One by Kate DiCamillo · grades K–2 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (K–2), and the same era (2010s).
  • Boats for Papa by Jessixa Bagley · grades K–5 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s).
  • Charlie & Mouse Even Better by Laurel Snyder · grades K–2 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (K–2), and the same era (2010s).

Books like Balloons over Broadway for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • The Wall by Peter Sís · grades 5–9 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2010s).
  • Almost Astronauts by Tanya Lee Stone · grades 5–9 — Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list and the same era (2010s).
  • Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming · grades 4–10 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, overlapping grades (4–10), and the same era (2010s).
  • Arthur, For the Very First Time by Patricia MacLachlan · grades 4–9 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, overlapping grades (4–9), and the same era (2010s).
  • Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle · grades 4–9 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, overlapping grades (4–9), and the same era (2010s).

Books like Balloons over Broadway for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • The Wall by Peter Sís · grades 5–9 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2010s).
  • The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh · grades 6–8 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list).
  • Almost Astronauts by Tanya Lee Stone · grades 5–9 — Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list and the same era (2010s).
  • Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming · grades 4–10 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, overlapping grades (4–10), and the same era (2010s).
  • An American Plague by Jim Murphy · grades 6–10 — Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list and the same era (2010s).

Books like Balloons over Broadway for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • The Wall by Peter Sís · grades 5–9 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2010s).
  • Almost Astronauts by Tanya Lee Stone · grades 5–9 — Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list and the same era (2010s).
  • Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming · grades 4–10 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, overlapping grades (4–10), and the same era (2010s).
  • An American Plague by Jim Murphy · grades 6–10 — Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list and the same era (2010s).
  • Arthur, For the Very First Time by Patricia MacLachlan · grades 4–9 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, overlapping grades (4–9), and the same era (2010s).

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

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