Books like Banana Twist

If you liked Banana Twist, read Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days, My Horrible Secret, or Arnie, the Doughnut — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Banana Twist by Florence Parry Heide (Humor · grades 4–6)? It’s most often read for its themes of humorous stories. 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 4–6 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Banana Twist

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Why each is a match

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Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Daysgrades 4–6
Shares themes of humorous stories, both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Humor). Amazon →
My Horrible Secretgrades 4–6
Shares themes of humorous stories, both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Humor). Amazon →
Arnie, the Doughnutgrades 2–8
Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon →
Dear Mrs. LaRuegrades 3–5
Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon →
Dog Breathgrades 2–8
Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon →
Double Fudgegrades 4–6
Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →
Knocked Out by Nunga-Nungasgrades 3–5
Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon →
No More Dead Dogsgrades 2–8
Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon →
Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dudegrades 3–5
Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon →
Piggie Pie!grades 3–5
Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon →

Books like Banana Twist for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Humor) and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • Scat by Carl Hiaasen · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Humor) and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume · 470L — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (2–5), and the same era (1970s).

Books like Banana Twist for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Books like Banana Twist for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary · grades 4–6 — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • The Sixth Grade Nickname Game by Gordon Korman · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • When the Boys Ran the House by Joan Davenport Carris · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • The Best School Year Ever by Barbara Robinson · grades 3–6 — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (3–6).

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

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