What books are similar to Bink & Gollie?

The 10 closest matches to Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo on ReadingList include Because of Winn-Dixie, Mercy Watson to the Rescue, El Deafo, Fish in a Tree, and Let's Do Nothing. Each is scored on shared themes (humorous stories, adventure and adventurers, and friendship), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 2–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like Bink & Gollie reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 2–8), so the picks stay grade-appropriate. See how ReadingList judges text difficulty on the /standard methodology page.

How does ReadingList choose similar books?

Matches are ranked by shared themes, shared award and reading-program lists (two books picked for the same state award were chosen by the same committees for the same readers), same genre, comparable Lexile and grade band, and publication decade — computed from cited public curriculum data, not editorial opinion or AI-generated summaries.

Books like Bink & Gollie

If you liked Bink & Gollie, read Because of Winn-Dixie, Mercy Watson to the Rescue, or El Deafo — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo (Sports Fiction · grades 2–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of humorous stories, adventure and adventurers, and friendship. 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.

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Why each is a match

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Because of Winn-Dixie610L: Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, shares themes of friendship, and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Mercy Watson to the Rescue450L: Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, shares themes of friendship, and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
El Deafo420L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Fish in a Tree550L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Let's Do Nothinggrades K–3: Shares themes of humorous stories and friendship and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Million-Dollar Throwgrades 5–8: Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Sports Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
New Kidgrades 4–8: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →
No More Water in the Tubgrades K–3: Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Sports Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Out of My Mind700L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Real Friendsgrades 2–8: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Bink & Gollie for younger readers (K–2)

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

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of adventure and adventurers, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (2–8).
The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (2–8).
Arnie, the Doughnut by Laurie Keller · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (2–8).
Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb · grades K–2 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (K–2).
Dog Breath by Dav Pilkey · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Bink & Gollie for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Ferris by Kate DiCamillo · grades 3–6 — Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (3–6).
Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo · grades 4–7 — Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7).
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo · grades 3–6 — Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (3–6).
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo · 670L — Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (3–6).
The Apothecary by Maile Meloy · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of adventure and adventurers, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Bink & Gollie for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Ferris by Kate DiCamillo · grades 3–6 — Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (3–6).
Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo · grades 4–7 — Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7).
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo · grades 3–6 — Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (3–6).
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo · 670L — Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (3–6).
The Apothecary by Maile Meloy · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of adventure and adventurers, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Bink & Gollie for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Cinder by Marissa Meyer · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller.
Drama by Raina Telgemeier · grades 5–9 — Shares themes of friendship and overlapping grades (5–9).
Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of friendship and overlapping grades (6–9).
Posted by John David Anderson · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of friendship and overlapping grades (6–9).
Room by Emma Donoghue · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller.

Common questions

What books are similar to Bink & Gollie?: The 10 closest matches to Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo on ReadingList include Because of Winn-Dixie, Mercy Watson to the Rescue, El Deafo, Fish in a Tree, and Let's Do Nothing. Each is scored on shared themes (humorous stories, adventure and adventurers, and friendship), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 2–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Bink & Gollie reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 2–8), so the picks stay grade-appropriate. See how ReadingList judges text difficulty on the /standard methodology page.
How does ReadingList choose similar books?: Matches are ranked by shared themes, shared award and reading-program lists (two books picked for the same state award were chosen by the same committees for the same readers), same genre, comparable Lexile and grade band, and publication decade — computed from cited public curriculum data, not editorial opinion or AI-generated summaries.

Book data last updated 2026-09-05. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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