Books like Black and White

If you liked Black and White, read Golem, Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, or Mirette on the High Wire — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Black and White by David Macaulay (Juvenile Fiction · grades K–3)? 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 K–3 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Black and White

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Why each is a match

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Golemgrades K–3
Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Joseph Had a Little Overcoatgrades K–3
Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Mirette on the High Wiregrades K–3
Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Officer Buckle and Gloriagrades K–3
Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Tuesdaygrades K–3
Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
A Story, a Storygrades K–3
Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
A Tree Is Nicegrades K–3
Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Arrow to the Sungrades K–3
Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Big Snow and Other Storiesgrades K–3
Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Cinderella and Aladdingrades K–3
Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Black and White for younger readers (K–2)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps K2— same scoring, different audience.

  • Drummer Hoff by Barbara Emberley · grades K–3 Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Duffy and the Devil by Harve Zemach · grades K–3 Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Fables by Arnold Lobel · grades K–3 Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg · grades K–3 Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Lon Po Po by Ed Young · grades K–3 Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).

Books like Black and White for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 35— same scoring, different audience.

  • Drummer Hoff by Barbara Emberley · grades K–3 Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Duffy and the Devil by Harve Zemach · grades K–3 Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Fables by Arnold Lobel · grades K–3 Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg · grades K–3 Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Lon Po Po by Ed Young · grades K–3 Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).

Books like Black and White for middle school (grades 6–8)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 68— same scoring, different audience.

Books like Black and White for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 912— same scoring, different audience.

  • Beasts by Ingvild Bjerkeland · grades 9–12 Same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Gone Wolf by Amber McBride · grades 9–12 Same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol · grades 9–12 Same genre (Juvenile Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to Black and White?
The 10 closest matches to Black and White by David Macaulay on ReadingList include Golem, Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, Mirette on the High Wire, Officer Buckle and Gloria, and Tuesday. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades K–3), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Black and White reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades K–3), 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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