Books like Dadaji's Paintbrush

If you liked Dadaji's Paintbrush, read Hope in the Valley, Fowl Play, or How Dinosaurs Went Extinct: A Safety Guide — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Dadaji's Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande (Picture Book · grades K–3)? It’s most often read for its themes of grief, family, and art. 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 Dadaji's Paintbrush

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Why each is a match

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Hope in the Valleygrades 3–6
Shares themes of grief and family, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
Fowl Playgrades 3–6
Shares themes of grief and family and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
How Dinosaurs Went Extinct: A Safety Guidegrades K–2
Shares themes of family, same genre (Picture Book), and overlapping grades (K–2). Amazon →
Night in the Citygrades K–2
Shares themes of family, same genre (Picture Book), and overlapping grades (K–2). Amazon →
The Labors of Hercules Bealgrades 3–7
Shares themes of grief and family and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
When Sea Becomes Skygrades 3–6
Shares themes of family and art and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
Don't Think of Tigersgrades K–3
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Picture Book), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon →
Gibberishgrades K–3
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Picture Book), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon →
In the Beautiful Countrygrades 3–6
Shares themes of family, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
Knight Owlgrades K–3
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Picture Book), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon →

Books like Dadaji's Paintbrush for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey · 730L — Shares themes of family, same genre (Picture Book), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Ursula Upside Down by Corey R. Tabor · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Picture Book), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • A Land of Books by Duncan Tonatiuh · grades K–5 — Same genre (Picture Book), overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2020s).
  • A Letter for Bob by Kim Rogers · grades K–3 — Same genre (Picture Book), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2020s).
  • A Mischief of Mice by Christie Matheson · grades K–3 — Same genre (Picture Book), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2020s).

Books like Dadaji's Paintbrush for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Books like Dadaji's Paintbrush for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Ruby Lost and Found by Christina Li · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of grief and family and both on the California Young Reader Medal list.
  • The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of grief and family and both on the California Young Reader Medal list.
  • Between Two Brothers by Crystal Allen · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of grief and family.
  • Duel by Jessixa Bagley · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of grief and family.
  • Wildful by Kengo Kurimoto · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of grief and family.

Books like Dadaji's Paintbrush for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Ruby Lost and Found by Christina Li · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of grief and family and both on the California Young Reader Medal list.
  • Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds · 720L — Shares themes of grief and family.
  • Shut Up, This Is Serious by Carolina Ixta · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of family and both on the California Young Reader Medal list.
  • The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of family and both on the California Young Reader Medal list.
  • Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Shares themes of family and both on the California Young Reader Medal list.

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

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