Books like Danny, the Champion of the World

If you liked Danny, the Champion of the World, read Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, How to Eat Fried Worms, or Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Danny, the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl (Humor · grades 3–6)? It’s most often read for its themes of criminals, adventure stories, and poaching. 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 3–6 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Danny, the Champion of the World

Reading the whole similar-books list? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

New members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

Try it on audio — free. Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

New members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

Why each is a match

Amazon links below are affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevatorgrades 4–6
Is by Roald Dahl, the same author, overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (1970s). Amazon → books like this →
How to Eat Fried Wormsgrades 3–6
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Daysgrades 4–6
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory810L
Is by Roald Dahl, the same author and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Dog Breathgrades 2–8
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
Flippedgrades 3–8
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Sam & Dave Dig a Holegrades K–3
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Tacky the Penguingrades K–3
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
The Day the Crayons Quitgrades K–3
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
The Legend of Rock Paper Scissorsgrades 2–8
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Danny, the Champion of the World for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • We Are in a Book by Mo Willems · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • We Don’t Eat Our Classmates! by Ryan T. Higgins · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett · grades K–3 — Same genre (Humor), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (1970s).
  • A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Humor) and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • A Lion is a Lion by Polly Dunbar · grades K–0 — Same genre (Humor).

Books like Danny, the Champion of the World for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • We Are in a Book by Mo Willems · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • We Don’t Eat Our Classmates! by Ryan T. Higgins · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Banana Twist by Florence Parry Heide · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Humor), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (1970s).
  • Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett · grades K–3 — Same genre (Humor), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (1970s).
  • Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Humor), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (1970s).

Books like Danny, the Champion of the World for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Banana Twist by Florence Parry Heide · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Humor), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (1970s).
  • Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Humor), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (1970s).
  • Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Humor), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (1970s).
  • The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson · grades 4–8 — Same genre (Humor), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (1970s).
  • A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Humor) and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Danny, the Champion of the World for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Ironman by Chris Crutcher · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of fathers and sons and both on the California Young Reader Medal list.
  • A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh · grades 11–12 — Same genre (Humor).
  • A Summer to Die by Lois Lowry · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list and the same era (1970s).
  • Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Humor).
  • Hanging on to Max by Margaret Bechard · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of fathers and sons.

Common questions

What books are similar to Danny, the Champion of the World?
The 10 closest matches to Danny, the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl on ReadingList include Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, How to Eat Fried Worms, Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Dog Breath. Each is scored on shared themes (criminals, adventure stories, and poaching), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–6), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Danny, the Champion of the World reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–6), 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.

← Back to Danny, the Champion of the World

Browse by another angle