Books like Dave the Potter

If you liked Dave the Potter, read Firebird, H.O.R.S.E., or Heart and Soul — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Dave the Potter by Laban Carrick Hill (African American poets · 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 Dave the Potter

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Why each is a match

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Firebirdgrades K–3
Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
H.O.R.S.E.grades 3–10
Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (3–10), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Heart and Soulgrades K–5
Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
I Have a Dreamgrades K–5
Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
I, Too, Am Americagrades K–3
Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
I'm Going to Sing, Black American Spirituals, Volume Twogrades K–5
Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Knock Knockgrades K–3
Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Last Stop on Market Street610L
Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Let it Shinegrades K–5
Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
My Mama Needs Megrades K–5
Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Dave the Potter for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson · grades K–5 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s).
  • Out of Wonder by Kwame Alexander · grades K–3 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2010s).
  • Radiant Child by Javaka Steptoe · grades 2–5 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (2–5), and the same era (2010s).
  • The Bell Rang by James E. Ransome · grades K–5 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s).
  • The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander · grades 2–6 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (2–6), and the same era (2010s).

Books like Dave the Potter for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson · grades K–5 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s).
  • Out of Wonder by Kwame Alexander · grades K–3 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2010s).
  • Radiant Child by Javaka Steptoe · grades 2–5 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (2–5), and the same era (2010s).
  • The Bell Rang by James E. Ransome · grades K–5 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s).
  • The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander · grades 2–6 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (2–6), and the same era (2010s).

Common questions

What books are similar to Dave the Potter?
The 10 closest matches to Dave the Potter by Laban Carrick Hill on ReadingList include Firebird, H.O.R.S.E., Heart and Soul, I Have a Dream, and I, Too, Am America. 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 Dave the Potter 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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