Books like Dear Dad: Growing Up With a Parent in Prison - And How We Stayed Connected

If you liked Dear Dad: Growing Up With a Parent in Prison - And How We Stayed Connected, read Is It Real?: The Loch Ness Monster first — the closest match in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Dear Dad: Growing Up With a Parent in Prison - And How We Stayed Connected by Jay Jay Patton (Juvenile Nonfiction · grades 4–5)? 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 4–5 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Dear Dad: Growing Up With a Parent in Prison - And How We Stayed Connected

Reading the whole similar-books list? Open any title for its Amazon listing — or listen to many of them free with a 30-day Audible trial.

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.

Is It Real?: The Loch Ness Monstergrades 4–5
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction), and overlapping grades (4–5). Amazon →
Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earthgrades 4–5
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction), and overlapping grades (4–5). Amazon →
A Visit to William Blake's Inngrades 3–7
Same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction) and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglassgrades 3–7
Same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction) and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
Now Is Your Timegrades 4–8
Same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction) and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon →
The Story of Mankindgrades 3–7
Same genre (Juvenile Nonfiction) and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
A Mango-Shaped Spacegrades 5–8
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
Amari and the Night Brothersgrades 4–7
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon →
And Then, Boom!grades 4–5
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and overlapping grades (4–5). Amazon →
Black Brother, Black Brothergrades 5–8
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →

Books like Dear Dad: Growing Up With a Parent in Prison - And How We Stayed Connected for younger readers (K–2)

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

Books like Dear Dad: Growing Up With a Parent in Prison - And How We Stayed Connected for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Book data last updated 2026-07-02. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

← Back to Dear Dad: Growing Up With a Parent in Prison - And How We Stayed Connected