Books like Full of Beans

If you liked Full of Beans, read Chickadee, Dash (Dogs of World War II), or Dead End in Norvelt — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm? 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 4–7 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Full of Beans

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Why each is a match

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Chickadeegrades 4–7
Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Dash (Dogs of World War II)grades 4–7
Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Dead End in Norveltgrades 4–7
Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Elijah of Buxton (Scholastic Gold)grades 5–8
Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
11 Birthdaysgrades 3–5
Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Balloons over Broadwaygrades 1–4
Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (1–4), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Beyond the Bright Seagrades 5–8
Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list, overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Big Nate: In a Class by Himself500L
Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Bo at Ballard Creekgrades 3–6
Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Dog Man390L
Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (2–5), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →

Books like Full of Beans for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Are You Ready to Play Outside? by Mo Willems · grades K–2 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list and the same era (2010s).
  • Bink and Gollie: Two for One by Kate DiCamillo · grades K–2 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list and the same era (2010s).
  • Charlie & Mouse Even Better by Laurel Snyder · grades K–2 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list and the same era (2010s).
  • Don't Throw It to Mo! by David A. Adler · grades K–2 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list and the same era (2010s).
  • Fox the Tiger by Corey R. Tabor · grades K–2 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list and the same era (2010s).

Books like Full of Beans for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein · grades 4–6 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s).
  • Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt · 550L — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Front Desk by Kelly Yang · 640L — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Juana and Lucas by Juana Medina · grades K–3 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list and the same era (2010s).
  • Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Peirce · grades 3–6 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s).

Books like Full of Beans for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein · grades 4–6 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s).
  • Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt · 550L — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Front Desk by Kelly Yang · 640L — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Peirce · grades 3–6 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s).
  • New Kid by Jerry Craft · grades 4–8 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2010s).

Books like Full of Beans for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Butterfly Yellow by Thanhhà Lại · grades 9–12 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and the same era (2010s).
  • The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz · grades 7–12 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list, overlapping grades (7–12), and the same era (2010s).
  • The Wall by Peter Sís · grades 5–9 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s).

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

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