Books like Funny Bones

If you liked Funny Bones, read Diego Rivera, Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote, or Almost Astronauts — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Funny Bones by Duncan Tonatiuh? 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 2–5 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Funny Bones

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Why each is a match

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Diego Riveragrades K–5
Is by Duncan Tonatiuh, the same author, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Pancho Rabbit and the Coyotegrades K–5
Is by Duncan Tonatiuh, the same author, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Almost Astronautsgrades 5–9
Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list, overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Balloons over Broadwaygrades 1–4
Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list, overlapping grades (1–4), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Fry Breadgrades K–3
Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list, overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Kakapo Rescuegrades 4–7
Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
The Girl Who Drew Butterfliesgrades 5–9
Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list, overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
The Wallgrades 5–9
Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list, overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Twelve Days in Maygrades 4–8
Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Cotorras Sobre Puerto Ricogrades 2–5
Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list and overlapping grades (2–5). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Funny Bones for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Books like Funny Bones for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • An American Plague by Jim Murphy · grades 6–10 — Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list and the same era (2010s).
  • Black Potatoes by Susan Campbell Bartoletti · grades 6–10 — Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list and the same era (2010s).
  • Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin · 920L — Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list and the same era (2010s).
  • March Book Three by John Lewis · grades 9–12 — Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list and the same era (2010s).
  • The Voice That Challenged a Nation by Russell Freedman · grades 6–10 — Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list and the same era (2010s).

Common questions

What books are similar to Funny Bones?
The 10 closest matches to Funny Bones by Duncan Tonatiuh on ReadingList include Diego Rivera, Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote, Almost Astronauts, Balloons over Broadway, and Fry Bread. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 2–5), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Funny Bones reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 2–5), 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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