What books are similar to Gaston?

The 10 closest matches to Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio on ReadingList include If I Built a School, Madeline Finn and the Library Dog, Maxi’s Secrets: (Or, What You Can Learn from a Dog), Prisoner B-3087, and Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen. 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 Gaston 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.

Books like Gaston

If you liked Gaston, read If I Built a School, Madeline Finn and the Library Dog, or Maxi’s Secrets: (Or, What You Can Learn from a Dog) — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio (Realistic Fiction · 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.

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Why each is a match

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If I Built a Schoolgrades K–3: Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Madeline Finn and the Library Doggrades K–2: Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–2). Amazon → books like this →
Maxi’s Secrets: (Or, What You Can Learn from a Dog)grades 3–5: Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Prisoner B-3087grades 3–8: Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screengrades 3–5: Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
The Magic Misfitsgrades 3–5: Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
We Forgot Brock!grades K–3: Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
A Dog Called Kittygrades 3–5: Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Bedheadgrades K–3: Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Chez Bobgrades K–2: Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–2). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Gaston for younger readers (K–2)

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

Don’t Touch My Room by Patricia Lakin · grades K–3 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen · grades K–3 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Martha Speaks by Susan Meddaugh · grades K–3 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Miss Nelson Has a Field Day by Harry Allard · grades K–3 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Miss Nelson Is Back by Harry Allard · grades K–3 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).

Books like Gaston for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes · 360L — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
Don’t Touch My Room by Patricia Lakin · grades K–3 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Ferret in the Bedroom, Lizards in the Fridge by Bill Wallace · grades 3–5 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5).
If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen · grades K–3 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Loser by Jerry Spinelli · grades 4–6 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Books like Gaston for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes · 360L — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
House Arrest by K. A. Holt · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
Stung by Bethany Wiggins · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
Danger Zone by David Klass · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

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

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

House Arrest by K. A. Holt · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
Stung by Bethany Wiggins · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
Danger Zone by David Klass · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
High Heat by Carl Deuker · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to Gaston?: The 10 closest matches to Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio on ReadingList include If I Built a School, Madeline Finn and the Library Dog, Maxi’s Secrets: (Or, What You Can Learn from a Dog), Prisoner B-3087, and Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen. 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 Gaston 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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