What books are similar to Herbie's Troubles?

The 10 closest matches to Herbie's Troubles by Carol Chapman on ReadingList include Mr. Lincoln's Way, Never Spit on Your Shoes, Class Clown, Mr. Tanen's Ties, and Rotten Teeth. Each is scored on shared themes (schools, bullies, and schools, fiction), 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 Herbie's Troubles 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 Herbie's Troubles

If you liked Herbie's Troubles, read Mr. Lincoln's Way, Never Spit on Your Shoes, or Class Clown — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Herbie's Troubles by Carol Chapman (Realistic Fiction · grades K–3)? It’s most often read for its themes of schools, bullies, and schools, fiction. 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.

Reading the whole similar-books list? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

New members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

Try it on audio — free. Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

New members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership. 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.

Mr. Lincoln's Waygrades 3–8: Shares themes of schools and bullies, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Never Spit on Your Shoesgrades K–3: Shares themes of schools and schools, fiction, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Class Clowngrades 3–5: Shares themes of schools and schools, fiction, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Mr. Tanen's Tiesgrades K–3: Shares themes of schools and schools, fiction, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Rotten Teethgrades K–3: Shares themes of schools and schools, fiction, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
The Toll-Bridge Trollgrades K–3: Shares themes of schools and schools, fiction, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
A Fine, Fine Schoolgrades K–3: Shares themes of schools, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Big Bad Brucegrades K–3: Shares themes of bullies, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Each Kindnessgrades 3–8: Shares themes of schools, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Miss Nelson Has a Field Daygrades K–3: Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Herbie's Troubles for younger readers (K–2)

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

Miss Nelson Is Back by Harry Allard · grades K–3 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Bagdad Ate It by Phyllis Green · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by Erica Silverman · grades 2–3 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–3).
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes · grades K–3 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
My Explosive Diary by Emily Gale · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of bullies, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Herbie's Troubles for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Daphne's Book by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of schools and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Miss Nelson Is Back by Harry Allard · grades K–3 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You by Barthe DeClements · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
All About Sam by Lois Lowry · grades 4–6 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1980s).
Bagdad Ate It by Phyllis Green · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).

Books like Herbie's Troubles for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos · grades 6–8 — Shares themes of schools, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Daphne's Book by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of schools and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You by Barthe DeClements · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
All About Sam by Lois Lowry · grades 4–6 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1980s).
December Stillness by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 6–8 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1980s).

Books like Herbie's Troubles for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

After by Francine Prose · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of schools, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of schools, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
A Sudden Silence by Eve Bunting · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1980s).
If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of schools and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Izzy, Willy-Nilly by Cynthia Voigt · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1980s).

Common questions

What books are similar to Herbie's Troubles?: The 10 closest matches to Herbie's Troubles by Carol Chapman on ReadingList include Mr. Lincoln's Way, Never Spit on Your Shoes, Class Clown, Mr. Tanen's Ties, and Rotten Teeth. Each is scored on shared themes (schools, bullies, and schools, fiction), 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 Herbie's Troubles 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.

← Back to Herbie's Troubles