Books like John F. Kennedy and PT-109

If you liked John F. Kennedy and PT-109, read Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang, Danny Dunn and the Homework Machine, or Danny Dunn on the Ocean Floor — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like John F. Kennedy and PT-109 by Richard Tregaskis (Children's · grades 4–7)? 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 John F. Kennedy and PT-109

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Why each is a match

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Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Banggrades 4–7
Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Danny Dunn and the Homework Machinegrades 4–7
Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Danny Dunn on the Ocean Floorgrades 4–7
Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Driver's Edgrades 4–6
Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Henry Hugginsgrades 4–7
Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Lassie Come Homegrades 4–7
Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Magisterium: The Iron Trialgrades 6–9
Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon → books like this →
Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer (Book 1)grades 6–9
Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon → books like this →
McElligot's Poolgrades 4–7
Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Ten Kids, No Petsgrades 4–6
Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →

Books like John F. Kennedy and PT-109 for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • A Band of Angels by Deborah Hopkinson · grades K–5 — Same genre (Children's), overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s).
  • A Dance Like Starlight by Kristy Dempsey · grades K–5 — Same genre (Children's), overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s).
  • A Green Place to be by Ashley Benham Yazdani · grades K–5 — Same genre (Children's), overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s).
  • A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker · grades K–5 — Same genre (Children's), overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s).
  • At Night by Jonathan Bean · grades K–5 — Same genre (Children's), overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2010s).

Books like John F. Kennedy and PT-109 for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • The Black Stallion Adventures by Walter Farley · grades 4–7 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • The Black Stallion Challenged by Walter Farley · grades 4–7 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman · grades 3–7 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • The Great Brain Does It Again by John D. Fitzgerald · grades 4–7 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • The Incredible Journey by Burnford Sheila · grades 4–7 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7).

Books like John F. Kennedy and PT-109 for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey · grades 6–9 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • The Black Stallion Adventures by Walter Farley · grades 4–7 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • The Black Stallion Challenged by Walter Farley · grades 4–7 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne · grades 6–9 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman · grades 3–7 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (3–7).

Books like John F. Kennedy and PT-109 for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett · grades 9–12 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and the same era (2010s).
  • City of Bones by Cassandra Clare · grades 9–12 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and the same era (2010s).
  • Crazy by Han Nolan · grades 9–12 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and the same era (2010s).
  • Fat Kid Rules The World by K L Going · grades 9–12 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and the same era (2010s).
  • Four by Veronica Roth · grades 9–12 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and the same era (2010s).

Common questions

What books are similar to John F. Kennedy and PT-109?
The 10 closest matches to John F. Kennedy and PT-109 by Richard Tregaskis on ReadingList include Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang, Danny Dunn and the Homework Machine, Danny Dunn on the Ocean Floor, Driver's Ed, and Henry Huggins. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–7), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like John F. Kennedy and PT-109 reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–7), 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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