What books are similar to Julius, the Baby of the World?

The 10 closest matches to Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes on ReadingList include Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, I Need My Monster, Don't Fidget a Feather!, Go Away, Big Green Monster, and Grandpa's Teeth. 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 Julius, the Baby of the World 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 Julius, the Baby of the World

If you liked Julius, the Baby of the World, read Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, I Need My Monster, or Don't Fidget a Feather! — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes (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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Lilly's Purple Plastic Pursegrades K–3: Is by Kevin Henkes, the same author, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
I Need My Monstergrades K–3: Both on the Alabama Camellia Children's Choice Book Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Don't Fidget a Feather!grades K–3: Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Go Away, Big Green Monstergrades K–3: Both on the Alabama Camellia Children's Choice Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Grandpa's Teethgrades K–3: Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
High-Wire Henrygrades K–3: Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Livingstone Mousegrades K–3: Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Martha Speaksgrades K–3: Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Never Spit on Your Shoesgrades K–3: Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Red Racergrades K–3: Both on the Alabama Camellia Children's Choice Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Julius, the Baby of the World for younger readers (K–2)

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

A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Are You a Cheeseburger? by Monica Arnaldo · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, 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).
Big Bad Bruce by Bill Peet · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Chez Bob by Bob Shea · grades K–2 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–2).

Books like Julius, the Baby of the World for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Stonewords: A Ghost Story by Pam Conrad · grades 3–6 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
The Junkyard Dog by Erika Tamar · grades 3–5 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5).
Weslandia by Paul Fleischman · grades 3–8 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Across the Desert by Dusti Bowling · grades 3–6 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).

Books like Julius, the Baby of the World 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 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
Stonewords: A Ghost Story by Pam Conrad · grades 3–6 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
Weslandia by Paul Fleischman · grades 3–8 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Across the Desert by Dusti Bowling · grades 3–6 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
All About Sam by Lois Lowry · grades 4–6 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Books like Julius, the Baby of the World for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Armageddon Summer by Jane Yolen · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
Bad by Jean Ferris · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
Breaking Boxes by A. M. Jenkins · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
Ironman by Chris Crutcher · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
Shadow of the Dragon by Sherry Garland · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).

Common questions

What books are similar to Julius, the Baby of the World?: The 10 closest matches to Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes on ReadingList include Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, I Need My Monster, Don't Fidget a Feather!, Go Away, Big Green Monster, and Grandpa's Teeth. 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 Julius, the Baby of the World 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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