Books like Mei Li
If you liked Mei Li, read A Boy Called Bat, Fireworks, or Frog Went A-Courtin' — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.
Looking for books like Mei Li by Thomas Handforth (Realistic Fiction · grades K–3)? It’s most often read for its themes of chinese new year, fortune-tellers, and play. 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.
10 books similar to Mei Li
A Boy Called BatElana K. Arnold- FireworksMatthew BurgessFireworksMatthew Burgess
Frog Went A-Courtin'John M. Langstaff
Prayer for a ChildRachel Field
Sam, Bangs & MoonshineEvaline Ness
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's EarsVerna Aardema
¡Vamos! Let's Go EatRaúl the Third III
A Boy Named QueenSara Cassidy
Abraham LincolnIngri Parin D'Aulaire
AlbertDonna Jo Napoli
Reading the whole similar-books list? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.
Listen free on Audiblestarts instantlyNew 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 instantlyNew 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.
- A Boy Called Batgrades 3–5
- Shares themes of animals, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
- Fireworksgrades K–3
- Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
- Frog Went A-Courtin'grades K–3
- Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
- Prayer for a Childgrades K–3
- Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
- Sam, Bangs & Moonshinegrades K–3
- Both on the Caldecott Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
- Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Earsgrades K–3
- Shares themes of animals, both on the Caldecott Medal list, and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
- ¡Vamos! Let's Go Eatgrades 2–8
- Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
- A Boy Named Queengrades 3–8
- Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
- Abraham Lincolngrades 1–4
- Both on the Caldecott Medal list, overlapping grades (1–4), and the same era (1930s). Amazon → books like this →
- Albertgrades 3–5
- Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Books like Mei Li for younger readers (K–2)
Closest matches whose grade range overlaps K–2— same scoring, different audience.
- Butt or Face? by Kari Lavelle · grades K–2 — Shares themes of animals and overlapping grades (K–2).
- Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (2–8).
- Donut Feed the Squirrels by Mika Song · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (2–8).
- Here Comes the Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (2–8).
- How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (2–8).
Books like Mei Li for elementary readers (grades 3–5)
Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 3–5— same scoring, different audience.
- Dobry by Monica Shannon · grades 4–7 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (1930s).
- 101 Ways to Bug Your Parents by Lee Wardlaw · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
- A Time of Troubles by Pieter Van Raven · grades 5–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
- All About Sam by Lois Lowry · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
- All the Money in the World by Bill Brittain · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Books like Mei Li for middle school (grades 6–8)
Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 6–8— same scoring, different audience.
- Dobry by Monica Shannon · grades 4–7 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (1930s).
- 101 Ways to Bug Your Parents by Lee Wardlaw · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
- A Time of Troubles by Pieter Van Raven · grades 5–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
- All About Sam by Lois Lowry · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
- All the Money in the World by Bill Brittain · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Books like Mei Li for high school & teens (grades 9–12)
Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 9–12— same scoring, different audience.
- A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney · grades 9–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
- A Time of Troubles by Pieter Van Raven · grades 5–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
- Barber Shop Chronicles by Inua Ellams · grades 11–12 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
- Blues for an Alabama Sky by Pearl Cleage · grades 9–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
- Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Common questions
- What books are similar to Mei Li?
- The 10 closest matches to Mei Li by Thomas Handforth on ReadingList include A Boy Called Bat, Fireworks, Frog Went A-Courtin', Prayer for a Child, and Sam, Bangs & Moonshine. Each is scored on shared themes (chinese new year, fortune-tellers, and play), 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 Mei Li 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.