What books are similar to Memoirs of a Goldfish?

The 10 closest matches to Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian on ReadingList include Two bad Ants, Dogtown, Memoirs of a Tortoise, Scaredy Squirrel, and A Boy Named Queen. Each is scored on shared themes (goldfish, friendship, and picture books), 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 Memoirs of a Goldfish 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 Memoirs of a Goldfish

If you liked Memoirs of a Goldfish, read Two bad Ants, Dogtown, or Memoirs of a Tortoise — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian (Realistic Fiction · grades K–3)? It’s most often read for its themes of goldfish, friendship, and picture books. 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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Two bad Antsgrades K–3: Shares themes of picture books and picture books for children, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Dogtowngrades 3–6: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Memoirs of a Tortoisegrades 3–6: Is by Devin Scillian, the same author, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Scaredy Squirrelgrades K–3: Shares themes of picture books for children, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
A Boy Named Queengrades 3–8: Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Chalkgrades K–2: Shares themes of picture books, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–2). Amazon → books like this →
Each Kindnessgrades 3–8: Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Saving Winslowgrades 3–8: Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
The Bear and the Pianogrades K–3: Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
The Boy at the Back of the Classgrades 3–6: Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Memoirs of a Goldfish for younger readers (K–2)

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

The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School by Laura Murray · grades K–3 — Shares themes of picture books for children, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
We Forgot Brock! by Carter Goodrich · grades K–3 — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
A Boy, a Dog and a Frog by Mercer Mayer · grades K–1 — Shares themes of picture books, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–1).
Best Frints in the Whole Universe by Antoinette Portis · grades K–3 — Shares themes of picture books, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and overlapping grades (K–3).
Cat Secrets by Jef Czekaj · grades K–3 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).

Books like Memoirs of a Goldfish for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Ungifted by Gordon Korman · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Wild Wings by Gill Lewis · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Fourth Grade Rats by Jerry Spinelli · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Trading Places with Tank Talbott by Dori Hillestad Butler · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Eight Keys by Suzanne M. LaFleur · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of friendship and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Books like Memoirs of a Goldfish for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Ungifted by Gordon Korman · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Wild Wings by Gill Lewis · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Fourth Grade Rats by Jerry Spinelli · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings · grades 6–8 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares · grades 7–10 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Books like Memoirs of a Goldfish for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares · grades 7–10 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Posted by John David Anderson · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of friendship and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Breaking Boxes by A. M. Jenkins · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of friendship and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 6–9 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).

Common questions

What books are similar to Memoirs of a Goldfish?: The 10 closest matches to Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian on ReadingList include Two bad Ants, Dogtown, Memoirs of a Tortoise, Scaredy Squirrel, and A Boy Named Queen. Each is scored on shared themes (goldfish, friendship, and picture books), 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 Memoirs of a Goldfish 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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