Books like Pedro's Yo-Yos: How a Filipino Immigrant Came to America and Changed the World of Toys

If you liked Pedro's Yo-Yos: How a Filipino Immigrant Came to America and Changed the World of Toys, read Ernö Rubik and His Magic Cube first — the closest match in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Pedro's Yo-Yos: How a Filipino Immigrant Came to America and Changed the World of Toys by Rob Peñas (Picture Book · grades 3–6)? It’s most often read for its themes of immigration, invention, and biography. 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 3–6 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Pedro's Yo-Yos: How a Filipino Immigrant Came to America and Changed the World of Toys

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Why each is a match

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Ernö Rubik and His Magic Cubegrades 3–6
Shares themes of invention and biography, both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, and same genre (Picture Book). Amazon →
A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchengrades 3–6
Shares themes of biography, both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, and same genre (Picture Book). Amazon →
The Girl Who Figured It Outgrades 3–6
Shares themes of biography, both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, and same genre (Picture Book). Amazon →
Call Me Roberto!: Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinosgrades 2–5
Shares themes of biography, same genre (Picture Book), and overlapping grades (2–5). Amazon →
Gibberishgrades K–3
Shares themes of immigration, same genre (Picture Book), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon →
Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaustgrades 2–5
Shares themes of biography, same genre (Picture Book), and overlapping grades (2–5). Amazon →
Introducing Sandwina: The Strongest Woman in the World!grades 2–5
Shares themes of biography, same genre (Picture Book), and overlapping grades (2–5). Amazon →
A Land of Booksgrades K–5
Same genre (Picture Book), overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2020s). Amazon →
A Letter for Bobgrades K–3
Same genre (Picture Book), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2020s). Amazon →
A Mischief of Micegrades K–3
Same genre (Picture Book), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2020s). Amazon →

Books like Pedro's Yo-Yos: How a Filipino Immigrant Came to America and Changed the World of Toys for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Beautiful Blackbird by Ashley Bryan · grades K–5 — Same genre (Picture Book), overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2020s).
  • Big by Vashti Harrison · grades K–3 — Same genre (Picture Book), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2020s).
  • Blue by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond · grades K–4 — Same genre (Picture Book), overlapping grades (K–4), and the same era (2020s).
  • Boogie Boogie, Y’all by C.G. Esperanza · grades K–5 — Same genre (Picture Book), overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2020s).
  • Bright Star by Yuyi Morales · grades K–5 — Same genre (Picture Book), overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2020s).

Books like Pedro's Yo-Yos: How a Filipino Immigrant Came to America and Changed the World of Toys for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Beautiful Blackbird by Ashley Bryan · grades K–5 — Same genre (Picture Book), overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2020s).
  • Because of You, John Lewis by Andrea Davis Pinkney · grades 3–5 — Same genre (Picture Book), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2020s).
  • Big by Vashti Harrison · grades K–3 — Same genre (Picture Book), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2020s).
  • Blue by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond · grades K–4 — Same genre (Picture Book), overlapping grades (K–4), and the same era (2020s).
  • Boogie Boogie, Y’all by C.G. Esperanza · grades K–5 — Same genre (Picture Book), overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2020s).

Books like Pedro's Yo-Yos: How a Filipino Immigrant Came to America and Changed the World of Toys for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Books like Pedro's Yo-Yos: How a Filipino Immigrant Came to America and Changed the World of Toys for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Book data last updated 2026-07-07. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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