What books are similar to Shark vs. Train?

The 10 closest matches to Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton on ReadingList include Can I Be Your Dog?, Shiloh, A Boy Called Bat, Aliens Are Coming!, and Cat Secrets. Each is scored on shared themes (new york times bestseller, nyt:picture_books=2010-07-04, and sharks), 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 Shark vs. Train 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 Shark vs. Train

If you liked Shark vs. Train, read Can I Be Your Dog?, Shiloh, or A Boy Called Bat — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton (Realistic Fiction · grades K–3)? It’s most often read for its themes of new york times bestseller, nyt:picture_books=2010-07-04, and sharks. 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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Can I Be Your Dog?grades K–3: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Shiloh890L: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
A Boy Called Batgrades 3–5: Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Aliens Are Coming!grades 3–6: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Cat Secretsgrades K–3: Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Chestergrades K–3: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Dandygrades K–3: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Ghostsgrades 3–6: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Jake and Lilygrades 3–6: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Library Mousegrades K–3: Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Shark vs. Train for younger readers (K–2)

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

Mei Li by Thomas Handforth · grades K–3 — Shares themes of play, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton · grades K–3 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Arrowhawk by Lola M. Schaefer · grades K–3 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel · grades K–3 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Except Antarctica! by Todd Sturgell · grades K–3 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).

Books like Shark vs. Train for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Cliff-Hanger by Alane Ferguson · grades 4–6 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
Ghost Soldier by Elaine Marie Alphin · grades 4–6 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
Maxi’s Secrets: (Or, What You Can Learn from a Dog) by Lynn Plourde · grades 3–5 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5).
Mei Li by Thomas Handforth · grades K–3 — Shares themes of play, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Mick Harte Was Here by Barbara Park · grades 5–8 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).

Books like Shark vs. Train for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Cardboard by Doug TenNapel · grades 6–8 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
Chomp by Carl Hiaasen · grades 6–8 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
Cliff-Hanger by Alane Ferguson · grades 4–6 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 6–9 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
Ghost Soldier by Elaine Marie Alphin · grades 4–6 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).

Books like Shark vs. Train for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller, both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Room by Emma Donoghue · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 6–9 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon · grades 9–12 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
Five Survive by Holly Jackson · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to Shark vs. Train?: The 10 closest matches to Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton on ReadingList include Can I Be Your Dog?, Shiloh, A Boy Called Bat, Aliens Are Coming!, and Cat Secrets. Each is scored on shared themes (new york times bestseller, nyt:picture_books=2010-07-04, and sharks), 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 Shark vs. Train 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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