Books like Small Steps

If you liked Small Steps, read Abduction, Runaway Twin, or The War with Grandpa — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Small Steps by Peg Kehret (Children's · grades 4–10)? 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 4–10 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Small Steps

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Why each is a match

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Abductiongrades 3–6
Is by Peg Kehret, the same author, both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list, and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Runaway Twingrades 4–6
Is by Peg Kehret, the same author, both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list, and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
The War with Grandpagrades 4–7
Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Catherine, Called Birdygrades 4–9
Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9). Amazon → books like this →
Chicken Sundaygrades K–5
Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5). Amazon → books like this →
Franklin Delano Rooseveltgrades 4–10
Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10). Amazon → books like this →
Home Placegrades K–5
Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5). Amazon → books like this →
Kids at Workgrades 4–10
Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10). Amazon → books like this →
Martha Grahamgrades 4–10
Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10). Amazon → books like this →
Old Elm Speaksgrades K–5
Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Small Steps for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • A Band of Angels by Deborah Hopkinson · grades K–5 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5).
  • A Dance Like Starlight by Kristy Dempsey · grades K–5 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5).
  • A Green Place to be by Ashley Benham Yazdani · grades K–5 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5).
  • A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker · grades K–5 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5).
  • All Because You Matter (An All Because You Matter Book) by Tami Charles · grades K–5 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5).

Books like Small Steps for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Stolen Children by Peg Kehret · grades 4–6 — Is by Peg Kehret, the same author, both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list, and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Rules of the Road #1 by Joan Bauer · grades 4–9 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • Stones in Water by Donna Jo Napoli · grades 4–9 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • The Boy's War by Jim Murphy · grades 4–10 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10).
  • The Incredible Journey of Lewis and Clark by Rhoda Blumberg · grades 4–10 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10).

Books like Small Steps for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Stolen Children by Peg Kehret · grades 4–6 — Is by Peg Kehret, the same author, both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list, and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Rules of the Road #1 by Joan Bauer · grades 4–9 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • Stones in Water by Donna Jo Napoli · grades 4–9 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • The Boy's War by Jim Murphy · grades 4–10 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10).
  • The Incredible Journey of Lewis and Clark by Rhoda Blumberg · grades 4–10 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10).

Books like Small Steps for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Rules of the Road #1 by Joan Bauer · grades 4–9 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • Stones in Water by Donna Jo Napoli · grades 4–9 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • The Boy's War by Jim Murphy · grades 4–10 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10).
  • The Incredible Journey of Lewis and Clark by Rhoda Blumberg · grades 4–10 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10).
  • The Long Road to Gettysburg by Jim Murphy · grades 4–10 — Both on the Golden Kite Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10).

Common questions

What books are similar to Small Steps?
The 10 closest matches to Small Steps by Peg Kehret on ReadingList include Abduction, Runaway Twin, The War with Grandpa, Catherine, Called Birdy, and Chicken Sunday. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–10), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Small Steps reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–10), 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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