Books like Striped Ice Cream

If you liked Striped Ice Cream, read Attaboy, Sam!, Ramona's World, or All About Sam — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Striped Ice Cream by Joan M. Lexau (Realistic Fiction · grades 4–6)? It’s most often read for its themes of birthdays, family life, and birthdays, fiction. 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 4–6 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Striped Ice Cream

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Why each is a match

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Attaboy, Sam!grades 4–6
Shares themes of birthdays and family life, both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon →
Ramona's Worldgrades 4–6
Shares themes of family life and family life, fiction, both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon →
All About Samgrades 4–6
Shares themes of family life, both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon →
Losergrades 4–6
Shares themes of family life, both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon →
101 Ways to Bug Your Parentsgrades 4–6
Shares themes of family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →
Backlashgrades 3–8
Shares themes of family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon →
Big Bengrades 4–6
Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →
Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the Worldgrades 2–8
Shares themes of family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon →
Project Mulberrygrades 3–8
Shares themes of family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon →
Saving Zashagrades 3–8
Shares themes of family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon →

Books like Striped Ice Cream for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • ¡Vamos! Let's Go Eat by Raúl the Third III · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan · 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).
  • Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • Lulu's Mysterious Mission by Judith Viorst · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Striped Ice Cream for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • All the Money in the World by Bill Brittain · grades 4–6 — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Do Bananas Chew Gum? by Jamie Gilson · grades 4–6 — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Eight Keys by Suzanne M. LaFleur · grades 4–6 — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Flying Solo by Ralph J. Fletcher · grades 4–6 — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like Striped Ice Cream for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • All the Money in the World by Bill Brittain · grades 4–6 — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Do Bananas Chew Gum? by Jamie Gilson · grades 4–6 — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Eight Keys by Suzanne M. LaFleur · grades 4–6 — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Flying Solo by Ralph J. Fletcher · grades 4–6 — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like Striped Ice Cream for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt · grades 7–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Posted by John David Anderson · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).

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

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