Books like The Adventures of Captain Underpants

Looking for books like The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey (Middle Grade Fiction · 720L · grades 2–5)? It’s most often read for its themes of friendship, humor, and imagination. The 10 titlesbelow are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, 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 2–5 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Adventures of Captain Underpants

Why each is a match

The 13-Story Treehouse560L
Shares themes of friendship, humor, and imagination, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (560L vs 720L).
Diary of a Wimpy Kid950L
Shares themes of friendship, humor, and school, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (950L vs 720L).
The BFG720L
Shares themes of friendship and imagination, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (720L vs 720L).
Frindle830L
Shares themes of imagination and school, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (830L vs 720L).
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet820L
Shares themes of friendship and school, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (820L vs 720L).
Ramona Quimby, Age 8860L
Shares themes of humor and school, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (860L vs 720L).
James and the Giant Peach870L
Shares themes of friendship and imagination, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (870L vs 720L).
Holes660L
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (660L vs 720L).
Fish in a Tree550L
Shares themes of friendship and school, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (550L vs 720L).
Out of My Mind700L
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (700L vs 720L).

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