What books are similar to The Butterfly?

The 10 closest matches to The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco on ReadingList include Tucky Jo and Little Heart, Prisoner B-3087, Boy at War, The Diary of Anne Frank, and Spying on Miss Müller. Each is scored on shared themes (jews, france, and world war, 1939-1945), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–6), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like The Butterfly reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–6), 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 The Butterfly

If you liked The Butterfly, read Tucky Jo and Little Heart, Prisoner B-3087, or Boy at War — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco (Realistic Fiction · grades 3–6)? It’s most often read for its themes of jews, france, and world war, 1939-1945. 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.

Reading the whole similar-books list? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

New members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

Try it on audio — free. Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

New members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

Why each is a match

Amazon links below are affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Tucky Jo and Little Heartgrades 3–5: Is by Patricia Polacco, the same author, shares themes of world war, 1939-1945 and history, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Prisoner B-3087grades 3–8: Shares themes of jews and history, both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Boy at Wargrades 4–6: Shares themes of world war, 1939-1945 and history, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
The Diary of Anne Frankgrades 6–8: Shares themes of jews and history, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon → books like this →
Spying on Miss Müllergrades 6–8: Shares themes of world war, 1939-1945, both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaretgrades 4–6: Shares themes of jews, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Dukegrades 3–5: Shares themes of world war, 1939-1945, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Here Comes the Garbage Bargegrades 2–8: Shares themes of history, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
Saving Zashagrades 3–8: Shares themes of world war, 1939-1945, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Two Suns in the Skygrades 6–10: Shares themes of jews, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–10). Amazon → books like this →

Books like The Butterfly for younger readers (K–2)

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

Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings · grades K–3 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Chester by Mélanie Watt · grades K–3 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Dandy by Ame Dyckman · grades K–3 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) 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).
Humpty-Dumpty Egg-Splodes by O'Malley, Kevin · grades K–3 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).

Books like The Butterfly for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Worth by A. LaFaye · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of history, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8).
Aliens Are Coming! by Megan McCarthy · grades 3–6 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes · grades 5–8 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).
Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings · grades K–3 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Chester by Mélanie Watt · grades K–3 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).

Books like The Butterfly for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Worth by A. LaFaye · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of history, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8).
Aliens Are Coming! by Megan McCarthy · grades 3–6 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes · grades 5–8 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).
Chomp by Carl Hiaasen · grades 6–8 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–8).
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 6–9 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9).

Books like The Butterfly 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 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock · grades 9–12 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list 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 overlapping grades (6–9).
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon · grades 9–12 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys · grades 9–12 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to The Butterfly?: The 10 closest matches to The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco on ReadingList include Tucky Jo and Little Heart, Prisoner B-3087, Boy at War, The Diary of Anne Frank, and Spying on Miss Müller. Each is scored on shared themes (jews, france, and world war, 1939-1945), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–6), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like The Butterfly reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–6), 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.

← Back to The Butterfly