Books like The Grannyman

If you liked The Grannyman, read Skippyjon Jones, Titanicat, or Heart of a Tiger — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like The Grannyman by Judith Byron Schachner (Realistic Fiction · grades K–3)? It’s most often read for its themes of cats and old age. 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.

10 books similar to The Grannyman

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Why each is a match

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Skippyjon Jonesgrades K–3
Is by Judith Byron Schachner, the same author, shares themes of cats, and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Titanicatgrades K–3
Shares themes of cats, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Heart of a Tigergrades K–3
Shares themes of cats, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Verdigrades 3–5
Shares themes of old age, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Bad Kittygrades K–3
Shares themes of cats, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Cat Secretsgrades K–3
Shares themes of cats, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Chestergrades K–3
Shares themes of cats, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Martha Speaksgrades K–3
Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
No Such Thinggrades K–3
Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Riptidegrades K–3
Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →

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

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

  • Rugby and Rosie by Nan Parson Rossiter · grades K–3 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • The Dog Who Had Kittens by Polly M. Robertus · grades K–3 — Shares themes of cats, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • The Toll-Bridge Troll by Patricia Rae Wolff · grades K–3 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Widget by Lyn Rossiter McFarland · grades K–3 — Shares themes of cats, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Bedhead by Margie Palatini · grades K–3 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).

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

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

  • Rugby and Rosie by Nan Parson Rossiter · grades K–3 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Shiloh Season by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · grades 3–6 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • The Dog Who Had Kittens by Polly M. Robertus · grades K–3 — Shares themes of cats, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • The Grand Escape by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · grades 3–5 — Shares themes of cats, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (3–5).
  • The Stranger Next Door by Peg Kehret · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of cats, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).

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

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

  • Danger Zone by David Klass · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Heart of a Champion by Carl Deuker · grades 6–8 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Shiloh Season by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · grades 3–6 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • The Stranger Next Door by Peg Kehret · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of cats, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).

Books like The Grannyman for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Danger Zone by David Klass · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • The True Colors of Caitlynne Jackson by Carol Lynch Williams · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • High Heat by Carl Deuker · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • House Arrest by K. A. Holt · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to The Grannyman?
The 10 closest matches to The Grannyman by Judith Byron Schachner on ReadingList include Skippyjon Jones, Titanicat, Heart of a Tiger, Verdi, and Bad Kitty. Each is scored on shared themes (cats and old age), 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 The Grannyman 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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