What books are similar to The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales?

The 10 closest matches to The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka on ReadingList include Math Curse, The Uglified Ducky, Smoky Mountain Rose, Crash, and Frindle. Each is scored on shared themes (fairy tales, short stories, and fairy tales, adaptations), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

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 Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

If you liked The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, read Math Curse, The Uglified Ducky, or Smoky Mountain Rose — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka (Fairy Tale/Folklore · grades 4–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of fairy tales, short stories, and fairy tales, adaptations. 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 4–8 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.

Math Cursegrades 4–8: Is by Jon Scieszka, the same author, both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →
The Uglified Duckygrades 3–6: Shares themes of fairy tales, both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, and same genre (Fairy Tale/Folklore). Amazon → books like this →
Smoky Mountain Rosegrades 3–5: Shares themes of fairy tales, same genre (Fairy Tale/Folklore), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Crashgrades 3–8: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–8), and the same era (1990s). Amazon → books like this →
Frindle830L: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (1990s). Amazon → books like this →
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabangrades 4–8: Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (1990s). Amazon → books like this →
Holes660L: Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (1990s). Amazon → books like this →
Knights of the Kitchen Tablegrades 4–6: Is by Jon Scieszka, the same author and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Maniac Magee820L: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (1990s). Amazon → books like this →
Once They See You: 13 Stories to Shiver and Shockgrades 4–8: Shares themes of short stories, both on the Maine Student Book Award list, and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →

Books like The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales for younger readers (K–2)

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

Heckedy Peg by Audrey Wood · grades K–3 — Shares themes of fairy tales and same genre (Fairy Tale/Folklore).
The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey · 720L — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (2–5), and the same era (1990s).
A Perfect Pork Stew by Paul Brett Johnson · grades K–3 — Same genre (Fairy Tale/Folklore) and the same era (1990s).
Enchanted Wood by Ruth Sanderson · grades K–3 — Shares themes of fairy tales.
Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky · grades 1–4 — Shares themes of fairy tales and overlapping grades (1–4).

Books like The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Heckedy Peg by Audrey Wood · grades K–3 — Shares themes of fairy tales and same genre (Fairy Tale/Folklore).
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · 890L — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+3 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (1990s).
The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey · 720L — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (2–5), and the same era (1990s).
The Golden Mare, the Firebird, and the Magic Ring by Ruth Sanderson · grades 3–6 — Both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, same genre (Fairy Tale/Folklore), and overlapping grades (3–6).
The Houdini Box by Brian Selznick · grades 3–6 — Both on the Rhode Island Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (1990s).

Books like The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · 890L — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+3 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (1990s).
The Giver by Lois Lowry · 760L — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (6–8), and the same era (1990s).
The Golden Mare, the Firebird, and the Magic Ring by Ruth Sanderson · grades 3–6 — Both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, same genre (Fairy Tale/Folklore), and overlapping grades (3–6).
The Houdini Box by Brian Selznick · grades 3–6 — Both on the Rhode Island Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (1990s).
The Sweetest Fig by Chris Van Allsburg · grades 3–8 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–8), and the same era (1990s).

Books like The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Eragon by Christopher Paolini · grades 6–9 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (6–9).
Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+2 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (5–9).
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green · 850L — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list).
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins · 810L — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+2 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (6–9).
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer · grades 9–12 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list).

Common questions

What books are similar to The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales?: The 10 closest matches to The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka on ReadingList include Math Curse, The Uglified Ducky, Smoky Mountain Rose, Crash, and Frindle. Each is scored on shared themes (fairy tales, short stories, and fairy tales, adaptations), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–8), 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 Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales