Books like The Tale of Despereaux

Looking for books like The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (Middle Grade Fantasy · 670L · grades 3–6)? It’s most often read for its themes of courage, forgiveness, and light vs dark. 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 3–6 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Tale of Despereaux

Why each is a match

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)740L
Same genre (Middle Grade Fantasy), a close reading level (740L vs 670L), and the same era (2000s).
Number the Stars670L
Shares themes of courage and a close reading level (670L vs 670L).
The BFG720L
Shares themes of courage and a close reading level (720L vs 670L).
Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy720L
Same genre (Middle Grade Fantasy) and a close reading level (720L vs 670L).
The Graveyard Book820L
Same genre (Middle Grade Fantasy), a close reading level (820L vs 670L), and the same era (2000s).
Tuck Everlasting770L
Same genre (Middle Grade Fantasy) and a close reading level (770L vs 670L).
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH790L
Shares themes of courage and a close reading level (790L vs 670L).
Because of Winn-Dixie610L
A close reading level (610L vs 670L) and the same era (2000s).
I Am Malala (Young Readers Edition)830L
Shares themes of courage and a close reading level (830L vs 670L).
Shiloh890L
Shares themes of courage and a close reading level (890L vs 670L).

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