Books like The Twenty-One Balloons

If you liked The Twenty-One Balloons, read Johnny Tremain, King of the Wind, or Miss Hickory — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois (Juvenile Fiction · grades 3–7)? 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 3–7 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Twenty-One Balloons

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Why each is a match

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Johnny Tremaingrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
King of the Windgrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Miss Hickorygrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Strawberry Girlgrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
A Year Down Yondergrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
All the Blues in the Skygrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Caddie Woodlawn's Familygrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Carry On, Mr. Bowditchgrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Crispin: The Cross of Leadgrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Criss Crossgrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →

Books like The Twenty-One Balloons for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Big Snow and Other Stories by Hader, Berta and Elmer · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (1940s).
  • Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (1940s).
  • The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (1940s).
  • The Little Island by Margaret Wise Brown · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (1940s).
  • The Rooster Crows by Maud Petersham · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (1940s).

Books like The Twenty-One Balloons for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voigt · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • Gay Neck, The Story of a Pigeon & Ghond The Hunter by Dhan Gopal Mukerji · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • Hitty Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • It's Like This Cat by Emily Neville · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).

Books like The Twenty-One Balloons for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voigt · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • Gay Neck, The Story of a Pigeon & Ghond The Hunter by Dhan Gopal Mukerji · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • Hitty Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • It's Like This Cat by Emily Neville · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).

Book data last updated 2026-07-07. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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