Books like The World According to Humphrey

If you liked The World According to Humphrey, read Because of Winn-Dixie, Bunnicula, or Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney? 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.

10 books similar to The World According to Humphrey

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Why each is a match

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Because of Winn-Dixie610L
Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+3 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Bunniculagrades 3–6
Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Nothing's Fair in Fifth Gradegrades 3–6
Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Stolen Childrengrades 4–6
Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
The Hunger Games810L
Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)740L
Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
The Million Dollar Shotgrades 3–6
Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroomgrades 4–6
Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Alliesgrades 5–9
Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (5–9). Amazon →
Because of Mr. Teruptgrades 3–5
Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon →

Books like The World According to Humphrey for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Dogtown by Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko · grades 3–6 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • Ellie's Story by W. Bruce Cameron · grades 3–6 — Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein · grades 4–6 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret · grades 3–6 — Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • Front Desk by Kelly Yang · 640L — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–7).

Books like The World According to Humphrey for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Dogtown by Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko · grades 3–6 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • Ellie's Story by W. Bruce Cameron · grades 3–6 — Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein · grades 4–6 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret · grades 3–6 — Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • Front Desk by Kelly Yang · 640L — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–7).

Books like The World According to Humphrey for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen · grades 5–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (5–9).
  • Eragon by Christopher Paolini · grades 6–9 — Both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares · grades 7–10 — Both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list and the same era (2000s).
  • Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2000s).
  • Unwind by Neal Shusterman · grades 8–12 — Both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list and the same era (2000s).

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

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