Books like Trouble with Trolls

If you liked Trouble with Trolls, read Riptide, Shiloh Season, or The Sweetest Fig — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes and reading level.

Looking for books like Trouble with Trolls by Jan Brett (Fantasy · grades K–3)? It’s most often read for its themes of trolls, dogs, and dogs, fiction. The 10 titles below 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 K–3 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Trouble with Trolls

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.

Riptidegrades K–3
Shares themes of dogs and dogs, fiction and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Shiloh Seasongrades 3–6
Shares themes of dogs and dogs, fiction and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
The Sweetest Figgrades 3–8
Shares themes of dogs, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Tornadogrades 3–6
Shares themes of dogs and dogs, fiction and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Can I Be Your Dog?grades K–3
Shares themes of dogs and dogs, fiction and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Girl in a Cagegrades 3–8
Shares themes of fantasy fiction, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Good Boy, Fergusgrades K–2
Shares themes of dogs and dogs, fiction and overlapping grades (K–2). Amazon → books like this →
Hachikogrades 3–6
Shares themes of dogs and dogs, fiction and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Madeline Finn and the Library Doggrades K–2
Shares themes of dogs and dogs, fiction and overlapping grades (K–2). Amazon → books like this →
Magykgrades 3–8
Shares themes of fantasy fiction, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Trouble with Trolls for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • The Search for Delicious by Natalie Babbitt · grades 2–3 — Shares themes of fantasy fiction, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (2–3).
  • Widget by Lyn Rossiter McFarland · grades K–3 — Shares themes of dogs and dogs, fiction and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Akiak by Robert J. Blake · grades K–3 — Shares themes of dogs and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Dog Breath by Dav Pilkey · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of dogs and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • Don't Need Friends by Carolyn Crimi · grades K–2 — Shares themes of dogs and overlapping grades (K–2).

Books like Trouble with Trolls for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of fantasy fiction and same genre (Fantasy).
  • Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine · grades 4–7 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and the same era (1990s).
  • Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville · grades 4–6 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and the same era (1990s).
  • My Dog, My Hero by Betsy Cromer Byars · grades 3–5 — Shares themes of dogs and dogs, fiction and overlapping grades (3–5).
  • Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix · grades 3–8 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8).

Books like Trouble with Trolls for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of fantasy fiction and same genre (Fantasy).
  • Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine · grades 4–7 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and the same era (1990s).
  • Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville · grades 4–6 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and the same era (1990s).
  • Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix · grades 3–8 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Stranger with My Face by Lois Duncan · grades 6–8 — Shares themes of fantasy fiction and same genre (Fantasy).

Books like Trouble with Trolls for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • The Darkangel by Meredith Ann Pierce · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of fantasy fiction and same genre (Fantasy).
  • Lore by Alexandra Bracken · grades 9–12 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list and same genre (Fantasy).
  • A Fate So Cold by Amanda Foody · grades 7–12 — Same genre (Fantasy).
  • Cinder by Marissa Meyer · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Fantasy).
  • Danger Zone by David Klass · grades 6–9 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list and the same era (1990s).

Common questions

What books are similar to Trouble with Trolls?
The 10 closest matches to Trouble with Trolls by Jan Brett on ReadingList include Riptide, Shiloh Season, The Sweetest Fig, Tornado, and Can I Be Your Dog?. Each is scored on shared themes (trolls, dogs, and dogs, fiction), 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 Trouble with Trolls 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.

← Back to Trouble with Trolls

Browse by another angle