Books like When the Boys Ran the House

If you liked When the Boys Ran the House, read Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days, My Horrible Secret, or Double Fudge — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes and reading level.

Looking for books like When the Boys Ran the House by Joan Davenport Carris (Humor · grades 3–6)? It’s most often read for its themes of humorous stories, responsibility, and brothers. 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 When the Boys Ran the House

Reading the whole similar-books list? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audible30-day trial

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.

Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Daysgrades 4–6
Shares themes of humorous stories and boys, fiction, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →
My Horrible Secretgrades 4–6
Shares themes of humorous stories and brothers, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →
Double Fudgegrades 4–6
Shares themes of humorous stories and brothers, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →
Fudgegrades 4–6
Shares themes of responsibility and boys, fiction, both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list, and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →
Ten Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break If You Want to Survive the School Busgrades 3–5
Shares themes of humorous stories and brothers, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon →
Arnie, the Doughnutgrades 2–8
Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon →
Banana Twistgrades 4–6
Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →
Dear Mrs. LaRuegrades 3–5
Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon →
Dog Breathgrades 2–8
Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon →
Knocked Out by Nunga-Nungasgrades 3–5
Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon →

Books like When the Boys Ran the House for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Humor) and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • Scat by Carl Hiaasen · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Humor) and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like When the Boys Ran the House for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude by O'Malley, Kevin · grades 3–5 — Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (3–5).
  • Piggie Pie! by Margie Palatini · grades 3–5 — Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (3–5).
  • The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • The Sixth Grade Nickname Game by Gordon Korman · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like When the Boys Ran the House for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • The Sixth Grade Nickname Game by Gordon Korman · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell · grades 3–6 — Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • The Best School Year Ever by Barbara Robinson · grades 3–6 — Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (3–6).

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

← Back to When the Boys Ran the House