Books like Where the Wild Things Are

Looking for books like Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (Picture Book · 740L · grades K–3)? It’s most often read for its themes of imagination, anger and tantrums, and home and family. 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 K–3 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Where the Wild Things Are

Why each is a match

Corduroy600L
Shares themes of imagination, same genre (Picture Book), and a close reading level (600L vs 740L).
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie410L
Shares themes of imagination, same genre (Picture Book), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Make Way for Ducklings730L
Same genre (Picture Book) and a close reading level (730L vs 740L).
The Adventures of Captain Underpants720L
Shares themes of imagination and a close reading level (720L vs 740L).
The BFG720L
Shares themes of imagination and a close reading level (720L vs 740L).
James and the Giant Peach870L
Shares themes of imagination and a close reading level (870L vs 740L).
Frindle830L
Shares themes of imagination and a close reading level (830L vs 740L).
Last Stop on Market Street610L
Same genre (Picture Book) and a close reading level (610L vs 740L).
The Giving Tree530L
Same genre (Picture Book), a close reading level (530L vs 740L), and the same era (1960s).
The Snowy Day500L
Same genre (Picture Book), a close reading level (500L vs 740L), and the same era (1960s).

← Back to Where the Wild Things Are