Books like Zooni Tales: Keep It Up, Plucky Pup

If you liked Zooni Tales: Keep It Up, Plucky Pup, read Ballet Brown, Don't Trust Fish, or Earl & Worm: The Bad Idea and Other Stories — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Zooni Tales: Keep It Up, Plucky Pup by Vikram Madan (Juvenile Fiction · grades K–1)? 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 K–1 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Zooni Tales: Keep It Up, Plucky Pup

Reading the whole similar-books list? Open any title for its Amazon listing — or listen to many of them free with a 30-day Audible trial.

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.

Ballet Browngrades K–1
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–1). Amazon →
Don't Trust Fishgrades K–1
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–1). Amazon →
Earl & Worm: The Bad Idea and Other Storiesgrades K–1
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–1). Amazon →
Home in a Lunchboxgrades K–1
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–1). Amazon →
I'm Sorry You Got Madgrades K–1
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–1). Amazon →
The Bakery Dragongrades K–1
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–1). Amazon →
The Fire-Breathing Ducklinggrades K–1
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–1). Amazon →
Towed by Toadgrades K–1
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–1). Amazon →
We Are Definitely Humangrades K–1
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–1). Amazon →
A Story, a Storygrades K–3
Same genre (Juvenile Fiction) and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon →

Books like Zooni Tales: Keep It Up, Plucky Pup for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Barnaby Unboxed! by Terry Fan · grades 2–3 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Braided Roots by Pasha Westbrook · grades 2–3 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Cabin Head and Tree Head by Scott Campbell · grades 2–3 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Detective Sweet Pea: The Case of the Golden Bone by Sara Varon · grades 2–3 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Little Shrew by Akiko Miyakoshi · grades 2–3 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).

Books like Zooni Tales: Keep It Up, Plucky Pup for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • And Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps · grades 4–5 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Barnaby Unboxed! by Terry Fan · grades 2–3 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Braided Roots by Pasha Westbrook · grades 2–3 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Bubblegum Shoes: The Case of the Contraband Closet by Goldy Moldavsky · grades 4–5 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan · grades 4–5 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).

Books like Zooni Tales: Keep It Up, Plucky Pup for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • How to Talk to Your Succulent by Zoe Persico · grades 6–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • It's All or Nothing, Vale by Andrea Beatriz Arango · grades 6–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II by Adam Gidwitz · grades 6–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Swing by Audrey Meeker · grades 6–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • The Curse of Eelgrass Bog by Mary Averling · grades 6–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).

Book data last updated 2026-07-02. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

← Back to Zooni Tales: Keep It Up, Plucky Pup