What books are similar to A Bad Case of Stripes?

The 10 closest matches to A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon on ReadingList include No David!, Swamp Angel, The Sweetest Fig, The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors, and Dog Breath. Each is scored on shared themes (individuality, popularity, and ficción juvenil), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 2–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like A Bad Case of Stripes reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 2–8), 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.

Books like A Bad Case of Stripes

If you liked A Bad Case of Stripes, read No David!, Swamp Angel, or The Sweetest Fig — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: No David! by David Shannon

Get it on Amazon →

Affiliate link: as an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Looking for books like A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon (Humor · grades 2–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of individuality, popularity, and ficción juvenil. 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 2–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

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.

No David!grades K–3: Is by David Shannon, the same author, both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, and same genre (Humor). Amazon → books like this →
Swamp Angelgrades 3–6: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
The Sweetest Figgrades 3–8: Shares themes of ficción juvenil, both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
The Legend of Rock Paper Scissorsgrades 2–8: Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
Dog Breathgrades 2–8: Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
Piggie Pie!grades 3–5: Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
The Sixth Grade Nickname Gamegrades 4–6: Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Awkwardgrades 3–5: Shares themes of popularity, both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Double Fudgegrades 4–6: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Jake and Lilygrades 3–6: Shares themes of individuality, both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →

Books like A Bad Case of Stripes for younger readers (K–2)

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

Arnie, the Doughnut by Laurie Keller · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8).
No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Scat by Carl Hiaasen · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of individuality, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (2–8).
A Lion is a Lion by Polly Dunbar · grades K–0 — Same genre (Humor).

Books like A Bad Case of Stripes for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

The Best School Year Ever by Barbara Robinson · grades 3–6 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (3–6).
Arnie, the Doughnut by Laurie Keller · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8).
No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Scat by Carl Hiaasen · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of individuality, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like A Bad Case of Stripes for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

The Best School Year Ever by Barbara Robinson · grades 3–6 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (3–6).
Arnie, the Doughnut by Laurie Keller · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8).
No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Scat by Carl Hiaasen · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Humor), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of individuality, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like A Bad Case of Stripes for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Ties That Bind, Ties That Break by Lensey Namioka · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of individuality.
A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen · grades 11–12 — Shares themes of individuality.
A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh · grades 11–12 — Same genre (Humor).
Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Humor).
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley · 870L — Shares themes of individuality.

Common questions

What books are similar to A Bad Case of Stripes?: The 10 closest matches to A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon on ReadingList include No David!, Swamp Angel, The Sweetest Fig, The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors, and Dog Breath. Each is scored on shared themes (individuality, popularity, and ficción juvenil), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 2–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like A Bad Case of Stripes reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 2–8), 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 A Bad Case of Stripes