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 Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen

If you liked A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen, read Ernö Rubik and His Magic Cube first — the closest match in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: Ernö Rubik and His Magic Cube by Kerry Aradhya — shares biography

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Looking for books like A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen by Erin Frankel (Picture Book · grades 3–6)? It’s most often read for its themes of compassion, biography, and service. 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.

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Why each is a match

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Ernö Rubik and His Magic Cubegrades 3–6: Shares themes of biography, both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, and same genre (Picture Book). Amazon → books like this →
Pedro's Yo-Yos: How a Filipino Immigrant Came to America and Changed the World of Toysgrades 3–6: Shares themes of biography, both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, and same genre (Picture Book). Amazon → books like this →
The Girl Who Figured It Outgrades 3–6: Shares themes of biography, both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, and same genre (Picture Book). Amazon → books like this →
Call Me Roberto!: Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinosgrades 2–5: Shares themes of biography, same genre (Picture Book), and overlapping grades (2–5). Amazon → books like this →
Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaustgrades 2–5: Shares themes of biography, same genre (Picture Book), and overlapping grades (2–5). Amazon → books like this →
Introducing Sandwina: The Strongest Woman in the World!grades 2–5: Shares themes of biography, same genre (Picture Book), and overlapping grades (2–5). Amazon → books like this →
Evidence! How Dr. John Snow Solved the Mystery of Choleragrades 3–6: Shares themes of biography and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockeygrades 3–7: Shares themes of biography and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Adopted by an Owlgrades 2–8: Shares themes of biography and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
Daniel Boonegrades 4–7: Shares themes of biography and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →

Books like A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen for younger readers (K–2)

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

100 Chapatis by Derek Mascarenhas · grades K–2 — Same genre (Picture Book) and the same era (2020s).
Abuelita and Me by Leonarda Carranza · grades K–1 — Same genre (Picture Book) and the same era (2020s).
Avocado Magic by Taltal Levi · grades K–2 — Same genre (Picture Book) and the same era (2020s).
Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty · grades K–1 — Same genre (Picture Book) and the same era (2020s).
Beautiful You, Beautiful Me by Tasha Spillett-Sumner · grades K–1 — Same genre (Picture Book) and the same era (2020s).

Books like A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Because of You, John Lewis by Andrea Davis Pinkney · grades 3–5 — Same genre (Picture Book), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2020s).
A Game of Noctis by Deva Fagan · grades 3–6 — Both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2020s).
Dogtown by Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko · grades 3–6 — Both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2020s).
Doña Quixote: Rise of the Knight by Rey Terciero · grades 3–6 — Both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2020s).
Hachiko by Pamela S. Turner · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of biography and overlapping grades (3–6).

Books like A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

A Game of Noctis by Deva Fagan · grades 3–6 — Both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2020s).
Dogtown by Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko · grades 3–6 — Both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2020s).
Doña Quixote: Rise of the Knight by Rey Terciero · grades 3–6 — Both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2020s).
Hachiko by Pamela S. Turner · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of biography and overlapping grades (3–6).
Haiku, Ew! Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature by Lynn Brunelle · grades 3–6 — Both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2020s).

Common questions

What books are similar to A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen?: The 10 closest matches to A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen by Erin Frankel on ReadingList include Ernö Rubik and His Magic Cube, Pedro's Yo-Yos: How a Filipino Immigrant Came to America and Changed the World of Toys, The Girl Who Figured It Out, Call Me Roberto!: Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinos, and Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust. Each is scored on shared themes (compassion, biography, and service), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–6), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–6), 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.

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