Books like Bink & Gollie

If you liked Bink & Gollie, read Because of Winn-Dixie, Mercy Watson to the Rescue, or El Deafo — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo (Sports Fiction · grades 2–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of humorous stories, adventure and adventurers, and friendship. 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.

10 books similar to Bink & Gollie

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Why each is a match

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Because of Winn-Dixie610L
Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, shares themes of friendship, and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Mercy Watson to the Rescue450L
Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, shares themes of friendship, and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
El Deafo420L
Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Fish in a Tree550L
Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Million-Dollar Throwgrades 5–8
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Sports Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
New Kidgrades 4–8
Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →
Out of My Mind700L
Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Real Friendsgrades 2–8
Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
The Apothecarygrades 2–8
Shares themes of adventure and adventurers, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
The Indian in the Cupboardgrades 3–6
Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Bink & Gollie for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • Arnie, the Doughnut by Laurie Keller · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • Dog Breath by Dav Pilkey · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Bink & Gollie for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Ferris by Kate DiCamillo · grades 3–6 — Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo · grades 4–7 — Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo · grades 3–6 — Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo · 670L — Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Bink & Gollie for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Ferris by Kate DiCamillo · grades 3–6 — Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo · grades 4–7 — Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo · grades 3–6 — Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo · 670L — Is by Kate DiCamillo, the same author, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Bink & Gollie for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Drama by Raina Telgemeier · grades 5–9 — Shares themes of friendship and overlapping grades (5–9).
  • Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of friendship and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Posted by John David Anderson · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of friendship and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan · grades 5–9 — Shares themes of friendship and overlapping grades (5–9).
  • The Maze Runner by James Dashner · grades 7–12 — Shares themes of friendship and overlapping grades (7–12).

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

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