Books like Do Bananas Chew Gum?

If you liked Do Bananas Chew Gum?, read All About Sam, The Computer Nut, or All the Money in the World — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Do Bananas Chew Gum? by Jamie Gilson (Realistic Fiction · grades 4–6)? It’s most often read for its themes of bananas. 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 4–6 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Do Bananas Chew Gum?

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Why each is a match

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All About Samgrades 4–6
Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
The Computer Nutgrades 4–6
Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
All the Money in the Worldgrades 4–6
Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Attaboy, Sam!grades 4–6
Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Big Bengrades 4–6
Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
City Spiesgrades 4–6
Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Eight Keysgrades 4–6
Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Flying Sologrades 4–6
Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Four Eyesgrades 4–6
Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Losergrades 4–6
Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Do Bananas Chew Gum? for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • ¡Vamos! Let's Go Eat by Raúl the Third III · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • Donut Feed the Squirrels by Mika Song · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • Here Comes the Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Do Bananas Chew Gum? for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • No Talking by Andrew Clements · grades 3–8 — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Ramona's World by Beverly Cleary · grades 4–6 — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · 890L — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • Shoeshine Girl by Clyde Robert Bulla · grades 4–6 — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Striped Ice Cream by Joan M. Lexau · grades 4–6 — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like Do Bananas Chew Gum? for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • No Talking by Andrew Clements · grades 3–8 — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Ramona's World by Beverly Cleary · grades 4–6 — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · 890L — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • Shoeshine Girl by Clyde Robert Bulla · grades 4–6 — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Striped Ice Cream by Joan M. Lexau · grades 4–6 — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like Do Bananas Chew Gum? for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt · grades 7–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Posted by John David Anderson · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).

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

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