What books are similar to Love That Dog?

The 10 closest matches to Love That Dog by Sharon Creech on ReadingList include Frankenstein Takes the Cake, Ruby Holler, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Falling Up, and Loser. Each is scored on shared themes (poetry, fiction, poetry, and authorship), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like Love That Dog reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–8), 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 Love That Dog

If you liked Love That Dog, read Frankenstein Takes the Cake, Ruby Holler, or Diary of a Wimpy Kid — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: Frankenstein Takes the Cake by Adam Rex — shares poetry

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 Love That Dog by Sharon Creech (Poetry · grades 4–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of poetry, fiction, poetry, and authorship. 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 4–8 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.

Frankenstein Takes the Cakegrades 2–8: Shares themes of poetry, same genre (Poetry), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
Ruby Hollergrades 3–5: Is by Sharon Creech, the same author, both on the Land of Enchantment Book Award list, and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Diary of a Wimpy Kid950L: Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Falling Upgrades 4–8: Both on the Maine Student Book Award list, same genre (Poetry), and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →
Losergrades 4–6: Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Rulesgrades 4–7: Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Saving Winslowgrades 3–8: Is by Sharon Creech, the same author and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
El Deafo420L: Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Ella Enchantedgrades 4–7: Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Librarygrades 4–6: Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Love That Dog for younger readers (K–2)

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

My Little Sister Ate One Hare by Bill Grossman · grades K–3 — Shares themes of poetry and same genre (Poetry).
Epossumondas by Coleen Salley · grades K–3 — Shares themes of new york times reviewed.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. · grades K–3 — Same genre (Poetry).
The Lady With the Alligator Purse by Nadine Bernard Westcott · grades K–3 — Shares themes of poetry.
This is My Book by Mark Pett · grades K–3 — Shares themes of authorship.

Books like Love That Dog for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

My Little Sister Ate One Hare by Bill Grossman · grades K–3 — Shares themes of poetry and same genre (Poetry).
Epossumondas by Coleen Salley · grades K–3 — Shares themes of new york times reviewed.
Holes by Louis Sachar · 660L — Both on the Land of Enchantment Book Award list (+2 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (4–7).
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry · 670L — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–7).
Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (5–9).

Books like Love That Dog for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Holes by Louis Sachar · 660L — Both on the Land of Enchantment Book Award list (+2 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (4–7).
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry · 670L — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–7).
Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (5–9).
Smile by Raina Telgemeier · 410L — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–8).
Trading Places with Tank Talbott by Dori Hillestad Butler · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of authorship and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like Love That Dog for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Selected Poems by Christina Rossetti · grades 11–12 — Shares themes of poetry and same genre (Poetry).
Ariel by Sylvia Plath · grades 11–12 — Shares themes of poetry and same genre (Poetry).
Collected Poems by Gabriel Okara · grades 11–12 — Shares themes of poetry and same genre (Poetry).
England's Green by Zaffar Kunial · grades 11–12 — Shares themes of poetry and same genre (Poetry).
Kumukanda by Kayo Chingonyi · grades 9–10 — Shares themes of poetry and same genre (Poetry).

Common questions

What books are similar to Love That Dog?: The 10 closest matches to Love That Dog by Sharon Creech on ReadingList include Frankenstein Takes the Cake, Ruby Holler, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Falling Up, and Loser. Each is scored on shared themes (poetry, fiction, poetry, and authorship), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Love That Dog reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–8), 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 Love That Dog