What books are similar to Martha Speaks?

The 10 closest matches to Martha Speaks by Susan Meddaugh on ReadingList include Riptide, Rugby and Rosie, High-Wire Henry, Can I Be Your Dog?, and Widget. Each is scored on shared themes (dogs, spanish language materials, and ficción juvenil), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades K–3), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like Martha Speaks reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades K–3), 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 Martha Speaks

If you liked Martha Speaks, read Riptide, Rugby and Rosie, or High-Wire Henry — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: Riptide by Frances Ward Weller — shares dogs

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 Martha Speaks by Susan Meddaugh (Realistic Fiction · grades K–3)? It’s most often read for its themes of dogs, spanish language materials, 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 K–3 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.

Riptidegrades K–3: Shares themes of dogs, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Rugby and Rosiegrades K–3: Shares themes of dogs, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
High-Wire Henrygrades K–3: Shares themes of dogs, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Can I Be Your Dog?grades K–3: Shares themes of dogs, both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Widgetgrades K–3: Shares themes of dogs, both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Madeline Finn and the Library Doggrades K–2: Shares themes of dogs, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Lilly's Purple Plastic Pursegrades K–3: Shares themes of ficción juvenil, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Tomás and the Library Ladygrades K–1: Shares themes of spanish language materials, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–1). Amazon → books like this →
Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!grades K–3: Shares themes of spanish language materials, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Don't Need Friendsgrades K–2: Shares themes of dogs, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–2). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Martha Speaks for younger readers (K–2)

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

Bagdad Ate It by Phyllis Green · grades K–3 — Shares themes of dogs, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
The Talking Eggs by Robert D. San Souci · grades K–3 — Shares themes of spanish language materials, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (K–3).
Zomo the Rabbit by Gerald McDermott · grades K–3 — Shares themes of spanish language materials and overlapping grades (K–3).
The Dog Who Had Kittens by Polly M. Robertus · grades K–3 — Shares themes of dogs, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Trouper by Meg Kearney · grades K–2 — Shares themes of dogs, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–2).

Books like Martha Speaks for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Dominic by William Steig · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of dogs, ficción juvenil, and perros.
Bagdad Ate It by Phyllis Green · grades K–3 — Shares themes of dogs, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
The Talking Eggs by Robert D. San Souci · grades K–3 — Shares themes of spanish language materials, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (K–3).
Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of spanish language materials.
Zomo the Rabbit by Gerald McDermott · grades K–3 — Shares themes of spanish language materials and overlapping grades (K–3).

Books like Martha Speaks for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Dominic by William Steig · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of dogs, ficción juvenil, and perros.
Heart of a Champion by Carl Deuker · grades 6–8 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of spanish language materials.
Bristle Face by Zachary Ball · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of dogs and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Fudge by Charlotte Towner Graeber · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of dogs and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Books like Martha Speaks for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Danger Zone by David Klass · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
The True Colors of Caitlynne Jackson by Carol Lynch Williams · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+1 more shared list) and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen · grades 6–9 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+1 more shared list) and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to Martha Speaks?: The 10 closest matches to Martha Speaks by Susan Meddaugh on ReadingList include Riptide, Rugby and Rosie, High-Wire Henry, Can I Be Your Dog?, and Widget. Each is scored on shared themes (dogs, spanish language materials, and ficción juvenil), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades K–3), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Martha Speaks reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades K–3), 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 Martha Speaks