What books are similar to Memoirs of a Goldfish?

The 10 closest matches to Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian on ReadingList include Two bad Ants, Scaredy Squirrel, Best Frints in the Whole Universe, Chalk, and The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School. Each is scored on shared themes (goldfish, friendship, and picture books), 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 Memoirs of a Goldfish 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 Memoirs of a Goldfish

If you liked Memoirs of a Goldfish, read Two bad Ants, Scaredy Squirrel, or Best Frints in the Whole Universe — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: Two bad Ants by Chris Van Allsburg — shares picture books and picture books for children

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Looking for books like Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian (Realistic Fiction · grades K–3)? It’s most often read for its themes of goldfish, friendship, and picture books. 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.

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Why each is a match

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Two bad Antsgrades K–3: Shares themes of picture books and picture books for children, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Scaredy Squirrelgrades K–3: Shares themes of picture books for children, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Best Frints in the Whole Universegrades K–3: Shares themes of picture books, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Chalkgrades K–2: Shares themes of picture books, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–2). Amazon → books like this →
The Gingerbread Man Loose in the Schoolgrades K–3: Shares themes of picture books for children, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Memoirs of a Hamstergrades 2–3: Is by Devin Scillian, the same author and overlapping grades (2–3). Amazon → books like this →
A Boy, a Dog and a Froggrades K–1: Shares themes of picture books, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–1). Amazon → books like this →
Guji Gujigrades K–3: Shares themes of picture books, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Peabodygrades K–3: Shares themes of picture books, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Memoirs of a Tortoisegrades 3–6: Is by Devin Scillian, the same author, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Memoirs of a Goldfish for younger readers (K–2)

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

Cat Secrets by Jef Czekaj · grades K–3 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Chester by Mélanie Watt · grades K–3 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Zombies Don't Eat Veggies! by Jorge Lacera · grades K–2 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–2).

Books like Memoirs of a Goldfish for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Ungifted by Gordon Korman · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Wild Wings by Gill Lewis · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Best Friends by Shannon Hale · grades 4–8 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
Cat Secrets by Jef Czekaj · grades K–3 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Chester by Mélanie Watt · grades K–3 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).

Books like Memoirs of a Goldfish for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Ungifted by Gordon Korman · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Wild Wings by Gill Lewis · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
All the Impossible Things by Lindsay Lackey · grades 6–8 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
Best Friends by Shannon Hale · grades 4–8 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 6–9 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).

Books like Memoirs of a Goldfish 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 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon · grades 9–12 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
Girl, Stolen by April Henry · grades 9–12 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon · grades 9–12 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli · grades 9–12 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).

Common questions

What books are similar to Memoirs of a Goldfish?: The 10 closest matches to Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian on ReadingList include Two bad Ants, Scaredy Squirrel, Best Frints in the Whole Universe, Chalk, and The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School. Each is scored on shared themes (goldfish, friendship, and picture books), 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 Memoirs of a Goldfish 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.

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