What books are similar to Shark vs. Train?

The 10 closest matches to Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton on ReadingList include Can I Be Your Dog?, Mei Li, The Great White Man-Eating Shark, Let's Do Nothing, and We Are in a Book. Each is scored on shared themes (new york times bestseller, nyt:picture_books=2010-07-04, and sharks), 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 Shark vs. Train 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 Shark vs. Train

If you liked Shark vs. Train, read Can I Be Your Dog?, Mei Li, or The Great White Man-Eating Shark — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings

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Looking for books like Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton (Realistic Fiction · grades K–3)? It’s most often read for its themes of new york times bestseller, nyt:picture_books=2010-07-04, and sharks. 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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Can I Be Your Dog?grades K–3: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Mei Ligrades K–3: Shares themes of play, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
The Great White Man-Eating Sharkgrades K–3: Shares themes of sharks, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Let's Do Nothinggrades K–3: Shares themes of play and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
We Are in a Bookgrades K–3: Shares themes of new york times bestseller and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
The Red Pyramidgrades 3–8: Shares themes of new york times bestseller, both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Cat Secretsgrades K–3: Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Library Mousegrades K–3: Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Chestergrades K–3: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Dandygrades K–3: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Shark vs. Train for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller.
New Kid by Jerry Craft · grades 4–8 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2010s).
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper · 700L — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2010s).
Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2010s).
Cliff-Hanger by Alane Ferguson · grades 4–6 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).

Books like Shark vs. Train for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

The Name of This Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch · grades 6–8 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller and both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list.
I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter · grades 6–8 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller.
New Kid by Jerry Craft · grades 4–8 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2010s).
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper · 700L — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2010s).

Books like Shark vs. Train for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller, both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Room by Emma Donoghue · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller and both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list.
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller and both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list.
Five Survive by Holly Jackson · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to Shark vs. Train?: The 10 closest matches to Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton on ReadingList include Can I Be Your Dog?, Mei Li, The Great White Man-Eating Shark, Let's Do Nothing, and We Are in a Book. Each is scored on shared themes (new york times bestseller, nyt:picture_books=2010-07-04, and sharks), 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 Shark vs. Train 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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