What books are similar to The Raft?

The 10 closest matches to The Raft by Jim LaMarche on ReadingList include Mercy Watson to the Rescue, Akiak, Basket, No More Water in the Tub, and Athlete vs. Mathlete. Each is scored on shared themes (grandmothers, rafting (sports), and rivers), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 2–3), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like The Raft reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 2–3), 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 The Raft

If you liked The Raft, read Mercy Watson to the Rescue, Akiak, or Basket — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo — shares animals

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 The Raft by Jim LaMarche (Sports Fiction · grades 2–3)? It’s most often read for its themes of grandmothers, rafting (sports), and rivers. 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 2–3 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.

Mercy Watson to the Rescue450L: Shares themes of animals, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Akiakgrades K–3: Same genre (Sports Fiction) and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Basketgrades K–3: Shares themes of grandmothers and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
No More Water in the Tubgrades K–3: Same genre (Sports Fiction) and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Athlete vs. Mathletegrades 3–5: Same genre (Sports Fiction) and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Ghost Cadetgrades 3–5: Shares themes of grandmothers and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Crash, Splash, or Moo!grades K–3: Shares themes of animals and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Just Another Ordinary Daygrades K–3: Shares themes of animals and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Mei Ligrades K–3: Shares themes of animals and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Never Spit on Your Shoesgrades K–3: Shares themes of animals and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →

Books like The Raft for younger readers (K–2)

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

Hi! Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold · grades K–1 — Shares themes of animals and both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list.
Are You My Mother? by P. D. Eastman · grades K–1 — Shares themes of animals and both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list.
Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire · grades K–1 — Shares themes of animals and both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list.

Books like The Raft for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

White Water by P. J. Petersen · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of rafting (sports) and same genre (Sports Fiction).
Million-Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica · grades 5–8 — Same genre (Sports Fiction) and the same era (2000s).
The Million Dollar Kick by Dan Gutman · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Sports Fiction) and the same era (2000s).
Game Changer by Tommy Greenwald · grades 5–8 — Same genre (Sports Fiction).

Books like The Raft for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

White Water by P. J. Petersen · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of rafting (sports) and same genre (Sports Fiction).
Million-Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica · grades 5–8 — Same genre (Sports Fiction) and the same era (2000s).
The Million Dollar Kick by Dan Gutman · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Sports Fiction) and the same era (2000s).
Game Changer by Tommy Greenwald · grades 5–8 — Same genre (Sports Fiction).
There's a Girl in My Hammerlock by Jerry Spinelli · grades 6–8 — Same genre (Sports Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to The Raft?: The 10 closest matches to The Raft by Jim LaMarche on ReadingList include Mercy Watson to the Rescue, Akiak, Basket, No More Water in the Tub, and Athlete vs. Mathlete. Each is scored on shared themes (grandmothers, rafting (sports), and rivers), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 2–3), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like The Raft reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 2–3), 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 The Raft