What books are similar to Two bad Ants?

The 10 closest matches to Two bad Ants by Chris Van Allsburg on ReadingList include Memoirs of a Goldfish, Jumanji, The Polar Express, Guji Guji, and The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School. Each is scored on shared themes (ants, picture books for children, 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 Two bad Ants 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 Two bad Ants

If you liked Two bad Ants, read Memoirs of a Goldfish, Jumanji, or The Polar Express — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes and reading level.

Closest match: Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian — shares picture books for children and picture books

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Looking for books like Two bad Ants by Chris Van Allsburg (Realistic Fiction · grades K–3)? It’s most often read for its themes of ants, picture books for children, 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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Memoirs of a Goldfishgrades K–3: Shares themes of picture books for children and picture books, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Jumanjigrades K–3: Is by Chris Van Allsburg, the same author, overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (1980s). Amazon → books like this →
The Polar Expressgrades K–3: Is by Chris Van Allsburg, the same author, overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (1980s). Amazon → books like this →
Guji Gujigrades K–3: Shares themes of picture books, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
The Gingerbread Man Loose in the Schoolgrades K–3: Shares themes of picture books for children, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). 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 →
Epossumondasgrades K–3: Shares themes of new york times reviewed, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, and overlapping grades (K–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 →
Chalkgrades K–2: Shares themes of picture books, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–2). Amazon → books like this →
Scaredy Squirrelgrades K–3: Shares themes of picture books for children, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Two bad Ants for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of new york times reviewed and both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list.
Twins by Varian Johnson · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of new york times reviewed and both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list.
The Great White Man-Eating Shark by Margaret Mahy · grades K–3 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Best Frints in the Whole Universe by Antoinette Portis · grades K–3 — Shares themes of picture books and overlapping grades (K–3).
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of new york times reviewed.

Books like Two bad Ants for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of new york times reviewed and both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list.
Twins by Varian Johnson · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of new york times reviewed and both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list.
A Family Apart by Joan Lowery Nixon · grades 6–8 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1980s).
Ghost in My Soup by Judi Miller · grades 6–8 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1980s).
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of new york times reviewed.

Books like Two bad Ants for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Izzy, Willy-Nilly by Cynthia Voigt · grades 9–12 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1980s).
Say Goodnight, Gracie by Julie Reece Deaver · grades 9–12 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1980s).
The Face at the Edge of the World by Eve Bunting · grades 9–12 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1980s).

Common questions

What books are similar to Two bad Ants?: The 10 closest matches to Two bad Ants by Chris Van Allsburg on ReadingList include Memoirs of a Goldfish, Jumanji, The Polar Express, Guji Guji, and The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School. Each is scored on shared themes (ants, picture books for children, 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 Two bad Ants 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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