What books are similar to Verdi?

The 10 closest matches to Verdi by Janell Cannon on ReadingList include The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, Togo, Shiloh, Snot Stew, and Tornado. Each is scored on shared themes (old age, pythons, and snakes), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–5), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like Verdi reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–5), 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 Verdi

If you liked Verdi, read The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, Togo, or Shiloh — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Closest match: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

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 Verdi by Janell Cannon (Realistic Fiction · grades 3–5)? It’s most often read for its themes of old age, pythons, and snakes. 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 3–5 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.

The Strange Case of Origami Yodagrades 4–6: Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Togogrades 2–8: Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
Shiloh890L: Both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Snot Stewgrades 3–6: Both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Tornadogrades 3–6: Both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Ten Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break If You Want to Survive the School Busgrades 3–5: Both on the Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Haiku, Ew! Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Naturegrades 3–6: Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Superfudgegrades 3–6: Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Wonder790L: Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
A Dog Called Kittygrades 3–5: Both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Verdi for younger readers (K–2)

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

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Sharing Susan by Eve Bunting · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Tangerine by Edward Bloor · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Verdi for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Sharing Susan by Eve Bunting · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Shiloh Season by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · grades 3–6 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
Tangerine by Edward Bloor · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Verdi for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Sharing Susan by Eve Bunting · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Shiloh Season by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · grades 3–6 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
Tangerine by Edward Bloor · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).

Common questions

What books are similar to Verdi?: The 10 closest matches to Verdi by Janell Cannon on ReadingList include The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, Togo, Shiloh, Snot Stew, and Tornado. Each is scored on shared themes (old age, pythons, and snakes), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–5), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Verdi reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–5), 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 Verdi