10 books like Ivy & Bean

By Annie Barrows, Sophie Blackall (illustrator),

Here are 10 books that authors have personally recommended if you like Ivy & Bean. Shepherd is a community of 7,000+ authors sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Wonder

By R.J. Palacio,

Book cover of Wonder

How does ten-year-old August Pullman go about getting everyone to overlook his severe facial malformation, so they can get to know him as an otherwise normal kid?

Auggie’s charm grew on me a lot faster than it did with his classmates, setting Auggie up for disappointments and betrayal. I loved how other brilliant characters, like the English teacher with the precepts, Auggie’s amazing family, or his best friend, help him through some dark times. It was touching to see how Auggie’s very rare condition impacts everyone who cares for him.

I believe that the brilliance of this story should be appreciated by middle graders on up to the wisest of adults.

Wonder

By R.J. Palacio,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked Wonder as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Has the power to move hearts and change minds' Guardian

'Tremendously uplifting and a novel of all-too-rare power' Sunday Express

'An amazing book . . . I absolutely loved it. I cried my eyes out' Tom Fletcher

Read the award-winning, multi-million copy bestselling phenomenon that is WONDER in this new tenth anniversary edition.

'My name is August. I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.'

Auggie wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things - eating ice cream, playing on his Xbox. He feels ordinary - inside. But ordinary kids don't make other…


Because of Winn-Dixie

By Kate DiCamillo,

Book cover of Because of Winn-Dixie

Kate DiCamillo has an amazing way of creating characters that are easy to fall in love with, including a dog named after a grocery store. My daughters and I loved this book, which sits prominently on our shelf of favorite books. This story is especially beautiful because of the main characters, Opal and her father. Both are struggling with the abandonment of Opal’s mother. This book deals with important themes of grief, hope, acceptance, loss, friendship, and the healing power of animals.

Because of Winn-Dixie

By Kate DiCamillo,

Why should I read it?

8 authors picked Because of Winn-Dixie as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Funny and poignant, this 2001 Newbery Honor novel captures life in a quirky Southern town as Opal and her mangy dog, Winn-Dixie, strike up friendships among the locals.

One summer's day, ten-year-old India Opal Buloni goes down to the local supermarket for some groceries - and comes home with a dog. But Winn-Dixie is no ordinary dog. It's because of Winn-Dixie that Opal begins to make friends. And it's because of Winn-Dixie that she finally dares to ask her father about her mother, who left when Opal was three. In fact, as Opal admits, just about everything that happens that…


Forget Me Not

By Ellie Terry,

Book cover of Forget Me Not

Calliope June has Tourrette syndrome to thank for her friendlessness. She doesn't fit in, at all. Lucky for her, she moves in next door to Jinsong, a popular boy who sees Calli as a puzzle that he'd very much like to figure out. Befriending her could have social consequences for him, though, so of course, it's a bumpy ride. Calli's chapters are written in verse. A lovely middle-grade novel.

Forget Me Not

By Ellie Terry,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Forget Me Not as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Calliope June has Tourette syndrome. Sometimes she can't control the noises that come out of her mouth, or even her body language. When she and her mother move yet again, she tries to hide her TS. But soon the kids in her class realise she's different. Only her neighbour, who is also the class president, sees her as she truly is - a quirky kid, and a good friend. But is he brave enough to take their friendship public?

As Callie navigates school, she must also face her mother's new relationship and the fact that she might be moving again…


Because You'll Never Meet Me

By Leah Thomas,

Book cover of Because You'll Never Meet Me

Because You’ll Never Meet Me is a YA novel that takes quirky friendships to a different level. Ollie is allergic to electricity and Moritz suffers from a rare heart condition. He was also born without eyes. Because of their medical issues, Ollie and Moritz can never meet. Ollie’s mom and doctor urge him to befriend someone like him and he and Moritz become long-distance pen pals. Their friendship is brought to life through the heartfelt letters they write to each other. There’s also a dark secret about their past and where they came from. 

Because You'll Never Meet Me

By Leah Thomas,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Because You'll Never Meet Me as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Ollie and Moritz are two teenagers who will never meet. Each of them lives with a life-affecting illness. Contact with electricity sends Ollie into debilitating seizures, while Moritz has a heart defect and is kept alive by an electronic pacemaker. If they did meet, Ollie would seize, but turning off the pacemaker would kill Moritz.

Through an exchange of letters, the two boys develop a strong bond of friendship which becomes a lifeline during dark times - until Moritz reveals that he holds the key to their shared, sinister past, and has been keeping it from Ollie all along.


Katie the Catsitter

By Colleen Af Venable, Stephanie Yue (illustrator),

Book cover of Katie the Catsitter

In this purr-fectly irresistible graphic novel, twelve-year-old Katie wants to earn money so she can go to summer camp with her best friend and starts a catsitting business for her mysterious upstairs neighbor. The problem? The woman has 217 cats! And that’s not all...the cats have superpowers! And the neighbor may be a notorious supervillian! Talk about a tough job! I laughed, cheered, and crossed my fingers for Katie!

Katie the Catsitter

By Colleen Af Venable, Stephanie Yue (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Katie the Catsitter as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Calling all Raina Telgemeier fans! Introducing an irresistible new middle-grade graphic novel series about growing up, friendship, heroes, and cats (lots of cats!)--perfect for fans of Guts, Awkward and Real Friends (not to mention anyone who loves cats!)

Katie is dreading the boring summer ahead while her best friends are all away at camp--something that's way out of Katie and her mom's budget, UNLESS Katie can figure out a way to earn the money for camp herself. But when Katie gets a job catsitting for her mysterious upstairs neighbor, life get interesting. First, Madeline has 217 cats (!) and they're…


The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip

By George Saunders, Lane Smith (illustrator),

Book cover of The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip

One that I give to anyone who is stuck in a pickle. Saunders’ book for young readers, illustrated in the oddball style of Lane Smith, tells of a girl named Capable who does her best and finds that it is still not good enough. So she makes an unthinkable change.

Reading this book to my children led to a eureka that we might change our own family life in a similarly unthinkable way.

The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip

By George Saunders, Lane Smith (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A gapper is a bit of a 'burr' but it is a dangerous thing. When it attaches itself to the goats the goats become very unhappy and even stop giving milk. There is nothing gappers like more than goats and nothing goats hate more than gappers. When gappers get your goats it means trouble. In one small town gappers are a real pest and it takes the ingenious approach of Capable to find a soution - if a solution exists at all.


Let the Right One in

By John Ajvide Lindqvist, Ebba Segerberg (translator),

Book cover of Let the Right One in

I am not impressed by vampire novels as I always feel as if I am being gypped into reading romance. First off, this book is not that book, although it involves a vampire. A twelve-year-old vampire to be exact, the best kind. I will admit that it will not leave you sleeping with the lights on or weaving a garlic necklace. It is understated when it comes to jump scares but manages to evoke dread nonetheless. What I loved about the book is its fresh take on vampires, the morose setting, and the no holds barred gruesomeness. So many things go sideways in such horrible ways that it is hard to pick the most harrowing scene from the buffet of depravity on offer. However, it is by no means a gorefest written by a nut job. It is extremely well written and does not disrespect the idea of a vampire…

Let the Right One in

By John Ajvide Lindqvist, Ebba Segerberg (translator),

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Let the Right One in as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

John Ajvide Lindqvist’s international bestseller Let the Right One In is “a brilliant take on the vampire myth, and a roaring good story” (New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong), the basis for the multi-film festival award-winning Swedish film, the U.S. adaptation Let Me In directed by Matt Reeves (The Batman), and the Showtime TV series.

It is autumn 1981 when inconceivable horror comes to Blackeberg, a suburb in Sweden. The body of a teenager is found, emptied of blood, the murder rumored to be part of a ritual killing. Twelve-year-old Oskar is personally hoping that revenge has come at…


Unicorns Are the Worst!

By Alex Willan,

Book cover of Unicorns Are the Worst!

When a hardworking goblin gets a frivolous unicorn for a neighbor, it’s easy to understand why he’s a bit put out. After all, he knows many useful magical skills, like turning socks into slugs and making (broccoli-flavored) ice cream out of broccoli. So where are the kids begging for goblin-themed birthday parties, huh? What makes unicorns so special? Great for anyone who’s ever felt overlooked or a little jealous of the popular kids.

Unicorns Are the Worst!

By Alex Willan,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Unicorns Are the Worst! as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Perfect for fans of Dragons Love Tacos and Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great, this wildly funny and imaginative picture book celebrates the value of differences as a grumpy goblin gets to know his new unicorn neighbors.

It’s an undeniable fact that unicorns are the worst!

Magic is serious business, but all unicorns do is frolic around, have tea parties, and leave glitter all over the place! They’re nothing like goblins—practical and hard-working, who can put magic to good use! Unicorns aren’t helpful at all.

Or are they?


Rain!

By Linda Ashman, Christian Robinson (illustrator),

Book cover of Rain!

This book shows a grumpy man and a cheerful little kid’s morning on rainy day, of course a grumpy old man grumbles about rainy day and a little guy enjoys the rainy day. Same rainy day outing, two totally different attitude! And we all get to know it’s the positive attitude make everything brighter and more fun! Christian’s simple, colorful illustrations caught my eyes first, the contrast between the grumpy man and a kid’s world is just perfect!

Rain!

By Linda Ashman, Christian Robinson (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Rain! as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

One rainy day in the city, an eager little boy exclaims, "Rain!" Across town a grumpy man grumbles, "Rain." In this endearing book, now in board book format, a rainy-day cityscape comes to life in vibrant, cut-paper-style artwork. The boy in his green frog hat splashes in puddles - "Hoppy, hoppy, hoppy!" - while the old man curses the "dang puddles." Can the boy's natural exuberance (and perhaps a cookie) cheer up the grouchy gentleman and turn the day around?


Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

By Eileen Spinelli, Paul Yalowitz (illustrator),

Book cover of Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

The story inspires sadness, hope, and happiness. At first, you’ll feel sorry for Mr. Hatch. You’ll care about him and wonder why he is the way he is. You’ll watch him receive a gift that has a lasting effect on him. Then, with a turn of events, you’ll feel sorry for him again. But by the end, you’ll be rooting for him.

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

By Eileen Spinelli, Paul Yalowitz (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

One wintry day, a postman delivers a mysterious package with a big pink bow to a lonely man named Mr. Hatch.

"Somebody loves you," the note says.
"Somebody loves me!" Mr. Hatch sings as he dusts his living room.
"Somebody loves me!" Mr. Hatch whistles as he does his errands in town.
"But who," Mr. Hatch wonders, "could that somebody be?"

When Mr. Hatch discovers just who his secret admirer is, the answer is even better than he could have guessed!


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