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Quick answer: If you loved Hank Zipzer, read Andrew Clements's Frindle and Lunch Money, then Judy Blume's Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Fudge-a-Mania, then R.J. Palacio's Wonder, and Dav Pilkey's Dog Man and Tom Angleberger's Origami Yoda: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. All are funny school stories with a relatable hero.
Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver's Hank Zipzer books follow a boy with dyslexia and a wild imagination. These picks share the humour and heart.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frindle | Andrew Clements | 8-12 | readers who like school pranks |
| Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing | Judy Blume | Ages 7-11 | family comedy |
| Wonder | R.J. Palacio | 8-12 | readers who like school stories |
| Dog Man | Dav Pilkey | 6-10 | young comic fans |
| Origami Yoda: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda | Tom Angleberger | 8-12 | Star Wars fans |
| Dear Dumb Diary | Jim Benton | 8-12 | kids who like sarcasm |
| Diary of a Worm | Doreen Cronin | 3–7 | diary-style humor |
| The Terrible Two | Mac Barnett and Jory John | 8-12 | prank lovers |
| Lunch Money | Andrew Clements | Ages 8-12 | entrepreneurs |
| Absolutely Almost | Lisa Graff | 9–12 | self-worth |
| El Deafo | Cece Bell | 8–12 | graphic memoirs |
| Better Nate Than Ever | Tim Federle | Ages 10-14 | musical dreams |
| Because of Mr. Terupt | Rob Buyea | 9–13 | great teachers |
| Fudge-a-Mania | Judy Blume | Ages 8-12 | family comedy |
| The Bad Guys | Aaron Blabey | 5-9 | reluctant readers |
1. Frindle by Andrew Clements
Nick Allen invents a new word for a pen, and the whole town joins in. Clever and sweet.
Best for: readers who like school pranks.
2. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Peter's little brother Fudge makes every day chaotic. Classic, warm and laugh-out-loud funny.
Best for: family comedy.
3. Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Auggie, who has a facial difference, starts fifth grade at a school for the first time. A story about kindness and difference.
Best for: readers who like school stories.
4. Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
A half-dog, half-man police officer fights crime in a silly comic. Perfect for reluctant readers.
Best for: young comic fans.
5. Origami Yoda: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
A paper Yoda gives advice at school. Funny and clever.
Best for: Star Wars fans.
6. Dear Dumb Diary by Jim Benton
Jamie Kelly writes a hilarious, sarcastic diary about school, friends and enemies. Short and very funny.
Best for: kids who like sarcasm.
7. Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin
A worm describes his day in short diary entries. Funny and clever.
Best for: diary-style humor.
8. The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John
Two pranksters at a school try to outdo each other. Smart, silly and illustrated.
Best for: prank lovers.
9. Lunch Money by Andrew Clements
A boy starts a business selling comic books at school. Funny and clever.
Best for: entrepreneurs.
10. Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff
A boy who feels he is not good at anything finds a caring nanny. Gentle and honest.
Best for: self-worth.
11. El Deafo by Cece Bell
A graphic memoir about a girl who loses her hearing and creates a superhero. Funny and warm.
Best for: graphic memoirs.
12. Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle
A boy runs away to audition for a Broadway musical. Funny and sweet.
Best for: musical dreams.
13. Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
A new teacher changes the lives of seven fifth graders. Told in alternating voices.
Best for: great teachers.
14. Fudge-a-Mania by Judy Blume
Peter's summer with his younger brother Fudge goes wrong. Funny and quick.
Best for: family comedy.
15. The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
A wolf, a shark, a piranha and a snake try to be good. Comic-style humor.
Best for: reluctant readers.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Hank Zipzer: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Hank Zipzer. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most.
How to Choose
For school humour, read Frindle or Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. For heart, try Wonder. For laughs, pick Dog Man.
Related: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
Who writes Hank Zipzer?
Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver.
What is the hero like?
A kid with dyslexia who finds creative ways to cope.
What age is it for?
About 7 to 11.
Which book here is best for reluctant readers?
Try The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey, which suits readers looking for reluctant readers.
Which book here is best for family comedy?
Try Fudge-a-Mania by Judy Blume, which suits readers looking for family comedy.
Which book here is best for great teachers?
Try Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea, which suits readers looking for great teachers.
Which book here is best for musical dreams?
Try Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle, which suits readers looking for musical dreams.
Which book here is best for graphic memoirs?
Try El Deafo by Cece Bell, which suits readers looking for graphic memoirs.
Which book here is best for self-worth?
Try Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff, which suits readers looking for self-worth.