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Quick answer: If you loved Wonderstruck, read Blue Balliett's Chasing Vermeer, then Kate DiCamillo's Flora & Ulysses, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and The Tiger Rising, then Frank Cottrell Boyce's Framed, and Peter Brown's The Wild Robot and Sara Pennypacker's Pax. All are illustrated mysteries for young readers.
Brian Selznick's Wonderstruck weaves words and pictures to tell two stories. These picks share its wonder.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chasing Vermeer | Blue Balliett | 9-13 | art mysteries |
| Flora & Ulysses | Kate DiCamillo | 8-12 | funny animal tales |
| Framed | Frank Cottrell Boyce | 9-13 | humour and art |
| The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane | Kate DiCamillo | 8-12 | love and loss |
| The Wild Robot | Peter Brown | 7-11 | readers who like nature |
| Pax | Sara Pennypacker | 9-13 | readers who like animals |
| Wonder | R.J. Palacio | 8-12 | readers who like school stories |
| Counting by 7s | Holly Goldberg Sloan | 10 and up | resilient young heroines |
| The London Eye Mystery | Siobhan Dowd | 9–13 | young detectives |
| The Name of This Book Is Secret | Pseudonymous Bosch | 9–13 | jokey narrators |
| Greenglass House | Kate Milford | 9-13 | cozy mysteries |
| Echo | Pam Muñoz Ryan | 10-14 | readers who like musical stories |
| The Tiger Rising | Kate DiCamillo | 9-12 | grief and friendship |
| Hello Lighthouse | Sophie Blackall | 4–8 | seaside stories |
| El Deafo | Cece Bell | 8–12 | graphic memoirs |
1. Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
Two sixth graders try to find a stolen painting. A mix of art, mystery and pentominoes.
Best for: art mysteries.
2. Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
A girl rescues a squirrel who gains superpowers after an accident. Funny and heartfelt.
Best for: funny animal tales.
3. Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce
A boy in a Welsh village helps hide paintings from the National Gallery. Funny and heartwarming.
Best for: humour and art.
4. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
A china rabbit is lost and found and learns to love. Beautiful and emotional.
Best for: love and loss.
5. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
A robot washes up on an island and learns to live with animals. Short, illustrated and touching.
Best for: readers who like nature.
6. Pax by Sara Pennypacker
A boy and his pet fox are separated during a war. Emotional and illustrated.
Best for: readers who like animals.
7. 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.
8. Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
A gifted girl is left alone after a tragedy and slowly builds a new kind of family. Warm and hopeful.
Best for: resilient young heroines.
9. The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
A boy with a unique mind helps solve a disappearance at the London Eye. Clever and fast.
Best for: young detectives.
10. The Name of This Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch
Two kids chase a mysterious sound-based secret. The narrator keeps telling readers not to read it.
Best for: jokey narrators.
11. Greenglass House by Kate Milford
Milo, the innkeeper's son, spends his winter holiday trying to solve a mystery with mysterious guests. Cozy, atmospheric and full of puzzles.
Best for: cozy mysteries.
12. Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Three children in different countries are tied together by a magic harmonica as war approaches. Lyrical and clever.
Best for: readers who like musical stories.
13. The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo
A boy finds a caged tiger behind a motel in Florida. Quiet and moving.
Best for: grief and friendship.
14. Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
A lighthouse keeper tends the light and has a family. A gentle, award-winning book.
Best for: seaside stories.
15. 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.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Wonderstruck: 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 Wonderstruck. 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 mystery, read Chasing Vermeer. For wonder, try Flora & Ulysses. For adventure, pick Framed.
Related: 15 Books Like Wings of Fire Kids Will Love: Dragons, Quests and Animal Adventures · 12 Dystopian Books Like the Hunger Games | Best Books to Read Like Hunger Games
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote Wonderstruck?
Brian Selznick, in 2011.
Is there a film?
Yes, a 2017 film.
What age is it for?
About 9 and up.
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 seaside stories?
Try Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall, which suits readers looking for seaside stories.
Which book here is best for grief and friendship?
Try The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo, which suits readers looking for grief and friendship.
Which book here is best for readers who like musical stories?
Try Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan, which suits readers looking for readers who like musical stories.
Which book here is best for cozy mysteries?
Try Greenglass House by Kate Milford, which suits readers looking for cozy mysteries.
Which book here is best for jokey narrators?
Try The Name of This Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch, which suits readers looking for jokey narrators.