Books like 'The Retired Kid'
Readers who enjoyed The Retired Kid by Jon Agee also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
humor children friendship coming-of-age
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Let's Go for a Drive! (Elephant and Piggie) [Paperback] Mo Willems by Mo Willems
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsLets Go for a... -
I Broke My Trunk! by Mo Willems
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsGerald is careful. Piggie is not.Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.Gerald and Piggie are best friends.In I Broke My Trunk! Gerald tells Piggie the long, crazy story about breaking his trunk. Will Piggie end up with a long, crazy story of her own?Once again, Mo Willems creates another hilarious escapade starring the Geisel Award-winning duo... -
The Hour of Magic by Geronimo Stilton, Elisabetta Dami
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFairies, dragons, wizards, and more await Geronimo on every magical Kingdom of Fantasy adventure!I, Geronimo Stilton, was amazed to find myself called back to the Kingdom of Fantasy for another adventure. Blossom, Queen of the Fairies, needed my help -- time itself was under threat! Something evil was making the hands of the magical Tick Tock Timepiece spin faster and faster... -
DogZombies Rule (for now) by Liz Pichon, Russell Tovey
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsHere's my EXCELLENT PLAN to make DogZombies the BEST band in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD! How hard can it be? (Very.)Right now I'm going to:1. Write more songs (not about teachers).2. Make a SPECTACULAR music video (easy).3. Get some sleep (tricky when you're being kept awake by LOUD NOISES).4. Annoy Delia (nothing to do with DogZombies but always FUN)... -
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The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA beautiful lyrical story that introduces the concept of individuality, accepting of others differences, and respect for those around us.This is a tale about conformism and individualism, as Mr. Plumbean's expression of creativity and individuality challenges his neighbor's ideas about the importance of having a “neat street.” By repainting his house to reflect his colorful dreams, Mr... -
My New Friend Is So Fun! by Mo Willems
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsGerald is careful. Piggie is not. Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to. Gerald and Piggie are best friends. In My New Friend Is So Fun! Piggie is having so much fun with her new friend... -
Mac and Cheese by Sarah Weeks
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWritten in the style of P. D. Eastman’s classic Big Dog . . . Little Dog, this modern-day alley-cat odd couple will delight beginning readers. Mac loves to run and play, but Cheese likes lazy lounging... -
Listen to My Trumpet! by Mo Willems
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsGerald is careful. Piggie is not.Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.Gerald and Piggie are best friends... -
Pink Is Not a Color by Lindsay Ward
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsPink finds happiness right where she always knew it was in this colorful companion to the popular picture book This Book Is Gray . Pink loves her rosy world, from her pink toy dinosaur to her pet flamingo, Phil. But when she sees the Primaries and Secondaries getting ready for the Rainbow Extravaganza, she begins to wonder why she isn’t in the rainbow…and if that means she’s not really a color... -
Socks for Supper by Jack Kent
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen a poor couple exchange socks for cheese and milk, they receive more than expected... -
But Not the Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsA shy hippo makes a big impact in this Sandra Boynton classic.Serious silliness for all ages. Artist Sandra Boynton is back and better than ever with completely redrawn versions of her multi-million selling board books... -
David Gets in Trouble by David Shannon
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsWhen David gets in trouble, he always says . . . "NO! It's not my fault! I didn't mean to! It was an accident!"Whatever the situation, David's got a good excuse. And no matter what he's done "wrong," it's never really his fault. Soon, though, David realizes that making excuses makes him feel bad, and saying he's sorry makes him feel better... -
Jillian Jiggs by Phoebe Gilman
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsJillian Jiggs-- who spends most of her time making up games and playing dress-up-- is much too busy to clean her... -
Chez Bob by Bob Shea
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom the hilarious author of Who Wet My Pants?, Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great, and the Dinosaur Vs. series comes a kid-pleasing read-aloud about a devious alligator who learns to love! Welcome to Chez Bob, which seems like a real restaurant ... until you realize .. -
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Heidi Heckelbeck Goes to Camp! by Wanda Coven
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen Heidi has trouble making friends at camp, she discovers that courage can be even more powerful than magic!Heidi can’t wait to go to camp with her friend Lucy, but when they get there, Lucy’s camp friends from last year make Heidi feel unwelcome... -
Sweety by Andrea Zuill
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAn Indie Next List Top 10 Pick! From the author of WOLF CAMP comes the story of a charming, mushroom-loving, headgear-wearing, totally awkward naked mole rat who is looking for like-minded peeps. Sweety is awkward, even for a naked mole rat. She has protruding front teeth, thick glasses, and some very unusual hobbies, including interpretive dance and fungus identification... -
I'm NOT just a Scribble... by Diane Alber
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsScribble, the book's main character, never thought he was different until he met his first drawing. Then, after being left out because he didn't look like everyone else. Scribble teaches the other drawings how to accept each other for who they are... -
Oh, Valentine, We've Lost Our Minds! by Dan Gutman
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA.J. and the gang from My Weird School star in this series of after-school, holiday-themed chapter books featuring all-new hilarious stories and thirty-two pages of games, puzzles, and more.It's the week of Valentine's Day, and A.J.'s class is getting a foreign exchange student! His name is Pierre, and he's from France. But what happens when Pierre challenges A.J... -
Fox the Tiger by Corey R. Tabor
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFox wishes he were a tiger. Tigers are big and fast and sneaky. So he decides to become one!Soon Turtle and Rabbit are joining in the fun... -
Bird Hugs by Ged Adamson
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBernard isn’t like other birds. His wings are impossibly long, and try as he might, he just can’t seem to fly. He’s left wondering what his wings are good for…if they’re even good for anything at all. But a chance encounter with a dejected orangutan leads Bernard to a surprising discovery: that maybe what makes him different is actually something to be embraced... -
Ruby the Copycat by Peggy Rathmann
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIt's the first day of school, and Ruby is new. When her classmate Angela wears a red bow in her hair, Ruby comes back from lunch wearing a red bow, too. When Angela wears a flowered dress, suddenly Ruby's wearing one, too... -
Gossie by Olivier Dunrea
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMeet Gossie, a small yellow gosling who loves to wear bright red boots—every day. One morning Gossie can’t find her beloved boots. She looks everywhere for them: under the bed, over the wall, even in the barn. Preschoolers will enjoy helping Gossie find her red boots and delight in where Gossie finally finds them... -
Mr. Klutz Is Nuts! by Dan Gutman
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsNever before has school been this mixed up--or this much funPrincipal Klutz was hanging upside down from the school flagpole He kissed a pig on the lips and painted his bald head orange And now he wants to bungee jump off the roof of the school dressed as Santa... -
We're going to be friends by Jack White
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings"Possibly the greatest-ever song about childhood BFFs.” — Entertainment Weekly"We're Going to be Friends" is one of The White Stripes most enduring and loved songs. With the help of illustrator Elinor Blake, the perennial favorite feels right at home on the page as a children's book. Join Suzy Lee as she goes to school with her books and pens, looks for bugs, shows and tells, and finds a friend... -
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Skin Like Mine by LaTashia M. Perry
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFrom the Creators of Hair Like Mine, Skin Like Mine, the second book in the Kids Like Mine Series, is a fun, easy-to- read for beginners as well as advanced readers. An entertaining yet creative way to address and celebrate diversity among young children. Guaranteed to make you smile and a bit hungry... -
The World's Best Class Plant by Liz Garton Scanlon, Audrey Vernick
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAn irresistible picture book about a boy and his classmates who long for a class pet, but discover the joys and rewards of nurturing a class plant.Room 107 has a cockatiel. Room 108 has a chinchilla. Even the Art Room has a bearded dragon. But in Room 109, Arlo's classroom, there is a plant. A mostly green, hardly growing, never moving plant... -
The Giant Hug by Sandra Horning
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHow do you give your granny a hug when she lives far away? Send it through the mail, of course!Owen’s hug travels across the country in a series of hilarious, sometimes awkward, always heartfelt embraces between animals of different shapes and sizes. Valeri Gorbachev’s adorable artwork pairs beautifully with Sandra Horning’s charming text, and makes for a fun, funny, and educational read-aloud... -
Rectangle Time by Pamela Paul
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsPerfect for story time, New York Times Book Review editor Pamela Paul's funny and charming story about books, pets, and reading together will enchant readers of all ages. This spunky, self-assured cat has always loved Rectangle Time--when the boy and the man he lives with curl up with their rectangle and read aloud from it... -
George and Martha Round and Round by James Marshall
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMore wonderful adventures of George and Martha, two lovable hippos with a strong friendship. One hippo's trash is another hippo's...cuckoo clock? George and Martha may be best friends, but that doesn't mean they like all the same things. The two hippos exercise both their imaginations and forgiveness as they deepen their bond of friendship in this addition to the classic children's series... -
Zootopia: Judy Hopps and the Missing Jumbo-Pop (Disney Picture Book by Walt Disney Company
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOfficer Judy Hopps is on an exciting case in Zootopia. Her day started out like any other, until she stumbled across a crying elephant who was missing his Jumbo-pop. Hand-in-hand, the two retraced his steps and followed clues across the city... -
George and Martha Encore by James Marshall
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThis second installment in the beloved series showcases the sweetness of friendship. George and Martha know that its always a good idea to have a true friend in your corner (or at your dance recital)—even if you don't listen to their warning about the sun and end up a bright pink hippo after a day at the beach... -
Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year by Andrea Beaty
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA moving story starring the Questioneers' teacher that's all about kindness, learning to face your fears, and the profound difference that one brilliant educator can make in a child’s life from the #1 bestselling creators of Aaron Slater, Illustrator and Ada Twist, Scientist ! Lila Greer is full of worries. Even the smallest things—from cabbages to cardboard—fill her with dread and What Ifs... -
Gossie & Gertie by Olivier Dunrea
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsGossie and Gertie are best friends. They splash in the rain, play hide-and-seek, and they dive in the pond together. Everywhere Gossie goes, Gertie does too. Or does she? With charming illustrations and gentle text, Olivier Dunrea has created two lovable, sweet characters that will appeal to the youngest listeners... -
On Herring Cove Road: Mr. Rosen and His 43Lb Anxiety by Michael Kroft
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsOnce an amusing extrovert with a reputation as a prankster, Mr. Rosen is entering his retirement years as a stoic thirty-year converted introvert who has no interest in people, despises change, and is more than content to have his wife navigate his life... -
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How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? by Jane Yolen
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThe bestselling, award-winning team of Yolen and Teague present their fourth original dinosaur board book, a fun guide to friendship and playing nicely with others... -
There's a Bear on My Chair by Ross Collins
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsPoor Mouse! A bear has settled in his favorite chair, and that chair just isn’t big enough for two. Mouse tries all kinds of tactics to move pesky Bear, but nothing works. Once Mouse has gone, Bear gets up and walks home... -
Miss Child Has Gone Wild! by Dan Gutman
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWith more than 30 million books sold, the My Weird School series really gets kids reading!In the first book in My Weirder School—the laugh-out-loud third arc of the My Weird School series—A.J. and the rest of the third graders at Ella Mentry School go on a field trip to the zoo... -
Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsChicken has some unexpected and exuberant cow visitors who have exciting plans for jumping, dancing, and wiggling on his teeny-tiny couch, and Chicken is none too happy about it... -
Juicy Gossip by Erin Soderberg Downing
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsCandy Apple books . . . just for you. Sweet. Fresh. Fun. Take a bite!Jenna Sampson, perfectly normal seventh grader and editor of the school newspaper, is mortified. Her parents are opening a super-embarrassing juice bar at the mall. Jenna has to work there . . . and wear a ridiculous uniform. She's pretty sure her life can't get worse, until she finds out that the school paper might shut down...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age friendship humor middle-grade fiction children-books realistic -
Donkey-Donkey by Roger Duvoisin
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsDonkey-Donkey thinks that he looks ridiculous with long ears that stick straight up, so he consults his friends on the farm. Each animal has its own idea of beautiful ears—all remarkably like their own. Poor Donkey-donkey becomes sadder and sadder as he tries to follow their advice, with hilarious results... -
Almost Everybody Farts by Marty Kelley
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“A playful, punchy paean to the pervasive poot.” —Kirkus Reviews (Starred review) Grandmas fart. Teachers fart. Terrifying creatures fart. But . . . is there someone who DOESN’T fart? With sly humor, this fun board book looks at a subject that’s sure to make children laugh: farting... -
Can I Join Your Club? by John Kelly, Steph Laberis
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsDuck just has one question: Can I Join Your Club? He wants to belong to all of them. To any of them. Elephant Club, Lion Club, he just wants to belong. And he tries so hard to fit in so he can – kids will love pointing out in the illustrations just exactly how he tries – a curly wig, dark glasses – but it just doesn’t work. He can’t be someone else. So, he starts his own club... -
Peanut by Linas Alsenas
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFrom the author/illustrator of MRS. CLAUS TAKES A VACATION, an utterly charming story of an old lady who makes an elephant her new pet dog.When an old lady finds a small elephant in the park, what is she to do? Take him home and treat him like a pet dog, of course! Peanut's not like other dogs, though . . . and another walk in the park reveals that he's missing from the circus... -
The King Penguin by Vanessa Roeder
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsKing Penguin is off to find subjects who will listen to him—as long as they don’t eat him first, in this cheeky tale by beloved author-illustrator Vanessa RoederPercival the King Penguin doesn’t think he’s asking for too much when he makes all the rules—he is a king after all. But he’s tired of the other penguins protesting, so he’s off to find subjects who are more obedient and supportive... -
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Hey World, Here I Am! by Jean Little
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAn ALA Notable Children’s Book * Multiple starred reviews“Engaging” — ALA Booklist (starred review)“A compelling portrait.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“Funny and poignant.” — School Library Journal (starred review)Honest and engaging, award-winning author Jean Little’s beloved Hey World, Here I Am! is told in a series of poems, observations, and vignettes...Categorized as:
friendship children coming-of-age humor fiction children-books middle-grade young-adult -
Not Little by Maya Myers
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsJust because you're really small doesn't mean you can't have a big heart. When the diminutive Dot stands up to a bully on behalf of an even smaller friend, she proves how big she can truly be... -
Sorry by Joanna Cotler
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsCow was in a nasty mood. When Duck came along Cow kicked mud in her face.“Why’d you do that?” asked Duck.“I felt like it,” said Cow. “And I’m not sorry.”Little did Cow know that her bad mood would spread to the whole farm. But it does when Cow passes her anger along to Duck who takes it out on Frog who is mean to Bird who upsets Goat who bothers Pig... -
Poppleton Everyday by Cynthia Rylant
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThree delightful new tales about Poppleton for beginning readers, with charming illustrations by a best-selling artist, in which Poppleton gets sick while stargazing, goes in search of a new bed, and finds sailing anything but relaxing... -
Hedgehog Needs a Hug by Jen Betton
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEveryone needs hugs, even if they're prickly.When Hedgehog wakes up feeling down in the snout and droopy in the prickles, he knows a hug will make him feel better. But none of his friends are eager to wrap their arms around Hedgehog's prickles, and he's too smart to fall for Fox's sly offer.Then Hedgehog gets a surprise: Another animal in the forest is feeling exactly the same way... -
Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates by Cheryl Klein
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTwo hamster roommates with wildly different personalities crammed in one cage--what could go wrong in this hilarious story about introverts versus extroverts?It's been two hundred and five days since Henry has had peace. That's because it's been two hundred and five days since Marvin has come to live with him...
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