Families who loved Franklin Endicott and the Third Key by Kate DiCamillo often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child starts making lists of every possible thing that could go wrong or struggles with the 'what-ifs' that keep them awake at night. Franklin Endicott is a chronic worrier who carries a notebook of every possible disaster, but when his friend Eugenia Lincoln drags him on an errand to a mysterious second-hand shop, he finds himself in the middle of a puzzle that requires more than just caution. It is a gentle, humorous exploration of how anxiety can be managed through friendship and the realization that the world is more than just a list of dangers. DiCamillo uses her signature whimsical prose to validate a child's fears while nudging them toward bravery. It is perfectly suited for early elementary readers who feel things deeply and need to see that even the most cautious person can be a hero. You might choose this to open a conversation about how we can acknowledge our worries without letting them decide our whole day.
