Families who loved Iggy Rules the Animal Kingdom by Annie Barrows 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 feels like they are being held to an impossible standard of maturity while the adults around them seem to make no sense. It is the perfect choice for the 7 to 10 year old who is lobbying hard for a pet and feeling the stinging frustration of being told they are not responsible enough. Through the lens of the high-spirited Iggy, the story captures the quintessential childhood struggle for autonomy and the desire to be taken seriously. At its heart, this chapter book is about the gap between what adults say and what they do. Iggy is a relatable protagonist who, in his quest for a puppy, attempts to use logic and a secret plan involving a chinchilla to prove his worth. It normalizes the Big Feelings of childhood: the sense of unfairness, the burning desire for a pet, and the inevitable mistakes that come with trying too hard. Parents will appreciate the humor and the realistic, if slightly chaotic, family dynamics that mirror the everyday challenges of raising an energetic child.