Families who loved Get to Work! 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 everyone else is succeeding at something while they are stuck at the starting line. As Ivy and Bean navigate Career Day at Emerson Elementary, they find themselves in a hilarious spiral of FOMO (fear of missing out) when a classmate's treasure hunting hobby sparks a school-wide frenzy. While their peers are digging up artifacts and finding 'gold,' Ivy and Bean struggle to find their own big break. This story beautifully captures the intense, often competitive nature of second-grade friendships and the pressure children feel to have their future 'figured out.' It is a lighthearted way to discuss jealousy, perseverance, and the reality that success doesn't always look like a box of buried jewels. Parents will appreciate how it validates the frustration of being 'last' while keeping the tone comedic and age-appropriate for 6 to 9-year-olds.