Families who loved Ivy Takes Care by Rosemary Wells 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 is facing a summer of loneliness or feeling abandoned by a friend who is moving away or traveling. Ivy is devastated when her best friend leaves for the season, but she decides to channel her energy into a pet-sitting business in the 1950s Southwest. Through her interactions with a variety of animals, from a stubborn pony to a scarred racehorse, Ivy discovers that nurturing others is a powerful way to heal her own heart. This gentle historical novel is perfect for children ages 8 to 12 who are learning to navigate social shifts and independence. It offers a beautiful model of how responsibility and hard work can turn a period of isolation into a season of self-discovery and resilience. Parents will appreciate the wholesome, quiet tone and the way it validates a child's deep emotional world.