Families who loved The Bucket List by Megan McDonald 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 feeling discouraged by a big goal or when they are struggling to stay focused on a long term project. Judy Moody and the Bucket List addresses the emotional whirlwind of setting ambitious goals and the resilience required when things do not go as planned. Through Judy's humorous attempts to complete a list of milestones before school starts, the story validates the frustration of failure while celebrating the joy of trying new things. This chapter book is a perfect fit for elementary schoolers who are beginning to explore their own independence and identity. Parents will appreciate how the story highlights a warm, intergenerational relationship between Judy and Grandma Lou, who provides gentle wisdom and perspective. It is an excellent choice for normalizing the 'messy middle' of learning a new skill, showing children that even when they feel like a failure, they are often making progress in ways they do not yet realize.