Families who loved T-Rex Is Missing! by Tomie dePaola 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 has impulsively blamed a friend for something that went wrong, or when they are struggling with the heavy weight of realizing they were in the wrong. It provides a gentle, low-stakes entry point for discussing the difference between a mistake and a lie, and how to repair a bond after an outburst. Morgie and Billy are best friends, but when Morgie's favorite T-Rex toy disappears, he immediately assumes Billy took it without asking. The story follows the mounting tension of Morgie's anger and the eventual crushing guilt he feels when he discovers the toy exactly where he left it. Tomie dePaola uses his signature warmth to model how to say those two difficult words: I am sorry. It is a perfect choice for early readers who are navigating the complex social waters of elementary school friendships.