Families who loved The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh by Helen Rutter 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 major transition, like starting a new school, and feels that a personal insecurity or physical difference might hold them back from making friends. It is especially powerful for children who struggle with a stutter or any speech difference, but its message of courage resonates with anyone who has ever felt the need to hide a part of themselves to fit in. Billy Plimpton is a witty, aspiring comedian who decides that the best way to handle his stutter in middle school is to simply not speak at all. Of course, silence creates its own set of problems, including drawing the attention of a school bully. Through humor and heart, the story follows Billy as he learns that his voice, however it sounds, is his greatest tool. It is a realistic and funny exploration of anxiety, self-acceptance, and the power of finding your tribe.