Families who loved The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street by Sharon G. Flake 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 struggling with social hierarchies at school, perhaps using bragging or a bossy attitude to mask feelings of insecurity or a desire to fit in. Ten year old Queen thinks she is better than everyone else, but her classmates see her as stuck up and mean. Through her interactions with Leroy, a boy who is poor but has a heart of gold and a colorful imagination, Queen begins to see the value in others and the flaws in her own behavior. This is a story about the masks children wear to protect themselves and the transformative power of genuine kindness. It is a perfect choice for teaching humility and empathy to children ages 8 to 12. It serves as a gentle mirror for children who feel they have to prove their worth through status, helping them understand that being a true friend is more valuable than being a queen.
