Families who loved Truthfully, Something Smelled Fishy! by Jessica Gunderson 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 a playground dispute or insisting their side of a story is the only truth. It is the perfect tool for teaching perspective-taking through a humorous lens, showing that even the most famous stories can look different from another angle. The book retells the classic Little Mermaid tale from the viewpoint of the Sea Witch, turning a legendary villain into a misunderstood character with her own set of motives. This early chapter book uses humor and subversion to explore themes of justice, empathy, and the complexity of truth. At 24 pages with engaging illustrations, it is perfectly calibrated for children aged 6 to 9 who are beginning to navigate social nuances and the idea that being 'right' depends on who is telling the story. It provides a gentle, non-preachy way to discuss why we should listen to others before making judgments.
