15 Fly Guy Read Alikes

My nephew is in that awesome phase where he’s working his way through some awesome easy readers! He started the school year still learning how to sound out words and in a few short months his reading level skyrocketed! It’s so fun to see and I love this new phase of reading he’s in now. Every time he comes to visit, we always make a stop at the library to pick out some books for the visit. The last time he was in town, he must have grabbed at least five Fly Guy books as they’re his new favorite books to read himself.

Finding easy reader read alikes isn’t always an easy prospect and you’ll even find titles on this list in a wide range of reading levels. But, I’m always looking for engaging characters and supporting illustrations that help kids be successful readers. This list is full of both of those things and would make a great list to use for summer reading practice over the next few weeks. Whether your reader is just starting out or is looking for great new books, I’m sure you’re to find something to love on this list! And, if you’ve got other great titles for emerging readers, leave me a comment, I’m always looking for new titles!

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15 Fly Guy Read Alikes

Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret by Bob Shea

Ballet Cat and Sparkles the Pony are trying to decide what to play today. Nothing that Sparkles suggests—making crafts, playing checkers, and selling lemonade—goes well with the leaping, spinning, and twirling that Ballet Cat likes to do. When Sparkles’s leaps, spins, and twirls seem halfhearted, Ballet Cat asks him what’s wrong. Sparkles doesn’t want to say. He has a secret that Ballet Cat won’t want to hear. What Sparkles doesn’t know is that Ballet Cat has a secret of her own, a totally secret secret. Once their secrets are shared, will their friendship end, or be stronger than ever?

The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat

Hippo, Croc, and the Squirrels are determined to have equal cookies for all! But how? There are only three cookies . . . and four of them! They need to act fast before nervous Hippo breaks all the cookies into crumbs!

Cranky Chicken by Katherine Battersby

Cranky Chicken is, well, cranky. With one cranky eyebrow, cranky eyes, and even cranky, scratchy feet. But then one day, Cranky meets a very friendly worm named Speedy who wants nothing more than to be friends. Young readers will love seeing the mismatched friendship grow over the course of three charming and laugh-out-loud short adventures as Chicken and Speedy become BFFs (Best Feathered Friends) and Speedy shows Chicken how to look on the bright side.

Croc and Ally: Fun, Fun, Fun! by Derek Anderson

Croc is grumpy. Ally is happy. Croc sees a problem. Ally finds a solution. In Fun, Fun, Fun, the best friends overcome their differences as they go for a swim, shop for hats, and deal with a big bug.

Dinosaur Hunt by David Catrow

Max Spaniel, a daffy hound dog, decides to go on a dinosaur dig in the backyard. But what Max thinks are dinosaur parts is just a lot of junk — or is it? As Max pieces together his “fossils,” readers will see random objects transform into a living dino!

Duck, Duck, Porcupine by Salina Yoon

Big Duck likes to boss around her younger brother, Little Duck, and she fancies herself the leader of their trio–when joined by their gentle friend Porcupine. Little Duck doesn’t speak yet, but through his expressions and his actions, he shows that he has a better grasp on any situation than his older sister. Told entirely through dialogue and visual storytelling with subtle humor throughout, Little Duck ends up getting the trio out of whatever jam they are in.

Hi, Jack! by Mac Barnett

Meet Jack: He lives in a tree house. His interests include snacks, petty theft, and lipstick graffiti. Jack also loves his friends, he just has a funny way of showing it sometimes . . .

I Will Race You Through This Book! by Jonathan Fenske

This easy-to-read adventure breaks the fourth wall as Book-It Bunny challenges the reader to race her to the end of the story. But with distractions and tricks up her sleeve along the way, the competition becomes both fierce and funny at the same time. On your mark, get set, read!

Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen

To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig — she’s a porcine wonder. And to the portly and good-natured Mercy, the Watsons are an excellent source of buttered toast, not to mention that buttery-toasty feeling she gets when she snuggles into bed with them. This is not, however, so good for the Watsons’ bed. BOOM! CRACK! As the bed and its occupants slowly sink through the floor, Mercy escapes in a flash – “to alert the fire department,” her owners assure themselves. But could Mercy possibly have another emergency in mind — like a sudden craving for their neighbors’ sugar cookies? Welcome to the wry and endearing world of Mercy Watson — an ebullient character for early chapter-book readers in a series that’s destined to be a classic.

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea! by Ben Clanton

Narwhal is a happy-go-lucky narwhal. Jelly is a no-nonsense jellyfish. The two might not have a lot in common, but they do they love waffles, parties and adventures. Join Narwhal and Jelly as they discover the whole wide ocean together.

Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas

Bug! Rug! Mug! Hug! These dust bunnies love to rhyme. Well, except for Bob. Much to the other bunnies’ frustration, Bob can never get the rhythm right. Then he saves everyone from a big, scary monster wielding—gasp!—a broom, and they all breathe a sigh of relief. But can Bob save them from the big, scary monster’s next attack? Vrrrrrroooommm…

See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

See Max. Max is not a cat—Max is a dog. But much to Max’s dismay, the book keeps instructing readers to “see the cat.” How can Max get through to the book that he is a DOG? In a trio of stories for beginning readers, author David LaRochelle introduces the excitable Max, who lets the book know in irresistibly emphatic dialogue that the text is not to his liking. Illustrator Mike Wohnoutka hilariously depicts the pup’s reactions to the narrator and to the wacky cast of characters who upend Max’s—and readers’—expectations as the three stories build to an immensely satisfying conclusion. Hooray, Max, hooray!

Today I Will Fly! by Mo Willems

Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.

Gerald and Piggie are best friends.
Today, I Will Fly! is the funny introduction to the characters.  Piggie is determined to fly.  But Gerald the elephant knows that’s impossible–isn’t it? 

We Are Growing by Laurie Keller

Walt and his friends are growing up fast! Everyone is the something-est. But . . . what about Walt? He is not the tallest, or the curliest, or the silliest. He is not the anything-est! As a BIG surprise inches closer, Walt discovers something special of his own!

What About Worms!? by Ryan T. Higgins

Tiger is BIG. Tiger is BRAVE. And Tiger is NOT afraid of anything . . . except WORMS! Are Tiger’s worm worries worse than worms?