If you loved

Books like The great brain

A warm, humorous tribute to sibling admiration and the triumph of childhood cleverness over everyday troubles. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with The great brain.

lighthearted
adventurous
warm

01
Big Nate - Great Minds Think Alike
Lincoln Peirce
A hilarious, fast-paced romp through the chaotic, detention-filled days of a wildly overconfident middle schooler.
Shares:
- lighthearted
- wry
02
The Blue Djinn of Babylon
Philip Kerr
A globe-trotting, myth-steeped adventure where ancient magic collides with modern sibling bonds.
Shares:
- adventurous
- earnest
03
Encyclopedia Brown Lends a Hand
Donald J. Sobol · 1974
A nostalgic, interactive puzzle-box of a book that invites you to outsmart the neighborhood bullies and baffling crooks.
Shares:
- wry
04
Littles Go to School (Littles)
John Peterson
A cozy, miniature-scale fantasy where tiny siblings explore the giant, wondrous world of a school classroom.
Shares:
- earnest
05
The Great and Terrible Quest
Lovett · 1967
A quiet, wintry journey of chivalry and found family that feels like discovering a forgotten medieval legend.
Shares:
- earnest
06
Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush?
Jerry Spinelli
A chaotic, funny, and ultimately heartfelt exploration of the trenches of sibling warfare.
Shares:
- lighthearted
- humorous
- earnest
07
The Skull of Truth
Bruce Coville
A lighthearted, slightly spooky exploration of what happens when the filter comes off and the absolute truth spills out.
Shares:
- lighthearted
- warm
- humorous
- earnest
08
Encyclopedia Brown Gets His Man
Donald J. Sobol · 1967
A nostalgic, interactive puzzle-box that invites you to outsmart neighborhood bullies and baffled adults.
Shares:
- lighthearted
09
The School Skeleton
Ron Roy
A playful, clue-filled romp through familiar school hallways where every corner holds a new puzzle.
Shares:
- lighthearted
10
The homework Machine
Dan Gutman
A fast-paced, multi-perspective caper about the thrilling highs and stressful lows of finding the ultimate shortcut.
Shares:
- lighthearted
- humorous
11
Big Nate The Boy With The Biggest Head In The World
Lincoln Peirce
A hilarious, high-energy romp through the chaotic mind of a middle schooler who is absolutely certain he is destined for greatness.
Shares:
- lighthearted
12
Freak the Mighty
Rodman Philbrick
An uplifting and earnest story about two boys who combine their unique strengths to become an unstoppable team.
Shares:
- earnest

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