Dan Gutman has a gift for getting kids to laugh while keeping them hooked on the story. In series like "My Weird School" and standalones such as "The Million Dollar Shot," he mixes big humor, school-day chaos, and relatable kid problems in a way that feels effortless and fun.
If you enjoy reading books by Dan Gutman then you might also like the following authors:
Andrew Clements writes smart, funny stories about school life and the everyday challenges kids face. If Dan Gutman’s classroom comedy appeals to you, Clements’ popular book Frindle is a great place to start.
In this story, fifth-grader Nick Allen invents a new word after a teacher pushes him to think about how language works. Before long, the word frindle spreads through the school, stirring up confusion, excitement, and more than a little trouble.
Nick is a fun character to cheer for, and Clements balances humor with heart. His books capture the creativity, friendships, and small battles of school in a way that feels both lively and sincere.
Gordon Korman is known for energetic middle-grade stories filled with humor, mishaps, and memorable kids. If you like Dan Gutman’s fast-moving, funny books, you’ll probably enjoy Korman’s Ungifted .
The novel follows Donovan Curtis, a prank-prone student who lands in a gifted program by mistake after an administrative mix-up. Suddenly, he’s surrounded by brilliant classmates and trying to survive a world where he clearly does not belong.
The setup leads to plenty of laughs, but the story also has warmth and surprising depth. With sharp humor and strong friendships, Ungifted is an easy recommendation for readers who like funny books with heart.
If Dan Gutman’s humor and relatable kid characters make you laugh, Jeff Kinney is another author worth picking up. Kinney is best known for his wildly popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, especially the first book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
The story introduces Greg Heffley, a middle-schooler trying to survive family drama, shifting friendships, and the daily awkwardness of growing up. His diary-style narration, paired with simple sketches, makes every embarrassment feel even funnier.
Whether he’s dealing with school disasters or cringeworthy moments at home, Greg’s honesty is what makes the series work. He’s flawed, funny, and instantly familiar to anyone who remembers what it feels like to be a kid.
Readers who like Dan Gutman’s entertaining style should also give Louis Sachar a try. Sachar’s Holes combines humor, mystery, and unforgettable characters in a story that stands out from the very first page.
The novel follows Stanley Yelnats, who is unfairly sent to Camp Green Lake, a strange correctional camp where boys spend their days digging holes in a dry lake bed. What seems pointless at first gradually reveals a deeper mystery tied to Stanley’s family history.
Sachar’s writing is clever and surprising, with twists that click beautifully into place. Holes is funny in spots, suspenseful throughout, and ultimately full of heart.
Judy Blume is a natural choice for readers who enjoy Dan Gutman’s humor and kid-centered storytelling. Her books are honest, funny, and deeply tuned in to the way children think and feel.
In Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing readers meet Peter Hatcher, a fourth-grader who is constantly overshadowed by his impossible little brother, Fudge.
Peter does his best to stay patient, but Fudge’s chaos has a way of ruining plans, breaking things, and pushing Peter to his limit.
Blume turns ordinary family frustrations into something genuinely funny and recognizable. Anyone who likes stories about siblings, school, and everyday kid life will find a lot to enjoy here.
R.L. Stine is a great pick for readers who enjoy lively plots and a playful sense of fun. He’s best known for the Goosebumps series, which blends spooky twists with fast pacing and kid-friendly thrills.
One standout is Night of the Living Dummy, the story of two sisters who discover a ventriloquist dummy named Slappy. Not long after he appears, odd and unsettling things begin happening around the house.
Stine keeps the tension high without losing sight of entertainment, making his books exciting rather than overwhelming. For readers who want a little creepiness mixed with plenty of momentum, he’s a strong match.
If you enjoy Dan Gutman’s goofy humor and energetic storytelling, Dav Pilkey is an easy recommendation. Pilkey is best known for hilarious children’s series such as Captain Underpants.
In The Adventures of Captain Underpants, readers meet George and Harold, two prank-loving classmates who spend their time making comics and driving adults crazy.
After one of their schemes goes spectacularly wrong, they hypnotize their cranky principal, Mr. Krupp, and convince him that he’s a superhero called Captain Underpants. The result is a wildly silly adventure full of absurd villains and nonstop laughs.
Pilkey’s books celebrate imagination, friendship, and not taking life too seriously, which makes them especially appealing to kids who love humor at full volume.
Megan McDonald writes lively, funny books about kids navigating school, friendships, and changing moods. Readers who like Dan Gutman’s playful tone may find a lot to enjoy in McDonald’s Judy Moody was in a Mood.
Judy is not excited about starting third grade. She has to deal with a new teacher, a new classroom routine, and a seat next to Frank, who eats paste.
That simple setup leads to plenty of funny moments, but the book also captures something real about being a kid who feels everything strongly. Judy’s voice is spirited, dramatic, and very entertaining.
Chris Grabenstein is a great choice for readers who like humor mixed with adventure. His books are imaginative, fast-paced, and packed with the kind of playful energy Dan Gutman fans often enjoy.
In Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, Kyle Keeley is thrilled to be chosen for an overnight stay in a brand-new high-tech library designed by the eccentric game maker Luigi Lemoncello.
Once the doors lock, Kyle and the other kids discover they’re part of an elaborate puzzle-filled challenge to find the secret way out.
The story is packed with riddles, games, and bookish fun, making it especially satisfying for readers who love clever setups and nonstop momentum.
Readers who like Dan Gutman’s school-based humor may also have a great time with Lincoln Peirce. His stories are full of exaggerated mishaps, funny dialogue, and kid-sized disasters.
Peirce is best known for the Big Nate series, which follows Nate Wright, a confident and mischievous sixth-grader absolutely certain he is meant for greatness.
In Big Nate: In a Class by Himself, Nate gets a fortune cookie that seems to predict he’ll outdo everyone at something. His attempt to prove it leads to one ridiculous school moment after another.
With comic-style illustrations and a hero who is always in over his head, the series is an excellent fit for readers who enjoy big personalities and school humor.
If you enjoy the playful side of Dan Gutman’s writing, Tom Angleberger is well worth trying. His books capture middle-school life with humor, oddball charm, and a lot of creativity.
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda centers on Dwight, a peculiar sixth-grader who makes an origami Yoda finger puppet that somehow gives surprisingly good advice.
The story unfolds through case files assembled by Dwight’s classmates as they try to decide whether Origami Yoda is actually wise or if the whole thing is just one big joke.
Angleberger’s mix of school drama, humor, and mystery gives the book a fresh feel, and the unusual format helps keep the pages turning.
Kate Klise writes quirky, inventive stories that often appeal to readers who enjoy Dan Gutman’s offbeat sense of fun.
If you liked Gutman’s My Weird School series, try Klise’s Regarding the Fountain, a comic mystery told through letters, memos, and notes exchanged between students, school staff, and a wonderfully eccentric fountain designer.
The story begins with a broken drinking fountain at Dry Creek Middle School, then grows into a funny and increasingly strange mystery involving wild design ideas and clues about a missing water source.
Klise’s format makes the book feel brisk and playful, while the characters and absurd situations give it plenty of personality.
Jon Scieszka is known for funny, imaginative books that love to twist familiar stories into something unexpected. His sense of humor is a strong match for readers who enjoy Dan Gutman’s sillier side.
In The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales he turns classic fairy tales inside out with absurd characters and delightfully ridiculous surprises.
One story, for example, swaps the Gingerbread Man for a stinky cheese version that nobody is especially eager to chase.
The book is playful, unpredictable, and ideal for readers who appreciate jokes that are a little weird in the best possible way.
Barbara Park had a remarkable ability to capture the way kids think, speak, and get themselves into trouble. Her Junie B. Jones series is a natural fit for readers who enjoy the goofy school-day energy of Dan Gutman’s books.
In Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, Junie is about to start kindergarten and is already dreading one particular part of it: riding the school bus. It’s noisy, it smells strange, and she has heard alarming stories about what older kids do on it.
When the big day arrives, Junie decides she is absolutely not taking that bus home, setting off a funny chain of bad decisions and school-day chaos.
Junie’s voice is what makes the series so memorable. She’s dramatic, stubborn, and impossible not to laugh at.
Jerry Spinelli often writes about unusual kids who stand out in ways that are funny, touching, and memorable. Readers who like Dan Gutman’s mix of humor and heart may appreciate his work as well.
In Maniac Magee, Spinelli introduces Jeffrey Magee, a boy whose athletic talent and fearless spirit make him something of a legend in his town.
As Maniac moves through a community divided by prejudice, he becomes known for his astonishing feats and for the way he crosses boundaries other people avoid.
The book combines humor, action, and emotional depth, offering a story that is entertaining on the surface and thoughtful underneath.
