What to read next
Books like Big Nate, by age
Finished Big Nate? Here are 8 series to try next, grouped by age and kind: the same age as big nate; a bit older, when they're ready; the same kind of book as big nate. Each one says why it's here and links to the books in order with a checklist.
The picks come from what the series share with Big Nate (funny, school, making-comics, friends) and the next reads its own page names. No one paid to be here and there are no shop links. Checked October 30, 2026.
The same age as Big Nate
Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm
Ages 7–10 Like Big Nate, it's funny and school. It starts a little younger, at 7, so it's a quick, easy read. The Big Nate page names it as a next read. Comic panels with short speech bubbles and a few lines of narration.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Ages 8–12 Like Big Nate, it's funny and school. The Big Nate page names it as a next read. A handwritten-looking diary with a cartoon on most pages: more words than a comic, in short entries.
Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson
Ages 8–12 Like Big Nate, it's funny and school. Short comic strips and a few longer stories, with witty dialogue in small panels and a joke every few lines.
A bit older, when they're ready
Berrybrook Middle School by Svetlana Chmakova
Ages 10+ Like Big Nate, it's school and make-your-own-comics. It starts a little older, at 10. The Big Nate page names it as a next read. Manga-style panels read left to right, with short speech bubbles, lots of facial expressions and a few pages of heavier feeling.
Space Boy by Stephen McCranie
Ages 10+ Like Big Nate, it's friendship. It starts a little older, at 10. Long, quiet comic pages with a lot of talking and feelings, and a big story that builds over many volumes.
The same kind of book as Big Nate
Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
Ages 6–10 Like Big Nate, it's funny and school. It starts a little younger, at 6, so it's a quick, easy read. Short chapters with lots of cartoons and comic pages: a step up from a comic.
The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
Ages 6–10 Like Big Nate, it's funny. It starts a little younger, at 6, so it's a quick, easy read. Big pictures and few words on a page, part comic and part chapter book.
Ricky Ricotta by Dav Pilkey, illustrated by Dan Santat (Martin Ontiveros drew the first editions)
Ages 4–9 Like Big Nate, it's funny. It starts a little younger, at 4, so it's a quick, easy read. Short chapters of big print with a picture on most pages, and a flip-a-page comic in the middle of each book.
More ways to find the next one
- What should I read next?: three taps, three picks.
- By age: 8-year-olds · 9-year-olds · 10-year-olds · 11-year-olds · 12-year-olds
- Big Nate novels in order