Books like Sammy by Samuel R. Harris

In Camp Green Lake, a boy named Stanley Yelnats must dig endless holes for a supposedly reformatory camp that really hides a buried truth.

A vivid picture book follows a hungry caterpillar as it searches for food, experiences a tummy ache, and discovers a healthy leaf. An astonishing transformation awaits—discover it in this engaging children's tale.

A tender picture book that follows the lifelong bond between a boy and a tree, exploring themes of love, generosity, and self‑less giving.

Where the Red Fern Grows is a 1961 classic children’s adventure that follows a young boy who raises two hunting dogs in the Ozark Mountains, a heart‑warming tale of friendship, growing up, and the challenges of loss.

Shel Silverstein’s whimsical collection of poems and drawings invites you into a world where imagination rules—where a boy becomes a TV set, a girl devours a whale, and a unicorn stumbles through the streets.

A rhythmic picture book that introduces children to a spectrum of animals through vibrant colors and simple, engaging rhyme.

A ten‑year‑old boy in rural Virginia befriends a newcomer, and together they create the imaginary kingdom of Terabithia, a friendship that ends tragically when a storm forces an untimely death.

A charming first look at early American pioneer life, following young Laura Ingalls and her family as they live in a simple Wisconsin cabin, learn chores, and grow together on the Big Woods frontier.

A young boy spends a year alone in the Catskill Mountains, learning wilderness survival, relying on nature and animal friends, and ultimately discovering that he cannot thrive without human companionship.

Dr. Seuss’s classic guide offers a playful, rousing invitation for readers of all ages to pursue dreams, embrace adventures, and overcome obstacles with optimism and whimsical verse.

The Rainbow Fish, the most beautiful fish in the ocean, learns that true beauty lies in sharing and friendship.

Amos McGee, a kindly zookeeper, takes a day off from his animal friends when he catches a cold, yet his sick day brings unexpected visitors that restore his spirits.

A young Florida boy in the early 20th century bonds with an orphaned fawn named Flag. Their friendship endures storms and wild beasts, while their family's rough life on a small farm tests resilience and hope.

An account of Leon Leyson’s childhood in Poland, his forced migration to ghettos and concentration camps during the Holocaust, and his rescue by Oskar Schindler.

A poignant young‑adult view of life in the Secret Annex through the eyes of Peter Van Pels, a Dutch family hiding with the Frank family during the Holocaust.

Fourteen young Holocaust survivors recount their harrowing lives as children hidden by non-Jewish helpers, revealing the courage and compassion that kept them alive during the war.

This lively picture book for children ages 3-6 is filled with amiable animals, who through their actions demonstrate age-appropriate mitzvot, including welcoming new friends, forgiving mistakes, respecting elders, and sharing food with the hungry. It engages children through playful illustrations; likeable animal characters, including Mitzvah Meerkat, the narrator; humor and the repetition of the fun-to-say phrase "It's a ... it's a ...it's a mitzvah!" that encourages children to chime in as the words are repeated throughout the book. Side notes on each spread explain the specific mitzvah in every vignette. With this aside, parents and teachers have an opportunity to ask the child or group of children, "What is the good deed here?" and spark a conversation without preaching. Children will see how everyday kindness is the beginning of a Jewish journey and a lifetime commitment to tikkun olam (repairing the world)--Publisher.

In 1860s Texas hill country, a boy recounts the trials of a mischievous yellow dog who becomes part of his family's ranch life.

Hannelore Wolff leaves her boarding school to join her family in a Polish ghetto, enduring eight concentration camps and finding love and hope amid the Holocaust.

Anita Lobel recounts her childhood as a Polish Jew during the Holocaust and her years in exile in Sweden, offering a poignant first‑hand perspective on survival and resilience.

A firsthand account of Jewish teenagers surviving the ghettos of Lodz, Theresienstadt, and Warsaw during the Holocaust.

A young girl's survival during World War II in Poland and Auschwitz