Books like The Little Engine That Could

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper reads as encouraging, inspiring. These 12 books share its genome — matched by how they actually read, not just their shelf label.

Are You My Mother?

P. D. Eastman · 1960

Both explore perseverance

63% genome match

The Trumpet of the Swan

E. B. White

Both explore perseverance

60% genome match

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

Virginia Lee Burton · 1939

Both explore perseverance

83% genome match

Goldilocks and the three bears

James Marshall · 1988

Same classic feel

61% genome match

Millions of cats

Wanda Gág · 1928

Same classic feel

58% genome match

A Bear Called Paddington

Michael Bond · 1960

Same classic feel

57% genome match

Stone soup

Marcia Brown · 1947

Same classic feel

57% genome match

Blueberries for Sal

Robert McCloskey · 1948

Same classic feel

57% genome match

Elephants cannot dance!

Mo Willems · 2009

Both explore perseverance

61% genome match

The House at Pooh Corner

A. A. Milne · 1925

Same classic feel

57% genome match

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Beatrix Potter

Same classic feel

57% genome match

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Jan Brett · 1987

Same classic feel

57% genome match