Children’s Book Characters Named Matthew
Here are just a few children’s books with characters named Matthew. Please comment below if you know of one I missed. I hope this encourages your kiddo to read!
Matthew’s Dream by Leo Lionni
Matthew the mouse lives in a dreary corner of a dusty attic. But a trip to the museum helps him to see his surroundings in a new way. With brush in paw, Matthew sets out to paint “the shapes and colors of joy.” (Includes a character named Nicoletta)
- No other character names mentioned.
- Ratings- Amazon: 4.6 Goodreads:4.1
- 3-7 year olds
- Lexile Measure- AD670L
The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson
Emotionally crippled by his obsessive-compulsive disorder, teenager Matthew Corbin rarely leaves his room on a cul-de-sac in London, and he passes the day observing and writing down his neighbors doings from his window–and when a toddler staying next door disappears Matt is the key to solving a mystery and possibly saving a child’s life–if he can manage to expose himself, and his secret guilt, to the outside world.
- Also includes characters: Charles, Jake Bishop, Nina, Brian, Penny, Jenkins, Hannah, Gordon, Melody Bird, Frankie, Teddy, Casey, Callum, & Nigel.
- Rating- Amazon:4.6 Goodreads:4.1
- 3rd-7th grade
- Lexile Measure: 750 L
Zack and the Turkey Attack! by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
While helping on his grandparents’ farm, Zack, his best friend Matthew, and neighbor Josie Wells outsmart a tormenting turkey and, in the process, solve a mystery of missing jewelry.
- Also has a character named Emilene
- Ratings- Amazon:4.8 Goodreads:3.5
- 7-11 year olds
- Lexile measure: 810L
Matthew A.B.C. by Peter Catalanotto
Mrs. Tuttle has her hands full with a class of twenty-five boys — and to make matters worse, they’re all named Matthew! Could there be room for one more Matthew? Mrs. Tuttle thinks so…and she doesn’t even have trouble figuring out which boy is which. The new Matthew fits right in with the others as readers discover that each Matthew is unique in his own special, alphabetical way.
- No other character names mentioned.
- Ratings- Amazon:4.8 Goodreads:4.0
- 4-8 year olds
- Lexile Measure: 350L
Matthew’s Truck by Katherine Ayres
VROOM! Matthew’s truck likes to go places! It ZOOMS up hills and tumbles down cliffs, again and again (watch out at the bottom of the stairs!). Matthew’s truck can splash through dangerous lakes, steer through crooked streets, and sneak under shadowy bridges. Good thing there’s an excellent driver like Matthew behind the wheel!
- No other character names mentioned.
- Ratings- Amazon:4.2 Goodreads:3.7
- Toddler
The Bamboo Sword by Margi Preus
Master writer Margi Preus treats readers to an amazing adventure in 1853 Japan. This lyric novel follows Yoshi, a Japanese boy who dreams of becoming a samurai. Unfortunately, as part of the serving class, Yoshi can never become a warrior. He is taken up by Manjiro, the protagonist of Preus’s Heart of a Samurai, and becomes his servant and secret watchdog. Meanwhile, Commodore Matthew Perry and his USS Susquehanna squadron of steamships arrive in Edo Bay demanding that Japan open its ports to foreign trade. Aboard the commodore’s flagship is Jack Sullivan, a cabin boy who becomes separated from his American companions. He and Yoshi set out on a grand adventure to return Jack to his ship before he is discovered by the shogun’s samurai.
- Other characters: Preble, Kiku, Nakahama, Hiko, Han, Shozo, and Enju
- Ratings: Amazon-4.5 Goodreads-3.8
- 10-14 year olds or 5th-9th grade
- Lexile measure: 820L
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