Officer Buckle and Gloria

by David McKee

Like Officer Buckle, Elmer discovers that being different—in his case, a patchwork quilt of colors instead of gray—actually becomes his greatest strength when he helps his herd. Both stories hinge on a character learning that what makes you stand out can transform how others see you, and both use gentle humor to deliver that message without preaching.

by Kate DiCamillo

This one's from 2003, so it gives you a different era of children's literature, but it shares Officer Buckle's warmth and the way it treats its animal character (a mouse) as a fully realized personality with agency, not just a cute sidekick. DiCamillo also weaves in themes about forgiveness and second chances that echo the way Gloria gives Officer Buckle a second chance at being heard.

by Katherine Applegate

Here's your surprise pick: it's technically middle-grade, but it operates more like literary fiction—told from a gorilla's perspective with real philosophical weight. Like Gloria, Ivan is an animal who becomes a catalyst for change in the human world around him, but Applegate asks harder questions about captivity, identity, and what it means to be seen. It's still warm and hopeful like Officer Buckle, just with more texture.

by Doreen Cronin

Cronin has that same deadpan humor as Rathmann—her farm animals are scheming and clever in ways that make adults laugh as much as kids do. The way the animals in her stories organize and communicate reminds me of how Gloria's presence changes the dynamic of Officer Buckle's safety speeches; there's always a hidden partnership at work that makes things actually function.

by Susan Hill

This graphic novel series starter has that same "unlikely partnership saves the day" energy as Officer Buckle and Gloria, but it's set in a contemporary world where a mysterious boy arrives with no memory. Winick's pacing—mixing action, humor, and genuine character moments—mirrors how Rathmann balances comedy with real stakes, and the visual storytelling gives you a completely different medium to experience similar themes.