Head-to-head
Braver and Boulder vs Today I Will Fly!
Both are illustrated chapter books for early readers (ages 5-7), but InvestiGators leans into silly pun humor while Elephant & Piggie focuses on sweet friendship lessons.
Today I Will Fly!
by Mo Willems
The perfect first friendship story — and one of the best read-aloud picture books ever made.
Score comparison
| Score | Braver and Boulder | Today I Will Fly! | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kid Score | 74 | 70 | Braver and Boulder (+4) |
| Parent Score | 55 | 63 | Today I Will Fly! (+8) |
| Teacher Score | 45 | 72 | Today I Will Fly! (+27) |
✓ Braver and Boulder — perfect for
- •Kids ages 7-10 who love graphic novels
- •spy adventures
- •and relentless pun humor. Especially great for reluctant readers who need a fast
- •funny
- •fully illustrated book to build reading confidence and momentum.
✓ Today I Will Fly! — perfect for
- •Pre-readers ready for their first 'real' book
- •Children who love being read to (performable voices)
- •Reluctant readers ages 5-7 who resist longer formats
- •Classroom read-aloud and guided reading
- •Siblings reading together (older child reads to younger)
Our take
There's no universal winner here — the right pick depends on who's reading. Braver and Boulder scores higher with kids (74 vs 70) — better if your goal is "my kid actually wants to read it."
Still not sure? Take the 2-minute SPARK quiz — we'll pick the one that fits your specific kid's reading personality.
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