| 100% | WHOCRIEDWOLF | 12 | "The Boy ___," a popular fable by 38-Down about a shepherd who repeatedly tricks villagers into thinking he needs help: 3 wds. |
| 35% | FISHERMAN | 9 | "The ___ and the Little Fish," a popular fable by 38-Down about a small fish that begs for its life on account of its size |
| 34% | THELITTLELIAR | 13 | Novel by 43-Across about a boy who always tells the truth (3 wds.) |
| 31% | FRECKLEJUICE | 12 | Chapter book by 38-Across about a boy who buys a potion to change his facial features (2 wds.) |
| 31% | LEGENDOFZORRO | 13 | "The ___," the second film about a great swordsman, who was played by Antonio Banderas: 3 wds. |
| 31% | THESHAGGYDOG | 12 | Disney live-action movie about a boy who transforms into his neighbor's pet: 3 wds. |
| 30% | BLACKBIRD | 9 | "The Bird-catcher and the ___," a popular fable by 38-Down that has a traditional tune in the Isle of Man |
| 30% | JOHNNYBGOODE | 12 | Song by 17-Across about a boy who "could play a guitar just like a-ringin' a bell": 3 wds. |
| 30% | RINTINTIN | 9 | German shepherd who helps the cavalry on a classic TV series (3 wds.) |
| 29% | LOSTINYONKERS | 13 | Neil Simon play about two boys who move in with relatives, adapted into a 1993 Mercedes Ruehl movie: 3 wds. |
| 29% | THELYINGWOODS | 13 | 2018 mystery by 44-Across about a boy who works in an orchard in rural Louisiana (3 wds.) |
| 28% | LITTLEPRINCE | 12 | "The ___," children's book written by Antoine de Saint-Exupery about a boy who leaves his tiny planet to travel the universe: 2 wds. |
| 28% | DAILYMAIL | 9 | Newspaper behind the hoax about a man who thought he had to run for 26 days instead of 26 miles for the London Marathon: 2 wds. |
| 28% | THEROOSTERBAR | 13 | 2017 bestselling novel by 38-Across about law school students who open a tavern (3 wds.) |
| 28% | ABRONXTALE | 10 | Robert De Niro's crime film about the story of a young Italian-American boy who gets involved in organized crime: 3 wds. |
| 27% | OFTHEDAY | 8 | "The Remains ___," 1989 novel by Kazuo Ishiguro (birthday today) for which he won the Booker Prize and which was also adapted into a film: 3 wds. |
| 26% | IWANTIT | 7 | "___ That Way," a hit song by the Backstreet Boys: 3 wds. |
| 26% | TIGEREYES | 9 | Young adult novel by 38-Across about a girl coping with the death of her father (2 wds.) |
| 26% | BRIDGEOFSPIES | 13 | 2015 film starring Tom Hanks which is about a lawyer who negotiates the release of a U.S. pilot: 3 wds. |
| 26% | THEALCHEMIST | 12 | Paulo Coelho novel about a boy who travels to find a treasure at the Egyptian pyramids: 2 wds. |
| 26% | ONEFINEDAY | 10 | 1980 Carole King song about a love-to-be that was recorded earlier by the Chiffons: 3 wds. |
| 25% | BROOKLYN | 8 | 2009 novel by 38-Across about an Irish woman who moves to New York in the 1950s (2 wds.) |
| 25% | HENRYANDRIBSY | 13 | One in a series of books by 46-Across about a boy and his dog: 3 wds. |
| 25% | HELPTHECHILD | 12 | "God ___," 2014 novel by Toni Morrison about a blue-black skinned girl who is neglected by her light-skinned parents: 3 wds. |
| 25% | THESOUTH | 8 | 1990 novel by 38-Across about an Irish woman who moves to Barcelona in the 1950s (2 wds.) |
| 25% | EDWARDRMURROW | 13 | Early TV journalist who was a charter inductee into the Television Hall of Fame: 3 wds. |
| 25% | CATSINTHE | 9 | "___ Cradle," a song by Harry Chapin about the relationship between a father and his son: 3 wds. |
| 25% | EMMATHOMPSON | 12 | "Howards End" actress who returns as a doctor in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy": 2 wds. |
| 25% | FIRSTLIEWINS | 12 | 2024 thriller by 44-Across about a woman who takes on secret identities (3 wds.) |
| 25% | RAMONATHEPEST | 13 | 1968 novel by 38-Across about the Quimby family (3 wds.) |