Gertrude Chandler Warner Reading Order
11 series · 207 books · Born 1890-04-16
Gertrude Chandler Warner was a prolific American author known for her captivating children's literature. She made her mark with the beloved series The Boxcar Children, contributing a remarkable 207 books across 11 series, including spin-offs like Boxcar Children Special and The Adventures of Benny and Watch. Her writing career spanned from 1916 to 2023, leaving a lasting impact on young readers with her imaginative storytelling.
Boxcar Children Series
Likely Complete139 books (1942–2023)
Start with The Boxcar Children, the first of 139 books in the Boxcar Children series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  The Boxcar Children 1942Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  The Movie Star Mystery 1948Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Surprise Island 1949Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  The Yellow House Mystery 1952Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  Mystery Ranch 1957Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Mike's Mystery 1960Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Blue Bay Mystery 1961Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  The Lighthouse Mystery 1962Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  The Woodshed Mystery 1962Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  Mountain Top Mystery 1964Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  Schoolhouse Mystery 1965Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  Caboose Mystery 1966Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Houseboat Mystery 1967Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 | Snowbound Mystery 1968Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  Tree House Mystery 1969Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  Bicycle Mystery 1970Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 |  Mystery in the Sand 1971Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 |  Mystery Behind the Wall 1973Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 |  Bus Station Mystery 1974Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 20 |  Benny Uncovers a Mystery 1976Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 21 |  The Animal Shelter Mystery 1991Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 22 |  The Deserted Library Mystery 1991Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 23 |  The Disappearing Friend Mystery 1991Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 24 |  The Haunted Cabin Mystery 1991Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 25 |  The Old Motel Mystery 1991Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 26 |  The Amusement Park Mystery 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 27 |  The Camp-Out Mystery 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 28 |  The Mystery Cruise 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 29 |  The Mystery Girl 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 30 | The Mystery in the Snow 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 31 |  The Mystery of the Hidden Painting 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 32 |  The Mystery of the Mixed-Up Zoo 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 33 |  The Mystery of the Singing Ghost 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 34 |  The Castle Mystery 1993Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 35 |  The Mystery Horse 1993Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 36 |  The Mystery at the Dog Show 1993Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 37 |  The Mystery of the Lost Village 1993Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 38 |  The Pizza Mystery 1993Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 39 |  The Canoe Trip Mystery 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 40 |  The Ghost Ship Mystery 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 41 |  The Mystery of the Hidden Beach 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 42 |  The Mystery of the Missing Cat 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 43 |  The Mystery of the Purple Pool 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 44 |  The Mystery on Stage 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 45 |  The Chocolate Sundae Mystery 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 46 | The Dinosaur Mystery 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 47 |  The Mystery Bookstore 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 48 | The Mystery in the Cave 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 49 |  The Mystery of the Hot Air Balloon 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 50 |  The Mystery of the Stolen Boxcar 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 51 |  The Mystery of the Stolen Music 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 52 |  Boxcar Children Bookshelf 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 53 |  The Guide Dog Mystery 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 54 |  The Hurricane Mystery 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 55 |  The Mystery of the Lost Mine 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 56 |  The Mystery of the Secret Message 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 57 | The Mystery on the Train 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 58 |  The Firehouse Mystery 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 59 |  The Growling Bear Mystery 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 60 |  The Mystery at the Alamo 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 61 |  The Mystery in San Francisco 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 62 |  The Outer Space Mystery 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 63 |  The Soccer Mystery 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 64 |  The Black Pearl Mystery 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 65 |  The Cereal Box Mystery 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 66 |  The Mystery at Peacock Hall 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 67 |  The Mystery of the Lake Monster 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 68 |  The Mystery of the Stolen Sword 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 69 |  The Panther Mystery 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 70 |  The Basketball Mystery 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 71 |  The Ghost Town Mystery 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 72 |  The Gymnastics Mystery 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 73 | The Mystery in the Mall 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 74 |  The Mystery of the Pirate's Map 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 75 |  The Great Bicycle Race Mystery 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 76 |  The Hockey Mystery 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 77 |  The Mystery at the Crooked House 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 78 |  The Mystery in the Computer Game 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 79 |  The Mystery of the Empty Safe 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 80 |  The Mystery of the Wild Ponies 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 81 |  The Poison Frog Mystery 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 82 |  The Copycat Mystery 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 83 | The Disappearing Staircase Mystery 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 84 |  The Haunted Clock Tower Mystery 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 85 |  The Mystery of the Midnight Dog 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 86 |  The Summer Camp Mystery 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 87 |  The Mystery at Skeleton Point 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 88 |  The Mystery of the Mummy's Curse 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 89 |  The Mystery of the Spider's Clue 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 90 | The Mystery of the Star Ruby 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 91 |  The Mystery on Blizzard Mountain 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 92 |  The Stuffed Bear Mystery 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 93 |  Mystery of the Fortune Cookie 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 94 |  The Comic Book Mystery 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 95 |  The Ice Cream Mystery 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 96 | The Midnight Mystery 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 97 |  The Radio Mystery 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 98 |  The Tattletale Mystery 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 99 |  The Clue In The Corn Maze 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 100 |  The Finders Keepers Mystery 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 101 |  The Mystery Of The Haunted Boxcar 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 102 |  The Mystery of the Runaway Ghost 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 103 |  The Game Store Mystery 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 104 |  The Ghost Of The Chattering Bones 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 105 |  The Mystery of the Orphan Train 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 106 |  The Sword of the Silver Knight 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 107 |  The Creature in Ogopogo Lake 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 108 |  The Giant Yo-yo Mystery 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 109 |  The Rock 'n' Roll Mystery 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 110 | The Vanishing Passenger 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 111 | The Box That Watch Found 2007Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 112 |  The Ghost in the First Row 2007Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 113 |  The Seattle Puzzle 2007Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 114 |  The Secret of the Mask 2007Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 115 | A Horse Named Dragon 2008Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 116 |  The Ghost At The Drive-In Movie 2008Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 117 |  The Great Detective Race 2008Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 118 |  The Mystery Of The Traveling Tomatoes 2008Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 119 |  Superstar Watch 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 120 |  The Boxcar Children Mysteries Dog Lovers' Special 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 121 |  The Dog-gone Mystery 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 122 |  The Spy Game 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 123 |  The Vampire Mystery 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 124 |  The Amazing Mystery Show 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 125 |  The Cupcake Caper 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 126 |  The Pumpkin Head Mystery 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 127 |  The Spy in the Bleachers 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 128 |  The Clue in the Recycling Bin 2011Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 129 | The Great Turkey Heist(By: Robert Papp) 2011Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 130 |  The Zombie Project 2011Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 131 |  The Mystery of the Soccer Snitch 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 132 |  The Mystery of the Stolen Dinosaur Bones 2015Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 133 |  The Election Day Dilemma 2016Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 134 |  The Legend of the Irish Castle 2016Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 135 |  The Sea Turtle Mystery 2019Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 136 |  Mystery at Camp Survival 2020Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 137 | The Skeleton Key Mystery 2020Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 138 |  Trouble on the Wild West Express 2020Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 139 |  The Raptor Rescue 2023Buy 🇺🇸 |
Boxcar Children Endangered Animals Series
Likely Complete4 books (2022–2022)
Start with Mystery of the Spotted Leopard, the first of 4 books in the Boxcar Children Endangered Animals series.
Boxcar Children Graphic Novels Series
Complete14 books (2009–2011)
Start with Blue Bay Mystery, the first of 14 books in the Boxcar Children Graphic Novels series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Blue Bay Mystery 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Mike's Mystery 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Mystery Ranch 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Surprise Island 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The Boxcar Children 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  The Yellow House Mystery 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Tree House Mystery 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  The Amusement Park Mystery 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  The Castle Mystery 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  The Haunted Cabin Mystery 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  The Pizza Mystery 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  Mountain Top Mystery 2011Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  The Lighthouse Mystery 2011Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 | The Woodshed Mystery 2011Buy 🇺🇸 |
Boxcar Children Special Series
Complete21 books (1993–2003)
Start with The Mystery on the Ice, the first of 21 books in the Boxcar Children Special series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  The Mystery on the Ice 1993Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  The Mystery at Snowflake Inn 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  The Mystery in Washington D.C. 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  The Mystery at the Ballpark 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 | The Pilgrim Village Mystery 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  The Mystery at the Fair 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  The Pet Shop Mystery 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  The Mystery in the Old Attic 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  The Niagara Falls Mystery 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  The Mystery of the Queen's Jewels 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  The Windy City Mystery 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 | The Mystery in New York 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  The Mystery of the Black Raven 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  The Home Run Mystery 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  The Honeybee Mystery 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  The Mystery of the Screech Owl 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 | The Mystery of the Tiger's Eye 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 |  The Candy Factory Mystery 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 |  The Mystery of Alligator Swamp 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 20 |  The Black Widow Spider Mystery 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 21 |  The Great Shark Mystery 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
Non-Fiction Series
Complete2 books (1926–1928)
Start with Good Americans: First Lessons for the Littlest Ones and read in order.
Short Story Collections Series
Complete1 book (1947–1947)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Star Stories for Little Folks 1947Buy 🇺🇸 |
Standalone Novels Series
Complete5 books (1916–2020)
Start with The House of Delight, the first of 5 books in the Standalone Novels series.
Standalone Plays Series
Complete1 book (1956–1956)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fire in a Haystack: An Unrehearsed Play 1956Buy 🇺🇸 |
The Adventures of Benny and Watch Series
Complete12 books (1998–2004)
Start with A Present for Grandfather, the first of 12 books in the The Adventures of Benny and Watch series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | A Present for Grandfather 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Benny's New Friend 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Meet the Boxcar Children 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  The Magic Show Mystery 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  Benny Goes Into Business 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Watch Runs Away 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Benny's Saturday Surprise 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  The Secret Under the Tree 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 | Sam Makes Trouble 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  Watch, the Superdog! 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  Benny's Boxcar Sleepover 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  Keys and Clues for Benny 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
The Boxcar Children Great Adventure Series
Complete5 books (2017–2017)
Start with Journey on a Runaway Train, the first of 5 books in the The Boxcar Children Great Adventure series.
The Jessie Files Series
Likely Complete3 books (2022–2023)
Start with Talk of the Town(With: Stacia Deutsch) and read in order.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Gertrude Chandler Warner written?
- Gertrude Chandler Warner has written 207 books across 11 series. Their published works span from 1916 to 2023.
- What is the first book in each Gertrude Chandler Warner series?
- Here are the first books in Gertrude Chandler Warner's series: Boxcar Children: The Boxcar Children; Boxcar Children Endangered Animals: Mystery of the Spotted Leopard; Boxcar Children Graphic Novels: Blue Bay Mystery; Boxcar Children Special: The Mystery on the Ice; Non-Fiction: Good Americans: First Lessons for the Littlest Ones.
- What order should I read Gertrude Chandler Warner's books?
- We recommend reading Gertrude Chandler Warner's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are Gertrude Chandler Warner's series complete?
- Gertrude Chandler Warner has 8 completed series.