James Herriot Reading Order
6 series · 41 books · Born 3 October 1916
James Herriot was a British vet and author famous for his heartwarming tales of animal care. With a prolific career spanning from 1970 to 2023, he published 41 books across six series, including the beloved All Creatures Great and Small. His work, which features a mix of fiction, short stories, children's literature, and non-fiction, continues to resonate with readers for its charm and insight into the bond between humans and animals.
All Creatures Great and Small Series
Complete10 books (1970–1984)
Start with If Only They Could Talk, the first of 10 books in the All Creatures Great and Small series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  If Only They Could Talk 1970Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  All Creatures Great and Small 1972Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet 1972Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Let Sleeping Vets Lie 1973Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  All Things Bright and Beautiful 1974Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Vet in Harness 1974Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  All Things Wise and Wonderful 1976Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Vets Might Fly 1976Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  The Lord God Made Them All 1981Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  Vet in a Spin 1984Buy 🇺🇸 |
Anthologies Series
Complete2 books (1989–2005)
Start with Famous and Curious Animal Stories and read in order.
Non-Fiction Series
Complete16 books (1979–1999)
Start with Animal Stories, Tame & Wild, the first of 16 books in the Non-Fiction series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Animal Stories, Tame & Wild 1979Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  James Herriot's Yorkshire 1979Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  All Creatures Great and Small Annual 1982 1981Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  James Herriot's Dog Stories 1986Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  James Herriot's Favorite Dog Stories 1986Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Greatest Cat Stories 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Every Living Thing 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  James Herriot Story Book 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  James Herriot's Treasury for Children 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  James Herriot's Cat Stories 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  James Herriot's Yorkshire Stories 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  James Herriot's Yorkshire Village 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Seven Yorkshire tales 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  James Herriot's Animal Stories 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  Yorkshire Stories 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  James Herriot's Yorkshire Revisited 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
Picture Series
Complete8 books (1972–2009)
Start with Bonny's Big Day, the first of 8 books in the Picture series.
Short Story Collections Series
Likely Complete3 books (1983–2023)
Start with The Best of James Herriot and read in order.
Smudge Series
Complete2 books (1991–1991)
Start with Smudge's Day Out and read in order.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has James Herriot written?
- James Herriot has written 41 books across 6 series. Their published works span from 1970 to 2023.
- What is the first book in each James Herriot series?
- Here are the first books in James Herriot's series: All Creatures Great and Small: If Only They Could Talk; Anthologies: Famous and Curious Animal Stories; Non-Fiction: Animal Stories, Tame & Wild; Picture: Bonny's Big Day; Short Story Collections: The Best of James Herriot.
- What order should I read James Herriot's books?
- We recommend reading James Herriot's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are James Herriot's series complete?
- James Herriot has 5 completed series.