Jerry Spinelli Reading Order

4 books (1989–2009)

Jerry Spinelli edited four complete anthology collections between 1989 and 2009, each featuring short stories from various accomplished writers for young adult readers. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with Connections: Short Stories by Outstanding Writers for Young Adults, followed by It's Fine to Be Nine, Baseball Crazy, and Half-Minute Horrors. Each anthology stands independently, allowing readers to explore them as individual collections or as a complete set spanning two decades of children's and young adult literature.

Start with Connections: Short Stories by Outstanding Writers for Young Adults, the first of 4 books in the Anthologies series.

#	Title
1	Connections: Short Stories by Outstanding Writers for Young Adults 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	It's Fine to Be Nine 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Baseball Crazy 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Half-Minute Horrors 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (1991–2012)

Jerry Spinelli's Fourth Grade Rats series consists of two complete books published over two decades, beginning with Fourth Grade Rats in 1991 and concluding with Third Grade Angels in 2012. These standalone yet connected novels should be read in publication order to experience the full arc of the series. The books explore themes relevant to elementary school readers navigating friendship, behavior, and growing up.

Start with Fourth Grade Rats and read in order.

#	Title
1	Fourth Grade Rats 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Third Grade Angels 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1998–2009)

This three-book nonfiction series by Jerry Spinelli was published between 1998 and 2009 and is now complete. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with Knots in My Yo-Yo String. Spinelli's works appeal to young adult readers interested in memoir and personal reflection, with the final book co-authored with Eileen Spinelli.

Start with Knots in My Yo-Yo String and read in order.

#	Title
1	Knots in My Yo-Yo String 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Stargirl Journal 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Today I Will(With: Eileen Spinelli) 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (2003–2019)

Jerry Spinelli's Picture series consists of four complete books published between 2003 and 2019, designed to be read in publication order. The series includes My Daddy and Me, I Can Be Anything!, Mama Seeton's Whistle, and My Fourth of July, blending young adult and nonfiction elements appropriate for early readers.

Start with My Daddy and Me, the first of 4 books in the Picture series.

#	Title
1	My Daddy and Me 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	I Can Be Anything! 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Mama Seeton's Whistle 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	My Fourth of July 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (1991–1993)

Jerry Spinelli's School Daze is a four-book series of young adult fiction published between 1991 and 1993. The complete series consists of Report to the Principal's Office!, Do the Funky Pickle, Who Ran My Underwear up the Flagpole?, and Picklemania, and should be read in publication order. Each book builds on the humor and chaos of school life established in the first installment.

Start with Report to the Principal's Office!, the first of 4 books in the School Daze series.

#	Title
1	Report to the Principal's Office! 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Do the Funky Pickle 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Who Ran My Underwear up the Flagpole? 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Picklemania 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (1982–1986)

Jerry Spinelli's Space Station Seventh Grade series consists of two standalone young adult novels published between 1982 and 1986. The complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with Space Station Seventh Grade followed by Jason and Marceline. Both books were written for young readers and explore themes relevant to that age group.

Start with Space Station Seventh Grade and read in order.

#	Title
1	Space Station Seventh Grade 1982Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Jason and Marceline 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

18 books (1984–2023)

Jerry Spinelli's standalone novels span four decades of young adult fiction, beginning with Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush? in 1984 and concluding with his final entry in 2023. This collection of 18 independent stories, best read in publication order, showcases the acclaimed author's range across humorous family tales, sports narratives, historical fiction, and contemporary coming-of-age stories. Each book stands alone with its own characters and plot, allowing readers to explore Spinelli's diverse storytelling without commitment to an ongoing narrative arc.

Start with Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush?, the first of 18 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#	Title
1	Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush? 1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Night of the Whale 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Maniac Magee 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Bathwater Gang 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Dump Days 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	There's a Girl in My Hammerlock 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	The Bathwater Gang Gets Down to Business 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Crash / The Mighty Crashman 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	The Library Card 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Wringer 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Smiles to Go 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Loser 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Milkweed 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Eggs 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Jake and Lily 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	Hokey Pokey 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	The Warden's Daughter 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	Dead Wednesday 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2001–2007)

Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl duology consists of two young adult novels published between 2001 and 2007. The series is complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with Stargirl followed by Love, Stargirl. These standalone-adjacent entries are best experienced chronologically as released to fully appreciate the character development and narrative arc across the pair.

Start with Stargirl and read in order.

#	Title
1	Stargirl 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Love, Stargirl 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (1995–1998)

Jerry Spinelli's Tooter Tale series consists of two complete young adult novels published between 1995 and 1998. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with Tooter Pepperday followed by Blue Ribbon Blues. This short series offers a finished story arc for readers seeking a quick, contemporary coming-of-age experience.

Start with Tooter Pepperday and read in order.

#	Title
1	Tooter Pepperday 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Blue Ribbon Blues 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible