🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About Liz Kessler
Author Liz Kessler went to Loughborough University and studied English. She grew up in Southport, located in the North West of England and has lived in both Cheshire and Manchester. She has worked as a journalist and a teacher (teaching Media Studies and English and has run some Creative Writing Courses), and has her MA in Creative Writing from Manchester Metropolitan University. After she took a year off so that she could travel all over Europe in a camper van, she lives in Cornwall. She lives near the sea and has always loved the ocean. This is what partly inspires her to write about mermaids. She likes to look at the beach and just think about where Emily Windsnap may want to go next.
All Book Series by Liz Kessler
Emily Windsnap and the Tides of Time
Latest in the series · book 9 of 9 · published 2020
Philippa Fisher and the Fairy's Promise
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 2010
Poppy the Pirate Dog and the Missing Treasure
Latest in the series · book 4 of 4 · published 2015
Zelda and Ivy
Series opener · book 1 of 46 · published 1998 Anthology · Laura McGee Kvasnosky
Zelda and Ivy and the Boy Next Door
Book 2 of 46 · published 1999 Anthology · Laura McGee Kvasnosky
Zelda and Ivy: One Christmas
Book 3 of 46 · published 2000 Anthology · Laura McGee Kvasnosky
Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways
Book 7 of 46 · published 2006 Anthology · Laura McGee Kvasnosky
The Monster in the Backpack
Book 8 of 46 · published 2006 Anthology · Noah Z. Jones,Lisa Moser
Squirrel's World
Book 9 of 46 · published 2007 Anthology · Valeri Gorbachev,Lisa Moser
Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time
Book 12 of 46 · published 2008 Anthology · Marie-Louise Gay
Houndsley and Catina and the Birthday Surprise
Book 13 of 46 · published 2008 Anthology · James Howe,Marie-Louise Gay
Zelda and Ivy: Keeping Secrets
Book 14 of 46 · published 2009 Anthology · Laura McGee Kvasnosky
Joe and Sparky Get New Wheels: Candlewick Sparks
Book 15 of 46 · published 2009 Anthology · Frank Remkiewicz,Jamie Michalak
A Pair of Friends at Halloween
Book 16 of 46 · published 2010 Anthology · Megan McDonald
Zelda and Ivy: The Big Picture
Book 17 of 46 · published 2010 Anthology · Laura McGee Kvasnosky
Joe and Sparky, Superstars!
Book 18 of 46 · published 2011 Anthology · Frank Remkiewicz,Jamie Michalak
Houndsley and Catina Plink and Plunk
Book 19 of 46 · published 2011 Anthology · James Howe,Marie-Louise Gay
Monkey and Elephant Get Better
Book 21 of 46 · published 2013 Anthology · Carole Lexa Schaefer
Joe And Sparky Get New Wheels
Book 23 of 46 · published 2013 Anthology · Frank Remkiewicz,Jamie Michalak
Bramble and Maggie: Horse Meets Girl
Book 24 of 46 · published 2013 Anthology · Jessie Haas
Annie and Simon: The Sneeze and Other Stories
Book 25 of 46 · published 2013 Anthology · Catharine O'Neill
Squirrel's Fun Day
Book 26 of 46 · published 2013 Anthology · Valeri Gorbachev,Lisa Moser
Joe and Sparky Go to School
Book 27 of 46 · published 2013 Anthology · Frank Remkiewicz,Jamie Michalak
Ant and Honey Bee: A Pair of Friends at Halloween
Book 28 of 46 · published 2013 Anthology · Megan McDonald
A Pair of Friends in Winter
Book 29 of 46 · published 2013 Anthology · Megan McDonald
Rabbit And Robot: The Sleepover
Book 30 of 46 · published 2014 Anthology · Cece Bell
Monkey and Elephant Go Gadding
Book 31 of 46 · published 2014 Anthology · Carole Lexa Schaefer
Ant and Honey Bee: A Pair of Friends in Winter
Book 33 of 46 · published 2014 Anthology · Megan McDonald
Monkey and Elephant and a Secret Birthday Surprise
Book 35 of 46 · published 2015 Anthology · Carole Lexa Schaefer
Monkey and Elephant and the Babysitting Adventure
Book 36 of 46 · published 2016 Anthology · Carole Lexa Schaefer
Rabbit and Robot and Ribbit
Book 37 of 46 · published 2016 Anthology · Cece Bell
Joe and Sparky, Party Animals!
Book 38 of 46 · published 2017 Anthology · Jamie Michalak
Bramble and Maggie: Snow Day
Book 39 of 46 · published 2017 Anthology · Jessie Haas,Alison Friend
Frank and Bean
Book 41 of 46 · published 2019 Anthology · Bob Kolar,Jamie Michalak
Fergus and Zeke and the Field Day Challenge
Book 42 of 46 · published 2020 Anthology · Kate Messner
Frank and Bean: Food Truck Fiasco
Book 43 of 46 · published 2022 Anthology · Bob Kolar,Jamie Michalak
Fergus and Zeke at the Science Fair
Book 44 of 46 · published 2022 Anthology · Kate Messner
Fergus and Zeke for President
Book 45 of 46 · published 2023 Anthology · Kate Messner
The Cave and Other Stories
Latest in the series · book 46 of 46 · published 2025 Anthology · Jarvis
Here I Stand: Stories That Speak For Freedom
Single-title series · published 2016
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Liz Kessler?
Author Liz Kessler went to Loughborough University and studied English. She grew up in Southport, located in the North West of England and has lived in both Cheshire and Manchester. She has worked as a journalist and a teacher (teaching Media Studies and English and has run some Creative Writing Courses), and has her MA in Creative Writing from Manchester Metropolitan University.
Which Liz Kessler series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Candlewick Sparks series, the earliest of Liz Kessler's multi-book series: it opens with Zelda and Ivy (1998) and runs to 46 books across 1998–2025, ending with The Cave and Other Stories (2025). Liz Kessler's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has Liz Kessler written?
Liz Kessler has 78 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1998 and 2025. 70 of them belong to 5 named series — the largest being the Candlewick Sparks series with 46 books — and 8 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should Liz Kessler's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Liz Kessler's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Candlewick Sparks (1998–2025, 46 books), Emily Windsnap (2003–2020, 9 books) and Other Emily Windsnap (2008–2023, 8 books), plus 2 more.
How are Liz Kessler's books organised into series?
This guide splits Liz Kessler's 78 books into 5 named series and 8 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Candlewick Sparks (46 books, 1998–2025); Emily Windsnap (9 books, 2003–2020); Other Emily Windsnap (8 books, 2008–2023); Poppy (4 books, 2012–2015); Philippa Fisher (3 books, 2008–2010).