🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About Marilyn Sadler
Since Marilyn had a degree in Fine Arts, she naturally assumed that she would be an illustrator. However she was presented with the chance to write early on in her career, and seized it. Before too long she realized that she had found her true love. No sappy and sad stories for Marilyn, though. She liked making herself laugh and her characters typically end up looking rather silly for some reason. Her first kid’s book featured a fastidious little English boy called Alistair Grittle and it was originally written for Hamish Hamilton, the English publisher, as well as Simon & Schuster in the US. Having created a boy with such perfect behavior, she then decided to turn her attention to one not-so-perfectly-behaved boy. He was called P. J.
All Book Series by Marilyn Sadler
Alistair and the Alien Invasion
Latest in the series · book 5 of 5 · published 1994
Bob 'n John's Cat and Mouse Joke Book
Series opener · book 1 of 3 · published 1993
Bob 'n John, Bad to the Bone
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 1996
Charlie Piechart and the Case of the Missing Pizza Slice
Series opener · book 1 of 3 · published 2015
Charlie Piechart and the Case of the Missing Dog
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 2018
Zenon: Girl of the Twenty-First Century
Series opener · book 1 of 5 · published 1996
Stuck on Earth: Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century
Latest in the series · book 5 of 5 · published 2002
Chuck Wood And The Woodchucks In The Big Game
Series opener · book 1 of 8 · published 1990
Beef Stew
Series opener · book 1 of 127 · published 1965 Anthology · Barbara Brenner
Lowly Worm Meets the Early Bird
Book 2 of 127 · published 1968 Anthology · Richard Scarry
Five Silly Fishermen
Book 11 of 127 · published 1989 Anthology · Roberta Edwards
Happy Birthday, Thomas!
Book 14 of 127 · published 1990 Anthology · Rev. W. Awdry
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bug
Book 15 of 127 · published 1991 Anthology · Katharine Ross
The Statue of Liberty
Book 17 of 127 · published 1995 Anthology · Lucille Recht Penner
The Berenstain Bears by the Sea
Book 18 of 127 · published 1998 Anthology · Stan and Jan Berenstain
The Worst Helper Ever
Book 19 of 127 · published 1998 Anthology · Richard Scarry
My Best Friend Is Out of This World
Book 20 of 127 · published 1998 Anthology · Sarah Albee
Baker, Baker Cookie Maker
Book 21 of 127 · published 1998 Anthology · Linda Hayward
My New Pet is the Greatest
Book 23 of 127 · published 1998 Anthology · Sarah Albee
Little Critter Sleeps Over
Book 25 of 127 · published 1999 Anthology · Mercer Mayer
Bones: A Science Book for Kids
Book 26 of 127 · published 1999 Anthology · Stephen Krensky
Star Wars: Episode I - Queen in Disguise
Book 31 of 127 · published 2000 Anthology · Monica Kulling
Mouse Makes Magic
Book 35 of 127 · published 2002 Anthology · Kathryn Heling,Deborah Hembrook
Pinocchio's Nose Grows
Book 38 of 127 · published 2002 Anthology · Barbara Gaines Winkelman
Ready? Set. Raymond!
Book 39 of 127 · published 2002 Anthology · Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
The Tail of Little Skunk
Book 40 of 127 · published 2002 Anthology · Marsha Diane Arnold
Barbie: Lost and Found
Book 41 of 127 · published 2002 Anthology · Carol Pugliano-Martin
A Pony for a Princess
Book 43 of 127 · published 2003 Anthology · Andrea Posner-Sanchez
Buzz's Backpack Adventure
Book 46 of 127 · published 2004 Anthology · Apple Jordan
Home, Stinky Home
Book 47 of 127 · published 2004 Anthology · Melissa Lagonegro
Here Comes Silent E!
Book 48 of 127 · published 2004 Anthology · Anna Jane Hays
Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus
Book 50 of 127 · published 2005 Anthology · Tennant Redbank
Mary Clare Likes to Share
Book 52 of 127 · published 2006 Anthology · Joy N. Hulme
Ballerina Princess
Book 55 of 127 · published 2007 Anthology · Melissa Lagonegro,Niall Harding
Roadwork!
Book 57 of 127 · published 2008 Anthology · Walt Disney,Melissa Lagonegro
Barbie and the Diamond Castle
Book 61 of 127 · published 2008 Anthology · Kristen L. Depken
Snow Wonder
Book 62 of 127 · published 2008 Anthology · Charles Ghigna,Julia Woolf
Barbie: Thumbelina
Book 65 of 127 · published 2009 Anthology · Diane Wright Landolf
The Perfect Dress
Book 66 of 127 · published 2009 Anthology · Walt Disney,Melissa Lagonegro,Elisa Marrucchi
Super Friends: Going Bananas
Book 67 of 127 · published 2009 Anthology · Ben Harper
Barbie and the Three Musketeers
Book 69 of 127 · published 2009 Anthology · Mary Man-Kong
Barbie in a Mermaid Tale
Book 70 of 127 · published 2010 Anthology · Christy Webster
Outside My Window
Book 75 of 127 · published 2010 Anthology · Melissa Lagonegro
I Can Be a Ballerina
Book 80 of 127 · published 2011 Anthology · Christy Webster
Dora and the Unicorn King
Book 82 of 127 · published 2011 Anthology · Ellie Seiss,Rosemary Contreras
Here Comes Peter Cottontail
Book 88 of 127 · published 2012 Anthology · Kristen L. Depken
The Spring Chicken!
Book 96 of 127 · published 2013 Anthology · Sue DiCicco,Nickelodeon Publishing,Mary Tillworth,Zachary Trover,Steve Talkowski,Rodney Stringfellow,Robert Scull,Jonny Belt
Super Soap
Book 97 of 127 · published 2013 Anthology · Nickelodeon Publishing,Clark Stubbs,Lorraine O'Connell
Barbie: I Can Be...A Baby Doctor
Book 98 of 127 · published 2013 Anthology · Kristen L. Depken
Dusty Flies High
Book 100 of 127 · published 2013 Anthology · Susan Amerikaner
A Tale of Two Sisters
Book 104 of 127 · published 2013 Anthology · Melissa Lagonegro
Little Lost Dolphin
Book 107 of 127 · published 2014 Anthology · Jiyoung An,Kristen L. Depken
Fairytale Magic
Book 108 of 127 · published 2014 Anthology · Kristen L. Depken
We Love to Dance!
Book 109 of 127 · published 2015 Anthology · Kristen L. Depken
Island of the Lost Horses
Book 110 of 127 · published 2015 Anthology · Kristen L. Depken
We Save the Music!
Book 112 of 127 · published 2016 Anthology · Kristen L. Depken
Sing Your Song!
Book 114 of 127 · published 2017 Anthology · Kristen L. Depken
Save the Rainbow!
Book 117 of 127 · published 2018 Anthology · Kristen L. Depken
A Puppy for Miguel
Book 118 of 127 · published 2019 Anthology · Melissa Lagonegro
A Toy for Trinket
Book 119 of 127 · published 2019 Anthology · Kristen L. Depken
Susan B. Anthony: Her Fight for Equal Rights
Book 120 of 127 · published 2020 Anthology · Monica Kulling
Ready? Set. Birthday!
Book 121 of 127 · published 2022 Anthology · Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Ready? Set. Rides!
Book 122 of 127 · published 2023 Anthology · Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Give What You Can
Book 124 of 127 · published 2023 Anthology · Alexandra Penfold
Ready? Set. Puppies!
Book 125 of 127 · published 2024 Anthology · Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
100 Days!
Latest in the series · book 127 of 127 · published 2025 Anthology · Alexandra Penfold
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Marilyn Sadler?
Since Marilyn had a degree in Fine Arts, she naturally assumed that she would be an illustrator. However she was presented with the chance to write early on in her career, and seized it. Before too long she realized that she had found her true love.
Which Marilyn Sadler series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Step into Reading: Step 2 series, the earliest of Marilyn Sadler's multi-book series: it opens with Beef Stew (1965) and runs to 127 books across 1965–2025, ending with 100 Days! (2025). Marilyn Sadler's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has Marilyn Sadler written?
Marilyn Sadler has 169 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1965 and 2026. 160 of them belong to 7 named series — the largest being the Step into Reading: Step 2 series with 127 books — and 9 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should Marilyn Sadler's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Marilyn Sadler's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Step into Reading: Step 2 (1965–2025, 127 books), P.J. Funnybunny (1983–2023, 15 books) and Alistair Grittle (1983–1994, 5 books), plus 4 more.
How are Marilyn Sadler's books organised into series?
This guide splits Marilyn Sadler's 169 books into 7 named series and 9 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Step into Reading: Step 2 (127 books, 1965–2025); P.J. Funnybunny (15 books, 1983–2023); Alistair Grittle (5 books, 1983–1994); Zenon, Girl of the 21st Century (5 books, 1996–2002); Bob and John (3 books, 1993–1996), plus 2 further series.