Books On Board
series Reading Order

Bad Kitty Books in Order

31 Books
2 Reading orders
2005 – 2023 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start Reading Bad Kitty

Because the Bad Kitty series is divided into two distinct formats, your starting point depends entirely on the reader's age and reading level:

  • For younger children (ages 4–7): Start with the original picture book, Bad Kitty (2005). It introduces Kitty, her dramatic personality, and the signature alphabetical lists that make the series so fun.
  • For early independent readers (ages 7–10): Start with the chapter book series, beginning with Bad Kitty Gets a Bath (2009). These are longer stories filled with comic-style illustrations, fun facts, and chapter-book pacing.

Publication Order of Bad Kitty Chapter Books

These illustrated chapter books follow Kitty's main adventures at home, school, and camp. While each book works well as a standalone, reading them in publication order lets you watch the household and recurring cast of characters expand naturally:

  1. Bad Kitty Gets a Bath (2009)
  2. Happy Birthday, Bad Kitty (2009)
  3. Bad Kitty vs Uncle Murray: The Uproar at the Front Door (2010)
  4. Bad Kitty Meets the Baby (2011)
  5. Bad Kitty for President (2012)
  6. Bad Kitty School Daze (2012)
  7. Bad Kitty Drawn to Trouble (2013)
  8. Puppy's Big Day (2014) — A companion spin-off centered on Puppy.
  9. Bad Kitty Goes to the Vet (2016)
  10. Bad Kitty Takes the Test (2017)
  11. Camp Daze (2018)
  12. Kitten Trouble (2018)
  13. Bad Kitty Joins the Team (2020)
  14. Bad Kitty Does Not Like Easter (2023)

Publication Order of Bad Kitty Picture Books

These shorter, fully illustrated picture books are perfect for read-aloud sessions and early readers learning their alphabet and holiday traditions:

  1. Bad Kitty (2005)
  2. Poor Puppy (2007)
  3. Poor Puppy and Bad Kitty (2007)
  4. A Bad Kitty Christmas (2011)
  5. Bad Kitty Christmas Storytime Set (2011)
  6. Bad Kitty's Tasty Treats (2014)
  7. Bad Kitty Storytime Set (2014)
  8. Bad Kitty Does Not Like Candy (2015)
  9. Bad Kitty Does Not Like Dogs (2015)
  10. Bad Kitty Makes Comics . . . and You Can Too! (2015)
  11. Bad Kitty Scaredy-Cat (2016)
  12. Bad Kitty Does Not Like Snow (2016)
  13. Bad Kitty Does Not Like Thanksgiving (2019)
  14. Bad Kitty: Searching for Santa (2019)
  15. Bad Kitty Does Not Like Video Games (2019)
  16. Bedtime for Bad Kitty (2021)
  17. Bad Kitty Does Not Like Valentine's Day (2022)

Are There Any Chronological Order Caveats?

You do not need to worry about a complex chronological timeline. The books generally happen in a sliding timeline of Kitty's domestic life. The only exception is the spin-off book Puppy's Big Day, which occurs concurrently with events where Kitty is left at home, giving Puppy his own spotlight. You can read the books in any order, though starting with the early entries helps readers understand the running jokes and Kitty's relationship with Puppy, Uncle Murray, and the Baby.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the very first Bad Kitty book?

The very first book is the picture book Bad Kitty, published in 2005. It introduces Kitty and her chaotic reaction to running out of her favorite foods.

QWhich book starts the Bad Kitty chapter book series?

The chapter book series begins with Bad Kitty Gets a Bath, which was published in 2009. It is the perfect starting point for older kids transitioning to independent reading.

QDo I need to read the Bad Kitty books in order?

No, you do not have to read them in strict order. Each book is a self-contained story, although reading in publication order makes it easier to follow the introduction of characters like the Baby and new pets.

QWho wrote the Bad Kitty books?

The series is written and illustrated by Nick Bruel, who based Kitty's physical look on his childhood cat named Zou-zou.

QIs Puppy's Big Day part of the main series?

Yes, Puppy's Big Day is a spin-off chapter book that focuses entirely on Puppy's adventures away from Kitty, but it is numbered alongside the main chapter books.

QAre there holiday-themed Bad Kitty books?

Yes, the series includes several holiday-themed stories, such as A Bad Kitty Christmas, Bad Kitty Does Not Like Thanksgiving, and Bad Kitty Does Not Like Easter.