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series Reading Order

Betsey Biggalow Books in Order

6 Books
1992 – 2014 Published
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Reading order

How to Read the Betsey Biggalow Books

Since the Betsey Biggalow series by Malorie Blackman consists of self-contained short story collections rather than a single continuous narrative, there is no strict chronological order. Readers can dive in at any point. However, starting with the very first book is the best way to get introduced to Betsey, her family, and her vibrant Caribbean island life.

Recommended Starting Point

We recommend starting with the book that introduced the character:

  • Betsey Biggalow the Detective (1992): Introduces Betsey and her dog, Prince, as they go on their very first neighborhood mystery hunt to find a missing teddy bear.

Betsey Biggalow Books in Publication Order

For those who want to follow the series exactly as it was originally released in the 1990s, follow this order:

  1. Betsey Biggalow the Detective (1992)
  2. Betsey Biggalow Is Here! (1992)
  3. Hurricane Betsey (1993)
  4. Magic Betsey (1994)
  5. Betsey's Birthday Surprise (1996)

Omnibus and Reissues

If you are looking to collect the stories in one place, look out for The Big Book of Betsey Biggalow (published in 2007), which compiles the adventures from the earlier individual books. Additionally, the books have been reissued with new illustrations over the years. While the original 1990s books featured illustrations by Lis Toft, the 2014 editions were illustrated by Jamie Smith, and the 2024–2025 editions feature art by Diane Ewen.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the recommended age group for the Betsey Biggalow series?

The series is designed for early readers aged 5 to 9 years old. The short stories, engaging themes, and simple sentence structures make them perfect for building reading confidence.

QDo you need to read the Betsey Biggalow books in order?

No. Each book is a collection of self-contained short stories, so you can read them in any order. However, starting with Betsey Biggalow the Detective is a great way to meet the characters first.

QWho wrote and illustrated the Betsey Biggalow books?

The books are written by celebrated British author Malorie Blackman. The original editions were illustrated by Lis Toft, while the 2014 editions were illustrated by Jamie Smith, and recent versions feature art by Diane Ewen.

QWhere are the Betsey Biggalow stories set?

The stories are set on a warm, vibrant Caribbean island, complete with sandy beaches, sugar cane fields, and friendly local neighborhoods.

QWhat is 'The Big Book of Betsey Biggalow'?

It is an omnibus edition first published in 2007 that collects multiple stories from the original Betsey Biggalow books into a single volume.

QHow many books are in the Betsey Biggalow series?

There are five individual short story collections in the main series, plus one omnibus collection.