Where to Start with Big Nate
Getting started with Big Nate can seem tricky because the books are split into two distinct formats: the illustrated novels and the comic strip collections. If you want a cohesive, narrative-driven story where Nate's relationships and school struggles develop chronologically, you should start with the core novel series. If you prefer quick, episodic laughs, you can pick up almost any comic strip collection in any order.
The Recommended Starting Point
We recommend starting with the very first illustrated novel, In a Class by Himself (published as The Boy with the Biggest Head in the World in the UK, Australia, and Ireland). This book sets up Nate's world at P.S. 38, his friends Francis and Teddy, and his rivalry with his social studies teacher, Mrs. Godfrey.
The Core Illustrated Novels (HarperCollins)
These eight books tell sequential stories combining text with cartoon illustrations. Unlike the comic compilations, these should be read in order of publication:
- In a Class by Himself (2010) - Also published as The Boy with the Biggest Head in the World.
- Big Nate Strikes Again (2010)
- Big Nate on a Roll (2011)
- Big Nate Goes for Broke (2012)
- Big Nate Flips Out (2013)
- In the Zone (2014)
- Big Nate Lives It Up (2015)
- Big Nate Blasts Off (2016)
Big Nate Comic Strip Collections (Andrews McMeel)
Since 1991, Lincoln Peirce has drawn Big Nate as a syndicated daily newspaper strip. The comic collections gather these daily comics chronologically. Because they are highly episodic, they do not require strict sequential reading, but reading them in publication order lets you see the evolution of the artwork and running jokes. Key collections include:
- From the Top (2010) - The first colorized compilation of the daily strips.
- Out Loud (2011)
- Big Nate and Friends (2011)
- Big Nate Makes the Grade (2012)
- Aloha! (2021) - Winner of the 2023 Children’s Book Council Favorite award.
- This Means War! (2024)
- Remain Calm! (2024)
Spin-offs, TV Tie-ins, and Beyond
Little Big Nate
Designed for younger readers and preschoolers, this spin-off series consists of simple board books focusing on a toddler-aged Nate Wright, with titles including No Nap! and Draws a Blank.
Nickelodeon TV Tie-in Books
Following the 2022 Paramount+ and Nickelodeon animated series adaptation, Andrews McMeel began publishing graphic novels featuring storylines and visual styles taken directly from the show, such as Destined for Awesomeness and The Nate Files.
What to Read Next: Max & the Midknights
If you finish all of Big Nate, check out Lincoln Peirce's medieval comedy trilogy, Max & the Midknights. It shares the same hybrid prose-comic style and lighthearted humor, following a young apprentice who dreams of becoming a knight.