How to Read the Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder Series
If you are looking for the absolute best way to experience Jo Nesbø’s whimsical children’s books, the recommendation is simple: read them in publication order. Because the characters grow closer and the eccentric inventor's creations build on previous adventures, reading them chronologically from the first page to the last ensures you won't miss the subtle callbacks or the evolution of Nilly and Lisa's friendship.
However, navigating the series can get a little tricky due to differing titles between the United Kingdom, the United States, and the original Norwegian releases. Below is the recommended reading path, using the titles you are most likely to encounter in English bookstores and libraries.
The Recommended Reading Order
- Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder (2007)
- Bubble in the Bathtub / Time-Travel Bath Bomb (Also published as Doctor Proctor's Time Tub) (2008)
- Who Cut the Cheese? (Also published as The End of the World. Maybe.) (2010)
- The Magical Fruit (Also published as The Great Gold Robbery) (2012)
- Silent (But Deadly) Night (Also published as Can Doctor Proctor Save Christmas?) (2016)
Understanding the Title and Translation Variations
If you look at catalog databases or online bookstores, you might see lists showing six or seven separate books. This is a common source of confusion for parents and young readers alike. In reality, the series consists of exactly five core novels. The apparent extra books are simply the same stories published under different names in different countries.
The Magical Fruit vs. The Great Gold Robbery
The fourth book was originally published in Norway in 2012 as Doktor Proktor og det store gullrøveriet (literally translated as "Doctor Proctor and the Great Gold Robbery"). When brought to English-speaking markets, publishers split on the title: the British edition retained the literal translation, The Great Gold Robbery, while the North American edition was released as The Magical Fruit (referencing a classic playground rhyme about beans). Despite the distinct titles and cover art, the text inside is identical.
Silent (But Deadly) Night vs. Can Doctor Proctor Save Christmas?
A similar renaming occurred with the fifth book, released in Norway in 2016 as Kan Doktor Proktor redde jula?. In the UK, it hit shelves as Can Doctor Proctor Save Christmas?, whereas US publishers opted for the punchier, pun-filled title Silent (But Deadly) Night. If you buy one of these, you do not need to buy the other.
Meet the Quirky Cast
Before diving into the books, it helps to know the three characters who drive all the chaos in Oslo's fictionalized Cannon Avenue:
- Doctor Proctor: An aging, eccentric inventor who has spent years waiting for his big break. While many of his inventions seem useless (like powder that makes Jell-O look like a brain), his fart powders and time-travel devices end up saving the day.
- Nilly: A tiny, red-haired boy who recently moved to the neighborhood. He is fearless, plays the pocket trumpet, has an overactive imagination, and is never short of a scheme.
- Lisa: Nilly's sensible next-door neighbor. She is bright, analytical, and serves as the grounding force when Nilly and Doctor Proctor's plans threaten to spiral completely out of control.
Book-by-Book Overview
1. Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder (2007)
The book that started it all introduces Lisa and Nilly, who team up with Doctor Proctor to help market his latest invention: a powder that produces incredibly loud but completely odorless farts. While they initially use it to help kids get out of school or gain popularity, they soon discover that a extra-strength version of the powder can launch humans into the air like rockets. Trouble arises when two sneaky neighborhood bullies, the twins Truls and Trym, plot to steal the formula for themselves, sparking a rescue mission involving the Oslo sewer system and a giant anaconda.
2. Bubble in the Bathtub (2008)
Also known as Doctor Proctor's Time Tub, this sequel ups the stakes by introducing time travel. When Doctor Proctor suddenly disappears, Nilly and Lisa discover he has traveled back in time using a special time-travel soap in a modified bathtub. He is trying to change history to reunite with his long-lost love, Juliette Margarine. To save their friend, the duo must lather up and travel back to historical events, dodging guillotine executions in the French Revolution and navigating Waterloo.
3. Who Cut the Cheese? (2010)
Subtitled The End of the World. Maybe. in some editions, the third book moves into sci-fi territory. The peaceful city of Oslo is suddenly targeted by a bizarre, hypnotic television show led by a sinister villain who wants to take over Norway. With the adults completely brainwashed, Nilly, Lisa, and the Doctor are the only ones left to resist. Utilizing a seven-legged spider, some waffle irons, and their trusty fart powder, they must stop a full-blown alien invasion of waffle-eating, brain-snatching crooks.
4. The Magical Fruit / The Great Gold Robbery (2012)
When the entire gold reserve of Norway is stolen by a corrupt Russian billionaire, the nation is thrown into panic. The thief melts the gold down into a giant soccer trophy and declares that the only way to win it back is in a high-stakes soccer match. Nilly and Lisa must go undercover on the soccer field, combining athletic strategy with fart-powered tricks to outsmart the billionaire's heavy-handed team and return the country's wealth.
5. Silent (But Deadly) Night / Can Doctor Proctor Save Christmas? (2016)
In the final installment, a greedy department store tycoon named Mr. Thrane buys the exclusive legal rights to Christmas from the King. He decrees that only families who buy expensive gifts from his stores are allowed to celebrate. Nilly, Lisa, and Doctor Proctor set off on a winter rescue mission. Along the way, they team up with a surprisingly grouchy Santa Claus, modify a flying sleigh, and use time-travel soap to ensure that Christmas remains free for everyone.
Adapting the Absurdity: The Feature Films
The success of the books led to two major Norwegian live-action films directed by Arild Fröhlich. The first, Doktor Proktors prompepulver, was released in 2014 and covers the events of the debut book. The second, Doktor Proktors tidsbadekar, came out in 2015 and brings the time-traveling bathtub adventure to the screen. Both movies capture the Roald Dahl-style visuals, slapstick comedy, and eccentric tone of the books, making them excellent companion watches for children after finishing the first two novels.
What to Know Before You Start
Parents picking up the series should keep in mind that while Jo Nesbø is famous for his dark, violent adult thriller series starring detective Harry Hole, the Doctor Proctor books are completely kid-friendly. They are designed for readers aged 8 to 12, featuring playful illustrations by Mike Lowery, puns, bathroom humor, and an undercurrent of warmhearted friendship. Despite the goofy premise, the stories champion creativity, standing up to bullies, and celebrating what makes each person unique.