Judy Moody and Stink Books in Order

Where to Start Reading the Judy Moody and Stink Universe

Megan McDonald's whimsical world of Judy Moody and her younger brother Stink is one of the most popular children's franchises in modern literature. Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, these books capture the authentic, humorous, and occasionally chaotic dynamics of sibling relationships and childhood curiosity. Because the series spans multiple subseries, crossover books, and varying reading levels, parents and young readers often wonder where to start.

For the best experience, you should choose a starting point based on the reader's age and reading level:

• For chapter-book beginners (Grades 1–3): Start with Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid. The Stink series has slightly larger print, shorter chapters, and is highly visual, making it ideal for transitional readers.
• For established independent readers (Grades 2–4): Start with Judy Moody Was in a Mood. This is the original book that started the entire universe, focusing on Judy's adventure entering the third grade.
• For younger children/emergent readers (Grades K–2): Start with the Judy Moody & Friends series. These are Level 2 early readers with simplified text and full-color illustrations.

Does Reading Order Matter?

In short: no. Megan McDonald designed both the Judy Moody and Stink series so that individual books can be read as standalones. There is no overarching fantasy plot or linear mystery to solve. However, reading them in publication order allows young readers to appreciate recurring jokes, watch the characters' friendships develop naturally, and see the minor timeline progressions (such as Judy's summer adventures or Stink's changing class projects).

Judy Moody Main Series in Publication Order

This is the core series that launched in 2000, focusing on third-grader Judy Moody, her best friends Rocky and Amy Namey, her teacher Mr. Todd, and her many shifting moods.

1. Judy Moody Was in a Mood (2000)
2. Judy Moody Gets Famous! (2001)
3. Judy Moody Saves the World! (2002)
4. Judy Moody Predicts the Future (2003)
5. Judy Moody, M.D.: The Doctor is In! (2004)
6. Judy Moody Declares Independence (2005)
7. Judy Moody: Around the World in 8 1/2 Days (2006)
8. Judy Moody Goes to College (2008)
9. Judy Moody, Girl Detective (2010)
10. Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (2011)
11. Judy Moody and the Bad Luck Charm (2012)
12. Judy Moody, Mood Martian (2014)
13. Judy Moody and the Bucket List (2016)
14. Judy Moody and the Right Royal Tea Party (2018)
15. Judy Moody, Book Quiz Whiz (2019)
16. Judy Moody: In a Monday Mood (2021)

Stink Main Series in Publication Order

Following high demand from readers who loved Judy's little brother Stink (James Moody), McDonald launched a dedicated spin-off series in 2005. Stink is a second-grader who loves science, encyclopedias, and tracking his height.

1. Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid (2005)
2. Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker (2006)
3. Stink and the World's Worst Super-Stinky Sneakers (2007)
4. Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express (2008)
5. Stink: Solar System Superhero (2010)
6. Stink and the Ultimate Thumb-Wrestling Smackdown (2011)
7. Stink and the Midnight Zombie Walk (2012)
8. Stink and the Freaky Frog Freakout (2013)
9. Stink and the Shark Sleepover (2014)
10. Stink and the Attack of the Slime Mold (2016)
11. Stink: Hamlet and Cheese (2018)
12. Stink and the Hairy, Scary Spider (2020)
13. Stink: Superhero Superfan (2023)

Judy Moody & Stink Joint Adventures

For readers who want to see both siblings share equal billing, McDonald wrote several collaborative chapter books. These are slightly larger-format books and make excellent holiday or seasonal reads.

1. The Holly Joliday (2007)
2. The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt (2008)
3. The Big Bad Blackout (2014)
4. The Wishbone Wish (2015)
5. The Grand-Slam Book-Bowl Jam (2016)

Judy Moody & Friends (Early Readers)

This subseries is perfect for younger siblings who want to read about Judy's world but aren't quite ready for full chapter books. They focus on Judy's classmates and friends, highlighting individual characters like Jessica Finch, Rocky Zang, Frank Pearl, and Amy Namey.

1. Jessica Finch in Pig Trouble (2014)
2. Rocky Zang in The Amazing Mr. Magic (2014)
3. Frank Pearl in the Awful Waffle Kerfuffle (2014)
4. Amy Namey in Ace Reporter (2014)
5. Stink Moody in Master of Disaster (2015)
6. Triple Pet Trouble (2015)
7. Mrs. Moody in The Birthday Jinx (2016)
8. April Fools', Mr. Todd! (2017)
9. Judy Moody, Tooth Fairy (2017)
10. Not-So-Lucky Lefty (2018)
11. Searching for Stinkodon (2019)
12. Prank You Very Much (2020)
13. Judy Moody and the Missing Mood Ring (2022)

Movie Tie-Ins and Fun Activity Collections

If your child is a superfan of the series, there are several movie tie-in novellas and non-fiction books that feature interactive prompts, journaling ideas, and craft projects.

Judy Moody Movie Tie-In Books

These books were released in 2011 to celebrate the theatrical release of the live-action movie adaptation:

• Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (2011)
• Judy Moody and the Thrill Points Race (2011)
• Judy Moody Goes to Hollywood (2011)
• Judy Moody and the Poop Picnic (2011)
• Judy Moody's Thrill-A-Delic Hunt for Bigfoot (2011)

Non-Fiction & Collections

• Judy Moody's Double-Rare Way-Not-Boring Book of Fun Stuff to Do (2001)
• The Judy Moody Mood Journal (2003)
• Judy Moody's Way Wacky Uber Awesome Book of More Fun Stuff to Do (2010)
• Judy Moody's Best Mood Ever: Coloring and Activity Book (2011)
• Judy Moody's Mini-Mysteries and Other Sneaky Stuff for Super-Sleuths (2012)