Aaron Blabey Books in Order

How to Start Reading Aaron Blabey’s Books

Aaron Blabey’s energetic, visually driven storytelling has made him a household name for young readers and a savior for parents of reluctant readers. Because his books range from hilarious, rhyming picture books for toddlers to multi-installment graphic novel series for middle graders, the best place to start depends entirely on the reader's age and interests.

• For graphic novel fans and older kids (Ages 7–10): Start with the very first book of The Bad Guys. This series features a continuous, serialized narrative that must be read in publication order to make sense.
• For younger children and read-alouds (Ages 3–7): Start with the original Pig the Pug picture book. The Pig books are episodic, meaning you can read them in almost any order, though starting with the self-titled debut introduces the characters best.
• For fans of heartwarming humor (Ages 4–8): Start with Thelma the Unicorn, a charming story about self-acceptance that also has a direct sequel.

The Bad Guys: The Complete 20-Book Reading Order

Launched in 2015, The Bad Guys follows a gang of misunderstood, stereotypically villainous animals—Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Shark, and Mr. Piranha—who attempt to perform good deeds to change their reputations. The series is written as a serialized graphic novel, filled with cliffhangers, fast-paced action, and cinematic panels. Because the plot carries over directly from one book to the next, readers must follow the publication order.

The main series officially concluded in late 2024 with its twentieth book, One Last Thing. Aaron Blabey has confirmed that this installment brings the epic story of the crew to its definitive end.

1. The Bad Guys (2015)
2. The Bad Guys in Mission Unpluckable (2015)
3. The Bad Guys in The Furball Strikes Back (2016)
4. The Bad Guys in Attack of the Zittens (2017)
5. The Bad Guys in Intergalactic Gas (2017)
6. The Bad Guys in Alien vs Bad Guys (2018)
7. The Bad Guys in Do-You-Think-He-Saurus?! (2018)
8. The Bad Guys in Superbad (2018)
9. The Bad Guys in The Big Bad Wolf (2019)
10. The Bad Guys in the Baddest Day Ever (2019)
11. The Bad Guys in Dawn of the Underlord (2020)
12. The Bad Guys in The One?! (2020)
13. The Bad Guys in Cut to the Chase (2021)
14. The Bad Guys in They're Bee-Hind You! (2021)
15. The Bad Guys in Open Wide and Say Arrrgh! (2022)
16. The Bad Guys in the Others?! (2022)
17. The Bad Guys in Let the Games Begin! (2023)
18. The Bad Guys in Look Who's Talking (2023)
19. The Bad Guys in the Serpent and the Beast (2024)
20. The Bad Guys In One Last Thing (2024)

Spin-Offs: Cat on the Run

Set in the very same universe as The Bad Guys, the Cat on the Run series is an action-packed spin-off trilogy. It follows Princess Beautiful, a pampered, internet-famous feline who is suddenly framed for a major crime and forced to go on the lam to clear her name. While it shares the same fast-paced, comic-book style and contains easter eggs for fans of the main series, it works perfectly as a standalone read.

1. Cat on the Run in Cat of Death! (2023)
2. Cat on the Run in Cucumber Madness! (2024)
3. Cat on the Run in Hidden Layers! (2024)

Pig the Pug: Episodic Reading Order

Unlike his graphic novels, Aaron Blabey’s famous picture book series about a greedy, short-tempered pug named Pig and his sweet friend Trevor is episodic. Each book tells a self-contained story highlighting one of Pig’s behavioral flaws—ranging from lying to being a sore loser—which inevitably leads to a hilarious, karma-driven lesson. While they can be read in any order, following the publication order shows the full escalation of Pig’s ridiculous behaviors.

1. Pig the Pug (2014)
2. Pig the Fibber (2015)
3. Pig the Winner (2016)
4. Pig the Elf (2017)
5. Pig the Star (2017)
6. Pig the Stinker (2019)
7. Pig the Tourist (2020)
8. Pig the Slob (2020)
9. Pig the Monster (2021)
10. Pig the Rebel (2022)

Companion and Board Books

In addition to the main picture books, Blabey has released specialized companion books tailored for toddlers, such as Love Pug (2023) and Cranky Pug (2024), which use Pig’s classic facial expressions to teach basic concepts like emotions and affection.

Thelma the Unicorn and Other Standalone Classics

Before launching his massive series, Aaron Blabey wrote several highly acclaimed standalone picture books. Foremost among these is the story of a plain little pony who longs to be a glamorous unicorn.

• Thelma the Unicorn Duology: Thelma the Unicorn (2015) should be read right before its direct sequel, The Return of Thelma the Unicorn (2019). This pair of books follows her journey to stardom and her subsequent realization that being yourself is what truly matters.
• Other Standalone Picture Books: Books like Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley (2007), Sunday Chutney (2008), The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon (2011), Stanley Paste (2011), The Dreadful Fluff (2012), I Need a Hug (2015), Piranhas Don't Eat Bananas (2015), and Don't Call Me Bear! (2019) are completely standalone and can be enjoyed at any time.

What to Know Before You Start

Aaron Blabey’s books are famous for their cinematic pacing. When introducing younger readers to The Bad Guys, be prepared for cliffhangers at the end of almost every volume. Because the books are quick reads, keeping the next few installments on hand is highly recommended. The visual style relies heavily on expressive character designs and minimalist background details, which helps transitional readers bridge the gap between simple picture books and full-text novels.