Bruce Hale Books in Order

Where to Start with Bruce Hale

Bruce Hale has written and illustrated over 70 books that are perfect for reluctant readers, combining quick-witted humor, mystery, and high-energy illustrations. How you start reading his work depends on your age group:

• For Middle-Grade Readers (Ages 8-12): Start with The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse, the first book in the Chet Gecko Mysteries. It introduces Hale's signature noir parody style, filled with hilarious animal puns and kid-friendly detective work.
• For Younger Readers (Ages 4-8): Begin with the picture book Clark the Shark, which teaches social-emotional skills like impulse control and sharing through a boisterous, lovable shark character.
• For Sci-Fi & Adventure Fans: Pick up Elvis Is Missing, the start of his fast-paced intergalactic adventure series, The Outer Space Mystery Pizza Club.

Chet Gecko Mysteries Reading Order

The Chet Gecko series features Emerson Hicky Elementary's premier fourth-grade lizard detective. The books are episodic noir parodies and are best read in order of publication to appreciate recurring gags and Chet's developing friendships (especially with his mockingbird partner, Natalie Attired).

Note: Some library catalogs mistakenly list a book called "Big Red Fire Engine" under this series or Hale's bibliography. This is database error/noise; that book was written by Rose Greydanus and has no connection to Chet Gecko.

1. The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse (2000)
2. The Mystery of Mr. Nice (2000)
3. Farewell, My Lunchbag (2001)
4. The Big Nap (2001)
5. The Hamster of the Baskervilles (2002)
6. This Gum for Hire (2002)
7. The Malted Falcon (2003)
8. Trouble Is My Beeswax (2003)
9. Give My Regrets to Broadway (2004)
10. Murder, My Tweet (2004)
11. Chet Gecko's Detective Handbook (and Cookbook) (2005) - A fun series companion and detective guide.
12. The Possum Always Rings Twice (2006)
13. Key Lardo (2006)
14. Hiss Me Deadly (2007)
15. From Russia with Lunch (2009)
16. Dial M for Mongoose (2009)

Clark the Shark Series

Clark the Shark has two distinct lines of books: the original oversized Picture Books (best for read-alouds) and the "I Can Read!" Early Readers (designed for kids learning to read independently). You can read these in any order, but starting with the original picture book is recommended to establish Clark's world.

Main Picture Books

• Clark the Shark (2013)
• Clark the Shark Dares to Share (2013)
• Clark the Shark Takes Heart (2014)
• Afraid of the Dark (2015)
• Clark the Shark Loves Christmas (2016)
• Lost and Found (2016)

"I Can Read!" Level 1 Readers

• Tooth Trouble (2014)
• Clark the Shark and the Big Book Report (2017)
• Too Many Treats (2019)
• Clark the Shark Gets a Pet (2020)
• Clark the Shark and the School Sing (2021)
• Friends Forever (2022)

School for S.P.I.E.S. Trilogy

This action-packed middle-grade trilogy must be read in chronological order, as it follows a continuous storyline about Max Segredo, a foster kid who discovers his orphanage is actually a secret training ground for young spies.

1. Playing with Fire (2013)
2. Thicker Than Water (2014)
3. Ends of the Earth (2015)

Monstertown Mysteries

Inspired by classic monster movies, this spooky and funny series follows best friends Carlos and Benny as they defend their town of Monterrosa from supernatural creatures. Read them in order:

1. The Curse of the Were-Hyena (2016)
2. Mutant Mantis Lunch Ladies! (2017)
3. Invasion of the Scorp-lions (2017)

The Underwhere Series

Co-created with illustrator Shane Hillman, this graphic-novel hybrid series follows Zeke, Stephanie, and Hector in an alternate dimension located beneath our own, where inhabitants wear their underwear on the outside of their clothes. Read them in order:

1. Prince of Underwhere (2008)
2. Pirates of Underwhere (2008)
3. Flyboy of Underwhere (2008)
4. Fat Cat of Underwhere (2009)
5. Mole Men of Underwhere (2009)

Class Pets Series

Set at Leo Gumpus Elementary, this series features Fuzzy, a guinea pig who leads the school's secret "Class Pets Club." It is best read in publication order:

1. Fuzzy's Great Escape (2018)
2. Fuzzy Takes Charge (2018)
3. Fuzzy Freaks Out (2018)
4. Fuzzy Fights Back (2018)

The Outer Space Mystery Pizza Club

Hale's latest sci-fi adventure series features a group of kids who enter an intergalactic portal in their backyard in search of their lost dog, finding aliens and space pizza along the way. Read these in order:

1. Elvis Is Missing (2024)
2. Grunthar's Revenge (2024)

Standalone Novels and Biographies

In addition to his series, Bruce Hale has written several standalone books, including a notable entry in the Little Golden Book Biography line (though databases often list standard Little Golden Books written by other authors under his profile, he has only written one):

• Big Bad Detective Agency (2015) - A standalone middle-grade mystery featuring the Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Pigs.
• Switched (2021) - A body-swap comedy about a boy and his dog.
• Super Troop (2022) - A graphic novel style comedy about the worst Boy Scout troop.
• William Shatner: A Little Golden Book Biography (2023) - An illustrated children's biography of the legendary Star Trek actor.