Drew Daywalt Books in Order

Where to Start with Drew Daywalt

Drew Daywalt is best known for giving voices to everyday objects, most notably a box of colorful crayons that just want to be heard. If you are introducing a young reader to Daywalt’s work, the best starting point is his signature Crayons series. While many of the smaller board books and holiday spin-offs can be read in any order, the core storybooks should be read in sequence to follow the evolving relationship between the crayons and their owner, Duncan.

For older readers transitioning to chapter books, Daywalt's middle-grade series No Sam! offers a hilarious, illustrated diary-style experience. Early readers will find a perfect fit in the Monkey & Cake series, which focuses on simple, dialogue-heavy philosophy for beginners.

The Crayons Series Reading Order

The Crayons franchise, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers, is split between core narrative picture books, seasonal holiday specials, and conceptual board books for toddlers. To get the most out of the characters' personalities, start with the core narrative books before diving into the spin-offs.

The Core Narrative Picture Books

These books feature the primary storyline of Duncan and his crayons, establishing their unique personalities and complaints. They should be read in this exact order:

• The Day the Crayons Quit (2013) – The breakout debut where Duncan finds a stack of letters from his crayons outlining their work grievances.
• The Day the Crayons Came Home (2015) – The official sequel, focusing on lost, broken, and forgotten crayons trying to find their way back to Duncan's room.
• The Day the Crayons Made Friends (2025) – The third major installment where the crayons venture out of their box to interact with 3D objects in the bedroom.

Seasonal and Holiday Specials

These are longer, narrative-driven holiday books that expand on the crayons' adventures. While they can be read as standalones, they fit best after reading the first two core books:

• The Crayons' Christmas (2019) – A festive, interactive book complete with real envelopes to open and letters from the crayons.
• The Crayons Trick or Treat (2022) – A Halloween special where the crayons teach Purple Crayon how to trick-or-treat.
• Green Is for Christmas (2022) – A pocket-sized holiday story centering on Green Crayon's belief that he is the only true color of Christmas.
• Happy Easter from the Crayons (2023) – A spring-themed adventure where the crayons attempt to dye Easter eggs.
• Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Crayons (2024) – A short, luck-filled holiday board book.
• The Crayons Give Thanks (2024) – A Thanksgiving-themed entry exploring gratitude and what the crayons are thankful for.

Concept Board Books for Younger Readers

Designed for toddlers, these books focus on basic concepts like numbers, feelings, and colors. They do not have a strict narrative timeline and can be read in any order:

• The Crayons' Book of Colors (2016)
• The Crayons' Book of Numbers (2016)
• The Crayons: A Set of Books and Finger Puppets (2018)
• Love from the Crayons (2019)
• The Crayons' Book of Feelings (2021)
• The Crayons Go Back to School (2023)

Monkey & Cake Series

For children who are just starting to read on their own, Daywalt created the Monkey & Cake series. Illustrated by Olivier Tallec, these books feature two quirky friends who engage in funny, abstract debates about the world. They can be read in any order, but reading them in order of release is recommended:

1. What Is Inside THIS Box? (2019)
2. This Is MY Fort! (2019)
3. My Tooth Is LOST! (2019)

No Sam! Series (Middle-Grade)

Stepping away from picture books, the No Sam! series is a heavily illustrated middle-grade series written in a diary format. Illustrated by Mike Lowery, it follows a chaotic pug who incorrectly thinks his name is "No Sam!" because that is what his owners yell at him. Unlike his picture books, this series has a continuous narrative arc and should be read in publication order:

1. They Call Me No Sam! (2024)
2. No Sam! and the Meow of Deception (2024)
3. No Sam! and the City of Scoundrels (2024)

Standalone Picture Books

Daywalt has written several highly acclaimed standalone picture books. These require no background context and can be read at any time:

• The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors (2017) – A hilarious "historical" account of how the three classic hand-game warriors met and fought.
• Sleepy, the Goodnight Buddy (2018) – The story of a boy named Roderick who gets a bedtime stuffed animal that turns out to be way too talkative to let him sleep.
• The Epic Adventures of Huggie & Stick (2018) – A humorous travel diary following a grumpy stuffed bunny and a cheerful wooden stick who get lost together.
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Kid (2021) – A sweet story about a kid who makes a wish on a star, only to find out the star has a wish of its own.
• Little Freddie Two Pants (2025) – A fashion-forward dog named Freddie tries to figure out exactly how a dog is supposed to wear pants.

Star Wars & Disney Media Tie-Ins

Due to his background in film and screenwriting, Daywalt has occasionally contributed to major Disney franchises. Readers looking at publisher listings should note a common source of confusion regarding his Star Wars books:

• BB-8 On the Run (2017) – This is the only Star Wars picture book written by Drew Daywalt. It follows the round astromech droid on an adventure between the events of his escape on Jakku and meeting Rey.
• Toy Story 4: Forky in Craft Buddy Day (2019) – A Disney-Pixar tie-in picture book focusing on the popular character Forky adjusting to life as a toy.

Note on Shared Collections: Some online databases group Drew Daywalt under a broader list of "Star Wars Disney Books" alongside authors like Greg Rucka, Ryder Windham, and Alexandra Bracken (incorporating books like Ezra's Gamble or Before the Awakening). Daywalt did not write or contribute to those other books; they are part of a publisher-branded series grouping, not a cohesive author collection.

What to Know Before You Start

When planning your reading order, keep in mind that Drew Daywalt’s books span different age groups and reading levels. The Crayons series is best suited for read-alouds with kids aged 3–7, while Monkey & Cake is designed for early independent readers (ages 4–8) who are mastering sight words. The No Sam! novels target older kids (ages 7–10) looking for transitional chapter books with plenty of illustrations. All of his standalone books, particularly The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors, carry a universal humor that appeals to children and adults alike, making them excellent choices for shared bedtime reading.