Order of Book Series
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Katherine Paterson Books in Order

Katherine Paterson has written 70 books, published between 1973 and 2021. The first book is The Sign of the Chrysanthemum (1973) and the newest is Birdie's Bargain (2021). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
70
Published
1973–2021
Pages on record
6,086 in 42 of 70 books
Reading time
101–152 hours

Reading time is an estimate, not a recorded figure: 6,086 pages at 300 words a page, read at 200–300 words a minute, covering the 42 of 70 titles with a page count on record.

See all 70 books in order Printable Katherine Paterson checklist
Photo of Katherine Paterson, author

Katherine Paterson, born Katherine Womeldorf on 31 October 1932, is an American writer known chiefly for children's novels. Bridge to Terabithia (1977) won the 1978 Newbery Medal, and across four books published between 1975 and 1980 Paterson won two Newbery Medals and two National Book Awards. The catalogue lists 70 books from The Sign of the Chrysanthemum (1973) to Birdie's Bargain (2021), with The Master Puppeteer (1975), The Great Gilly Hopkins (1978) and Jacob Have I Loved (1980) among them. Marvin and Read For Your Life are listed series, and Japan, friendship and grief appear in the subjects.

How many Katherine Paterson books are there?

Katherine Paterson has 70 books, released between 1973 and 2021. They include 2 series and 44 titles listed outside any series.

Katherine Paterson Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 70 Katherine Paterson books in the order they were published, with the release year, the page count where one is on record, and how many independent book listings confirm each title. Catalogue data as of September 2026.

  1. Cover of The Sign of the Chrysanthemum by Katherine Paterson, book 12 of the Harper Trophy Books series (1973)
  2. Cover of Of Nightingales That Weep by Katherine Paterson (1974)
  3. Cover of The Master Puppeteer by Katherine Paterson (1975)
  4. Cover of Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (1977)
  5. Cover of Angels and Other Strangers: Family Christmas Stories by Katherine Paterson (1979)
  6. Cover of Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson (1980)
  7. Cover of Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom by Katherine Paterson (1983)
  8. Cover of Consider the Lilies: Plants of the Bible by Katherine Paterson (1986)
  9. Cover of The Tongue-Cut Sparrow by Katherine Paterson (1987)
  10. Cover of The Smallest Cow in the World by Katherine Paterson, book 1 of the Marvin series (1988)
  11. Cover of Park's Quest by Katherine Paterson (1988)
  12. Cover of The Spying Heart: More Thoughts on Reading and Writing Books for Children by Katherine Paterson (1989)
  13. Cover of The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks by Katherine Paterson (1990)
  14. Cover of Lyddie by Katherine Paterson (1991)
  15. Cover of The King's Equal by Katherine Paterson, book 1 of the Chapter series (1992)
  16. Cover of Who Am I?: Exploring What It Means to Be a Child of God by Katherine Paterson (1992)
  17. Cover of Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, book 6 of the Stephanie S. Tolan Children's series (1992)
  18. Cover of Flip-Flop Girl by Katherine Paterson (1994)
  19. Cover of A Midnight Clear: Family Christmas Stories by Katherine Paterson (1995)
  20. Cover of A Sense of Wonder: On Reading and Writing Books for Children by Katherine Paterson (1995)
  21. Cover of The Angel and the Donkey by Katherine Paterson (1996)
  22. Cover of Jip: His Story by Katherine Paterson (1996)
  23. Cover of Marvin's Best Christmas Present Ever by Katherine Paterson, book 2 of the Marvin series (1997)
  24. Cover of Celia and the Sweet, Sweet Water by Katherine Paterson (1998)
  1. 1
    The Sign of the ChrysanthemumHarper Trophy Books #121973 · 132 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1973132
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    Of Nightingales That Weep1974 · 170 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1974170
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    The Master Puppeteer1975 · 179 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1975179
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    Bridge to Terabithia1977 · 144 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1977144
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    The Great Gilly Hopkins1978 · confirmed 1/4
    1978–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    Angels and Other Strangers: Family Christmas Stories1979 · 118 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1979118
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    Star of Night1979 · 118 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1979118
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    Jacob Have I Loved1980 · 244 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1980244
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    Gates of Excellence: On Reading and Writing Books for Children1981 · 144 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1981144
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom1983 · 240 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1983240
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    Come Sing, Jimmy Jo1985 · 208 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1985208
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    Consider the Lilies: Plants of the Bible1986 · 96 pages · confirmed 1/4
    198696
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    Four Favorites from Katherine Paterson1986 · confirmed 1/4
    1986–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    The Tongue-Cut Sparrow1987 · 40 pages · confirmed 1/4
    198740
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    Katherine Paterson Treasury1987 · confirmed 1/4
    1987–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    The Smallest Cow in the WorldMarvin #11988 · 64 pages · confirmed 1/4
    198864
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    Park's Quest1988 · 148 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1988148
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    The Spying Heart: More Thoughts on Reading and Writing Books for Children1989 · 196 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1989196
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks1990 · 40 pages · confirmed 1/4
    199040
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    Lyddie1991 · 182 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1991182
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    The King's EqualChapter #11992 · 64 pages · confirmed 1/4
    199264
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    Who Am I?: Exploring What It Means to Be a Child of God1992 · 87 pages · confirmed 1/4
    199287
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    Bridge to TerabithiaStephanie S. Tolan Children's #61992 · 101 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1992101
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    Flip-Flop Girl1994 · 120 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1994120
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    A Midnight Clear: Family Christmas Stories1995 · 224 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1995224
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    A Sense of Wonder: On Reading and Writing Books for Children1995 · confirmed 1/4
    1995–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    The Angel and the Donkey1996 · 34 pages · confirmed 1/4
    199634
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    Jip: His Story1996 · 180 pages · confirmed 1/4
    1996180
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    Marvin's Best Christmas Present EverMarvin #21997 · confirmed 1/4
    1997–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    Celia and the Sweet, Sweet Water1998 · confirmed 1/4
    1998–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Katherine Paterson series in order

The series linked below has its own reading-order page.

Katherine Paterson books grouped by series

Each title below is a row in the publication-order table above. None of these groups has a reading-order page of its own on this site.

Marvin in order

3 books
  1. 1. The Smallest Cow in the World
  2. 2. Marvin's Best Christmas Present Ever
  3. 3. Marvin One Too Many

Chapter in order

2 books
  1. 1. The King's Equal
  2. 2. The Field of the Dogs

Stephanie S. Tolan Children's in order

1 book
  1. 6. Bridge to Terabithia

Harper Trophy Books in order

1 book
  1. 12. The Sign of the Chrysanthemum

Standalone books

44 books

44 Katherine Paterson titles here are not listed as part of any series.

Do you have to read Katherine Paterson books in order?

You only need to read Katherine Paterson books in order within each series: the books listed here span 2 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

Where to start with Katherine Paterson

Start with Read For Your Life #1 (2010), the first Read For Your Life book. The earliest catalogued title overall is The Sign of the Chrysanthemum (1973).

What is the newest Katherine Paterson book?

Birdie's Bargain (2021) is the newest Katherine Paterson book released so far.

Is there a new Katherine Paterson book coming?

No next Katherine Paterson book is announced in the catalogue, which is a gap in the listings it merges rather than a sign that the run has ended.

Awards Katherine Paterson has won

Wikidata records 9 awards for Katherine Paterson. Each row states whether the title won or was shortlisted, and the year the award was given.

  • Jella-Lepman Medal2018Won
  • Children's Literature Legacy Award2013Won
  • Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award2006Won
  • Hans Christian Andersen Award1998Won
  • Regina Medal1988Won
  • Newbery Honor1979Won
  • National Book Award1979Wonfor The Great Gilly Hopkins
  • Newbery Medal1978Won
  • National Book Award1977Wonfor The Master Puppeteer

Katherine Paterson at a glance

Paused
No new Katherine Paterson title has appeared for 5 years. The last was published in 2021.
Release pace
Katherine Paterson books have appeared more than one a year on average.
Length
6,086 pages across the 42 of 70 books with a recorded length, a median of 138 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Katherine Paterson books, 27 of 70, were published in the 2010s.

What the Katherine Paterson books are about

49 of the 70 Katherine Paterson books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: children's fiction is tagged on 23 of 49. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.