You know those books that just work for kids who claim they hate reading? Stick Dog is basically the king of that category. Honestly, Tom Watson stumbled onto something brilliant when he decided to draw a dog that looks like a bunch of sticks with a floppy tail. It’s simple. It’s funny. It’s mostly about food. If you’re trying to find the Stick Dog books in order, you’re probably dealing with a kid who just devoured one and is now demanding the next one before you’ve even had your coffee.
I’ve seen parents wander through bookstores looking slightly lost because, let’s be real, the covers all look pretty similar. They’ve all got that bright, doodle-heavy vibe that reminds you of Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Big Nate. But there is a method to the madness. Tom Watson didn’t just throw these out at random. There’s a specific progression, even if the "plot" mostly revolves around a pack of stray dogs trying to steal a hamburger or a slice of pizza.
The series kicked off back in 2013. Since then, it’s grown into a massive franchise that includes a spin-off series (Stick Cat, which is also great) and over a dozen main entries. If you’re a librarian or a teacher, you already know these books don’t stay on the shelves for more than ten minutes. They’re the "gateway drugs" of the middle-grade reading world.
The Chronological List of Stick Dog Adventures
Let’s get straight to the point. If you want to read the Stick Dog books in order, you start at the beginning. No skipping.
- Stick Dog (The one where it all starts and they want a hamburger).
- Stick Dog Wants a Hot Dog.
- Stick Dog Chases a Pizza.
- Stick Dog Dreams of Ice Cream.
- Stick Dog Tries to Take the Cake.
- Stick Dog Getsard a Guy's Big Lunch (Actually titled Stick Dog Gets a Guy's Big Lunch).
- Stick Dog Craves a Donut.
- Stick Dog Eats Santa's Cookies.
- Stick Dog Slurps Spaghetti.
- Stick Dog Wants a Taco.
Wait, I missed one. Between the donut and the cookies, there’s actually a bit of a gap in how some people track them because of the seasonal releases. Stick Dog Eats Santa's Cookies is often treated as a special, but it’s officially part of the numbered sequence in most library databases.
The most recent additions to the pack’s menu include:
- Stick Dog Gets the Giggles - Stick Dog Bakes a Biscuit
It’s a lot of food. You’ll notice a theme here. If it’s edible and humans are eating it, Stick Dog and his friends—Pool-Poodle, Mutt, Karen, and Stripes—are going to try to heist it.
Why the Order Actually Matters (Sorta)
Look, these aren't War and Peace. You aren't going to be hopelessly lost if you read the pizza book before the hot dog book. Each story is pretty self-contained. However, there’s a reason to stick to the published Stick Dog books in order if you can.
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Tom Watson builds the "world" as he goes. In the first book, we meet the characters. We learn that Stick Dog is the smart one, the leader. We find out that Karen is a bit... unique. She’s a Dachshund who gets distracted by everything. Stripes is a Dalmatian who is perpetually nervous. If you jump in at book seven, you might wonder why these dogs have such specific, weird personality quirks.
The drawings change slightly too. If you look at the first book compared to Stick Dog Wants a Taco, the line work is a bit more confident. Watson’s style is intentionally "bad" (he pretends he can’t draw well, which is the whole gimmick), but he gets better at being "bad" as the series progresses.
The Characters That Keep Kids Hooked
It’s not just about the food heists. It’s the group dynamic. It’s basically a heist movie but with paws.
- Stick Dog: The protagonist. He lives in a pipe under Highway 16. He’s the only one with a plan.
- Karen: She’s easily the fan favorite. She’s small, she’s frantic, and she often thinks things are happening that definitely aren't happening.
- Mutt: A dog who is, well, a mutt. He’s the muscle, sort of.
- Pool-Poodle: A poodle who thinks she’s fancy but is just as hungry as the rest of them.
- Stripes: She’s got the spots and the anxiety to match.
Kids identify with the different temperaments. My nephew loves Karen because he also gets distracted by shiny objects and forgets what he was doing mid-sentence.
Comparing Stick Dog to Other "Doodle" Books
Parents often ask if this is just a ripoff of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It’s a fair question. The "hybrid novel" (part text, part comic) is a crowded market. You’ve got Big Nate, The Bad Guys, and Dog Man.
But Stick Dog is different. It’s gentler.
While Greg Heffley can be a bit of a jerk sometimes, Stick Dog is genuinely looking out for his friends. There’s a weirdly wholesome core to these books. Even when they’re trying to steal a family’s picnic, they aren't mean-spirited. They’re just hungry dogs being dogs. Also, the meta-commentary from the "author" (the fictional version of Tom Watson) is hilarious. He constantly interrupts the story to talk about how he can't draw legs or why he decided to make the sun look like a yellow blob.
Dealing With the "I'm Bored" Phase
If your kid has finished all the Stick Dog books in order, don’t panic. There are options. First, check out the Stick Cat series. It’s set in the same universe but takes place in the city. Stick Cat lives in a high-rise apartment and has to deal with much more vertical problems.
Then there are the activity books. There’s a Stick Dog’s Guide to Life which is basically a giant "how-to-draw" and journal hybrid.
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Some people think these books are "too easy." I’ve heard critics say they don't challenge readers enough. Honestly? That’s missing the point. If a ten-year-old who usually hides under the bed when it’s time to read suddenly finishes a 200-page book in one sitting, that’s a win. The "Stick Dog books in order" provide a sense of accomplishment. Finishing a series is a huge confidence booster for a reluctant reader.
Where to Find Them Cheap
Buying fourteen books brand new is expensive. Don't do that unless you're feeling particularly wealthy.
Scholastic Book Fairs are the natural habitat of the Stick Dog. You can usually find them in those "buy 3 get 1 free" bins. Also, because these are so popular, used bookstores are usually swimming in them. Check the "Children's Fiction - W" section.
Another tip: the audiobooks. Tom Watson narrates some of them himself, and they are surprisingly great for car rides. The voices he does for the dogs—especially Karen—will keep you from losing your mind while stuck in traffic.
Final Checklist for the Completist
If you are a collector, make sure you aren't missing the holiday specials. Sometimes they get shelved in the "Holiday" section of the library instead of with the rest of the series. Stick Dog Eats Santa's Cookies is the big one there.
There's also a bit of confusion regarding the "color editions." The original books were black and white inside. Later, HarperCollins started releasing full-color versions. They are the same stories, just prettier. If your kid is picky about visuals, go for the color ones, but the black and white versions have that classic "notebook" feel that Watson was originally going for.
Actionable Next Steps
- Audit the shelf: Sit down with your kid and see which numbers are actually missing. They usually have the number on the spine, but not always in a prominent way.
- Check the library app: Use Libby or Hoopla. Most library systems have the entire Stick Dog books in order available as ebooks, which is a lifesaver when you finish book three at 8:00 PM on a Sunday.
- Try a drawing session: Grab a piece of paper and try to draw Stick Dog. The "author" instructions in the first book are actually a great way to get a kid to practice fine motor skills without realizing they're "working."
- Move to Stick Cat next: If the dog well runs dry, the cat series is the logical progression and maintains the exact same humor style.
The beauty of these books is their simplicity. They don't try to be anything other than what they are: funny stories about dogs who really, really want a hamburger. Sometimes that's exactly what a kid needs to fall in love with reading.