The Land of Stories Books

Read the six main novels in publisher order, beginning with The Wishing Spell and ending with Worlds Collide. Each book builds on the twins' earlier discoveries and relationships, and the sixth book concludes their central story.

The related books are optional and serve different purposes. The two A Tale from the Land of Stories picture books are shorter stand-alone stories for younger readers. The Mother Goose Diaries and Queen Red Riding Hood's Guide to Royalty are humorous, in-character extras for children who already know the world.

Goldilocks: Wanted Dead or Alive is an unnumbered, full-color origin story about Goldilocks before she meets Alex and Conner; it adds a new adventure rather than retelling one of the six novels. A Treasury of Classic Fairy Tales and The Ultimate Book Hugger's Guide work as an illustrated collection and a reference guide, not numbered sequels. The separate A Tale of Magic trilogy is set in the same universe but keeps its own three-book order.

Sources: Hachette's official reading order, Hachette's Goldilocks graphic novel guide, Hachette's A Tale of Magic collection.

These adventures include witches, wolves, goblins, trolls, curses, kidnapping, magical attacks, and increasingly large battles. Later books bring more intense family peril, frightening villains, injuries, separation, grief, and character deaths, although the violence is presented as middle-grade fantasy rather than described graphically.

Humor, hopeful resolutions, and Alex and Conner's loyalty to each other balance the darker moments. Hachette recommends the novels for ages 8–12, but children who are sensitive to parental danger, death, or sustained fantasy peril may appreciate a check-in as the series progresses.