Book Series · 10 Books

Lunch Lady Books

In order from Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute to Lunch Lady and the Schoolwide Scuffle.

A fast, funny graphic-novel series about a school lunch lady who uses food-themed spy gadgets to protect students and stop over-the-top villains.

Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute
Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians
Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta
Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown
Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit
Reading order

How to Read the Lunch Lady Books

Read the ten numbered books in order, beginning with Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute and ending with Lunch Lady and the Schoolwide Scuffle. Each book has its own school mystery, but the student friendships and recurring villains make publication order the most satisfying route.

These are short, heavily illustrated graphic novels rather than prose chapter books. There are no separate companion volumes to place between the numbered adventures.

Sources: Penguin Random House's official Lunch Lady series page.

For parents

What Parents Should Know

The stories include cartoon spy fights, robots, monsters, kidnappings, school threats, and children in brief danger. The action stays playful rather than graphic, with food puns and exaggerated gadgets keeping the tone light.

Bullying, name-calling, and unfair adults appear alongside themes of friendship, courage, and standing up for classmates. The compact format can be especially inviting for children building confidence with longer graphic novels.

Where the story begins

First Book in the Series

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$674
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2009

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute

By Jarrett J. Krosoczka

A substitute teacher is suspected of being a robot and a group of kids investigate, leading to a showdown with the Lunch Lady, who fights crime, and an evil plot to replace teachers with robots.

96 pages· 1,844 words· Est. 28 min read
$6.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Hector, Terrence, and Dee are curious about their mysterious school lunch lady. When she's not serving meals, she's battling crime! As danger looms, can the Lunch Lady protect the school with her secret skills? Discover the unexpected hero behind the cafeteria counter and the thrilling adventures that await. What secrets does she hide, and how will her double life unfold?
In reading order

Lunch Lady Series

10 books · Published 2009–2014

#1
Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute
#1 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$674

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute

Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2009

A substitute teacher is suspected of being a robot and a group of kids investigate, leading to a showdown with the Lunch Lady, who fights crime, and an evil plot to replace teachers with robots.

#9
Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villain
#9 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$759

Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villain

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2013

A student council election heats up when a tech thief starts stealing gadgets from students and staff, and the main character must navigate the campaign while solving the mystery.

#10
Lunch Lady and the Schoolwide Scuffle
#10 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$759

Lunch Lady and the Schoolwide Scuffle

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2014

A group of students and their lunch lady must stop a corrupt superintendent from destroying the moon using a laser built on the school's roof

Good to know

Common Questions

How many books are in the Lunch Lady series?

There are 10 books in the Lunch Lady series. It began with Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute in 2009, and the newest book, Lunch Lady and the Schoolwide Scuffle, was published in 2014.

What order should you read the Lunch Lady books in?

Start with Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #10.

What ages are the Lunch Lady books best for?

The series is best for ages 7–10, based on the age ranges of the individual books.

Which Lunch Lady book is the longest?

Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villain (Book #9) is the longest book in the series at 2,825 words (96 pages).

Which Lunch Lady book is the shortest?

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute (Book #1) is the shortest at 1,844 words (96 pages).

The people

The Creative Behind the Books

The people who bring Lunch Lady to life.

01

Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Author & Illustrator
JK

Keep exploring

Similar Series