Hear Roscoe's first confession
Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs introduces Roscoe's voice, his classroom, and the good intentions behind his very bad plans.
Book Series · 7 Books
Roscoe Riley Rules Books
In order from Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs to Never Race a Runaway Pumpkin.
Seven short, funny chapter books let first grader Roscoe explain the well-intentioned choices that keep landing him in the time-out corner.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Roscoe Riley Rules Books
Follow the seven numbered books from Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs through Never Race a Runaway Pumpkin. Each story is a self-contained confession, so a child can sample them out of order, but publication order gives the most natural introduction to Roscoe's classmates and accidental rule breaking.
Sources: Katherine Applegate's official author page, HarperCollins' complete seven-book collection listing.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
Roscoe breaks rules, glues classmates to chairs, swaps belongings, tells small lies, and makes other impulsive choices, but the books frame these as mistakes rather than clever behavior to copy. Bullying, embarrassment, pets, school pressure, and superstition appear in a playful tone, followed by consequences and a lesson Roscoe can explain in his own words.
Where to start
Where Should My Child Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$674
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 2008
Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs
By Katherine Applegate, Brian Biggs (Illustrator)
A first-grader gets into trouble when he tries to help his teacher with a special project.
128 pages· 6,060 words· Est. 1 hour read
$6.99Save 4%
Paperback
In reading order
Roscoe Riley Rules Series
7 books · Published 2008–2009
#1
Sale price
$674
Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 2008
A first-grader gets into trouble when he tries to help his teacher with a special project.
#2
Sale price
$674
Never Swipe a Bully's Bear
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 2008
A young boy navigates the challenges of first grade while dealing with the disappearance of his beloved stuffed pig, Hamilton.
#3
Sale price
$674
Don't Swap Your Sweater for a Dog
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 2008
A boy tries to teach his dog to read so they can win a trophy at a dog trick contest.
#4
Sale price
$674
Never Swim in Applesauce
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 2008
A first-grade field trip turns sticky for a well-meaning rule breaker.
#5
Sale price
$674
Don't Tap-Dance on Your Teacher
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 2009
A boy named Roscoe breaks a rule and gets in trouble, but then he finds a new passion in tap dancing.
#6
Sale price
$674
Never Walk in Shoes That Talk
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 2009
Roscoe's knack for destruction might just help his friend get new shoes.
#7
Sale price
$699
Never Race a Runaway Pumpkin
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 2009
Can Roscoe outsmart a black cat to win books and candy?
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Roscoe Riley Rules series?
There are 7 books in the Roscoe Riley Rules series. It began with Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs in 2008, and the newest book, Never Race a Runaway Pumpkin, was published in 2009.
What order should you read the Roscoe Riley Rules books in?
Start with Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #7.
What ages are the Roscoe Riley Rules books best for?
The series is best for ages 6–10, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring Roscoe Riley Rules to life.
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