Book Series · 32 Books

The Critter Club Books

In order from Amy and the Missing Puppy to Critter Club 3 Books in 1!: Amy and the Missing Puppy; All About Ellie; Liz Learns a Lesson.

Four friends in Santa Vista help lost, lonely, and injured animals through their neighborhood rescue shelter in gentle illustrated chapter books made for newly independent readers.

Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated

Amy and the Missing Puppy
All About Ellie
Liz Learns a Lesson
Marion Takes a Break
Amy Meets Her Stepsister
Reading order

How to Read The Critter Club

Read the 31 published books in numbered order, beginning with Amy and the Missing Puppy. Viewpoints rotate among Amy, Ellie, Liz, and Marion, so order keeps friendships and shelter developments easy to follow even though each animal problem is resolved within its book.

Marion's Pumpkin Patch Mystery is announced as #32 for September 2026 and is not included in the published count yet. Collections and boxed sets repackage existing stories.

Sources: Simon & Schuster's official Critter Club order.

For parents

What Parents Should Know

The series is warm and low-stakes, but plots can involve missing pets, injured wildlife, animals needing new homes, allergies, or worry about whether a rescue will succeed. Outcomes are reassuring and emphasize responsible care rather than treating animals as toys.

Friendship misunderstandings, performance nerves, family changes, and school concerns share space with the animal plots. Short chapters and illustrations on nearly every page make this a gentle step up from leveled readers.

Where to start

Where Should My Child Start?

Meet the whole club

Begin with Amy and the Missing Puppy, which introduces the friends and the rescue mission that connects the series.

Where the story begins

First Book in the Series

Amy and the Missing Puppy
Sale price
$759
Book #1 · Picture Book · Ages 6–9 · 2012

Amy and the Missing Puppy

By Callie Barkley, Marsha Riti (Illustrator)

A young girl helps her friends solve the mystery of a missing puppy during spring break

117 pages· 5,479 words· Est. 43 min read-aloud
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Spring Break in Santa Vista leaves Amy at her mom's vet clinic while her friends embark on adventures. When a millionaire's puppy, Rufus, arrives for a check-up, Amy stumbles upon a puzzling mystery. As her friends return, they unite to solve the canine caper and find a way to help other lost animals in town. Can they uncover the truth behind Rufus's strange circumstances and make a difference for the critters of Santa Vista?
In reading order

The Critter Club Series

32 books · Published 2012–2026

#2
All About Ellie
#2 in Series
Sale price
$759

All About Ellie

Picture Book · Ages 5–9 · 2012

A young girl navigates her passion for performing and her responsibilities as a member of a group caring for abandoned rabbits.

#3
Liz Learns a Lesson
#3 in Series
Sale price
$759

Liz Learns a Lesson

Picture Book · Ages 5–9 · 2013

Summer plans are at risk when Liz faces unexpected summer school. Can she balance fun and learning?

#4
Marion Takes a Break
#4 in Series
Sale price
$759

Marion Takes a Break

Picture Book · Ages 5–9 · 2013

A young girl named Marion struggles to cope with a sprained ankle that prevents her from participating in the horse show and other activities she loves.

#6
Ellie's Lovely Idea
#6 in Series
Sale price
$759

Ellie's Lovely Idea

Picture Book · Ages 5–9 · 2013

Ellie hopes for a singing telegram while spreading Valentine cheer for charity. Will her wish come true?

#7
Liz at Marigold Lake
#7 in Series
Sale price
$759

Liz at Marigold Lake

Picture Book · Ages 5–9 · 2014

A camping trip turns chaotic as mishaps threaten to ruin the fun. Can the Critter Club save their weekend adventure?

#10
Ellie and the Good-Luck Pig
#10 in Series
Sale price
$674

Ellie and the Good-Luck Pig

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2015

A young girl's life is affected by the arrival and departure of a pig at an animal shelter she helps run with her friends

#12
Marion Takes Charge
#12 in Series
Sale price
$574

Marion Takes Charge

Picture Book · Ages 5–9 · 2015

A young girl takes on the responsibility of babysitting her little sister and helping her friends at the animal rescue shelter

#18
Ellie Steps Up to the Plate
#18 in Series
Sale price
$674

Ellie Steps Up to the Plate

Chapter Book · Ages 5–9 · 2018

A young girl navigates her passion for singing and her newfound interest in baseball, learning valuable lessons about perseverance and teamwork along the way.

#21
Amy the Puppy Whisperer
#21 in Series
Sale price
$674

Amy the Puppy Whisperer

Picture Book · Ages 5–9 · 2020

Amy's puppy training success spirals into chaos. Can she manage the overload before it overwhelms her life?

Good to know

Common Questions

How many books are in the Critter Club series?

There are 32 books in the Critter Club series. It began with Amy and the Missing Puppy in 2012, and the newest book, Critter Club 3 Books in 1!: Amy and the Missing Puppy; All About Ellie; Liz Learns a Lesson, was published in 2025.

What order should you read the Critter Club books in?

Start with Amy and the Missing Puppy and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #32.

What ages are the Critter Club books best for?

The series is best for ages 4–9, based on the age ranges of the individual books.

The people

The Creatives Behind the Books

The people who bring The Critter Club to life.

01

Callie Barkley

Author
CB
02

Marsha Riti

Illustrator
MR
03

Tracy Bishop

Illustrator
TB

Keep exploring

Similar Series