Book Series · 19 Books

The Magic School Bus Books

In order from The Magic School Bus At the Waterworks to The Magic School Bus and the Science Fair Expedition.

The Magic School Bus series is a set of 19 chapter books by Joanna Cole, published between 1986 and 2021. Written for ages 4–12, most books run about 40 pages.

The Magic School Bus At the Waterworks
The Magic School Bus
Inside the Human Body
The Magic School Bus
The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor
The Magic School Bus in the Time of the Dinosaurs
The Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane
Where the story begins

First Book in the Series

The Magic School Bus At the Waterworks
Sale price
$858
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 4–8 · 1986

The Magic School Bus At the Waterworks

By Joanna Cole, Bruce Degen (Illustrator)

Embark on a watery adventure with a magical school bus and its curious passengers.

40 pages· 1,679 words· Est. 28 min read
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Join Ms. Frizzle and her adventurous class as they embark on a thrilling journey through the water cycle. From clouds to raindrops, they explore the wonders of water from a unique perspective. Will they make it back to the school bathroom sink? Dive into this educational escapade and discover the secrets of the waterworks!
In reading order

The Magic School Bus Series

19 books · Published 1986–2021

#3
Inside the Human Body
#3 in Series
Sale price
$858

Inside the Human Body

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1989

Arnold swallows the Magic School Bus, leading to an unexpected journey inside his body.

Companion series

The Magic School Bus Rides Again Series

11 books · Published 2017–2019

Meet the Class
Series
Sale price
$474

Meet the Class

Picture Book · Ages 3–5 · 2017

Join Walkerville's class on thrilling adventures with their new teacher aboard the Magic School Bus.

Monster Power
Series
Sale price
$574

Monster Power

Chapter Book · Ages 6–8 · 2017

A camping trip turns dark. Can Arnold conquer his fears and learn about renewable energy?

Sink or Swim
Series
Sale price
$674

Sink or Swim

Chapter Book · Ages 6–8 · 2017

A class of students go on a field trip to the ocean and learn about marine life.

Carlos Gets the Sneezes
Series
Sale price
$574

Carlos Gets the Sneezes

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2018

Carlos sneezes uncontrollably. The class shrinks to explore his body for answers.

Blowing in the Wind
Series
Sale price
$474

Blowing in the Wind

Picture Book · Ages 5–7 · 2018

Can Ms. Frizzle's class build an unbreakable house against fierce winds?

Hide and Seek
Series
Sale price
$474

Hide and Seek

Picture Book · Ages 5–7 · 2018

A class of students learn about camouflage on a field trip with their eccentric teacher.

Attack of the Plants
Series
Sale price
$574

Attack of the Plants

Chapter Book · Ages 6–8 · 2018

A new teacher takes over a class and leads them on a field trip to the Galapagos Islands, where they learn about ecosystems and invasive species

Glacier Adventure
Series
Sale price
$474

Glacier Adventure

Picture Book · Ages 5–7 · 2018

Journey to Antarctica on a magical bus to uncover glaciers' ancient secrets.

Deep-Sea Dive
Series
Sale price
$499

Deep-Sea Dive

Picture Book · Ages 5–7 · 2019

Lost locket, deep sea adventure, and a powerless submarine. Can they find inspiration to escape?

Companion series

The Magic School Bus Science Chapter Books Series

14 books · Published 2000–2004

The Great Shark Escape
Series
Sale price
$474

The Great Shark Escape

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2000

A class trip turns perilous as students must escape a great white shark's jaws underwater.

Amazing Magnetism
Series
Sale price
$474

Amazing Magnetism

Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2001

A science contest on magnetism leads to unexpected results.

Insect Invaders
Series
Sale price
$474

Insect Invaders

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2001

A class transforms into insects, uncovering a world of predators and surprises.

The Giant Germ
Series
Sale price
$474

The Giant Germ

Chapter Book · Ages 7–9 · 2001

A class picnic turns into a wild ride through the world of microbes.

Dinosaur Detectives
Series
Sale price
$474

Dinosaur Detectives

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2002

Time-traveling students face real dinosaurs and a race to return home.

Electric Storm
Series
Sale price
$474

Electric Storm

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2002

A class transforms into lightning for a stormy adventure.

Food Chain Frenzy
Series
Sale price
$474

Food Chain Frenzy

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2003

A reluctant student faces a wild field trip exploring ecosystems and food chains with a quirky teacher and a know-it-all cousin.

Polar Bear Patrol
Series
Sale price
$474

Polar Bear Patrol

Chapter Book · Ages 4–8 · 2003

A class trip to the North Pole reveals unexpected Arctic wonders.

Voyage to the Volcano
Series
Sale price
$474

Voyage to the Volcano

Chapter Book · Ages 4–8 · 2003

A class trip to Hawaii turns explosive when a volcano erupts.

Butterfly Battle
Series
Sale price
$474

Butterfly Battle

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2003

A class field trip turns students into butterflies facing unexpected dangers.

Rocky Road Trip
Series
Sale price
$474

Rocky Road Trip

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2003

A class embarks on a wild rock hunt to solve a mineral mystery.

Color Day Relay
Series
Sale price
$474

Color Day Relay

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2004

A relay race reveals unexpected lessons in light and color.

The Fishy Field Trip
Series
Sale price
$474

The Fishy Field Trip

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2004

A soggy project leads to an underwater adventure on the Magic School Bus.

Companion series

The Magic School Bus Scholastic Readers Series

21 books · Published 1998–2012

The Wild Leaf Ride
Series
Sale price
$379

The Wild Leaf Ride

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2004

Join a thrilling quest to find a missing leaf with Ms. Frizzle's class.

Lost in the Snow
Series
Sale price
$379

Lost in the Snow

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2006

A class adventure into the clouds reveals snow's secrets. Can they return safely?

Companion series

The Magic School Bus To The Rescue Series

3 books · Published 1949–2002

Earthquake
Series
Sale price
$379

Earthquake

Chapter Book · 1949

A field trip turns chaotic when an earthquake strikes.

Forest Fire
Series
0

Forest Fire

Picture Book · Ages 7–11 · 1949

A magical bus ride to meet forest firefighters.

Blizzard
Series
0

Blizzard

Picture Book · Ages 6–10 · 2002

A chilling adventure into blizzards and avalanches awaits.

Companion series

The Magic School Bus TV Tie-Ins Series

32 books · Published 1988–1999

Companion series

The Magic School Bus Fact Finder Series

4 books · Published 2002–2003

Bats
Series
Sale price
$474

Bats

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2002

Discover the zany world of bats with Ms. Frizzle's class notes and unexpected facts.

Skeletons
Series
Sale price
$474

Skeletons

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2002

Discover the secrets of the human skeleton and its vital roles in our health.

Whales
Series
Sale price
$474

Whales

Picture Book · Ages 7–10 · 2003

Dive into the ocean's depths to uncover the secrets of whales.

From the same world

In-Universe Books

1 book · Published 2007

Good to know

Common Questions

How many books are in the Magic School Bus series?

There are 19 books in the Magic School Bus series. It began with The Magic School Bus At the Waterworks in 1986, and the newest book, The Magic School Bus Explores Human Evolution, was published in 2021.

What order should you read the Magic School Bus books in?

Start with The Magic School Bus At the Waterworks and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #19.

What ages are the Magic School Bus books best for?

The series is best for ages 4–12, based on the age ranges of the individual books.

The people

The Creatives Behind the Books

The people who bring The Magic School Bus to life.

01

Joanna Cole

Author
JC
02

Bruce Degen

Author & Illustrator
BD
03

Bruce Degan

Author
BD
04

School Children

Author
SC
05

Kristin Earhart

Author
KE

Keep exploring

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