Which Tom Gates Book Should my Child Read First?
If you're venturing into the chaotic brilliance of Tom Gates' world, starting with The Brilliant World of Tom Gates is a must. It’s the glorious gateway into Tom's doodle-filled life. From there, the books roll along mostly in order, each one adding hilarious layers to school antics, dog disasters, and biscuit obsessions.
But, there’s no need to stress over strict chronology — think of it more as hopping from one laugh to the next. But reading them in publication order keeps the storyline (and the doodles) flowing just right. And hey, even if you accidentally read Extra Special Treats (Not) before Everything’s Amazing (Sort Of), Tom won’t hold a grudge. He’s far too busy avoiding homework anyway…
Tom Gates Books in Order
Book 1: The Brilliant World of Tom Gates (2011)
Book 2: Excellent Excuses (And Other Good Stuff) (2011)
Book 3: Everything's Amazing (Sort Of) (2012)
Book 4: Genius Ideas (Mostly) (2012)
Book 5: Tom Gates is Absolutely Fantastic (at Some Things) (2013)
Book 6: Extra Special Treats (not) (2014)
Book 7: A Tiny Bit Lucky (2015)
Book 8: Yes! No (Maybe) (2015)
Book 9: Top of the Class (Nearly) (2016)
Book 10: Super Good Skills (Almost...) (2017)
Book 11: Dog Zombies Rule (for Now) (2017)
Book 12: Family, Friends and Furry Creatures (2018)
Book 13: Epic Adventure (Kind of) (2018)
Book 14: Biscuits, Bands and Very Big Plans (2018)
Book 15: What Monster? (2018)
Book 16: Mega Make and Do (and Stories Too!) (2019)
Book 17: Spectacular School Trip (Really.) (2019)
Book 18: Ten Tremendous Tales (2021)
Book 19: Random Acts of Fun (2021)
Book 20: Happy to Help (2022)
Book 21: Five Star Stories (2023)
Book 22: Tom Gates Ha! Ha! Hilarious (2024)
Book 1: The Brilliant World of Tom Gates (2011)
Why we love it:
- It introduces Tom’s hilarious voice and doodle-packed diary style.
- Full of relatable school antics, sibling squabbles, and biscuit obsessions.
Book 2: Excellent Excuses (And Other Good Stuff) (2011)
Why we love it:
- Tom’s creative excuses are laugh-out-loud genius!
- The doodles bring every excuse and mishap vividly to life.
Book 3: Everything's Amazing (Sort Of) (2012)
Why we love it:
- Book 3 captures the ups and downs of school life with heartfelt humour.
- Delia’s grumpiness vs. Tom’s optimism is comedy gold.
Book 4: Genius Ideas (Mostly) (2012)
Why we love it:
- Tom’s “genius” plans are wonderfully chaotic.
- The Dog Zombies band storyline adds extra fun.
Book 5: Tom Gates is Absolutely Fantastic (at Some Things) (2013)
Why we love it:
- Tom’s confidence (and lack of) is super relatable.
- Packed with creative drawings and laughable fails.
Book 6: Extra Special Treats (not) (2014)
Why we love it:
- Family holidays gone wrong = perfect comedy setup.
- The scribbilicious doodles make every awkward moment even funnier.
Book 7: A Tiny Bit Lucky (2015)
Why we love it:
- Tom’s quest for fame with Dog Zombies is epic.
- The band rivalry adds drama and doodle-fueled fun.
Book 8: Yes! No (Maybe) (2015)
Why we love it:
- School elections meet classic Tom chaos.
- We love the mix of doodles and decision-making disasters.
Book 9: Top of the Class (Nearly) (2016)
Why we love it:
- Tom’s attempt to be a model student is adorably doomed...
- More hilarious classroom moments and clever illustrations.
Book 10: Super Good Skills (Almost...) (2017)
Why we love it:
- Tom’s “skills” are anything but super — cue the giggles!
- Liz Pichon's doodles highlight every awkward attempt with flair.
Book 11: Dog Zombies Rule (for Now) (2017)
Why we love it:
- The band finally gets its moment to shine! Hoorah!
- We just love the music-themed chaos and Tom’s enthusiasm in book 11.
Book 12: Family, Friends and Furry Creatures (2018)
Why we love it:
- A deeper dive into Tom’s world of relationships mixes the tone up a little.
- The heartwarming moments are mixed with classic doodle humour.
Book 13: Epic Adventure (Kind of) (2018)
Why we love it:
- A school trip turns into a not-so-epic adventure.
- We love the unexpected twists and visual gags.
Book 14: Biscuits, Bands and Very Big Plans (2018)
Why we love it:
- Tom’s big dreams meet big disasters.
- Biscuit obsession reaches new heights — yum!
Book 15: What Monster? (2018)
Why we love it:
- Mystery and mayhem with a monster twist.
- Doodles bring the suspense and silliness of this one to life.
Book 16: Mega Make and Do (and Stories Too!) (2019)
Why we love it:
- A creative explosion of crafts and mini tales.
- Perfect for hands-on readers who love to doodle along.
Book 17: Spectacular School Trip (Really.) (2019)
Why we love it:
- A school trip that’s anything but ordinary.
- Packed with laugh-out-loud moments and sketchy surprises.
Book 18: Ten Tremendous Tales (2021)
Why we love it:
- A collection of short stories = bite-sized brilliance.
- Great for dipping in and out, with doodles galore.
Book 19: Random Acts of Fun (2021)
Why we love it:
- Tom’s spontaneous fun is totally contagious.
- We love the unpredictable plot and playful tone.
Book 20: Happy to Help (2022)
Why we love it:
- Tom tries to be helpful… emphasis on “tries.”
- Hilarious mishaps and doodles that say it all.
Book 21: Five Star Stories (2023)
Why we love it:
- A showcase of Tom’s best storytelling moments.
- We adore the variety and creative flair.
Book 22: Tom Gates is Ha! Ha! Hilarious (2024)
Why we love it:
- A laugh-packed collection of Tom’s funniest bits.
- Doodles + jokes = a joy from start to finish.
Ready to Join Tom’s Totally Brilliant World?
Whether you're reading Tom Gates for the first time or revisiting your favourite doodle-filled adventures, reading the Tom Gates books in order is the best way to enjoy Liz Pichon's hilarious storytelling and quirky illustrations. From school shenanigans to biscuit obsessions, each book builds on Tom’s wonderfully chaotic world and characters in the most delightful way. Perfect for young readers and the young-at-heart, this series is a must-have for any bookshelf. So grab a snack (preferably a biscuit), get comfy, and let the laughter begin, because with Tom Gates, fun is always just a page away!
And the reading fun doesn't have to end there! If you're completely hooked on everything Tom Gates and want similar books to read, check out our book inspiration guides, including the full Diary of a Wimpy Kid books in order and Dork Diaries books in order.
