Erich Kästner books in order
German children's writer
- Lived
- 1899–1974
- Country
- allied-occupied Germany
- Books
- 24
- Also writes as
- Robert Neuner, Berthold Bürger, Peter Flint
Erich Kästner published 17 novels, 4 novellas, 1 non-fiction book, 1 children's book and 1 other book, beginning with Emil and the Detectives (1928).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Erich Kästner
Start here
Emil and the Detectives
Erich Kästner's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Emil and the Detectives (1928)
Dot and Anton (1930)
Fabian (1931)
The 35th of May (1931)
Gesang Zwischen Den Stu Hlen (1932)
Annaluise and Anton (1933)
The Flying Classroom (1933)
Drei Männer Im Schnee (1934)
Emil and the Three Twins (1934)
Three Men in the Snow (1934)
The Missing Miniature (1935)
The Animals' Conference (1949)
The Little Man (1963)
Kästner Fur Erwachsene (1966)
Little Man and the Big Thief (1969)
The Little Man and the Little Miss (1969)
Going to the Dogs (2012)
Novellas in order
A Salzburg Comedy (1938)
Lottie and Lisa (1949)
Lisa and Lottie (1951)
Don Quixote (1957)
Non-fiction in order
When I Was a Little Boy (1957)
Children's books in order
Dot & Anton (2015)
Other books in order
The Simpletons (1957)
Film and TV adaptations
- Emil and the Detectives (1931)Film · from Emil and the Detectives
- Emil and the Detectives (1964)Film · from Emil and the Detectives
- Fabian (1980)Film · from Fabian
- Fabian: Going to the Dogs (2021)Film · from Fabian
- A Rare Bird (1935)Film · from Three Men in the Snow
- Poor Millionaires (1936)Film · from Three Men in the Snow
- Paradise for Three (1938)Film · from Three Men in the Snow
- Three Men in the Snow (1955)Film · from Three Men in the Snow
- The Missing Miniature (1954)Film · from The Missing Miniature
- A Salzburg Comedy (1943)Film · from A Salzburg Comedy
- The Parent Trap (1961)Film · from Lottie and Lisa
- Strange Sisters (1995)Film · from Lottie and Lisa
- The Parent Trap (1998)Film · from Lottie and Lisa
- Watashi to Watashi: Futari no LotteTV · from Lottie and Lisa
- Animals United (2010)Film · from The Animals' Conference
About Erich Kästner
Emil Erich Kästner was a German writer, poet, screenwriter and satirist, known primarily for his humorous, socially astute poems and for children's books including Emil and the Detectives and Lisa and Lottie. He received the international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1960 for his autobiography When I Was a Little Boy. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in eight separate years.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Erich Kästner FAQ
- How many books has Erich Kästner written?
- Erich Kästner published 17 novels, 4 novellas, 1 non-fiction book, 1 children's book and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Erich Kästner's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Emil and the Detectives.
- What is Erich Kästner's last book?
- The Little Man and the Little Miss (1969).
- What is Erich Kästner's most famous book?
- Emil and the Detectives (1928) is Erich Kästner's most widely read book.
- Does Erich Kästner write under a pen name?
- Yes: Erich Kästner has also published as Robert Neuner, Berthold Bürger and Peter Flint.
- Which Erich Kästner books have been adapted?
- 7 books have been adapted for film or TV, including Emil and the Detectives (film, 1931), Fabian (film, 1980), Three Men in the Snow (as A Rare Bird, film, 1935) and The Missing Miniature (film, 1954).
Authors like Erich Kästner
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.