Mac Barnett has published 12 novels, 2 novellas, 24 children's books and 15 other books, beginning with It Happened on a Train (Brixton Brothers #3) (2011). The best-known is Sam & Dave Dig a Hole (2014). The latest is How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? (2023).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Mac Barnett
Start here
Sam & Dave Dig a Hole
Mac Barnett's most-read book.
Newest
How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?
Published 2023.
Standalone novels in order
Danger Goes Berserk! (2012)
Brixton Brothers Mysterious Case of Cases (2013)
Rules of the House (2015)
The Terrible Two (2015)
Impossible Crime (Mac B., Kid Spy #2) Ebook (2018)
Hi, Jack! (2019)
Just Because (2019)
Top Secret Smackdown (2019)
Sound of Danger (2020)
What Is Love? (2021)
John's Turn (2022)
How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? (2023)
Novellas in order
Circle (2019)
Jack at Bat (2019)
Children's books in order
Billy Twitters and His Big Blue Whale Problem (2009)
The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity (2009)
Oh No! (Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World) (2010)
The Ghostwriter Secret (Brixton Brothers #2) (2010)
The Clock Without a Face (May 2010)
Extra Yarn (2011)
It Happened on a Train (Brixton Brothers #3) (2011)
Chloe and the Lion (2012)
Oh No, Not Again! (2012)
Attack of the Birthday Bunny (2013)
Count the Monkeys (2013)
Sam & Dave Dig a Hole (2014)
Telephone (2014)
Leo (2015)
Mustache! (2015)
The Skunk (2015)
How This Book Was Made (2016)
Noisy Night (2017)
Places to Be (2017)
The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse (2017)
Triangle (2017)
Mac Undercover (2018)
Square (2018)
Terrible Two's Last Laugh (2018)
Other books in order
Jack Blasts Off! (2019)
Mac Cracks the Code (Mac B., Kid Spy #4) (2019)
The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown (2019)
Jack and Santa (2020)
Too Many Jacks (2020)
Jack Gets Zapped! (2021)
Mac B., Kid Spy #6 (2021)
The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza (The First Cat in Space, 1) (2022)
The First Cat in Space and the Soup of Doom (The First Cat in Space, 2) (2023)
Twenty Questions (2023)
First Cat in Space and the Wrath of the Paperclip (2024)
La Porta Segreta (2024)
Santa's First Christmas (2024)
First Cat in Space and the Baby Pirate's Revenge (2025)
Turno De John (2025)
About Mac Barnett
Mac Barnett is an American children's book writer best known for his advocacy of picture books. He has published over seventy works since 2009, consisting of over fifty picture books, graphic novels, essays, and short stories. He currently serves as the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature (2025-26).
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Mac Barnett FAQ
- How many books has Mac Barnett written?
- Mac Barnett has published 12 novels, 2 novellas, 24 children's books and 15 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Mac Barnett's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Sam & Dave Dig a Hole.
- What is Mac Barnett's latest book?
- How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? (2023).
- What is Mac Barnett's most famous book?
- Sam & Dave Dig a Hole (2014) is Mac Barnett's most widely read book.
Authors like Mac Barnett
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Sophie Kinsella
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Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.