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Adam Wallace Books in Order

Browse Adam Wallace books in order, with quick summaries, series guides, reading order help, and easy suggestions on where to start.

Last updated: July 6, 2026

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74 books

Better Out Than In

by Adam Wallace

2007

A collection of six gross, rhyming stories about vomit, burps, nose-picking, and other kid-favorite horrors. It is quick, loud, and designed for delighted squeals.

Mac O'Beasty

by Adam Wallace

2009

Mac is a huge Scottish monster who loves playing bagpipes but can barely move after too much junk food. A small trainer named Julie helps him find health, confidence, and finally a chance to dance.

Mac O'Beasty: Book #2

by Adam Wallace

2009

Mac's monster-world adventures continue with more comedy, movement, and gentle life lessons. The tone stays silly and friendly while keeping Mac's big-hearted charm front and center.

The Share-A-Not

by Adam Wallace

2009

The Share-A-Not wants everything for himself, even other people's pet rocks. Wallace turns greed into a funny cautionary tale with big expressions and a satisfying payback.

The Negatees

by Adam Wallace

2010

The Negatees is sure nothing good ever happens to him until an impossibly cheerful creature crashes into his gloomy world. This picture book turns bad moods into comedy without losing its kind heart.

The Incredible Journey of Pete McGee

by Adam Wallace

2011

Pete, a boy with one arm who dreams of becoming a knight, sets out on a dangerous quest tied to his mother's illness and a magical flower. It is funny, emotional, and full of old-school fantasy adventure.

Pete McGee Dawn of the Zombie Knights

by Adam Wallace

2012

Pete has already proved himself once, but now knight training, a bully, and real zombie knights stand in his way. The stakes are higher, but the adventure stays lively and heartfelt.

Better Out Than In Number Twos

by Adam Wallace

2013

The sequel doubles down on the gross stuff with more rhyming body-humor stories for kids who think the revolting bits are the funniest bits. Short, noisy, and gleefully disgusting.

Pete Mcgee and The Master of Darkness

by Adam Wallace

2013

Pete's final quest pulls him into bigger danger as he tries to save the people he loves from a new villain. The trilogy ends with teamwork, dark magic, and plenty of action.

How to Catch the Reading Bug

by Adam Wallace

2014

This is not a creature chase but a drawing book that teaches kids how to create a book-loving bug through a rhyming story. Quick, silly, and very beginner friendly.

How to Draw a Balloon Kangaroo

by Adam Wallace

2014

A balloon shape becomes a springy cartoon kangaroo through a few easy steps. It is a quick win for young artists who like goofy animals.

How to Draw a Bum Cat

by Adam Wallace

2014

Wallace turns a ridiculous concept into a beginner drawing lesson that kids can actually follow. The step-by-step format keeps the joke going while building confidence.

How to Draw a Dog Bone Bull

by Adam Wallace

2014

A dog bone transforms into a bull in a short drawing lesson built around simple shapes and silly energy. It is quick, friendly, and easy to try again.

How to Draw a Ping Pong Playing, Alien Giraffe

by Adam Wallace

2014

One of Wallace's strangest drawing prompts becomes a surprisingly clear lesson. The joke lands, and the step-by-step structure keeps kids moving.

How to Draw a Rooster Rabbit

by Adam Wallace

2014

A mash-up creature turns into a short cartooning challenge kids can tackle in minutes. The instructions stay simple, rhythmic, and playful.

How to Draw a Skateboard Gorilla

by Adam Wallace

2014

This quick drawing book shows kids how to build a goofy gorilla from simple steps. The fun comes from the absurd idea and the easy rhythm of the lesson.

How to Draw a Submarine Shark

by Adam Wallace

2014

A submarine shape gradually becomes a goofy shark in another quick, rhyming lesson. It is designed to make cartooning feel possible right away.

How to Draw a Treasure Map Lion

by Adam Wallace

2014

A treasure map becomes the starting point for a cartoon lion in this playful mini guide. Short rhymes and simple shapes do the heavy lifting.

How to Draw a Truck Drivin', Dragon Tail Rhino

by Adam Wallace

2014

The title tells you exactly what kind of chaos you are getting. Wallace breaks the strange creature down into easy drawing steps so the silliness never feels hard.

How to Draw a UFO Dog

by Adam Wallace

2014

A simple shape-by-shape lesson turns a UFO into a cartoon dog. The rhyming instructions keep the drawing guide light, silly, and beginner friendly.

How to Draw a Ziggin' and Zaggin' Dragon

by Adam Wallace

2014

This mini drawing guide uses rhyme and motion to build a loose, lively dragon. It is more about fun and confidence than perfect lines.

Jamie Brown is NOT Rich

by Adam Wallace

2014

Jamie's family has absolutely no money until a letter changes everything overnight. Sudden wealth, a new school, and the pressure to fit in make this a funny story with a real emotional edge.

Rhymes with Art - Learn Cartooning the Fun Way

by Adam Wallace

2014

Wallace teaches cartooning through ten rhyming stories that turn simple shapes into strange animals. It is part drawing lesson, part comedy act, and very easy to follow.

Accidentally Awesome!

by Adam Wallace

2015

Jackson Payne is spectacularly clumsy, but every crash somehow turns him into a hero. The problem is that he wants to be awesome on purpose, and that only makes life messier.

Blunderingly Brilliant

by Adam Wallace

2015

Jackson blunders onto the front page and starts believing his own legend. Fame, pride, and more slapstick disasters collide as he learns being a hero is harder than it looks.

Random

by Adam Wallace

2015

A grab bag of strange thoughts, jokes, drawings, and wonderfully pointless surprises. It is exactly what the title promises, quick laughs with no interest in being sensible.

Rhymes with Drawing - More Cartooning the Fun Way

by Adam Wallace

2015

This follow-up drawing guide keeps the same rhyming, step-by-step approach while adding more cartoon creatures to try. It is silly, approachable, and built to boost confidence.

The Peregrinela

by Adam Wallace

2015

A quirky standalone adventure with an unusual centerpiece and Wallace's taste for odd, playful chaos. The fun comes from its offbeat feel and the way the story keeps slipping away from the ordinary.

The Vanilla Slice Kid

by Adam Wallace

2015

Archie Cunningham has a bizarre gift, he can fire cakes from his hands. When fame, bullying, and a dangerous scheme collide, he finally has to decide who he can trust.

Disastrously Daring!

by Adam Wallace

2016

Jackson tries something bold and quickly proves his own fears right. The fun lies in the wreckage as Wallace turns bad ideas, brave intentions, and physical comedy into another fast read.

How to Catch a Leprechaun

by Adam Wallace

2016

Kids build shamrock-filled traps to catch a tricky leprechaun and his gold. It is one of Wallace's sharpest holiday setups, full of rhymes, clever gadgets, and gleeful near misses.

How to Catch an Elf

by Adam Wallace

2016

Told from the elf's point of view, this Christmas adventure follows his mission to dodge every trap children set. It is festive, mischievous, and built for read-aloud laughs.

How to Catch the Tooth Fairy

by Adam Wallace

2016

A group of kids hatches inventive plans to catch the Tooth Fairy on her nightly rounds. Sweet, sparkly chaos and playful traps do the rest.

Jackson Payne's Clumsy Christmas Spectacular!

by Adam Wallace

2016

Jackson's accidents do not take the holidays off. Christmas chaos, slapstick trouble, and his desperate wish to get things right make this a lively seasonal chapter book.

Planet Permville

by Adam Wallace

2016

A short, zany picture book set in the odd little world of Planet Permville. Wallace uses the strange setting for quick laughs, bright nonsense, and a burst of pure silliness.

Rhymes with Cartooning

by Adam Wallace

2016

Another step-by-step drawing collection that teaches cartoon creatures through rhyme and story. It is built to make drawing feel playful instead of intimidating.

Spark

by Adam Wallace

2016

Told from the point of view of a fire, this picture book begins as curiosity and grows into a bushfire that feels bigger than it can control. It is unusual, moving, and quietly powerful.

Zombie Inspiration!

by Adam Wallace

2016

Wallace turns a zombie apocalypse into a wildly goofy lesson in focus, determination, and action. Gross on the outside and oddly encouraging underneath, it is part parody and part pep talk.

Erratically Epic!

by Adam Wallace

2017

Jackson Payne is still chasing hero status, but his plans keep wobbling off course. Another round of clumsy victories and spectacular mishaps pushes him toward a better sense of himself.

How to Catch a Monster

by Adam Wallace

2017

A child sets out to catch the closet monster causing so much worry, only to find things are not quite what they seemed. Funny rather than scary, it turns fear into play.

How to Catch the Easter Bunny

by Adam Wallace

2017

The annual bunny hunt becomes a springtime puzzle packed with traps, treats, and bright chaos. Kids will enjoy the build-up almost as much as the escape.

Only You Can Save Christmas!: A Help-The-Elf Adventure

by Adam Wallace

2017

One of Santa's elves needs help finding absurd gifts inspired by The Twelve Days of Christmas. Readers are asked to shout, wiggle, and join the hunt in this interactive holiday romp.

Rusty, Buster and Patch Versus the Opera

by Adam Wallace

2017

Three fun-loving brothers are dragged to the opera by a mother who wants them to be classy. Naturally, they turn the whole outing into backstage, onstage chaos.

Frantically Fantastic!

by Adam Wallace

2018

Jackson Payne's clumsy life hits another level as one disaster piles onto the next. The laughs are broad, but the real hook is watching him keep going when everything gets messy.

How to Catch a Mermaid

by Adam Wallace

2018

A seaside trap-building adventure where kids try to catch a mermaid without losing the fun. It is breezy, summery, and full of inventive near misses.

How to Catch a Snowman

by Adam Wallace

2018

Kids test winter traps against a snowman who is much harder to hold than expected. A cheerful cold-weather read full of gadgets, giggles, and slippery escapes.

How to Catch a Turkey

by Adam Wallace

2018

Thanksgiving turns into a comic chase as kids try to outwit a turkey who knows every trick. Fast rhymes and goofy trap ideas keep the pages moving.

Invisible Jerry

by Adam Wallace

2018

Jerry feels so quiet and overlooked that he may as well be invisible. This warm picture book follows his loneliness, his growing confidence, and the friendship that helps him feel seen.

The Holiday Heroes Save Christmas

by Adam Wallace

2018

When Santa is too sick to deliver presents, the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, witch, and leprechaun have to step in. Their rescue mission is messy, loud, and full of comic teamwork.

Weird!

by Adam Wallace

2018

A fast, funny chapter book that leans into everything awkward, strange, and off-center. Wallace turns feeling weird into comic fuel and keeps the story moving with short, punchy scenes.

How to Catch a Dinosaur

by Adam Wallace

2019

A science-fair-minded hunt turns into a dino chase full of inventions and neighborhood traps. The fun comes from big ideas, bigger footprints, and kids who refuse to give up.

How to Catch a Dragon

by Adam Wallace

2019

As kids try to outsmart a lucky dragon, the story turns into a fast, festive chase. Traps, rhyme, and bold illustrations keep the adventure light and lively.

How to Catch a Unicorn

by Adam Wallace

2019

Kids set clever traps to catch a unicorn and maybe become friends along the way. Bright rhymes and magical mayhem keep the chase playful from start to finish.

StickMan

by Adam Wallace

2019

A quick, comic read built around Wallace's doodly style and oddball humor. It plays with simple visuals, fast jokes, and the kind of chaos kids can jump into right away.

The Holiday Heroes Save Halloween

by Adam Wallace

2019

The holiday mascots team up again for a Halloween rescue, bringing their wildly different powers and personalities. Comic-book pacing and seasonal silliness drive the fun.

Adam Wallace Presents ... Horrific Tales of Horrifying Horror

by Adam Wallace

2020

A collection of spooky, funny tales that leans into the pulpy side of kid-friendly horror. Expect creepy setups, exaggerated menace, and a knowing wink running through it.

Enter the Spewtank

by Adam Wallace

2020

Fartboy faces an even yuckier enemy when the battle turns from gas to full-on puke-powered mayhem. Gross, fast, and very proud of it, this one pushes the series further into comic slime.

How to Catch a Yeti

by Adam Wallace

2020

A snowy hunt for a yeti sends kids racing from trap to trap through winter chaos. The fun comes from frosty near misses, clever inventions, and one very elusive creature.

Ninja Inspiration

by Adam Wallace

2020

Wallace turns ninja skills into a goofy lesson in focus, discipline, and persistence. It reads like a comic action pep talk, with enough jokes to keep the message light.

Ready, Set, Fart!

by Adam Wallace

2020

Martin is back, still stuck with powers he would rather not have. To beat a new gross threat, he has to trust his stinky talent and lean into the superhero chaos.

Rhymes With Sketching

by Adam Wallace

2020

A later how-to-draw collection that teaches cartoon creatures through rhyming, step-by-step lessons. It keeps the pressure low, the jokes silly, and the drawing friendly for beginners.

The First Sniff

by Adam Wallace

2020

Martin Kennedy is the tidiest boy in town and hates anything gross. Then a freak accident gives him fart powers, and saving the day suddenly gets very smelly.

The Giant Yawn!

by Adam Wallace

2020

Max feels unseen, but one ordinary yawn starts spreading farther than anyone expects. A gentle bedtime story about kindness, ripple effects, and the sleepy magic of doing good without applause.

How to Catch a Gingerbread Man

by Adam Wallace

2021

A runaway gingerbread man turns the holidays into a trap-building chase. Kids try one clever idea after another, but catching him proves much harder than baking him.

Never EVER Dance with a Dracula

by Adam Wallace

2021

This Halloween-flavored installment imagines what happens when you make the wrong partner choice on a spooky night. Rhymes, monsters, and slapstick keep it light.

Never EVER Lick a Llama

by Adam Wallace

2021

One terrible idea leads to one ridiculous consequence after another. It is a quick, giggly picture book built around cause, effect, and a very bad choice.

Never Ever Marry a Mermaid

by Adam Wallace

2021

A rhyming warning story imagines all the silly trouble that would come from marrying a mermaid. Fast read-aloud rhythm and escalating nonsense drive the joke.

Never EVER Massage a Moose

by Adam Wallace

2021

A simple warning becomes a silly chain reaction once a moose gets involved. The fun is in how seriously the book treats such an obviously terrible idea.

Never EVER Race a Reindeer

by Adam Wallace

2021

A holiday race with a reindeer goes exactly as badly as you would expect. Snowy visuals and playful warnings make it a cheerful seasonal choice.

Never EVER Tickle a Turkey

by Adam Wallace

2021

Thanksgiving gets noisier when someone ignores the title's advice. It is a fast, funny read-aloud built around gobbles, giggles, and inevitable disaster.

Never Ever Upset a Unicorn

by Adam Wallace

2021

Upsetting a unicorn sounds cute right up until the chaos starts. Wallace turns the warning into a bright, bouncy read-aloud full of magical comic fallout.

A Very Dinosaur Birthday

by Adam Wallace

2023

What if dinosaurs came to your birthday party? Wallace turns that dream into comic disaster as giant guests wreck the games, the food, and the presents.

Draw Incredible Beasts NOW!

by Adam Wallace

2024

A later drawing guide focused on bigger, wilder creatures. Wallace keeps the steps simple while nudging kids toward bolder, more imaginative cartoon monsters and animals.

Turkey in Disguise!

by Adam Wallace

2025

A turkey tries on one disguise after another to stay off the Thanksgiving menu. The jokes are broad, but there is a sweet thread about being yourself underneath the silliness.

Where should I start?

If you want the biggest crowd-pleasers: How to Catch a LeprechaunHow to Catch an ElfHow to Catch a Dinosaur
If you want holiday fun all year round: How to Catch the Easter BunnyHow to Catch a TurkeyHow to Catch a Snowman
If you prefer goofy chapter-book chaos: Accidentally Awesome!Blunderingly BrilliantFrantically Fantastic!
If your kid loves drawing: Rhymes with Art - Learn Cartooning the Fun WayRhymes with Drawing - More Cartooning the Fun WayRhymes with Cartooning

Author bio

Adam Wallace is an Australian children's author and cartoonist based in Melbourne. He is best known for the hugely popular How to Catch books, but his work ranges much wider than that, into chapter books, drawing guides, gross-out rhyme collections, and picture books with a softer emotional core.

Before writing took over, Wallace trained as an engineer and as a primary school teacher. He has said that the real turning point came when he wrote his first children's story, Blip, in 1999. It was enough to hook him.

Since then, he has written every day.

That steady habit shows in the range of his books. Wallace can write a holiday read-aloud like How to Catch a Leprechaun or How to Catch an Elf, then switch to a funny chapter book like Accidentally Awesome!, where Jackson Payne keeps becoming a hero by mistake. He can also head in a totally different direction with The First Sniff, about a neat freak who ends up with fart-powered superhero problems.

The common thread is humor, but not only humor. Wallace clearly likes big laughs, fast rhythm, and premises that kids can grab onto in seconds. At the same time, many of his stories are about confidence, belonging, friendship, and learning how to use the odd thing that makes you different. That is true in the noisy books, and it is even clearer in titles like Invisible Jerry, about a quiet child who feels unseen, and Spark, a bushfire story told from the fire's point of view.

He also cares a lot about getting children excited about making things. Books like Rhymes with Art - Learn Cartooning the Fun Way and the later How to Draw titles are built to make drawing feel possible, even for kids who think they cannot do it. The steps are simple, the creatures are silly, and the tone stays encouraging without turning stiff.

By 2024, Wallace said his books had sold more than 10 million copies.

That success did not come from one lane only. Families know him for the holiday chaos of the How to Catch series, readers looking for chapter-book comedy can jump into Jackson Payne or Fartboy, and kids who like stranger standalone ideas can try books like The Vanilla Slice Kid or A Very Dinosaur Birthday. He has built a body of work that is broad, energetic, and very clearly aimed at young readers who want books to move.

Away from the page, Wallace has spent years visiting schools and talking to children about reading, writing, and drawing. He has also shared plenty of smaller details that fit the voice of his books: he loves live music, writes and draws every day, enjoys golf, has a backyard mini golf course, and talks with great seriousness about hot chips, naps, and exclamation marks.

That all feels about right. Adam Wallace writes like someone who wants a child to laugh first, feel welcome second, and then come back for one more page.

Edited by

Richard Reis

Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.

Anurag Ramdasan

Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.

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