Blobheads Books in Order

The Blobheads books are short, silly, fast-moving adventures for younger readers. Written by Paul Stewart and illustrated by Chris Riddell, they follow Bobby Barnes as his ordinary life is repeatedly wrecked by three peculiar purple blobs from another world.

Bobby is the only person who seems to understand how much trouble the Blobheads can cause. They bounce into his home, make strange noises, eat odd things, and turn everyday situations into disasters. Parents, teachers, babysitters, schoolmates, and neighbors are often left trying to work out what just happened.

The basic setup is simple, which is part of the fun. Every story starts with a familiar childhood problem, such as school, a babysitter, or a family day out, then sends it spinning in an increasingly ridiculous direction. Talking appliances, troublesome gnomes, mysterious drinks, and sudden invasions all fit naturally into the Blobheads' world.

The books are built for quick reading and plenty of laughs. Riddell's black-and-white illustrations add to the jokes, giving the blobs a wonderfully elastic, expressive presence. The humor is broad and visual, but Bobby's frustration keeps the stories grounded: he wants a normal day, and he almost never gets one.

Nothing stays calm for long.

Although the books share characters and a running premise, each adventure works well on its own. New readers can start with Invasion of the Blobs, which introduces Bobby and his uninvited visitors, then move through the other titles in publication order. The stories do not depend on a complicated continuing plot.

This is a series for readers who enjoy comic mayhem over scary danger. The stakes are usually personal and immediate, like avoiding embarrassment, stopping a mess, or keeping the Blobheads out of sight before an adult notices. Even when everything gets out of hand, the tone stays playful.

At its heart, Blobheads is about a boy stuck with the strangest houseguests imaginable. Bobby may complain, but the books leave room for the sense that life would be much less interesting without them.