Henry Winkler Books in Order
See all Henry Winkler books in order, from Hank Zipzer and Here's Hank to Ghost Buddy, Alien Superstar and Detective Duck, with summaries, series background and simple guidance on where new readers should start.
Last updated: December 26, 2025
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Publication Order
54 books
The Mystery at Emerald Pond
by Henry Winkler
2025
Willow and her friends are thrilled to visit nearby Emerald Pond for a day of games with new duck friend Maxwell. When Maxwell vanishes mid-competition and plastic trash keeps appearing on the water, Detective Duck must untangle jealousy, pollution and danger before the fun turns tragic.
The Case of the Missing Tadpole
by Henry Winkler
2024
Life at Dogwood Pond is usually calm, until Franny Frog's son Tad suddenly disappears. Detective Duck organises the Pond Squad to search every reed and rock, uncovering leaking pipes, strange algae and a bigger pollution problem that could endanger every creature in their watery neighborhood.
The Case of the Strange Splash
by Henry Winkler
2023
Willow Feathers McBeaver is a small duck with a detective's brain, happily exploring quiet Dogwood Pond in New England. When a huge rubber tire crashes into the water, she rallies her animal friends to solve the mystery and clean up the human mess threatening their home.
Being Henry: The Fonz... and Beyond
by Henry Winkler
2023
In this later-life memoir, Henry Winkler looks back at growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia, rocketing to fame as Fonzie and then rebuilding a career when the spotlight moved on. He writes candidly about typecasting, family, writing for children and the long, slow work of becoming comfortable with himself.
Hollywood vs. the Galaxy
by Henry Winkler
2021
Buddy Burger's hit TV show has made him a superstar in Hollywood, but his old life is catching up fast. When the Supreme Leader himself comes to Earth with dangerous mind-control powers, Buddy and his friends must protect his secret and possibly the entire planet.
Lights, Camera, Danger!
by Henry Winkler
2020
Life on Earth seems pretty great now that six-eyed alien Buddy Burger is the breakout star of a hit sitcom. Then Citizen Cruel, a ruthless shape-shifter from his home planet, arrives on set, forcing Buddy to juggle scripts, fan events and a relentless hunter who wants him back.
Everybody is Somebody
by Henry Winkler
2019
In Hank's class, a famous children's author is a bigger deal than any movie star, and Hank is chosen to help host her visit. Embarrassed that he has never actually finished one of her books, he invents his own version of the story, then has to face what happens when the truth comes out.
Alien Superstar
by Henry Winkler
2019
Thirteen-year-old Buddy Burger escapes his repressive home planet and crash-lands on the backlot of a Hollywood studio, where everyone assumes he is an actor in an amazing costume. Cast in a TV show as an alien, he suddenly has fans, parties and one enormous problem, keeping his true identity secret.
Robot on the Loose
by Henry Winkler
2018
Hank signs up for the school Build-a-Robot contest, then promptly forgets about it until two days before the deadline. With help from quiet robotics whiz Jaden, he throws together a quirky bot named Stanley, only to watch it go berserk in front of the whole school.
Hooray! My Butt Left the Bench!
by Henry Winkler
2017
Year after year, Hank has watched the second-grade basketball game from the bench, convinced he will only mess things up. When his friends help him practice and his dad dusts off his old hoops skills, Hank has to decide whether to risk the court and surprise everyone, including himself.
Always Watch Out for the Flying Potato Salad!
by Henry Winkler
2017
On Take Your Child to Work Day, Hank joins his mum at the Crunchy Pickle deli and discovers that building sandwiches under pressure is harder than it looks. After one disastrous order, he gets a final chance to prove himself before a giant catering job goes very wrong.
You Can't Drink a Meatball Through a Straw
by Henry Winkler
2016
Hank's ultra-polished cousin Judith Ann comes to stay while competing on a kids' cooking show, turning the Zipzer kitchen into a war zone. When Hank enters the contest too, he discovers that behind all the fancy recipes they might have more in common than either expected.
The Soggy, Foggy Campout
by Henry Winkler
2016
A family camping trip is supposed to give Hank lots of ideas for his class nature poem, but nothing goes to plan. Rain, fog and creepy noises turn the night into a mess, until Hank finds a way to keep everyone laughing and finally discovers the right words.
There's a Zombie in My Bathtub
by Henry Winkler
2015
A scary movie night with his friends seems like the perfect way to get ready for Halloween, until the film totally freaks Hank out. Soon he sees zombies in every creak and shadow, and he has to sort real life from imagination before fear takes over.
The Cow Poo Treasure
by Henry Winkler
2015
Hank is desperate to prove to his parents that he can be responsible, so he signs up for Miss Adolf's tough activity camp. Stuck on a treasure hunt in a cow field with his nemesis Nick McKelty, Hank has to survive mud, manure and one impossible teammate.
How to Hug an Elephant
by Henry Winkler
2015
On a class trip to the zoo, Hank gets separated from his partner and ends up locked inside the habitat of Elsie, a lonely rescue elephant. As they begin an unlikely soccer game, Hank realises his new friend needs help finding a real herd, not just human visitors.
Fake Snakes and Weird Wizards
by Henry Winkler
2015
When Hank is chosen to take Principal Love's pet frog home for the weekend, it feels like a huge honor. The excitement vanishes when the frog escapes, sending Hank and his friends on a frantic search through a house full of rubber snakes, costumes and nervous parents.
Stop That Frog!
by Henry Winkler
2014
When Hank is picked to care for the class frog over the weekend, he imagines being a science hero. One forgotten tank lid later, the frog disappears into the apartment building, and Hank leads a slapstick hunt before Principal Love finds out.
My Book of Pickles... Oops, I Mean Lists
by Henry Winkler
2014
Hank Zipzer is great at one thing teachers do not grade him on, making lists about everything. This collection gathers his funniest lists from across the series plus new ones, from reasons summer school stinks to wild schemes for rescuing forgotten permission slips.
Bookmarks are People Too!
by Henry Winkler
2014
Hank wants the starring role of Aqua Fly in the second-grade class play, but stage fright and memorizing lines trip him up. Cast instead as a silent bookmark, he feels invisible, until an onstage disaster gives him the chance to save the show.
A Short Tale About a Long Dog
by Henry Winkler
2014
Hank finally convinces his dad to adopt a dog and falls instantly for a tiny dachshund who spins in circles like a cereal ring. When Cheerio escapes in the park, Hank must track him down and prove he can handle the responsibility of a best-friend pet.
The World's Greatest Underachiever Is the Ping-Pong Wizard
by Henry Winkler
2013
Everyone at school is choosing a sport to specialise in, and Hank cannot catch, throw or run without tripping. Secret practice sessions at the community centre reveal that he is brilliant at table tennis, but stepping into the spotlight with such an uncool sport takes real courage.
The Parent-Teacher Trouble
by Henry Winkler
2013
Parents' evening is looming, and Hank is sure his teacher will tell his mum and dad every one of his disasters. With forged notes, fake phone calls and a rock concert plan, he does everything possible to stop them attending, until the lies start tripping over each other.
The Killer Chilli
by Henry Winkler
2013
It's multicultural day at school, and Hank is determined to impress everyone with his mum's super-healthy chili recipe. A misjudged spoonful of extra-spicy seasoning turns lunch into a firestorm, leaving Hank scrambling to rescue both the menu and his reputation.
The House of Halloween Horrors
by Henry Winkler
2013
Hank throws himself into building the scariest haunted house his block has ever seen, filling every room with gross surprises. When his dog Cheerio bolts in terror and a bully targets the project, Hank has to decide whether revenge or kindness makes for a better Halloween.
The Best Worst Summer Ever
by Henry Winkler
2013
Summer is supposed to mean freedom, not extra maths, so Hank is furious when he ends up in summer school. Stuck in a sweltering classroom while friends have fun elsewhere, he slowly discovers new classmates, new skills and a few unexpected bright spots.
How to Scare the Pants Off Your Pets
by Henry Winkler
2013
Hoover the ghost is flunking Responsibility class, so Billy decides a pet will teach him to care for someone else. Every creature they try runs screaming, and finding an animal that is not terrified of a ghost becomes their strangest mission yet.
Always Dance with a Hairy Buffalo!
by Henry Winkler
2013
Billy is used to getting nonstop advice from his ghost buddy, Hoover Porterhouse, until a museum sleepover introduces a fearless Chumash princess ghost. When the smooth-talking Hoove forgets how to speak, Billy has to coach his mentor through making a new friend.
Zero to Hero
by Henry Winkler
2012
New kid Billy Broccoli wants friends, a spot on the baseball team and zero embarrassment at his new school. Instead he gets Hoover Porterhouse, a loudmouth teen ghost who offers to remake Billy's image and help him stand up to the class bully.
The Soggy School Trip
by Henry Winkler
2012
An overnight school trip on an old boat should be the adventure of the year, but bad weather and Hank's clumsiness quickly live up to the title. From seasick classmates to slippery decks, he somehow turns a simple outing into soaked, unforgettable chaos.
The Mutant Moth
by Henry Winkler
2012
Hank promises his best friend he will record a late-night monster movie called The Mutant Moth That Ate Toledo, even though technical gadgets are not his thing. Between a faulty cable box, family chaos and his own dyslexia, the simple job turns into yet another Hank-sized disaster.
The Lucky Monkey Socks
by Henry Winkler
2012
Chosen to pitch in the school Olympiad because of one amazing throw, Hank is convinced his success comes from secretly wearing his sister's lucky monkey socks. Trouble hits when she needs them for her own event, forcing Hank to decide whether talent or talismans really win games.
The Crunchy Pickle Disaster
by Henry Winkler
2012
After bringing home a report card packed with low marks, Hank panics and shreds it in the meat grinder at his mum's deli, the Crunchy Pickle. When the special salami made from that batch is delivered to an important customer, he races to fix the mix-up before his secret is sliced open.
The Crazy Classroom Cascade
by Henry Winkler
2012
Hank comes up with a genius plan to get out of doing homework once and for all, involving a homemade device and the classroom sink. Unsurprisingly, the scheme ends with water pouring everywhere, a furious teacher and Hank trying to mop up more than just the flood.
Mind If I Read Your Mind?
by Henry Winkler
2012
Moorepark Middle School's Speak Out Challenge looks easy when Billy and the Hoove cook up a mind-reading act that dazzles everyone. But when Billy joins the sixth grade team and spends less time with his ghost, jealousy threatens both their friendship and the big performance.
I've Never Met an Idiot on the River
by Henry Winkler
2011
Blending stories, photos and reflections from years spent fly-fishing, this memoir follows Henry Winkler to the rivers where he feels most at peace. Between casting lines he writes about family, work and how time outdoors helped him slow down and see his life differently.
A Brand-New Me!
by Henry Winkler
2010
Hank cannot graduate without finishing his community service, so Mr. Rock puts him to work cleaning instruments after school. A surprise talent for making up mini plays could open the door to a performing arts school, just as his best friends may be heading somewhere else.
Dump Trucks and Dogsleds
by Henry Winkler
2009
Hank is nervous about a new baby moving into his bedroom, so a pre-baby ski trip with his dad and sister sounds perfect. When a blizzard and an early delivery collide, the family scrambles home by any transport possible, from dump trucks to dogsleds.
The Life of Me (Enter At Your Own Risk)
by Henry Winkler
2008
When Mr. Rock takes over Hank's class, school finally feels fun, until he recommends an after-school reading program that clashes with Hank's beloved tae kwon do. A scrapbook assignment, a first crush and a rival's cousin force Hank to rethink what his story really looks like.
A Tale of Two Tails
by Henry Winkler
2008
Hank and his little sister both enter their pets in a school mascot contest, pitting Cheerio the excitable dachshund against Emily's impressive iguana. Training a dog who chases everything that moves might be Hank's toughest challenge yet.
Who Ordered This Baby? Definitely Not Me!
by Henry Winkler
2007
Hank is sure life is over when he realizes his mum is the one expecting a baby, not his friend Frankie. As baby plans take over the apartment, Hank swings between panic and curiosity, trying to figure out whether there is room for one more Zipzer.
The Curtain Went Up, My Pants Fell Down
by Henry Winkler
2007
Hank lands a big role in the school production of The King and I, but there is one catch, he has to pull his math grade up to a B-plus or lose the part. Between an intense tutor, stage jitters and clumsy moments, the spotlight is not always kind.
Barfing in the Backseat
by Henry Winkler
2007
Hank's family road trip to a roller-coaster park and crossword tournament sounds amazing, until car sickness and schoolwork get in the way. When he accidentally leaves Ms. Adolf's vacation homework at a motel, Hank and Frankie launch a secret rescue mission before anyone notices.
My Dog's a Scaredy-Cat
by Henry Winkler
2006
For Halloween, Hank turns the family's apartment into the scariest haunted house on the block, partly to get back at bully Nick McKelty. But when his dog Cheerio is more terrified than any guest, Hank has to rethink what really counts as a good scare.
Summer School! What Genius Thought That Up?
by Henry Winkler
2005
Hank's worst nightmare comes true when he is sent to summer school and discovers his best friends are going to camp instead. Trapped in a hot classroom while everyone else has fun, he has to find a way to survive boring lessons, new classmates and his own wandering attention.
My Secret Life as a Ping-Pong Wizard
by Henry Winkler
2005
Everyone at PS 87 seems to be great at some sport, and Hank is tired of being the kid who always drops the ball. Then he discovers he is actually amazing at ping-pong, but keeps it secret, afraid his friends will mock his unlikely new talent.
Help! Somebody Get Me Out of Fourth Grade!
by Henry Winkler
2005
When Hank hears his parents have been called in for a conference, he is sure it means repeating fourth grade. He hatches an overcomplicated plan to send them out of town for a rock concert instead, learning the hard way that avoiding bad news only makes it messier.
The Night I Flunked My Field Trip
by Henry Winkler
2004
Hank is thrilled about an overnight class trip on a docked boat in New York Harbor, until his curiosity gets the best of him. One slip of the hands and the boat is suddenly drifting, turning a simple field trip into a floating disaster only Hank could cause.
Holy Enchilada!
by Henry Winkler
2004
When Hank is chosen to host a visiting student from Japan and cook enchiladas for multicultural day, he wants everything to be perfect. A heavy hand with the chili powder turns lunch into a fire-breathing fiasco that could ruin the whole celebration.
The Zippity Zinger
by Henry Winkler
2003
Hank loves baseball but cannot pitch to save his life, until one miraculous practice when everything clicks while he is secretly wearing his sister's lucky red monkey socks. Chosen to pitch in the school Olympiad, he now has to share the socks and the glory.
The Day of the Iguana
by Henry Winkler
2003
For a science project, Hank decides to take apart and rebuild the family cable box, a plan that already sounds risky. Things get much worse when his sister's iguana lays eggs inside the machine, leaving Hank with furious relatives and a scrambled assignment.
Niagara Falls, Or Does It?
by Henry Winkler
2003
New school year, new teacher, same old homework trouble. Instead of writing an essay about his summer trip to Niagara Falls, Hank builds a giant working model in his living room, only to discover that glue, water and gravity are a chaotic mix.
I Got a D in Salami
by Henry Winkler
2003
Facing a report card full of bad grades, Hank panics and shoves it into the meat grinder at his mum's deli to hide the evidence. When the salami containing his report card is delivered to an important client, Hank and his friends race to fix the mistake before everything unravels.
The Other Side of Henry Winkler
by Henry Winkler
1976
Written at the height of Happy Days fame, this early autobiography looks past the leather jacket to the person underneath. Winkler describes his strict parents, rocky school years, training as an actor and the surreal experience of suddenly becoming television's most recognisable cool guy.
Where should I start?
If you want Hank Zipzer's full journey: Niagara Falls, Or Does It? → I Got a D in Salami → The Day of the Iguana → A Brand-New Me!
If you’re choosing for younger or reluctant readers (~6–9): Bookmarks are People Too! → A Short Tale About a Long Dog → Stop That Frog!
If you like funny ghosts and aliens: Zero to Hero → Mind If I Read Your Mind? → Alien Superstar → Lights, Camera, Danger!
If you’re reading about Winkler himself: Being Henry: The Fonz... and Beyond → I've Never Met an Idiot on the River → The Other Side of Henry Winkler.
Author bio
Henry Winkler was born on October 30, 1945, on the West Side of Manhattan, to parents who had escaped Nazi Germany just before the war. Growing up in New York City, he loved performing and making people laugh, even while school felt like a daily uphill climb.
For years he wrestled with undiagnosed dyslexia, stumbling over reading assignments and memorizing lines while quietly assuming that he just was not smart enough.
Winkler eventually found his way to Emerson College in Boston after being turned down by many other schools. He majored in theater, minored in child psychology, and scraped through classes while throwing himself into campus productions. From there he was accepted into the Yale School of Drama, where he earned his MFA in 1970, performing in demanding plays and learning how to build a character from the inside out.
After Yale, he worked in regional theater and commercials, then headed to Los Angeles with just enough savings for a short stay. A small part on The Mary Tyler Moore Show led to an audition for a new sitcom set in the 1950s. His role as Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on Happy Days turned into a cultural landmark and made him instantly recognizable around the world. The fame was thrilling, but it also left him typecast and unsure what would come next.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Winkler shifted toward producing and directing, helping to develop shows like MacGyver and working behind the camera on family television. Gradually he found his way back to acting in quirky, memorable roles in Scream, The Waterboy, and on television in shows such as Arrested Development, Royal Pains and Parks and Recreation. His role as acting teacher Gene Cousineau on the dark comedy Barry earned him a long‑awaited Primetime Emmy and introduced him to a new generation of viewers.
A major turning point came when a friend suggested he write children’s books based on his rocky school years. At first Winkler laughed the idea off, pointing out that reading had always been hard for him. Teaming up with writer Lin Oliver changed that. Together they created the Hank Zipzer novels about a bright, funny boy with dyslexia, followed by the Here’s Hank prequel series, the supernatural comedies Ghost Buddy, the sci‑fi trilogy Alien Superstar, and the environmentally minded Detective Duck.
That mix of humor and honesty is central to the way he talks with kids, whether he is on stage at a school assembly or signing a well‑thumbed copy of Niagara Falls, Or Does It?.
Winkler has also written three memoirs. The Other Side of Henry Winkler: My Story captures his early life and sudden success on Happy Days. I’ve Never Met an Idiot on the River blends fly‑fishing, photography and reflections on family. Being Henry: The Fonz... and Beyond revisits his entire journey with the perspective of five decades in the business.
Today he lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Stacey Weitzman, whom he married in 1978. They have three children and several grandchildren. Between acting jobs, school visits and book tours, he still carves out time to stand in a cold river with a fly rod, grateful that a kid who once felt lost in the classroom now helps other kids see their own strengths.
Edited by
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