If You Give... Books in Order
Part ofLaura Joffe Numeroff Books in OrderSee the If You Give... books in order by Laura Joffe Numeroff, with quick summaries, series background, seasonal tie-ins, and help choosing where to start.
Last updated: June 9, 2026
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Publication Order
20 books
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
1985
A boy gives a hungry mouse a cookie, and that one small kindness kicks off a wildly funny chain of requests. Milk, mirrors, scissors, and a nap all lead the story in a perfect circle.
If You Give a Moose a Muffin
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
1991
A muffin for a hungry moose turns into another cheerful chain of requests, errands, and comic detours. Big, friendly Moose brings especially large-scale chaos to an ordinary day.
Mouse Cookies
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
1995
This companion cookbook invites young readers to make simple cookies inspired by Mouse and his favorite treats. It adds hands-on kitchen fun to the familiar world of the storybooks.
If You Give a Pig a Pancake
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
1998
When a little girl gives Pig a pancake, breakfast quickly spins into bubbles, baths, and one more thing after another. The result is a lively circular story full of child-friendly logic.
If You Give a Pig a Party
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
2000
Give Pig a few balloons and she will turn the whole day into a party. Decorations, dress-up, and a growing guest list make this a bubbly, high-energy read-aloud.
If You Give a Pig a Pumpkin
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
2000
Pig heads into fall fun in this pumpkin-themed outing, where one festive idea naturally leads to the next. It keeps the familiar cheerful rhythm while leaning into autumn excitement.
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
2000
A trip to the movies sends Mouse into a holiday adventure with popcorn, decorations, and Christmas cheer. It is a festive, funny entry that mixes winter magic with the series' familiar pattern.
If You Give an Author a Pencil
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
2002
In this kid-friendly autobiography, Numeroff shows how a child who loved books grew into a working writer. It is part life story and part behind-the-scenes look at how books begin.
If You Take a Mouse to School
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
2002
Mouse's school day begins with a lunch box and quickly turns into a full set of classroom requests. It is a funny, fast-moving take on first-day jitters, supplies, and school routine.
If You Give A Cat A Cupcake Recipes
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
2006
A playful companion cookbook gathers kid-friendly sweets inspired by Cat and the If You Give world. It is built for readers who want to turn storytime into baking time.
Mouse Cookies & More: A Treasury
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
2006
This large treasury collects four If You Give stories and adds recipes, songs, and activities. It is a good pick for readers who want a fuller visit with Mouse, Moose, and Pig.
Merry Christmas, Mouse!
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
2007
Mouse decorates a Christmas tree in this cheerful holiday counting book. Bright ornaments, simple repetition, and seasonal warmth make it an easy choice for very young readers.
If You Give a Cat a Cupcake
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
2008
A cupcake for Cat leads to sprinkles, a mess, a swimsuit, and a full day of increasingly silly adventures. Cat's version of the series feels especially playful and energetic.
Time for School, Mouse!
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
2008
Mouse is getting ready for school, but he cannot seem to find everything he needs, especially his homework. It is a simple, relatable back-to-school story with a light comic touch.
Happy Easter, Mouse!
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
2010
Mouse heads out on an Easter egg hunt in this bright seasonal board book. Colors, counting, and a gentle holiday mystery keep the story simple and fun for toddlers.
If You Give a Dog a Donut
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
2011
One donut sends Dog racing into a backyard adventure packed with apple juice, games, and one request after another. It has the same circular charm, with a slightly more rambunctious feel.
It's Pumpkin Day, Mouse!
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
2012
Mouse is ready to decorate pumpkins, but one of them goes missing. This short autumn board book mixes seasonal fun with a tiny mystery that keeps little readers engaged.
If You Give a Mouse a Brownie
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
2016
Mouse returns for another delicious round of cause and effect when a brownie leads to ice cream, drumming, and a full-blown band. It is a lively comeback for the series' original star.
If You Give a Man a Cookie: A Parody
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
2017
This adult parody flips the famous setup into a comic chain of complaints, laziness, and domestic exasperation. It plays with the original structure while aiming squarely at grown-up humor.
Happy Birthday, Mouse!
by Laura Joffe Numeroff
2020
Mouse celebrates his birthday by trying to choose the perfect treat. This simple board book is built for very young readers and keeps the focus on familiar foods and party excitement.
Series background & context
The If You Give... books are built on one very simple idea: one small favor turns into another, and another, and another. Give a mouse a cookie, and he wants milk. Give him milk, and suddenly there is a mirror, a trim, a broom, a nap, and before long you are right back where you started. That circular pattern is the engine of the whole series.
It sounds tiny on paper. That is the point.
The first and best-known book is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, but the series quickly opens up into a larger cast. Moose, Pig, Cat, and Dog each get their own spotlight in books like If You Give a Moose a Muffin, If You Give a Pig a Pancake, If You Give a Cat a Cupcake, and If You Give a Dog a Donut. The setup stays familiar, but the mood shifts a little with each character. Moose is big and enthusiastic. Pig brings party energy. Mouse often lands in school or holiday situations that feel especially close to everyday family life.
That everyday feeling is a big part of why these books work. The stakes are never huge, but they matter in the way small things matter to children. A snack becomes a project. A movie trip becomes Christmas decorating. A school day turns into a backpack-and-lunch-box scramble. The books understand how quickly one thing can spill into five more when you are little, or when you are taking care of someone little.
The series also branches into shorter board books and seasonal titles, especially around Mouse. Books like Merry Christmas, Mouse!, Happy Valentine's Day, Mouse!, Happy Easter, Mouse!, It's Pumpkin Day, Mouse!, and Happy Birthday, Mouse! take the same familiar character and place him in holiday routines that younger readers know well. They are simpler than the full picture books, but they keep the same cozy, busy, good-humored world.
Chaos has never felt so friendly.
What carries the series from book to book is rhythm. Children can hear the pattern, predict the next request, and start joining in before the page is turned. Adults get the comedy of watching a perfectly ordinary day slide into gentle mayhem. The art, done by Felicia Bond, adds to that feeling with warm, expressive scenes that make the errands, messes, and side trips feel playful instead of stressful.
Over time, the books became far bigger than a single picture book hit. They expanded into companion books, treasury collections, and later an animated adaptation that brought Mouse and friends to a new audience. Still, the heart of the series remains the same: a child, an animal, one seemingly harmless offer, and a delightful chain reaction that is always just about to start again.
Edited by
Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.
Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.


































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