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The Large Family Books in Order

Part ofJill Murphy Books in Order

Browse the Large Family books by Jill Murphy in order, with story summaries, series background and tips on which picture books to share first with young readers.

Last updated: December 25, 2025

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Publication Order

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13 books

1

My First Year at Nursery

by Jill Murphy

2017

A fill-in keepsake inspired by the Large Family, designed to record a child's first year at nursery. Spaces for photos, drawings, friends' names and favourite activities turn everyday milestones into a scrapbook families will want to keep revisiting.

2

Sebastian's Sleepover

by Jill Murphy

2009

Sebastian Smart earns top marks in his music exam and asks for a sleepover with the Large children as a reward. His stylish home quickly descends into chaos, but it is Sebastian, not the Larges, who causes the disasters, leading to a much happier night at their house instead.

3

Grandpa in Trouble

by Jill Murphy

2009

Granny and Grandpa Large come to babysit so Mr and Mrs Large can enjoy a rare day out. Once the parents leave, Grandpa kicks a football through the window and loses track of Lucy, leaving the older elephants in as much trouble as the children.

4

Luke Tidies Up

by Jill Murphy

2008

When the clutter in the Large house gets out of control, Mr Large declares Operation Spring Clean. Luke is horrified at the idea of losing his favourite junk, but helping to sort and tidy shows him how good a fresh, organised room can feel.

5

Lucy Meets Mr Chilly

by Jill Murphy

2008

It is snowing and the Large family build a snow-elephant called Mr Chilly. Baby Lucy treats him like a new friend, but sunshine soon threatens to melt him away, so the family work together to make a cuddly replacement she can keep.

6

Lester Learns a Lesson

by Jill Murphy

2008

Lester Large is showing off skateboard tricks for baby Lucy when he crashes into one of Mum's treasured china ornaments. With Luke playing detective and Laura trying to help mend the damage, Lester finally discovers that telling the truth is easier than hiding it.

7

Laura Bakes A Cake

by Jill Murphy

2008

Laura has to bake a cake at school but the family has run out of flour. After a closed shop, a broken-down car and a chance meeting with Sebastian and his well-stocked basket, the children and their mums find a sweet way to share ingredients and effort.

8

Mr. Large in Charge

by Jill Murphy

2005

When Mrs Large feels unwell, Mr Large insists she go back to bed while he and the children tidy the house. Their well-meant hoovering, dusting and cooking create more din than calm, proving that being in charge is harder than it looks.

9

A Quiet Night In

by Jill Murphy

1994

It is Daddy Large's birthday and Mrs Large plans a peaceful celebration at home. After a long day, both parents fall asleep while reading the bedtime story, leaving the four children to carry the party food upstairs for a secret feast.

10

A Piece of Cake

by Jill Murphy

1989

When Mrs Large decides she is too fat, she puts the whole elephant family on a strict regime of healthy food and jogging. Hunger, grumpiness and a surprise cake from Granny soon test their willpower in a very funny way.

11

All in One Piece

by Jill Murphy

1987

Mr and Mrs Large are dressing up for the office dinner-dance and just want to leave the house looking smart. Their determined children, armed with bubble bath, paint and questions, make it almost impossible for the parents to get out the door in one piece.

12

Five Minutes' Peace

by Jill Murphy

1986

Mrs Large longs for five minutes of peace away from her noisy brood, so she runs a hot bath and sneaks in with a tray of breakfast. One by one, the children track her down, turning her quiet escape into a family splash.

13

Peace At Last

by Jill Murphy

1980

Mr Bear is desperate for a good night's sleep, but everywhere he goes there is noise, from Mrs Bear's snoring to ticking clocks and dripping taps. After trying every room, he finally finds peace, only to be woken by the morning alarm.

Series background & context

The Large Family books follow a household of elephants who behave very much like an ordinary human family, just bigger and a bit clumsier. Mr and Mrs Large juggle work, childcare and housework, while children Lester, Laura, Luke and baby Lucy supply noise, mess and unexpected tenderness.

Each story focuses on a small domestic moment that parents and children will recognise. In Five Minutes' Peace Mrs Large longs for a quiet bath away from the breakfast chaos downstairs. In All in One Piece the parents try to get ready for an office dinner dance without sticky fingers on their best clothes. A Piece of Cake tackles the family decision to go on a diet, and A Quiet Night In begins with plans for a calm birthday celebration that never quite happens.

The humour comes from the gap between adult intentions and family reality. Mrs Large dreams of reading the newspaper alone in the tub, but the children arrive one by one, trumpet in hand or book in trunk, until the bathroom feels busier than the kitchen. Mr Large promises to take charge while his wife rests, only to discover that looking after four energetic young elephants is far more exhausting than a day at work.

Despite the mishaps, the tone is always affectionate. The children are boisterous but never cruel. They draw birthday cards, help decorate the table or try to tidy up, even if their efforts create more work. The parents are sometimes frazzled or short-tempered, yet the stories usually end with everyone piled together on a sofa or a bed, sharing cake, breakfast or a much-needed cuddle.

Later titles build on this world. Mr Large in Charge shows what happens when Mrs Large is unwell and the rest of the family insist on spoiling her. Spin-off picture books and readers like Lester Learns a Lesson, Laura Bakes a Cake, Luke Tidies Up and Lucy Meets Mr Chilly zoom in on the children, giving each of them centre stage for a minor adventure.

Jill Murphy's coloured-pencil illustrations do a lot of the storytelling. The Large house feels lived-in, with toys on the floor, laundry on chairs and half-finished drawings on the fridge. Facial expressions carry the jokes, from Mrs Large's blissful smile as she sinks into the bath to the children's wide-eyed guilt when something has clearly gone wrong off-page.

Overall the series reads like a kind, funny scrapbook of family life. There are no villains or big twists, just the familiar swirl of school runs, bedtime stories and the constant search for a little bit of peace. That makes the Large books ideal for reading aloud with preschool and early elementary children, who will quickly spot echoes of their own households in this slightly larger, very lovable elephant family.

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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All 13 The Large Family Books in Order (Complete List 2026)