Helen Lester

Author Information
Helen Lester's Latest Book

Newest Release

  • Bibliography:
    37 Books (2 Series)
  • First Book:
    May 1988
  • Latest Book:
    September 2022
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Full Series List in Order

Tacky the Penguin

Tacky the Penguin (May-1988)
Three Cheers for Tacky (Apr-1994)
Tacky in Trouble (May-1998)
Tacky and the Emperor (Oct-2000)
Tackylocks and the Three Bears (May-2004)
Tacky and the Winter Games (Nov-2005)
Tacky Goes to Camp (May-2009)
Tacky's Christmas (Oct-2010)
Happy Birdday, Tacky! (May-2013)
Tacky and the Haunted Igloo (Jul-2015)

Wodney Wat

Batter Up Wombat (Sep-2006)
Hooway for Wodney Wat (Mar-2011)
Wodney Wat's Wobot (Oct-2011)

Book List in Order: 37 titles

  • Tacky the Penguin

    Tacky the Penguin

    Handpicked by Amazon kids’ books editor, Seira Wilson, for Prime Book Box â€" a children’s subscription that inspires a love of reading.

    Tacky's perfect friends find him annoying until his odd behavior saves the day.

    ...

  • The Wizard, the Fairy, and the Magic Chicken

    "The Wizard, the Fairy, and the Magic Chicken each think, I am the greatest in the world."" After a competition full of jealousy, boasting, and reckless spellcasting, they find themselves fleeing from hairy, bumpy, and dotty monsters! While running f...

  • It Wasn't My Fault

    When accidents happen to Murdley Gurdson, they are usually his own fault, but when a bird lays an egg on Murdley's head one day, he tries hard to find someone else to blame.

    Book Details:

    • Format: Paperback
    • Publication Date: 3/26...

  • A Porcupine Named Fluffy

    A porcupine named Fluffy is happier with his name after he meets a similarly misnamed rhinoceros....

  • Revenge of the Magic Chicken

  • Pookins Gets Her Way

    A magic gnome teaches a spoiled little girl a valuable lesson in this adorable tale from the author of Hurty Feelings. Pookins always gets her way. If she doesn't, she makes faces, she throws apples, and she yells very loudly! But when Pookins finds ...

  • Tacky the Penguin Book & Cassette

  • Three Cheers for Tacky

    Tacky the Penguin

    Tacky the Penguin is back, this time trying to compete with Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect in the iceberg-wide Penguin Cheering Contest. But will Tacky ever be able to learn the synchronized moves and win the contest?...

  • Lin's Backpack, Let Me Read Series, Trade Binding



  • Me First

    Being first isn't always best, as Pinkerton Pig finds out after an encounter with a mean Sand Witch. As always, Helen Lester's wonderfully offbeat humor and Lynn Munsinger's whimsical illustrations result in a hilarious lesson about piggishness. The ...

  • The Four Getters and Arf, Let Me Read Series, Trade Binding

  • Cr Little Celebrations Lin's Backpack Grade 1 Copyright 1995

  • Help! I'm Stuck!

  • Little Celebrations, the Shy People's Picnic, Single Copy, Fluency, Stage 3a

  • Wuzzy Takes Off

  • Listen, Buddy

    A hilarious romp about a bunny who just can't seem to listen. He is constantly confusing instructions. For example, when his parents ask for a slice of bread, he saws off a piece of his bed. But everything changes when he takes a wrong turn and meets...

  • Tacky in Trouble

    Tacky the Penguin

    Tacky the penguin goes windsurfing and ends up on a tropical island, captive to an elephant who, upon seeing Tacky's floral Hawaiian shirt, mistakes him for a bouquet of flowers. The elephant thinks that Tacky would make a pretty centerpiece, so she ...

  • Pick a Pet

  • Tacky and the Emperor

    Tacky the Penguin

    It’s common knowledge that Tacky was never the best- dressed penguin, but when he and his friends prepare for the arrival of the emperor, Tacky gets carried away and ends up in more than just elegant attire!
    Tacky brings his own unique brand of...



  • Princess Penelope's Parrot

    Spoiled Princess Penelope cannot get her new parrot to talk, even after threatening it and calling it nasty names. But when Prince Percival comes courting, the parrot gets revenge on the greedy princess in a hilarious and fitting conclusion. ...

  • Author

    So begins the story of Helen Lester, author of Tacky the Penguin and many other popular books for children. By sharing her struggles as a child and later as a successful author, she demonstrates that hurdles are part of the process. She even gives...

  • Score One for the Sloths

    "Score another one for Lester and Munsinger." Publishers WeeklyThe sloths at Sleepy Valley Sloth School are content in their slothfulness. One day, a new sloth arrives, a go-getter, a mover and a shaker which is to say she actually moves. The other s...

  • Something Might Happen

    Twitchly Fidget won’t shampoo, eat his cereal, or put on his sneakers. He won’t even go to a parade (what if he got sucked up into a trombone?) or a marshmallow roast (might he get stuck?) or a Fourth of February party (would he be buried in conf...

  • Tackylocks and the Three Bears

    Tacky the Penguin

    How do you keep a crowd of energetic young penguins entertained? Put on a play, perhaps? But will they pay attention through an entire performance? If Tacky’s center stage, they might. Even in his flowing blond wig and little red “skipping shoes,...

  • Hurty Feelings

    A thin-skinned hippo and a bully elephant learn about feelings in this hilarious tale from the author of Hooway for Wodney Wat.Fragility was a solid piece of work. But despite her sturdy exterior, Fragility was fragile. Anything and everything hurt h...

  • Tacky and the Winter Games

    Tacky the Penguin

    "A-huff-and-a-puff-and-a-huff-and-a-puff-and-a-huff-and-a-puff" "WHAT'S HAPPENING?" Tacky the penguin wants to know. The Winter Games, that's what's happening. And Tacky and his fellow penguins Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect have to work ...

  • Batter Up Wombat

    Wodney Wat

    This was a brand-new baseball season, and the Champs were ready to go in their spiffy clean uniforms. Nevermind that the previous year they finished last in the North American Mammal League, this season would be different. But when a Wombat wanders o...

  • Tacky Goes to Camp

    Tacky the Penguin

    acky and his fellow penguins are off to summer camp in Nice Icy Land to enjoy some Rock Hopping, Line Dancing, and Capture the Ice Cube. One night, they gather around the campfire to sing, eat s’mores, and tell scary stories. But after going to bed...

  • Tacky's Christmas

    Tacky the Penguin

    Deck the iceberg wrap a gifty Fa la la la la la la la la... Tacky, Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect are celebrating the holiday with good cheer, singing, and lots of presents. Tacky’s present is a little bit different, and not exactl...



  • Hooway for Wodney Wat

    Wodney Wat

    His real name was Rodney Rat, but he couldn't pronounce his r's. To make matters worse, he was a rodent. A wodent. When Camilla Capybara joins Wodney's class and announces that she is bigger, meaner, and smarter than all the other rodents, everyon...

  • Wodney Wat's Wobot

    Wodney Wat

    When Wodney must face off against that big bully Camilla Capybara for a second time, a talking robot becomes his secret weapon. The meek wodent . . . er, rodent . . . hero with a speech impediment and a heart of gold is back! So is Camilla Capybara -...

  • Happy Birdday, Tacky!

    Tacky the Penguin

    The Nice Icy Land was crackling with busy-ness. It had taken weeks and a lot of whispery chirps for Tacky the Penguin’s friends to plan a Perfect Surprise Birdday Party for him on his special hatchday. With songs, presents, cake, fishy ice cream, a...

  • The Loch Mess Monster

    Ever since Angus was a wee baby monster, living below the surface of Loch Ness, his parents tried to teach him to be a proper monster. But as Angus grows bigger, he gets sloppy. Puggy-nit shells (peanuts) are piling up; his grottie (dirty) laundry is...

  • Laugh-Along Lessons 5-Minute Stories

    Having trouble listening? Feeling uncomfortable in your own skin? Finding it difficult to work as a team? No matter the trouble, laughter is the best medicine! This value-packed collection features eight stories that will have kids laughing and learn...

  • Tacky and the Haunted Igloo

    Tacky the Penguin

    It's Halloween, and Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect are planning the spookiest haunted igloo ever! They've decorated with spoohooky cobwebs, they've baked some awful waffle treats, and the only thing left to do is dress up as something sca...

  • Boris and the Worrisome Wakies

    “I’m hunnnnngry! I think my PJs are on backwards! My cuddle-bunny is hogging the bed!” It’s bedtime, but Boris has the worrisome wakies! No matter how much Papa and Mama badger their little badger, Boris can’t sleep. He’s too itchy, too t...

  • Bravo, Bucket Head!

    A shy young mouse ventures outside her comfort zone in this sweet picture book classic in the making from the beloved author and illustrator of Tacky the Penguin.Mousetta has never felt comfortable in her own fur. She likes to stay quiet and hidden, ...

Award-Winning Books by Helen Lester

Hooway for Wodney Wat
1999 Parents Choice Award (Fall) (1998-2007) -- Gold
2000 Buckaroo Book Award -- Children's
2000 Kentucky Bluegrass Award -- Grades K-3
2001 Colorado Children's Book Award -- Picture Book
2001 Delaware Diamonds Award -- Grades K-2
2001 North Carolina Children's Book Award -- Picture Book
2001 South Carolina Childrens, Junior and Young Adult Book Award -- Children's
2001 Volunteer State Book Award -- Grades K-3
2001 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award -- Picture Book
2002 California Young Reader Medal -- Primary
2002 Nevada Young Readers' Award -- Picture Book
2002 Virginia Readers Choice Award -- Primary
2002 Young Hoosier Book Award -- Grades K-3
2004 Georgia Children's Book Award -- Picture Storybook
Tacky the Penguin
1990 Colorado Children's Book Award -- Picture Book


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Helen Lester has published 37 books.

Helen Lester does not have a new book coming out soon. The latest book, Bravo, Bucket Head!, was published in September 2022.

The first book by Helen Lester, The Wizard, the Fairy, and the Magic Chicken, was published in May 1988.

Yes. Helen Lester has 2 series.
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