Gary D. Schmidt books

Gary D. Schmidt is an award-winning author known for literary fiction for young readers, picture books, nonfiction, and emotionally rich novels such as The Wednesday Wars and Orbiting Jupiter.

Anthologies

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Break These Rules 2013 Buy
Been There, Done That 2015 Buy

Non-Fiction

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Robert McCloskey 1990 Buy
Hugh Lofting 1992 Buy
Katherine Paterson 1994 Buy
The Iconography of the Mouth of Hell 1995 Buy
Robert Lawson 1997 Buy
William Bradford 1998 Buy
Saint Ciaran 2000 Buy
Edging the Boundaries of Children’s Literature 2001 Buy

Phyllis Root Picture Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Begin with a Bee 2021 Buy
Celia Planted a Garden 2022 Buy

Picture Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Great Stone Face - Buy
Pilgrim’s Progress 1994 Buy
In God’s Hands 2005 Buy
Martin de Porres 2012 Buy
So Tall Within 2018 Buy
A Long Road on a Short Day 2020 Buy
One Smart Sheep 2021 Buy
Celia Planted a Garden 2022 Buy

Standalone Novels

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Sin Eater 1996 Buy
Anson’s Way 1999 Buy
Straw Into Gold 2001 Buy
Mara’s Stories 2001 Buy
The Wonders of Donal O’Donnell 2002 Buy
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy 2004 Buy
First Boy 2005 Buy
The Wednesday Wars 2007 Buy
Trouble 2008 Buy
Okay for Now 2011 Buy
What Came from the Stars 2012 Buy
Orbiting Jupiter 2015 Buy
Pay Attention, Carter Jones 2019 Buy
Almost Time 2020 Buy
Just Like That 2021 Buy
The Labors of Hercules Beal 2023 Buy
Jupiter Rising 2024 Buy
A Day at the Beach 2025 Buy

Gary D. Schmidt has one of the more varied bibliographies in this part of the site, spanning middle grade and young adult fiction, picture books, nonfiction, and anthology appearances. Across those forms, his work is often associated with emotionally serious storytelling, strong character voice, and an interest in childhood, moral growth, and literature itself.

Many readers first encounter Schmidt through his novels for younger audiences, but his catalog is broader than that one lane suggests. This page is especially useful because it brings together the fiction, picture books, and nonfiction into one place.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Gary D. Schmidt written?

Gary D. Schmidt has written 38 books across five series.

What was Gary D. Schmidt's first book?

Gary D. Schmidt’s first book is Robert McCloskey, published in 1990.

What is Gary D. Schmidt best known for?

Gary D. Schmidt is best known for novels such as The Wednesday Wars, Okay for Now, Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, and Orbiting Jupiter. He is also known for picture books and nonfiction related to children’s literature and literary history.

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