Jean Craighead George

b. 1919

1 series 15 books in order 2 standalone books

Jean Craighead George was born in Washington. Her parents and extended family were naturalists, and she spent weekends during her childhood camping out in the woods, studying nature, foraging, and fishing. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1940 with degrees in English and Science, and later became a reporter for The Washington Post and a member of the White House Press Corps. She married John Lothur George in 1944, wrote and illustrated novels with him, and later worked for Readers Digest as a writer and editor. She received a Newbery Honor for My Side of the Mountain and authored over 100 books.

Born
1919
Known for
The Thirteen Moons

Series by Jean Craighead George

The Thirteen Moons

13 books in order · 1969–1993

  1. The moon of the winter bird

    1969 · Jean Craighead George

    During a cold spell in December, a song sparrow that has not migrated south must adapt to the changes that winter brings. The bird faces challenges…

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  2. The moon of the alligators

    1991 · Jean Craighead George

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  3. The moon of the gray wolves

    1991 · Jean Craighead George

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  4. The moon of the mountain lions

    1991 · Jean Craighead George

    The book describes the experiences of a young mountain lion during the month of August in his natural habitat on the side of Mount Olympus, in…

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  5. The moon of the chickarees

    1992 · Jean Craighead George

    The book describes the activities of a mother red squirrel during the month of April as she nurtures her newborn babies in the Bitterroot Valley of…

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  6. The moon of the deer

    1992 · Jean Craighead George

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  7. The moon of the fox pups

    1992 · Jean Craighead George

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  8. The moon of the moles

    1992 · Jean Craighead George

    During December and January, a young mole in Kansas spends her waking hours searching for food in her network of underground tunnels. The story…

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  9. The moon of the salamanders

    1992 · Jean Craighead George

    On a rainy March night, a salamander returns to the spring pond for the ancient mating dance of the salamanders. The story captures the natural…

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  10. The moon of the wild pigs

    1992 · Jean Craighead George

    The book describes the animal and plant life in a drought-parched desert during the month of July. It focuses on how a little wild pig adapts to the…

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Show all 13 The Thirteen Moons books in order →

Standalone books

  1. Cover of On the Far Side of the Mountain

    On the Far Side of the Mountain

    1990

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  2. Cover of Julie of the Wolves

    Julie of the Wolves

    1972

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Frequently asked questions

How many books has Jean Craighead George written?

We list 15 books by Jean Craighead George across 1 series, published between 1969–1993 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read Jean Craighead George's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “The moon of the winter bird.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy Jean Craighead George's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted a wrong order, a missing book, or any other mistake? and we'll correct it.