Earth's Children Books in Order
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Jean M. Auel's Earth's Children series consists of seven novels published between 2000 and 2011, set in prehistoric Europe during the Ice Age approximately 30,000 years ago. The series follows Ayla, a Cro-Magnon woman raised by Neanderthals, as she comes of age and journeys across the continent. The books explore aspects of human life during this period, including survival, tool use, and cultural practices, while examining interactions between Cro-Magnon people and Neanderthals, focusing on social structures, belief systems, and daily activities. The story unfolds chronologically across the seven books, beginning with The Clan of the Cave Bear, which was published in 2000. The series is presented as a continuous narrative, detailing Ayla's experiences and the broader context of early human societies. The books have achieved global sales exceeding 45 million copies.
Publication order
In the order the books were originally released.
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Buy on Amazon1980 · Jean M. Auel
A 1980 novel by Jean M. Auel, an epic work of prehistoric fiction. It is the first book in the Earth's Children series, which speculates on the…
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Buy on Amazon1982 · Jean M. Auel
Ayla, a Cro-Magnon woman raised by Neanderthals, is forced to leave the only family she has ever known. She faces the challenges of a new world…
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Buy on Amazon1985 · Jean M. Auel
Jean M. Auel continues the story of Ayla in a novel set in the early days of modern humans. Ayla travels with Jondalar and their horse, Whinney, to…
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Buy on Amazon1990 · Jean M. Auel
The Plains of Passage is a 1990 novel by Jean M. Auel. It belongs to the Earth's Children series, though "Earth's Children" is not part of the book's…
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Buy on Amazon2002 · Jean M. Auel
A 2002 novel by Jean M. Auel, part of the Earth's Children saga that began with The Clan of the Cave Bear. Ayla and Jondalar, with their animal…
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Buy on Amazon2011 · Jean M. Auel
The Land of Painted Caves is the final book in Jean M. Auel's Earth's Children series. It follows Ayla, Jondalar, and their daughter, Jonayla, as…
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✓ = numbering verified against the publisher's official series list.
Companion & related books
Related titles and editions that sit outside the main numbered order.
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2005 · Jean M. Auel
Earth's Children is a series of epic historical fiction novels by Jean M. Auel set approximately 30,000 years before the present day. The series…
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The Earth's Children Series 6-Book Bundle
2013
A literary phenomenon, Jean M. Auel’s prehistoric odyssey is one of the best-loved sagas of our time. Employing meticulous research and the…
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Frequently asked questions
What order should I read the Earth's Children books in?
Publication order — Widely recommended by readers and booksellers; the books also match the author's chronological storyline Start with “The Clan of the Cave Bear.”
How many books are in the Earth's Children series?
We list 8 books by Jean M. Auel , published between 1980–2013.
Where can I buy the Earth's Children books?
Each title above links to Amazon. See our affiliate disclosure.
More series like Earth's Children
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.