Bad Cat Books in Order
Bad Cat is a 2-book series by Tracy McGuinness for ages 5–8, at a grades 2–4 reading level, with gentle content (HootRated intensity 1/5).
- Books
- 2
- By publication date
- Content intensity
- Gentle
- HootRated 1/5
Bad Cat Reading Order
Series numbers aren't available for most Bad Cat books, so they're listed by publication date (oldest first).
| # | Title | Reading Level | Ages | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bad Cat 2003 | Level 2-3 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 2 | Bad Cat puts on his top hat 2005 | Level 3-4 | 5-8 | Gentle |
Content Intensity Across the Series
ConsistentContent stays at a steady intensity level throughout the series.
Series books grow with readers — but that's also the trap. Most series start at one reading level and one content intensity and drift upward over the course of the run. Bad Cat (2 books by Tracy McGuinness) lands at a grades 2–4 reading level, with average content intensity 1/5. Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.
The reading-order table above lists every book with per-volume reading level, age and intensity ratings so you can spot any escalation before it catches your reader off guard. For a deeper dive into how we score text difficulty vs. emotional weight separately — and why series readers especially benefit from that split — see our methodology page.
All Bad Cat Books
Bad Cat
Tracy McGuinness
Bad Cat
Tracy McGuinness
Bad Cat puts on his top hat
Tracy McGuinness
Bad Cat puts on his top hat
Tracy McGuinness
Series Like Bad Cat: What to Read Next
Similar reading level, content intensity and themes.
- Diary Of... by Doreen Cronin 3 books · Grades 2–3 · gentle content
- Extended Nursery Rhymes by Iza Trapani 3 books · Grades 2–3 · gentle content
- Mr. Men; Little Miss by Roger Hargreaves 3 books · Grades 2–4 · gentle content
- Pete the Cat by James Dean 11 books · Grades 1–3 · gentle content
- Stick Dog by Tom Watson 4 books · Grades 4–5 · gentle content
- Little Miss by Roger Hargreaves 27 books · Grades 2–4 · gentle content
Questions about the Bad Cat series
- What reading level is the Bad Cat series?
- Bad Cat books are at a grades 2–4 reading level (average grade level 3.2), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 5–8. There are 2 books in the series.
- What order should I read the Bad Cat books?
- Series numbers aren't available for most Bad Cat books, so HootRated lists them by publication date: Bad Cat (2003); Bad Cat puts on his top hat (2005).
- What age is the Bad Cat series appropriate for?
- HootRated recommends Bad Cat for ages 5–8. Content is gentle (HootRated intensity 1/5). Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.