Lisa Mantchev Books in Order (Updated May 9, 2026)

Lisa Mantchev is an American author of young adult fantasy, speculative fiction, and picture books. She is best known for the Théâtre Illuminata trilogy and for the picture book Strictly No Elephants.

Her books do not all belong to one continuity. The main connected sequences are Théâtre Illuminata, Lost Angeles, and The Pet Club Series.

Read the YA and urban-fantasy series in order. The picture books can be read in any order, except that The Trouble with Giraffes works best after Strictly No Elephants.

Main Rule for Reading Lisa Mantchev

There are three practical entry points.

1. Start with Eyes Like Stars for YA fantasy.
2. Start with Lost Angeles for the co-written urban fantasy series.
3. Start with Strictly No Elephants for picture books.

Everything else can be placed around those groups.

Théâtre Illuminata Books in Order

Théâtre Illuminata is a YA fantasy trilogy about Beatrice Shakespeare Smith, a girl connected to a magical theater where characters from plays live behind the curtain.

Read this trilogy in order.

1. Eyes Like Stars (2009): Bertie lives inside the magical Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every play are bound to their roles, and her place in that world begins to unravel.
2. Perchance to Dream (2010): Bertie leaves the theater and enters the wider world, pushing the series beyond its original stage-bound setting.
3. So Silver Bright (2011): The trilogy’s final act brings Bertie’s questions of identity, family, magic, and performance to their conclusion.

Lost Angeles Books in Order

Lost Angeles is an urban fantasy / paranormal romance series co-written by Lisa Mantchev and A. L. Purol.

Read these in order.

1. Lost Angeles (2015): The series opens in a supernatural Los Angeles, introducing the paranormal setting and the main danger around the central characters.
2. Loose Canon (2015): The second book continues the Lost Angeles world with more fallout, power struggles, and supernatural complications.
3. Lovers Naught (2018): The third book moves the series further into romance, danger, and the consequences of earlier supernatural conflict.
4. Divine Revelation (2019): The fourth book continues the steamy paranormal arc and should be read after the first three entries.

Pet Club Series Books in Order

The Pet Club Series is the picture-book sequence connected to Strictly No Elephants. It is about friendship, inclusion, and making room for children and pets who do not fit ordinary expectations.

1. Strictly No Elephants (2015): A boy and his tiny pet elephant are excluded from the local Pet Club, leading to a gentle story about belonging and friendship.
2. The Trouble with Giraffes (2025): A girl’s pet giraffe is too tall for the clubhouse, and the Pet Club must learn what real inclusion requires.

Standalone Novels and Novellas

These books are not part of Théâtre Illuminata, Lost Angeles, or the Pet Club picture-book sequence.

1. Ticker (2014): A steampunk fantasy about a girl with a clockwork heart, blending invention, danger, and alternate-history adventure.
2. Sugar Skulls (2015): Co-written with Glenn Dallas, this speculative novel uses a vivid near-future setting involving music, technology, and a dangerous underground scene.
3. Twisty-Turny House (2021): A picture book about cats and dogs living separately in the same house until an open door makes unexpected friendship possible.

Picture Books in Publication Order

Lisa Mantchev’s picture books are mostly standalones. They do not require strict order, but publication order is useful for a complete list.

1. Strictly No Elephants (2015): A tiny elephant and his child are excluded from a pet club, then help create a more welcoming space.
2. Sister Day! (2017): A picture book about sibling celebration, affection, and the rituals that make a relationship feel special.
3. Someday, Narwhal (2017): A gentle picture book about a narwhal and dreams of possibility, belonging, and future adventure.
4. Jinx and the Doom Fight Crime! (2018): A playful superhero-style picture book about imaginary heroics, teamwork, and friendship.
5. Remarkables (2019): A lyrical picture book about a boy, a mermaid, friendship, and finding a home.
6. The Perfectly Perfect Wish (2020): A girl receives one wish and must decide whether to use it for herself or for others.
7. Twisty-Turny House (2021): Cats and dogs are kept apart because the humans assume they cannot get along, until curiosity opens a new path.
8. The Trouble with Giraffes (2025): A companion to Strictly No Elephants, focused on accessibility, loyalty, and helping everyone fit.

Lisa Mantchev Books in Publication Order

This is the best full-bibliography order for readers who want to follow Lisa Mantchev’s career from YA fantasy to picture books.

1. Eyes Like Stars (2009): The first Théâtre Illuminata book introduces Bertie and the magical theater that shapes the trilogy.
2. Perchance to Dream (2010): The second Théâtre Illuminata book moves Bertie beyond the theater and expands the fantasy world.
3. So Silver Bright (2011): The third Théâtre Illuminata book completes Bertie’s story and closes the trilogy.
4. Ticker (2014): A standalone steampunk fantasy with a clockwork-heart premise and a mechanical danger at its center.
5. Lost Angeles (2015): The first Lost Angeles book begins the co-written paranormal series with A. L. Purol.
6. Loose Canon (2015): The second Lost Angeles book continues the supernatural urban-fantasy storyline.
7. Sugar Skulls (2015): A co-written speculative novel with Glenn Dallas, separate from Mantchev’s main series.
8. Strictly No Elephants (2015): Mantchev’s breakout picture book about exclusion, friendship, and inclusion.
9. Sister Day! (2017): A standalone picture book about sisters and shared celebration.
10. Someday, Narwhal (2017): A standalone picture book with a gentle ocean-fantasy feel.
11. Jinx and the Doom Fight Crime! (2018): A superhero-themed picture book about imaginative play and teamwork.
12. Lovers Naught (2018): The third Lost Angeles book continues the co-written paranormal romance arc.
13. Divine Revelation (2019): The fourth Lost Angeles book follows the earlier supernatural conflicts and should not be read first.
14. Remarkables (2019): A picture book about a mermaid, a boy, and the meaning of home.
15. The Perfectly Perfect Wish (2020): A picture book about empathy, selflessness, and choosing the right wish.
16. Twisty-Turny House (2021): A picture book about cats, dogs, assumptions, and unexpected friendship.
17. The Trouble with Giraffes (2025): The second Pet Club picture book and the direct companion to Strictly No Elephants.

Recommended Lisa Mantchev Reading Order

For older readers, begin with the complete Théâtre Illuminata trilogy.

1. Eyes Like Stars (2009): Start here for Mantchev’s best-known YA fantasy world.
2. Perchance to Dream (2010): Continue directly because it follows Bertie after the first book’s changes.
3. So Silver Bright (2011): Finish the trilogy before moving to unrelated books.
4. Ticker (2014): Read next for a standalone steampunk fantasy.
5. Sugar Skulls (2015): Add this if you want a co-written speculative novel outside the theater world.
6. Lost Angeles (2015): Begin the co-written paranormal sequence here.
7. Loose Canon (2015): Continue the Lost Angeles storyline.
8. Lovers Naught (2018): Read third in the Lost Angeles sequence.
9. Divine Revelation (2019): Finish the currently listed Lost Angeles run.

For picture-book readers, use this simpler path.

1. Strictly No Elephants (2015): Start here because it introduces the Pet Club idea and the inclusion theme.
2. The Trouble with Giraffes (2025): Read second because it directly returns to the Pet Club world.
3. The Perfectly Perfect Wish (2020): Read next for a standalone story about kindness and empathy.
4. Remarkables (2019): Add this for a more lyrical picture-book experience.
5. Twisty-Turny House (2021): Read here for a friendship story about challenging assumptions.
6. Sister Day! (2017): Read as a sibling-focused standalone.
7. Someday, Narwhal (2017): Read as a gentle fantasy-leaning standalone.
8. Jinx and the Doom Fight Crime! (2018): Save for readers who enjoy superhero play and comic energy.

Chronological Order

A single chronological order is not useful for Lisa Mantchev’s bibliography.

Théâtre Illuminata has its own fantasy continuity. Lost Angeles has a separate co-written urban-fantasy continuity. The picture books are mostly separate stories for younger readers.

Use internal order only where it matters:

1. Théâtre Illuminata: Read Eyes Like Stars, then Perchance to Dream, then So Silver Bright.
2. Lost Angeles: Read Lost Angeles, then Loose Canon, then Lovers Naught, then Divine Revelation.
3. Pet Club Series: Read Strictly No Elephants before The Trouble with Giraffes.

Collections, Anthologies, and Translations

Lisa Mantchev has also appeared in anthologies and collected editions. These are optional for most readers.

1. Worlds of Fantasy (2011): A multi-author collection appearance, not required for any Lisa Mantchev series.
2. Two and Twenty Dark Tales (2012): A dark fairy-tale or nursery-rhyme anthology appearance, optional for completists.
3. The Strictly No Elephants & The Trouble with Giraffes Boxed Set (2025): A boxed set containing both Pet Club picture books, useful for convenience but not a new story.
4. No se permiten elefantes (Strictly No Elephants) (2021): The Spanish edition of Strictly No Elephants.
5. El problema con las jirafas (The Trouble with Giraffes) (2026): The Spanish edition of The Trouble with Giraffes, not a new English-language installment.

Latest Lisa Mantchev Book Status

The latest original English-language Lisa Mantchev book confirmed during this update is The Trouble with Giraffes (2025).

The most recent future listing found is El problema con las jirafas (The Trouble with Giraffes) (2026), which is the Spanish edition of The Trouble with Giraffes.

No newer original Lisa Mantchev novel or picture book after The Trouble with Giraffes was reliably confirmed during this update.

FAQs

Do Lisa Mantchev books need to be read in order?

Only the connected series need order. Read Théâtre Illuminata, Lost Angeles, and The Pet Club Series in sequence. The standalone picture books and standalone novels can be read separately.

What Lisa Mantchev book should I read first?

Start with Eyes Like Stars for YA fantasy. Start with Strictly No Elephants for picture books.

Is Théâtre Illuminata complete?

Yes. Théâtre Illuminata is a completed three-book trilogy: Eyes Like Stars, Perchance to Dream, and So Silver Bright.

Is The Trouble with Giraffes a sequel to Strictly No Elephants?

Yes. It is a companion in the Pet Club Series and works best after Strictly No Elephants.

Is Ticker part of Théâtre Illuminata?

No. Ticker is a standalone steampunk fantasy and does not continue Bertie’s story.

Is Sugar Skulls part of a series?

No confirmed continuing series is required for Sugar Skulls. It is best treated as a standalone co-written speculative novel.

Is Twisty-Turny House a novel?

No. Although some databases place it near novels, the publisher lists it as a 40-page picture book for young readers.

What is Lisa Mantchev’s newest book?

The newest original English-language title confirmed is The Trouble with Giraffes (2025).

Conclusion

Lisa Mantchev is easiest to read by audience and continuity.

For YA fantasy, read Eyes Like Stars, Perchance to Dream, and So Silver Bright in order. For paranormal urban fantasy, read the Lost Angeles books in order. For picture books, begin with Strictly No Elephants, then continue to The Trouble with Giraffes.