Below is the complete list of Dav Pilkey’s Ricky Ricotta books in publication order. For this series, the chronological reading order is the same as the order of publication.
Ricky Ricotta Books in Publication Order
- Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot (2000)
Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot was published in 2000 and is listed as book #1 in the Ricky Ricotta series. - Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs. the Mutant Mosquitoes from Mercury (2000)
Published in 2000, Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs. the Mutant Mosquitoes from Mercury is listed as book #2 in the Ricky Ricotta series. - Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs. the Voodoo Vultures from Venus (2001)
Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs. the Voodoo Vultures from Venus is a 2001 release and appears as book #3 in the Ricky Ricotta series. - Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs. the Mecha-Monkeys from Mars (2002)
In the Ricky Ricotta series, Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs. the Mecha-Monkeys from Mars is book #4 and was published in 2002. - Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs. the Jurassic Jackrabbits from Jupiter (2002)
Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs. the Jurassic Jackrabbits from Jupiter was first published in 2002; within the Ricky Ricotta series, it is listed as book #5. - Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs. The Stupid Stinkbugs from Saturn (2002)
Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs. The Stupid Stinkbugs from Saturn was published in 2002 and is listed as book #6 in the Ricky Ricotta series. - Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs. the Uranium Unicorns from Uranus (2005)
Published in 2005, Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs. the Uranium Unicorns from Uranus is listed as book #7 in the Ricky Ricotta series. - Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs. The Naughty Nightcrawlers From Neptune (2015)
Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs. The Naughty Nightcrawlers From Neptune is a 2015 release and appears as book #8 in the Ricky Ricotta series. - Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs. The Unpleasant Penguins from Pluto (2016)
In the Ricky Ricotta series, Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot vs. The Unpleasant Penguins from Pluto is book #9 and was published in 2016.
About Ricky Ricotta
Dav Pilkey’s Ricky Ricotta series is a children’s science-fiction adventure series about a small mouse, a giant robot, and the kind of friendship that helps a nervous kid become brave. Originally created by Pilkey and later illustrated in revised editions by Dan Santat, the series is aimed at young readers who enjoy short chapters, fast action, big pictures, and superhero-style battles that are exciting without becoming too heavy. It sits naturally beside Pilkey’s larger body of work because it shares his love of comics, underdog heroes, silly villains, and stories that make reading feel energetic rather than intimidating.
Ricky Ricotta is a young mouse who feels small in every sense. He is not popular, powerful, or especially confident at the beginning. He lives in Squeakyville with his parents and often struggles with bullies and loneliness. That changes when he meets a giant robot created by Dr. Stinky McNasty, a villainous rat who wants to use the robot for his own selfish plans. Instead, the robot chooses Ricky as a friend. Their bond becomes the heart of the series: Ricky may be tiny, and the robot may be enormous, but they need each other equally.
The first book, Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot, establishes the central pattern. A villain threatens Ricky’s world, the Mighty Robot becomes both protector and companion, and Ricky discovers that courage does not mean being the biggest person in the fight. Later books expand the formula across the solar system, with enemies arriving from Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Each installment gives young readers a clear adventure structure while also introducing playful planetary themes and cartoonish villains.
The series works especially well for early chapter-book readers because the stories are simple without feeling dull. Pilkey keeps the sentences approachable, the action easy to follow, and the emotional stakes clear. Children understand Ricky’s fear of being picked on, his desire for a friend, and his excitement at having someone powerful on his side. The Mighty Robot adds spectacle, but the emotional appeal remains Ricky’s growth from lonely mouse to brave hero.
Dan Santat’s illustrations in the later editions give the series a bright, cinematic energy. The art makes the robot battles feel big and fun, while the character expressions keep the humor readable even for children who are still building confidence with text. Like Pilkey’s Flip-o-Rama scenes in Captain Underpants, the Ricky Ricotta books often use visual action to pull readers forward. The result is a series that feels halfway between a traditional early chapter book and a comic adventure.
Ricky Ricotta also shows one of Pilkey’s most consistent themes: children who feel weak, different, or overlooked can still become heroes through kindness, imagination, and loyalty. Ricky does not become brave because he turns mean or powerful on his own. He becomes brave because friendship gives him courage, and because he learns that doing the right thing matters even when he is scared.
The series is lighter and more straightforward than Captain Underpants or Dog Man, but it has the same generous spirit. It invites young readers into a world where robots can be best friends, planets can produce outrageous villains, and a tiny mouse can help save the day.