Who Would Win Books: The Complete Guide for Parents (2024)

Everything you need to know about Jerry Pallotta's beloved animal battle series — plus how to create your own custom matchups

If your kid is obsessed with animal facts and hypothetical battles, you've probably discovered Jerry Pallotta's Who Would Win? book series. These wildly popular books pit two animals against each other, teaching kids fascinating facts before revealing who would win in an epic showdown.

But with 35+ books in the series (and counting), it can be hard to know where to start — or what to do when your child has devoured them all.

This guide covers everything: the complete book list, reading order recommendations, age appropriateness, and what to do when your kid wants a matchup Jerry hasn't written yet.

What Are the Who Would Win? Books?

Created by author Jerry Pallotta and illustrator Rob Bolster, the Who Would Win? series launched in 2006 with Killer Whale vs. Great White Shark. The formula is simple but brilliant:

1. Meet Fighter #1 — Facts about the first animal (size, habitat, diet, special abilities)

2. Meet Fighter #2 — Same treatment for the opponent

3. Tale of the Tape — Side-by-side comparison

4. The Battle — A narrative showdown based on real animal capabilities

5. The Winner — Who comes out on top, and why

Each book is about 32 pages with vibrant illustrations, perfect for kids ages 6-10. They're educational disguised as entertainment — kids absorb animal facts without realizing they're learning.

Complete Who Would Win? Book List (2024)

Here's every book in the series, organized by release. Links go to Amazon where you can grab them.

The Original Battles

Note: New books are released regularly. Check Jerry Pallotta's official site for the latest.

Best Reading Order

Good news: There's no required reading order! Each book is standalone. That said, here are some approaches:

By Interest

- Dinosaur fans: Start with T-Rex vs. Velociraptor, then the Dinosaur Rumble

- Ocean lovers: Killer Whale vs. Great White Shark → Ultimate Ocean Rumble

- Bug enthusiasts: Tarantula vs. Scorpion → Hornet vs. Wasp → Ultimate Bug Rumble

- Big cats: Lion vs. Tiger → Jaguar vs. Skunk

By Reading Level

- Emerging readers (ages 5-6): Any single-battle book (simpler narrative)

- Confident readers (ages 7-8): The Rumble books (more animals, longer)

- Advanced (ages 9-10): All books + encourage them to research and debate the outcomes

The "Greatest Hits" Starter Pack

If buying a set, these are the fan favorites:

1. Lion vs. Tiger (the classic debate)

2. Killer Whale vs. Great White Shark (started it all)

3. Polar Bear vs. Grizzly Bear (surprisingly close)

4. Tyrannosaurus Rex vs. Velociraptor (Jurassic nostalgia)

5. Ultimate Ocean Rumble (great variety)

What Age Are Who Would Win? Books For?

Publisher recommendation: Ages 6-10

Real-world experience:

- Ages 4-5: Great as read-alouds. Kids love the pictures and drama.

- Ages 6-8: The sweet spot. Kids can read independently and absorb the facts.

- Ages 9-10: Still engaged, often debate the outcomes and want more detail.

- Ages 11+: May find them "too young" but secretly still enjoy them.

Reading level: Most books are Lexile 700-900, suitable for 2nd-4th grade independent reading.

Why Kids (and Parents) Love These Books

For Kids:

- Satisfies the "who would win" debates they're already having

- Cool animal facts delivered in context, not as boring lists

- Clear winner — closure that fiction doesn't always provide

- Illustrations are detailed and dynamic

- Short enough to finish in one sitting (builds reading confidence)

For Parents:

- Actually educational — kids learn biology, habitats, adaptations

- Gets reluctant readers reading — especially boys who resist fiction

- No scary content — battles are described, not gory

- Sparks curiosity — kids often research animals further

- Affordable — $4-5 per book, box sets offer savings

When Your Kid Wants MORE

Here's the problem every Who Would Win? parent hits: your kid has read them all and wants matchups Jerry hasn't written.

"Dad, what about Gorilla vs. Grizzly Bear?" "Mom, who would win — a Crocodile or a Hippo?"

"Can we make our own?"

Options:

1. Wait for new releases

Jerry Pallotta publishes 2-3 new books per year. Follow his official site for announcements.

2. Try similar series

- National Geographic Readers: Animal Battles

- Predator vs. Prey series

- Animal Showdown books

3. Make your own custom battles ← This is where we come in

Create Your Own Who Would Win? Book

Can't find the matchup your kid wants? Make it yourself.

FightingBooks.com lets you create custom animal battle books in the same style:

- Pick any two animals (real or mythical)

- Get real facts researched for each

- Full illustrated book generated in 60 seconds

- Read on screen or download PDF

It's free for popular matchups (Lion vs. Tiger, Shark vs. Crocodile, etc.)

$1 for custom animals your kid dreams up (Honey Badger vs. Wolverine? Done.)

> "My son asked for Megalodon vs. Blue Whale. That book doesn't exist — so we made it. He's read it 20 times."

> — Parent review

→ Create a Custom Battle

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Who Would Win? books scientifically accurate?

Yes, the animal facts are well-researched. The battle outcomes are speculative but based on real capabilities (size, strength, weapons, habitat advantages). Jerry Pallotta consults experts.

Will there be more books?

Yes! The series is still active. Recent releases include Ultimate Rumble editions and new one-on-one matchups.

Are they appropriate for school?

Absolutely. Many teachers use them for:

- Compare/contrast exercises

- Animal research projects

- Reluctant reader motivation

- Science tie-ins

My kid argues with the outcomes. Is that normal?

Very normal — and actually great! It means they're thinking critically about the evidence. Encourage them to make their case.

Where can I buy them cheapest?

- Amazon often has the best individual prices

- Scholastic Book Fairs — look for them at school events

- Library — most libraries stock them (request if they don't)

- Box sets — best per-book value if buying multiple

Summary

The Who Would Win? series has captivated millions of kids by combining their natural curiosity about animals with the irresistible "who would win?" question. With 35+ books and counting, there's plenty to explore.

Quick links:

- Complete series on Amazon

- Jerry Pallotta's official site

- Create custom battles at FightingBooks

FightingBooks is an independent fan project. We love Jerry Pallotta's work and encourage everyone to support the official series. This site is not affiliated with Jerry Pallotta, Rob Bolster, or Scholastic.