Geronimo Stilton

Geronimo Stilton is an Italian children's book series created by Elisabetta Dami and written under the pen name of the title character. Scholastic Corporation began publishing the English version of the series in the US in February 2004. In the UK, the English books are published by Sweet Cherry Publishing. The series focuses on the title character, a mouse who lives in New Mouse City on Mouse Island. A best-selling author in-universe, Geronimo Stilton, works as editor and publisher for the newspaper, The Rodent's Gazette. He has a younger sister named Thea Stilton, a cousin named Trap Stilton, and a nephew, nine-year-old Benjamin Stilton. Geronimo is a nervous, mild-mannered mouse who prefers a quiet life, yet keeps getting into faraway adventures with Thea, Trap, and Benjamin in both fictional and real locations. The books are written as fictional memoirs of him on these adventures. The books are designed and distributed in full color, depicting important words in the text as colored and in illustrative typefaces. In December 2025, it was announced that the book series was acquired by Italian animation studio Rainbow.
The series, combined with many spin-off series, has sold over 180 million copies worldwide and has 309 books in total. The series has also been adapted into an animated television series of the same name, theatrical shows, video games, and graphic novels.

Creation

In the 1990s, Elisabetta Dami found herself unable to have children, so she volunteered at children's hospitals to deal with that. Inspired by Patch Adams, who participates in Clown Care, she told humorous and adventurous stories starring the character of Geronimo Stilton and teaching morals to entertain patients. They appeared to love the stories, which would lead to her writing and publishing such stories.

Characters

Geronimo Stilton is the protagonist, and editor and publisher for The Rodent's Gazette, the most famous newspaper on New Mouse Island. He has a love of knowledge and has a strong sense of ethics and morals. Geronimo doesn't like to go on adventures with his family and friends, although he is passionate about writing adventure stories, which sell well in-universe. He was adopted by the Stilton family when he was young.
Thea Stilton is Geronimo's younger sister and special correspondent for The Rodent's Gazette. Thea taught a journalism class at Mouseford Academy to five mice, Nicky, Colette, Violet, Paulina, and Pamela, who would name their group after her as the Thea Sisters and chronicle adventures of their own in the Thea Stilton series. She was also adopted by the Stilton family when she was young with her biological brother, Geronimo Stilton.
Trap Stilton is Geronimo's cousin who travels along with him when he's called on. He is the owner of the thrift store Cheap Junk for Less and is often mentioned as a chef. He loves to tell jokes and play pranks, and often annoys Geronimo with his antics.
Benjamin Stilton is Geronimo and Thea's young 9-year-old nephew and often comes along with him on his many adventures.
William Shortpaws, also known as Cheap Mouse Willy, is the founder of The Rodent's Gazette and Geronimo's grandfather. He adopted Geronimo and Thea Stilton when they were young.
Aunt Sweetfur is Geronimo's aunt, who lives with Benjamin.
Sally Ratmousen is the main antagonist and publisher of The Daily Rat, the biggest competitor of The Rodent's Gazette. Her grandmother, Molly Ratmousen, founded The Daily Rat at the same time as The Rodent's Gazette founding.
Creepella von Cacklefur is an enchanting and mysterious mouse who lives in Mysterious Valley and works both as a special effects designer for scary films and haunted houses and as a journalist. She is the protagonist of her own spin-off series with the same name. She has a crush on Geronimo.
Professor Paws von Volt is a scientist and Geronimo's friend.
Hercule Poirat is Geronimo's childhood friend and the private investigator of New Mouse City, bringing him on many of his cases. He has a crush on Geronimo's sister, Thea.
Petunia Pretty Paws is a TV reporter and an environmentalist, whom Geronimo has a crush on. She also has a pesky niece named Bugsy Wugsy.
Wolfgang Wild Paws: is Petunia's twin brother and a TV producer, who is also an environmentalist.
Pinky Pink is Geronimo's teenage assistant editor at The Rodent's Gazette. She is an expert in computers and follows the latest trends.
Tina Spicytail is a skilled cook for the Stilton family.
Bruce Hyena is a parachutist, adventurer, and Geronimo's adventurous friend who likes to sign him up on many crazy adventures. He also has a crush on his sister, Thea.
Shorty Tao is Bruce Hyena's cousin, the managing editor of The Rodent's Gazette, and she has a little brother, Baby Tao.
The Paws family lived on a farm for many generations in the Giant Sequoia Valley, in Dolphin Bay. They are good friends with the Stiltons.
*Bugsy Wugsy is the daughter of John Wugsy and Furry Paws and Benjamin's best friend.
*Grandfather Paws is well-versed in natural sciences and once travelled the world in search of rare butterflies.
*Grandmother Paws at a young age, she travelled all over the world when planes were not built yet.
*Teddy Paws is the son of Grandfather and Grandmother Paws and brother of Bobby Paws.
*Jenny Littlepaw is Teddy's wife.
*Tom Paws is the son of Teddy and Jenny.
*Lucy Vally is Tom's wife.
*Lilly, Lally, and Lolly Paws are the daughters of Lucy and Tom. Lilly is five, Lally is seven, and Lolly is eleven.
*Bobby Paws is the son of Grandfather and Grandmother Paws and brother of Teddy Paws.
*Suzy Rattella is Bobby's wife.
*Furry Paws is the daughter of Bobby and Suzy and sister of Petunia and Wolfgang.
*John Wugsy is Furry's husband.
The Shadow is a recurring antagonist, Sally Ratmousen's cousin and one of Mouse Island's most notorious criminals. She is a master thief and master of disguise who usually seduces Geronimo during their encounters.
Champ Strongpaws is a friend of Geronimo who also likes to sign him up for adventures.
Kornelius von Kickpaw, code name OOK, is Geronimo's childhood friend and a secret agent for the government of Mouse Island. He has a sister, Veronica von Kickpaw, who is also a secret agent and works under the code name OOV.
Wild Willie is an archaeologist and adventurous friend of Geronimo and Bruce Hyena. He takes Geronimo on some adventures.
Madame No is a recurring antagonist in the later books. She is the greedy, wealthy CEO of EGO Corp whose criminal endeavors often lead to her clashing with Geronimo and his friends.
Books

Not all books and spin-off series are listed. The following lists are of ones that have been or are planned to be released in English.