130-Storey vs 143-Storey Treehouse: Read First?
By Little Toy Tribe | Published: 2026-11-01
Category: Comparisons
Choosing between The 130-Storey Treehouse and The 143-Storey Treehouse? Compare the humor, extras, and reading order to decide which book to start with.
Quick answer
Start with The 130-Storey Treehouse if you want the more straightforward, laugh-out-loud introduction to Andy and Terry’s world; choose The 143-Storey Treehouse first only if your reader loves wordplay and gentler, quirkier additions like a kind scarecrow.
Why the 130-Storey is the safer first pick
The 130-Storey Treehouse introduces a soap bubble blaster, a grab-anything GRABINATOR, a toilet paper factory and an extraterrestrial observation centre. These are big, visual, immediately funny ideas that give a new reader plenty to picture and laugh at without needing to track a lot of wordplay.
Because it is a paperback by Andy Griffiths, it fits the same format as the rest of the series. If your child is moving up from heavily illustrated books, this is a comfortable step into a longer funny chapter book.
When the 143-Storey makes a better start
The 143-Storey Treehouse adds a word-o-matic, a recycling depot, a spooky midday graveyard and a toffee-apple orchard guarded by a kind scarecrow. The word-o-matic and the recycling depot lean into language jokes and silly systems, which can delight a reader who enjoys playing with words.
The trade-off is that a brand-new reader may find the wordplay and the slightly more atmospheric graveyard setting less immediately accessible than the 130-Storey’s bubble blaster and GRABINATOR. If your child already enjoys puns and quirky humor, starting here works fine.
Reading order and series continuity
Both books are part of the same Andy Griffiths treehouse series, and each adds 13 storeys to the previous total. That means the 130-Storey comes before the 143-Storey in the series’ internal count. Reading in order lets a child appreciate the running joke of the ever-growing treehouse and recognize returning characters.
That said, each book is designed as a standalone adventure. If your library only has the 143-Storey, your child can still enjoy it without having read the 130-Storey first. The main loss is the satisfaction of seeing the treehouse expand step by step.
Trade-offs to weigh
- Humor style: The 130-Storey leans on physical, visual gags like the GRABINATOR and the toilet paper factory; the 143-Storey leans on wordplay like the word-o-matic. Match the humor to what already makes your child laugh.
- Series order: The 130-Storey comes before the 143-Storey in the treehouse’s 13-storey growth. Reading in order preserves the running joke, but each book stands alone. If you can only get one, start with the 130-Storey for continuity.
- Reader readiness: The 130-Storey’s inventions are easy to picture; the 143-Storey’s word-o-matic and spooky graveyard ask a little more of a reader who is still building confidence. For a first longer chapter book, the 130-Storey is the gentler step.
Product facts
- The 130-Storey Treehouse: Paperback by Andy Griffiths; the 130-storey treehouse includes a soap bubble blaster, a grab-anything GRABINATOR, a toilet paper factory and an extraterrestrial observation centre. These big, silly inventions give new readers plenty of visual humor and make this a strong first taste of the series.
The 130-Storey Treehouse - The 143-Storey Treehouse: Paperback by Andy Griffiths; the 143-storey treehouse adds a word-o-matic, a recycling depot, a spooky midday graveyard and a toffee-apple orchard guarded by a kind scarecrow. The wordplay and slightly spooky setting suit readers who enjoy language jokes and quirky, gentle scares.
The 143-Storey Treehouse
Which book fits your reader?
Best for
- A child aged around 8 who is new to the series and wants the most immediate laughs
- Families who plan to read the series in order and want the correct starting point
Not for
- A reader who already loves wordplay and prefers the quirkier, slightly spookier additions of the 143-Storey
- A child who has already read the 130-Storey and is ready for the next 13 storeys
