In 1938 Nosov began to publish his stories, including Zatejniki (Russian: Затейники, roughly translates as Jokers); Alive Hat, Cucumbers, Miraculous Trousers, and Dreamers.

These stories were published mainly in the magazine for children Murzilka and many of them make up the foundation of the Nosov's first collection Rat-tat-tat, 1945).

Nosov introduced a new hero, naïve and sensible, naughty and curious fidget obsessed by craving for activities and always getting into unusual, often comic situations – into children's literature.

The most popular works became his stories for teenagers Merry Family (1949), The Kolya Sinitsyn's Diary (1950), Vitya Maleev at School and at Home (1951).

The writer is also the author of an autobiographical work Story about My Friend Igor (1971–1972) and a memoirs narrative Mystery on a Well Bottom (1977).