Before the Store Books in Order
Before the Store is a 12-book series by Rachel Lynette for ages 5–8, at a grades 3–4 reading level, with gentle content (HootRated intensity 1/5).
- Books
- 12
- By publication date
- Content intensity
- Gentle
- HootRated 1/5
Before the Store Reading Order
Series numbers aren't available for most Before the Store books, so they're listed by publication date (oldest first).
| # | Title | Reading Level | Ages | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bicycles before the store 2012 | Level 3-4 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 2 | Blue Jeans Before The Store 2012 · Jody Jensen Shaffer | Level 3-4 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 3 | Bread before the store 2012 · Jody Jensen Shaffer | Level 3-4 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 4 | Footballs Before The Store 2012 | Level 3-4 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 5 | Ice cream before the store 2012 · Jan Bernard | Level 3-4 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 6 | Orange juice before the store 2012 · Ryan Jacobson | Level 3-4 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 7 | Peanut butter before the store 2012 · Jan Bernard | Level 3-4 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 8 | Pencils before the store 2012 | Level 4 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 9 | Shoes before the store 2012 · Ryan Jacobson | Level 3-4 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 10 | Soda Pop Before The Store 2012 | Level 4-5 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 11 | Toilet paper before the store 2012 | Level 3-4 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 12 | Toothpaste before the store 2012 · Jan Bernard | Level 4-5 | 5-8 | Gentle |
Content Intensity Across the Series
ConsistentContent stays at a steady intensity level throughout the series.
Series books grow with readers — but that's also the trap. Most series start at one reading level and one content intensity and drift upward over the course of the run. Before the Store (12 books by Rachel Lynette) lands at a grades 3–4 reading level, with average content intensity 1/5. Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.
The reading-order table above lists every book with per-volume reading level, age and intensity ratings so you can spot any escalation before it catches your reader off guard. For a deeper dive into how we score text difficulty vs. emotional weight separately — and why series readers especially benefit from that split — see our methodology page.
All Before the Store Books
Bicycles before the store
Rachel Lynette
Bicycles before the store
Rachel Lynette
Blue Jeans Before The Store
Jody Jensen Shaffer
Blue Jeans Before The Store
Jody Jensen Shaffer
Bread before the store
Jody Jensen Shaffer
Bread before the store
Jody Jensen Shaffer
Footballs Before The Store
Rachel Lynette
Footballs Before The Store
Rachel Lynette
Ice cream before the store
Jan Bernard
Ice cream before the store
Jan Bernard
Orange juice before the store
Ryan Jacobson
Orange juice before the store
Ryan Jacobson
Peanut butter before the store
Jan Bernard
Peanut butter before the store
Jan Bernard
Pencils before the store
Rachel Lynette
Pencils before the store
Rachel Lynette
Shoes before the store
Ryan Jacobson
Shoes before the store
Ryan Jacobson
Soda Pop Before The Store
Rachel Lynette
Soda Pop Before The Store
Rachel Lynette
Toilet paper before the store
Rachel Lynette
Toilet paper before the store
Rachel Lynette
Toothpaste before the store
Jan Bernard
Toothpaste before the store
Jan Bernard
Series Like Before the Store: What to Read Next
Similar reading level, content intensity and themes.
- Imagination Library; Extreme Sports (Gareth Stevens) by John E. Schindler 5 books · Grades 3–4 · gentle content
- Whales (ABDO); Checkerboard Library by John F. Prevost 5 books · Grades 3–5 · gentle content
- Milo & Jazz Mysteries by Lewis B. Montgomery 9 books · Grades 3–4 · gentle to mild content
- DiscoverRoo; Nature's Mysteries (ABDO) by Patricia Hutchison 3 books · Grades 3–4 · gentle content
- Little Entomologist 4D; Smithsonian Little Explorer by Megan Cooley Peterson 7 books · Grades 3–4 · gentle content
- Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner 151 books · Grades 2–5 · gentle to mild content
Questions about the Before the Store series
- What reading level is the Before the Store series?
- Before the Store books are at a grades 3–4 reading level (average grade level 3.8), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 5–8. There are 12 books in the series.
- What order should I read the Before the Store books?
- Series numbers aren't available for most Before the Store books, so HootRated lists them by publication date: Bicycles before the store (2012); Blue Jeans Before The Store (2012); Bread before the store (2012); Footballs Before The Store (2012); Ice cream before the store (2012); and 7 more.
- What age is the Before the Store series appropriate for?
- HootRated recommends Before the Store for ages 5–8. Content is gentle (HootRated intensity 1/5). Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.