What reading level is the Before the Store series?

The Before the Store series by Rachel Lynette is at a Grades 3.3–4.2 reading level (average Grade 3.8). Intended for Lower Grades (Ages 5–8). There are 12 books in the series.

What order should I read the Before the Store books?

The Before the Store series has 12 books in order: 1. Bicycles before the store, 2. Blue Jeans Before The Store, 3. Bread before the store, 4. Footballs Before The Store, 5. Ice cream before the store, and 7 more.

What age is the Before the Store series appropriate for?

The Before the Store series is recommended for Lower Grades (Ages 5–8). The average content intensity is 1/5.

Before the Store Books in Order

12 books by Rachel Lynette. Reading level: Grades 3.3–4.2. Lower Grades (Ages 5–8).

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 reading level Grades 3.3–4.2, with average content intensity 1/5. Intensity stays consistent across the series — a kid who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.

The reading-order table below lists every book with per-volume reading level and intensity badges 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.

Books

Grades 3.3–4.2

Reading Level

1/5

Avg. Intensity

Lower Grades

Content Intensity Across the Series

Consistent

Content stays at a steady intensity level throughout the series.

First book Latest book

Before the Store Reading Order

#	Title	Reading Level	Content
1	Bicycles before the store Rachel Lynette	Level 3-4	Gentle
2	Blue Jeans Before The Store Jody Jensen Shaffer	Level 3-4	Gentle
3	Bread before the store Jody Jensen Shaffer	Level 3-4	Gentle
4	Footballs Before The Store Rachel Lynette	Level 3-4	Gentle
5	Ice cream before the store Jan Bernard	Level 3-4	Gentle
6	Orange juice before the store Ryan Jacobson	Level 3-4	Gentle
7	Peanut butter before the store Jan Bernard	Level 3-4	Gentle
8	Pencils before the store Rachel Lynette	Level 4	Gentle
9	Shoes before the store Ryan Jacobson	Level 3-4	Gentle
10	Soda Pop Before The Store Rachel Lynette	Level 4-5	Gentle
11	Toilet paper before the store Rachel Lynette	Level 3-4	Gentle
12	Toothpaste before the store Jan Bernard	Level 4-5	Gentle

Level 4-5 Gentle

Questions about the Before the Store series

What reading level is the Before the Store series?: The Before the Store series by Rachel Lynette is at a Grades 3.3–4.2 reading level (average Grade 3.8). Intended for Lower Grades (Ages 5–8). There are 12 books in the series.
What order should I read the Before the Store books?: The reading-order table above lists all 12 books with per-volume reading level and intensity ratings. Start with book 1 and read in publication order unless the table indicates a different recommended order for newer readers.
What age is the Before the Store series appropriate for?: The Before the Store series is recommended for Lower Grades (Ages 5–8). The average content intensity is 1/5. Check the intensity trajectory above to see whether content gets heavier across the series — if it does, sensitive readers may want to stop earlier in the run.