I Was There Books in Order
2 books by Shelley Tanaka. Reading level: Grades 4.8–6.6. Middle Grades (Ages 9–12).
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. I Was There (2 books by Shelley Tanaka) lands at reading level Grades 4.8–6.6, 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.
Content Intensity Across the Series
ConsistentContent stays at a steady intensity level throughout the series.
I Was There Reading Order
| # | Title | Reading Level | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graveyards of the dinosaurs Shelley Tanaka | Level 6-7 | Gentle |
| 2 | I Was There Shelley Tanaka | Level 4-5 | Gentle |
All I Was There Books
Questions about the I Was There series
- What reading level is the I Was There series?
- The I Was There series by Shelley Tanaka is at a Grades 4.8–6.6 reading level (average Grade 5.7). Intended for Middle Grades (Ages 9–12). There are 2 books in the series.
- What order should I read the I Was There books?
- The reading-order table above lists all 2 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 I Was There series appropriate for?
- The I Was There series is recommended for Middle Grades (Ages 9–12). 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.