It's Just an Expression Books in Order
It's Just an Expression is a 7-book series by Matt Doeden for ages 9–12, at a grades 4–5 reading level, with gentle content (HootRated intensity 1/5).
- Books
- 7
- By publication date
- Content intensity
- Gentle
- HootRated 1/5
It's Just an Expression Reading Order
Series numbers aren't available for most It's Just an Expression books, so they're listed by publication date (oldest first).
| # | Title | Reading Level | Ages | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keep your eye on the ball And Other Expressions about Sports 2012 · Sandra Donovan | Level 5-6 | 9-12 | Gentle |
| 2 | School expressions And Other Expressions about School 2012 | Level 4-5 | 9-12 | Gentle |
| 3 | Animal expressions And Other Expressions about Animals 2013 · Sandra Donovan | Level 4-5 | 9-12 | Gentle |
| 4 | At the eleventh hour And Other Expressions about Money and Numbers 2013 · Bridget Heos | Level 4-5 | 9-12 | Gentle |
| 5 | Cool as a cucumber And Other Expressions about Food 2013 · Bridget Heos | Level 4-5 | 9-12 | Gentle |
| 6 | Get your nose out of joint And Other Medical Expressions 2013 | Level 4-5 | 9-12 | Gentle |
| 7 | Stick out like a sore thumb And Other Expressions about Body Parts 2013 | Level 4-5 | 9-12 | 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. It's Just an Expression (7 books by Matt Doeden) lands at a grades 4–5 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 It's Just an Expression Books
Keep your eye on the ball
Sandra Donovan
Keep your eye on the ball
Sandra Donovan
School expressions
Matt Doeden
School expressions
Matt Doeden
Animal expressions
Sandra Donovan
Animal expressions
Sandra Donovan
At the eleventh hour
Bridget Heos
At the eleventh hour
Bridget Heos
Cool as a cucumber
Bridget Heos
Cool as a cucumber
Bridget Heos
Get your nose out of joint
Matt Doeden
Get your nose out of joint
Matt Doeden
Stick out like a sore thumb
Matt Doeden
Stick out like a sore thumb
Matt Doeden
Series Like It's Just an Expression: What to Read Next
Similar reading level, content intensity and themes.
- Sports All-Stars; Lerner Sports by Anthony K. Hewson 3 books · Grades 4–5 · gentle content
- Garfield's Fat Cat Guide to STEM Breakthroughs by Rebecca E. Hirsch 4 books · Grades 4–5 · gentle content
- Torque; NFL Teams (Bellwether) by Thomas K. Adamson 7 books · Grade 4 · gentle content
- Ignite; Whoops! A History of Bad Days by Kathryn Hulick 4 books · Grades 5–6 · gentle to mild content
- Sports Math (Rosen); PowerKids Press by Ian F. Mahaney 3 books · Grades 4–5 · gentle content
- Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce 8 books · Grades 4–5 · gentle to mild content
Questions about the It's Just an Expression series
- What reading level is the It's Just an Expression series?
- It's Just an Expression books are at a grades 4–5 reading level (average grade level 4.6), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 9–12. There are 7 books in the series.
- What order should I read the It's Just an Expression books?
- Series numbers aren't available for most It's Just an Expression books, so HootRated lists them by publication date: Keep your eye on the ball (2012); School expressions (2012); Animal expressions (2013); At the eleventh hour (2013); Cool as a cucumber (2013); and 2 more.
- What age is the It's Just an Expression series appropriate for?
- HootRated recommends It's Just an Expression for ages 9–12. 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.