King & Kayla Books in Order
King & Kayla is a 2-book series by Dori Hillestad Butler for ages 5–8, at a grades 1–2 reading level, with gentle content (HootRated intensity 1/5).
- Books
- 2
- By publication date
- Content intensity
- Gentle
- HootRated 1/5
King & Kayla Reading Order
Series numbers aren't available for most King & Kayla books, so they're listed by publication date (oldest first).
| # | Title | Reading Level | Ages | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | King and Kayla and the Case of Found Fred 2019 | Level 1-2 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 2 | King and Kayla and the Case of the Cat Hunt 2023 | Level 1-2 | 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. King & Kayla (2 books by Dori Hillestad Butler) lands at a grades 1–2 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 King & Kayla Books
King and Kayla and the Case of Found Fred
Dori Hillestad Butler
King and Kayla and the Case of Found Fred
Dori Hillestad Butler
King and Kayla and the Case of the Cat Hunt
Dori Hillestad Butler
King and Kayla and the Case of the Cat Hunt
Dori Hillestad Butler
Series Like King & Kayla: What to Read Next
Similar reading level, content intensity and themes.
- Parent's Magazine READ ALOUD by Stephanie Calmenson 3 books · Grades 1–3 · gentle content
- Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik 9 books · Grades 1–3 · gentle to mild content
- Blue Bananas by Selina Young 3 books · Grades 2–3 · gentle content
- I Can Read! (HarperCollins): Level 2 by James Skofield 3 books · Grades 2–3 · gentle to mild content
- Pebble Plus; Mighty Machines (Capstone) by Linda D. Williams 6 books · Grades 1–2 · gentle content
- Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat 24 books · Grades 2–3 · gentle to mild content
Questions about the King & Kayla series
- What reading level is the King & Kayla series?
- King & Kayla books are at a grades 1–2 reading level (average grade level 1.9), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 5–8. There are 2 books in the series.
- What order should I read the King & Kayla books?
- Series numbers aren't available for most King & Kayla books, so HootRated lists them by publication date: King and Kayla and the Case of Found Fred (2019); King and Kayla and the Case of the Cat Hunt (2023).
- What age is the King & Kayla series appropriate for?
- HootRated recommends King & Kayla 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.