Little Inventor; Smithsonian Little Explorer Books in Order
6 books by Sally Ann Lee. Reading level: Grades 3.8–4.3. 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. Little Inventor; Smithsonian Little Explorer (6 books by Sally Ann Lee) lands at reading level Grades 3.8–4.3, 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.
Little Inventor; Smithsonian Little Explorer Reading Order
| # | Title | Reading Level | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander Graham Bell Sally Ann Lee | Level 4 | Gentle |
| 2 | Benjamin Franklin Nancy Dickmann | Level 3-4 | Gentle |
| 3 | Lewis Latimer Nancy Dickmann | Level 4-5 | Gentle |
| 4 | Lonnie Johnson Lucia Tarbox Raatma | Level 4-5 | Gentle |
| 5 | Madame C. J. Walker Sally Ann Lee | Level 4-5 | Gentle |
| 6 | Thomas Edison Lucia Tarbox Raatma | Level 3-4 | Gentle |
All Little Inventor; Smithsonian Little Explorer Books
Alexander Graham Bell
Sally Ann Lee
Alexander Graham Bell
Sally Ann Lee
Benjamin Franklin
Nancy Dickmann
Benjamin Franklin
Nancy Dickmann
Lewis Latimer
Nancy Dickmann
Lewis Latimer
Nancy Dickmann
Lonnie Johnson
Lucia Tarbox Raatma
Lonnie Johnson
Lucia Tarbox Raatma
Madame C. J. Walker
Sally Ann Lee
Madame C. J. Walker
Sally Ann Lee
Thomas Edison
Lucia Tarbox Raatma
Thomas Edison
Lucia Tarbox Raatma
Questions about the Little Inventor; Smithsonian Little Explorer series
- What reading level is the Little Inventor; Smithsonian Little Explorer series?
- The Little Inventor; Smithsonian Little Explorer series by Sally Ann Lee is at a Grades 3.8–4.3 reading level (average Grade 4). Intended for Lower Grades (Ages 5–8). There are 6 books in the series.
- What order should I read the Little Inventor; Smithsonian Little Explorer books?
- The reading-order table above lists all 6 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 Little Inventor; Smithsonian Little Explorer series appropriate for?
- The Little Inventor; Smithsonian Little Explorer 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.