Lives and Times Books in Order
Lives and Times is a 3-book series by Jennifer Blizin Gillis for ages 5–8, at a grades 3–4 reading level, with gentle content (HootRated intensity 1/5).
- Books
- 3
- By publication date
- Content intensity
- Gentle
- HootRated 1/5
Lives and Times Reading Order
Series numbers aren't available for most Lives and Times books, so they're listed by publication date (oldest first).
| # | Title | Reading Level | Ages | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madam C.J. Walker (Lives and Times (Des Plaines, Ill.).) 2003 · Margaret C. Hall | Level 3-4 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 2 | W. K. Kellogg (Lives and Times (Des Plaines, Ill.).) 2003 · Tiffany Peterson | Level 3-4 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 3 | Edwin Binney 2005 | Level 3-4 | 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. Lives and Times (3 books by Jennifer Blizin Gillis) lands at a grades 3–4 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 Lives and Times Books
Madam C.J. Walker (Lives and Times (Des Plaines, Ill.).)
Margaret C. Hall
Madam C.J. Walker (Lives and Times (Des Plaines, Ill.).)
Margaret C. Hall
W. K. Kellogg (Lives and Times (Des Plaines, Ill.).)
Tiffany Peterson
W. K. Kellogg (Lives and Times (Des Plaines, Ill.).)
Tiffany Peterson
Edwin Binney
Jennifer Blizin Gillis
Edwin Binney
Jennifer Blizin Gillis
Series Like Lives and Times: What to Read Next
Similar reading level, content intensity and themes.
- Library of Intergenerational... by E. Barrie Kavasch 6 books · Grades 3–5 · gentle content
- Little Inventor; Smithsonian Little Explorer by Sally Ann Lee 6 books · Grades 3–4 · gentle content
- Coming to America (Rosen); On Deck; Reading Power; PowerKids Press by Lewis K. Parker 6 books · Grades 4–5 · gentle to mild content
- Little Biographies of Big People by Joan Stoltman 13 books · Grades 3–4 · gentle to mild content
- Stories to Celebrate by F. Isabel Campoy 3 books · Grades 2–3 · gentle content
- About the Author; PowerKids Press by Frances E. Ruffin 9 books · Grades 4–5 · gentle content
Questions about the Lives and Times series
- What reading level is the Lives and Times series?
- Lives and Times books are at a grades 3–4 reading level (average grade level 3.8), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 5–8. There are 3 books in the series.
- What order should I read the Lives and Times books?
- Series numbers aren't available for most Lives and Times books, so HootRated lists them by publication date: Madam C.J. Walker (Lives and Times (Des Plaines, Ill.).) (2003); W. K. Kellogg (Lives and Times (Des Plaines, Ill.).) (2003); Edwin Binney (2005).
- What age is the Lives and Times series appropriate for?
- HootRated recommends Lives and Times 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.