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Living with the Dinosaurs Books in Order

4 books by Melissa Raae Shofner. Reading level: Grades 4.9–5.2. 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. Living with the Dinosaurs (4 books by Melissa Raae Shofner) lands at reading level Grades 4.9–5.2, 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.

4
Books
Grades 4.9–5.2
Reading Level
1/5
Avg. Intensity
LG
Lower Grades

Content Intensity Across the Series

Consistent

Content stays at a steady intensity level throughout the series.

1
2
3
4
First book Latest book

Living with the Dinosaurs Reading Order

# Title Reading Level Content
1 Crocodiles Lived with the Dinosaurs!
Melissa Raae Shofner
Level 4-5 Gentle
2 Salamanders Lived with the Dinosaurs!
Heather Moore Niver
Level 5-6 Gentle
3 Sharks Lived with the Dinosaurs!
Jill Keppeler
Level 5-6 Gentle
4 Spiders Lived with the Dinosaurs!
Tanya Dellaccio
Level 5 Gentle

Questions about the Living with the Dinosaurs series

What reading level is the Living with the Dinosaurs series?
The Living with the Dinosaurs series by Melissa Raae Shofner is at a Grades 4.9–5.2 reading level (average Grade 5). Intended for Lower Grades (Ages 5–8). There are 4 books in the series.
What order should I read the Living with the Dinosaurs books?
The reading-order table above lists all 4 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 Living with the Dinosaurs series appropriate for?
The Living with the Dinosaurs 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.