Meet the Dinosaurs Books in Order
9 books by Don Lessem. Reading level: Grades 3.5–4.2. 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. Meet the Dinosaurs (9 books by Don Lessem) lands at reading level Grades 3.5–4.2, 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.
Content Intensity Across the Series
ConsistentContent stays at a steady intensity level throughout the series.
Meet the Dinosaurs Reading Order
| # | Title | Reading Level | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Armored dinosaurs Don Lessem | Level 4-5 | Gentle |
| 2 | Duck-billed dinosaurs Don Lessem | Level 3-4 | Gentle |
| 3 | Feathered dinosaurs Don Lessem | Level 4-5 | Gentle |
| 4 | Giant meat-eating dinosaurs Don Lessem | Level 4 | Gentle |
| 5 | Horned Dinosaurs (Meet the Dinosaurs) Don Lessem | Level 4 | Gentle |
| 6 | The deadliest dinosaurs Don Lessem | Level 4-5 | Gentle |
| 7 | The fastest dinosaurs Don Lessem | Level 3-4 | Gentle |
| 8 | The smallest dinosaurs Don Lessem | Level 3-4 | Gentle |
| 9 | The smartest dinosaurs Don Lessem | Level 4 | Gentle |
All Meet the Dinosaurs Books
Armored dinosaurs
Don Lessem
Armored dinosaurs
Don Lessem
Duck-billed dinosaurs
Don Lessem
Duck-billed dinosaurs
Don Lessem
Feathered dinosaurs
Don Lessem
Feathered dinosaurs
Don Lessem
Giant meat-eating dinosaurs
Don Lessem
Giant meat-eating dinosaurs
Don Lessem
Horned Dinosaurs (Meet the Dinosaurs)
Don Lessem
Horned Dinosaurs (Meet the Dinosaurs)
Don Lessem
The deadliest dinosaurs
Don Lessem
The deadliest dinosaurs
Don Lessem
The fastest dinosaurs
Don Lessem
The fastest dinosaurs
Don Lessem
The smallest dinosaurs
Don Lessem
The smallest dinosaurs
Don Lessem
The smartest dinosaurs
Don Lessem
The smartest dinosaurs
Don Lessem
Questions about the Meet the Dinosaurs series
- What reading level is the Meet the Dinosaurs series?
- The Meet the Dinosaurs series by Don Lessem is at a Grades 3.5–4.2 reading level (average Grade 4). Intended for Lower Grades (Ages 5–8). There are 9 books in the series.
- What order should I read the Meet the Dinosaurs books?
- The reading-order table above lists all 9 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 Meet the Dinosaurs series appropriate for?
- The Meet 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.