Step into Reading: Step 1 Books in Order
7 books by Kristen L. Depken. Reading level: Grades 0.8–1.5. 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. Step into Reading: Step 1 (7 books by Kristen L. Depken) lands at reading level Grades 0.8–1.5, 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.
Step into Reading: Step 1 Reading Order
| # | Title | Reading Level | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Shark, Little Shark, Baby Shark Anna Membrino | Level 1-2 | Gentle |
| 2 | Little Duck Judy Dunn | Level 1-2 | Gentle |
| 3 | Little Rabbit Judy Dunn | Level 1-2 | Gentle |
| 4 | Scuffy the Tugboat Kristen L. Depken | Level 1-2 | Gentle |
| 5 | Shy Little Kitten Kristen L. Depken | Level K-1 | Gentle |
| 6 | The poky little puppy Kristen L. Depken | Level K-1 | Gentle |
| 7 | Time for School, Little Dinosaur Gail Herman | Level 1-2 | Gentle |
All Step into Reading: Step 1 Books
Big Shark, Little Shark, Baby Shark
Anna Membrino
Big Shark, Little Shark, Baby Shark
Anna Membrino
Little Duck
Judy Dunn
Little Duck
Judy Dunn
Little Rabbit
Judy Dunn
Little Rabbit
Judy Dunn
Scuffy the Tugboat
Kristen L. Depken
Scuffy the Tugboat
Kristen L. Depken
Shy Little Kitten
Kristen L. Depken
Shy Little Kitten
Kristen L. Depken
The poky little puppy
Kristen L. Depken
The poky little puppy
Kristen L. Depken
Time for School, Little Dinosaur
Gail Herman
Time for School, Little Dinosaur
Gail Herman
Questions about the Step into Reading: Step 1 series
- What reading level is the Step into Reading: Step 1 series?
- The Step into Reading: Step 1 series by Kristen L. Depken is at a Grades 0.8–1.5 reading level (average Grade 1.2). Intended for Lower Grades (Ages 5–8). There are 7 books in the series.
- What order should I read the Step into Reading: Step 1 books?
- The reading-order table above lists all 7 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 Step into Reading: Step 1 series appropriate for?
- The Step into Reading: Step 1 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.