Step into Reading: Step 2 Books in Order
5 books by Kristen L. Depken. Reading level: Grades 1.5–2.7. 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 2 (5 books by Kristen L. Depken) lands at reading level Grades 1.5–2.7, with average content intensity 1.4/5.
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
VariesContent intensity ranges from Gentle to Moderate across the series.
Step into Reading: Step 2 Reading Order
| # | Title | Reading Level | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barbie & the Diamond Castle Kristen L. Depken | Level 2 | Moderate |
| 2 | David and the giant Emily Little | Level 1-2 | Gentle |
| 3 | Happy birthday, Little Witch Deborah Hautzig | Level 2-3 | Gentle |
| 4 | The Little Butterfly Sherry Shahan | Level 2 | Gentle |
| 5 | Twinkle, twinkle, little bug Katharine Ross | Level 1-2 | Gentle |
All Step into Reading: Step 2 Books
Barbie & the Diamond Castle
Kristen L. Depken
Barbie & the Diamond Castle
Kristen L. Depken
David and the giant
Emily Little
David and the giant
Emily Little
Happy birthday, Little Witch
Deborah Hautzig
Happy birthday, Little Witch
Deborah Hautzig
The Little Butterfly
Sherry Shahan
The Little Butterfly
Sherry Shahan
Twinkle, twinkle, little bug
Katharine Ross
Twinkle, twinkle, little bug
Katharine Ross
Questions about the Step into Reading: Step 2 series
- What reading level is the Step into Reading: Step 2 series?
- The Step into Reading: Step 2 series by Kristen L. Depken is at a Grades 1.5–2.7 reading level (average Grade 2). Intended for Lower Grades (Ages 5–8). There are 5 books in the series.
- What order should I read the Step into Reading: Step 2 books?
- The reading-order table above lists all 5 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 2 series appropriate for?
- The Step into Reading: Step 2 series is recommended for Lower Grades (Ages 5–8). The average content intensity is 1.4/5. 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.