Step into Reading: Step 3 Books in Order
Step into Reading: Step 3 is a 7-book series by Monica Kulling for ages 5–8, at a grades 1–3 reading level, with gentle to mild content (HootRated intensity 1–2 out of 5).
- Books
- 7
- By publication date
- Content intensity
- Gentle to mild
- HootRated 1–2 out of 5 · avg 1.1
Step into Reading: Step 3 Reading Order
Series numbers aren't available for most Step into Reading: Step 3 books, so they're listed by publication date (oldest first).
| # | Title | Reading Level | Ages | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little Sure Shot The Story of Annie Oakley 1993 · Stephanie Spinner | Level 3-4 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 2 | Marmee's surprise A Little Women Story 1996 | Level 2-3 | 5-8 | Mild |
| 3 | Happy Valentine's Day, Miss Hildy! 2003 · Lois G. Grambling | Level 3-4 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 4 | Eat My Dust! Henry Ford's First Race (Step into Reading) 2004 | Level 2-3 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 5 | Motorcycles! (Step into Reading) 2007 · Susan E. Goodman | Level 2-3 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 6 | Monster Trucks! (Step into Reading) 2010 · Susan E. Goodman | Level 2-3 | 5-8 | Gentle |
| 7 | Little Lucy 2011 · Ilene Cooper | Level 1-2 | 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. Step into Reading: Step 3 (7 books by Monica Kulling) lands at a grades 1–3 reading level, with average content intensity 1.1/5. 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 Step into Reading: Step 3 Books
Little Sure Shot
Stephanie Spinner
Little Sure Shot
Stephanie Spinner
Marmee's surprise
Monica Kulling
Marmee's surprise
Monica Kulling
Happy Valentine's Day, Miss Hildy!
Lois G. Grambling
Happy Valentine's Day, Miss Hildy!
Lois G. Grambling
Eat My Dust! Henry Ford's First Race (Step into Reading)
Monica Kulling
Eat My Dust! Henry Ford's First Race (Step into Reading)
Monica Kulling
Motorcycles! (Step into Reading)
Susan E. Goodman
Motorcycles! (Step into Reading)
Susan E. Goodman
Monster Trucks! (Step into Reading)
Susan E. Goodman
Monster Trucks! (Step into Reading)
Susan E. Goodman
Little Lucy
Ilene Cooper
Little Lucy
Ilene Cooper
Series Like Step into Reading: Step 3: What to Read Next
Similar reading level, content intensity and themes.
- Our Neighborhood by Alice K. Flanagan 25 books · Grades 2–3 · gentle to mild content
- Milo & Jazz Mysteries by Lewis B. Montgomery 9 books · Grades 3–4 · gentle to mild content
- Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat 24 books · Grades 2–3 · gentle to mild content
- Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner 151 books · Grades 2–5 · gentle to mild content
- Little Celebrations by CELEBRATION PRESS 65 books · Grades 1–5 · gentle to mild content
- Discover the Life of an Explorer by Trish Kline 9 books · Grades 2–4 · gentle to mild content
Questions about the Step into Reading: Step 3 series
- What reading level is the Step into Reading: Step 3 series?
- Step into Reading: Step 3 books are at a grades 1–3 reading level (average grade level 2.7), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 5–8. There are 7 books in the series.
- What order should I read the Step into Reading: Step 3 books?
- Series numbers aren't available for most Step into Reading: Step 3 books, so HootRated lists them by publication date: Little Sure Shot (1993); Marmee's surprise (1996); Happy Valentine's Day, Miss Hildy! (2003); Eat My Dust! Henry Ford's First Race (Step into Reading) (2004); Motorcycles! (Step into Reading) (2007); and 2 more.
- What age is the Step into Reading: Step 3 series appropriate for?
- HootRated recommends Step into Reading: Step 3 for ages 5–8. Content is gentle to mild (HootRated intensity 1–2 out of 5). Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.