What reading level is the Whales (ABDO); Checkerboard Library series?

The Whales (ABDO); Checkerboard Library series by John F. Prevost is at a Grades 3.9–4.5 reading level (average Grade 4.2). Intended for Lower Grades (Ages 5–8). There are 5 books in the series.

What order should I read the Whales (ABDO); Checkerboard Library books?

The Whales (ABDO); Checkerboard Library series has 5 books in order: 1. Blue whales, 2. Gray whales, 3. Killer whales, 4. Sperm whales, 5. The humpback whales.

What age is the Whales (ABDO); Checkerboard Library series appropriate for?

The Whales (ABDO); Checkerboard Library series is recommended for Lower Grades (Ages 5–8). The average content intensity is 1/5.

Whales (ABDO); Checkerboard Library Books in Order

5 books by John F. Prevost. Reading level: Grades 3.9–4.5. 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. Whales (ABDO); Checkerboard Library (5 books by John F. Prevost) lands at reading level Grades 3.9–4.5, 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.

Books

Grades 3.9–4.5

Reading Level

1/5

Avg. Intensity

Lower Grades

Content Intensity Across the Series

Consistent

Content stays at a steady intensity level throughout the series.

First book Latest book

Whales (ABDO); Checkerboard Library Reading Order

#	Title	Reading Level	Content
1	Blue whales John F. Prevost	Level 4-5	Gentle
2	Gray whales John F. Prevost	Level 4-5	Gentle
3	Killer whales John F. Prevost	Level 4-5	Gentle
4	Sperm whales John F. Prevost	Level 4-5	Gentle
5	The humpback whales John F. Prevost	Level 3-4	Gentle

Level 3-4 Gentle

Questions about the Whales (ABDO); Checkerboard Library series

What reading level is the Whales (ABDO); Checkerboard Library series?: The Whales (ABDO); Checkerboard Library series by John F. Prevost is at a Grades 3.9–4.5 reading level (average Grade 4.2). Intended for Lower Grades (Ages 5–8). There are 5 books in the series.
What order should I read the Whales (ABDO); Checkerboard Library 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 Whales (ABDO); Checkerboard Library series appropriate for?: The Whales (ABDO); Checkerboard Library 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.