diff --git a/docs/reference/index.md b/docs/reference/index.md
index e9dd9af29..9318de16f 100644
--- a/docs/reference/index.md
+++ b/docs/reference/index.md
@@ -2,100 +2,87 @@
 
 These guides provide technical information about Pebble.
 
-
-## Layers
-
-Pebble configuration is defined as a stack of "layers".
+% COMMENT: This toctree is for the navigation sidebar only
+%          Use an alphabetical listing of pages in the toctree
+%          For each page, make sure there's also a link in a section below
 
 ```{toctree}
+:hidden:
 :titlesonly:
 :maxdepth: 1
 
+Changes and tasks <changes-and-tasks>
+CLI commands <cli-commands/cli-commands>
+Health checks <health-checks>
+Identities <identities>
 Layers <layers>
 Layer specification <layer-specification>
+Log forwarding <log-forwarding>
+Notices <notices>
+Pebble in containers <pebble-in-containers>
+Service auto-restart <service-auto-restart>
 ```
 
 
-## Pebble commands
+% COMMENT: The first few pages are presented in a more logical reading order
 
-The `pebble` command has several subcommands.
 
-```{toctree}
-:titlesonly:
-:maxdepth: 1
+## Layers
 
-CLI Commands <cli-commands/cli-commands>
-```
+Pebble configuration is defined as a stack of "layers".
 
+* [Layers](layer-specification)
+* [Layer specification](layer-specification)
 
-## Pebble in containers
 
-When the Pebble daemon is running inside a remote system (for example, a separate container), you can manage the remote system using subcommands on the Pebble client.
+## Pebble commands
 
-```{toctree}
-:titlesonly:
-:maxdepth: 1
+The `pebble` command has several subcommands.
 
-Use Pebble in containers <pebble-in-containers>
-```
+* [CLI commands](cli-commands/cli-commands)
 
 
-## Access to the API
+## Pebble in containers
 
-You can set up named "identities" to control access to the API.
+When the Pebble daemon is running inside a remote system (for example, a separate container), you can manage the remote system using subcommands on the Pebble client.
 
-```{toctree}
-:titlesonly:
-:maxdepth: 1
-
-Identities <identities>
-```
+* [Pebble in containers](pebble-in-containers)
 
 
 ## Service failures
 
 Pebble provides two ways to automatically restart services when they fail. Auto-restart is based on exit codes from services. Health checks are a more sophisticated way to test and report the availability of services.
 
-```{toctree}
-:titlesonly:
-:maxdepth: 1
+* [Service auto-restart](service-auto-restart)
+* [Health checks](health-checks)
 
-Service auto-restart <service-auto-restart>
-Health checks <health-checks>
-```
+
+% COMMENT: After this point, match the alphabetical listing of pages
 
 
 ## Changes and tasks
 
 Pebble tracks system changes as "tasks" grouped into "change" objects.
 
-```{toctree}
-:titlesonly:
-:maxdepth: 1
-
-Changes and tasks <changes-and-tasks>
-```
-
+* [Changes and tasks](changes-and-tasks)
 
-## Notices
 
-Pebble records events as "notices". In addition to the built-in notices, clients can report custom notices.
+## Identities
 
-```{toctree}
-:titlesonly:
-:maxdepth: 1
+You can set up named "identities" to control access to the API.
 
-Notices <notices>
-```
+* [Identities](identities)
 
 
 ## Log forwarding
 
 Pebble can send service logs to a Loki server.
 
-```{toctree}
-:titlesonly:
-:maxdepth: 1
+* [Log forwarding](log-forwarding)
 
-Log forwarding <log-forwarding>
-```
+
+## Notices
+
+Pebble records events as "notices". In addition to the built-in notices, clients can report custom notices.
+
+* [Notices](notices)