5 steps to drawing faces
Susan Kesselring
5 steps to drawing faces
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Susan Kesselring
Illustrated by Regan, Dana, illustrator
The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Here's a secret: drawing faces isn’t as tricky as it seems. You can learn how to create eyes that sparkle, mouths that smile, and even faces that show feelings like happiness or surprise—but that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book offers simple, step-by-step instructions to help young children aged 5-8 learn how to draw human faces and express emotions through art. It is designed for early readers with clear visuals and easy techniques, making it an excellent introduction to portrait drawing without any challenging content.
Why we rated 5 steps to drawing faces 7C
5 steps to drawing faces is written at a Level 2 reading level across 32 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, 5 steps to drawing faces works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate 5 steps to drawing faces as 7C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, 5 steps to drawing faces explores juvenile literature, technique, face in art, portrait drawing, and drawing — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about juvenile literature, technique, face in art.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781609731977
- Pages
- 32
- Publisher
- The Child's World
- Published
- 2012
- Type
- Fiction