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A child's anthology of poetry

Elizabeth Hauge Sword

Cover of A child's anthology of poetry

A child's anthology of poetry

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Elizabeth Hauge Sword

Reading Level 7 12C Ages 9-12 Sweet Spot

The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

The room buzzes with the hush of voices as a poem leaps off the page — words dancing like sparks in the air. Suddenly, a wild 'Jabberwocky' crashes in, twisting and turning, ready to challenge everything you thought about poems. What secret magic will unfold next?

Themes

Children's poetryLiteratureLanguageMulticultural

Quick Assessment

This anthology offers a rich collection of classic and contemporary poems carefully selected for children ages 9 to 12. It introduces young readers to a wide variety of poetic styles and voices, fostering an early appreciation for language and storytelling. The collection includes well-known poets alongside modern voices, making it a valuable literary resource without any content concerns.

Why we rated A child's anthology of poetry 12C

A child's anthology of poetry is written at a Level 7 reading level across 323 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A child's anthology of poetry works for readers up to grade 9.0.

We rate A child's anthology of poetry as 12C ("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, A child's anthology of poetry explores children's poetry, literature, language, and multicultural — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

  • Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
  • Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
  • Kids drawn to stories about children's poetry, literature, language.

Maybe not for

  • ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

12C — Clear
Emotional
Clear
Physical
Clear
Social
Clear
Thematic
Clear

No conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
6
Emotional Weight
2
Theme Richness
4
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

323 pages
ISBN
9780880013789
Pages
323
Publisher
Ecco
Published
1995
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Children's Poetry