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A crazy day with cobras

Mary Pope Osborne

Cover of A crazy day with cobras

A crazy day with cobras

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Mary Pope Osborne

Illustrated by Murdocca, Sal, illustrator

Reading Level 4-5 9LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

What if a magic tree house could take you back in time to a land full of ancient secrets and slippery cobras? Imagine exploring the bustling streets of India during the Mogul Empire, where every step might lead to a hidden emerald. But can Jack and Annie find the gem before the spell traps them forever?

Themes

MagicBrothers and sistersAdventureHistorical

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction story follows siblings Jack and Annie as they travel back to 17th-century India via a magic tree house. The book combines adventure with historical elements appropriate for ages 9 to 12 and includes themes of magic and family bonds. Parents should know the story contains mild peril related to animal encounters and ancient challenges but remains suitable and engaging for this age group.

Why we rated A crazy day with cobras 9LE

A crazy day with cobras is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 112 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A crazy day with cobras works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate A crazy day with cobras as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.

Thematically, A crazy day with cobras explores magic, brothers and sisters, adventure, and historical — 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 magic, brothers and sisters, adventure.

Maybe not for

  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9LE — Light — Emotional
Emotional
Light
Physical
Light
Social
Clear
Thematic
Light

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

2/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
4
Theme Richness
4
World Scope
9
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

112 pages
ISBN
9780545543651
Pages
112
Publisher
Scholastic
Published
2013
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

MagicBrothers and SistersTree HousesSiblingsTime TravelJackAnnieIndiaKinderbuch Ab 8 JahrenMädchenJungeSchwesterBruderGeschwisterBaumhausVerstecktVerborgenZeitreiseAbenteuerIndienSmaragdrosePalasGrßmogulPrüfungSchwierigSchlangenKobras

Places

IndiaIndien