A hop is up
Kristy Dempsey
A hop is up
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Kristy Dempsey
Illustrated by Richmond, Lori, illustrator
The text is written at a 1st 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
The boy and his puppy bounce through the neighborhood, hopping up and spinning round and round. Suddenly, they spot something unexpected—what will they do next?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This lively picture book encourages young readers to engage with movement and rhythm through simple, playful directions paired with vivid illustrations. Suitable for ages 5 to 8, it promotes physical activity and interaction without any challenging content, making it an excellent choice for early readers.
Why we rated A hop is up 6LP
A hop is up is written at a Level 1-2 reading level across 40 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 2.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A hop is up works for readers up to grade 3.5.
We rate A hop is up as 6LP ("Light — Physical") 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 hop is up explores play, animals, friendship, early childhood, and physical activity — 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 play, animals, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
6LP — Light — PhysicalNo 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
- 9781619633902
- Pages
- 40
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing USA
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction