At the crack of the bat
Lillian Morrison
At the crack of the bat
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Baseball Poems
by Lillian Morrison
The text is written at a 3rd 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
Hear the crack of the bat slicing through the summer air, smell the fresh grass of the baseball field, and feel the thrill of the game in every poem. Each page bursts with the energy and joy of baseball, capturing the magic that makes this sport a favorite for kids everywhere.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This illustrated poetry collection celebrates baseball through lively and accessible poems suitable for early readers ages 5-8. The book captures the excitement and personalities of the game, encouraging a love of sports and poetry without complex themes or content concerns.
Why we rated At the crack of the bat 8C
At the crack of the bat is written at a Level 3 reading level across 64 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, At the crack of the bat works for readers up to grade 5.0.
We rate At the crack of the bat as 8C ("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, At the crack of the bat explores sports, children's poetry, friendship, and american culture — 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 sports, children's poetry, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
8C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 9781562821777
- Pages
- 64
- Publisher
- Hyperion
- Published
- 1992
- Type
- Fiction