Catch Flies! (Leftovers)
Tristan Howard
Catch Flies! (Leftovers)
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Tristan Howard
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
Have you ever joined a team where everyone feels like they don’t quite fit in? Catherine steps onto the baseball field with her new Little League teammates, all called 'leftovers' by others. But when her mom becomes the coach, will things finally start to change?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This early reader book follows Catherine as she navigates joining a Little League baseball team made up of players often overlooked by others. It gently explores themes of teamwork, acceptance, and family support, making it suitable for ages 5-8. The story contains positive messages without any intense content.
Why we rated Catch Flies! (Leftovers) 8LE
Catch Flies! (Leftovers) is written at a Level 3 reading level across 60 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Catch Flies! (Leftovers) works for readers up to grade 5.0.
We rate Catch Flies! (Leftovers) as 8LE ("Light — Emotional") 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, Catch Flies! (Leftovers) explores sports & recreation, baseball, family, and friendship — 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 & recreation, baseball, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
8LE — Light — EmotionalNo 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
- 9780590569248
- Pages
- 60
- Publisher
- Little Apple
- Published
- June 1996
- Type
- Fiction