Change-up
Gene Fehler
Change-up
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Baseball Poems
by Gene Fehler
The text is written at a 2nd 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 wondered what it feels like to step up to the plate and swing for the stars? Imagine the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, and the thrill of the game, all captured in lively, fun poems that bring baseball to life. Whose turn is it to make the next big play?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book offers a collection of joyful poems centered around baseball, perfect for early readers aged 5 to 8. The poems capture the excitement and spirit of the game in a way that young children can easily enjoy and relate to. The colorful illustrations complement the text, making it an engaging introduction to poetry and sports.
Why we rated Change-up 7C
Change-up is written at a Level 2 reading level across 48 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Change-up works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate Change-up as 7C ("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, Change-up explores sports, children's poetry, 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, children's poetry, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7C — 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
- 9780618719624
- Pages
- 48
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Published
- 2009
- Type
- Fiction