Charlie Bumpers vs. his big blabby mouth
Bill Harley
Charlie Bumpers vs. his big blabby mouth
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Bill Harley
Illustrated by Gustavson, Adam, illustrator
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
Charlie’s standing in front of his classmates, heart pounding, as they all wait to hear about his dad’s career. He promised his dad would be the greatest speaker ever, but what if the truth comes out? Just then, a big surprise changes everything—and now Charlie has to figure out what to do next.
Quick Assessment
This humorous middle-grade book explores themes of honesty, family, and resilience through the story of Charlie, who exaggerates about his dad’s job during Career Week at school. When his dad unexpectedly loses his job, Charlie faces the challenge of explaining this to his classmates, while the family navigates unexpected changes together. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book offers gentle lessons on handling disappointment and the importance of family support without any concerning content.
Why we rated Charlie Bumpers vs. his big blabby mouth 9LE
Charlie Bumpers vs. his big blabby mouth is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 177 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Charlie Bumpers vs. his big blabby mouth works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Charlie Bumpers vs. his big blabby mouth 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, Charlie Bumpers vs. his big blabby mouth explores humor, family, school, occupations, and resilience — 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 humor, family, school.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781561459407
- Pages
- 177
- Publisher
- Peachtree Publishing Company
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction