What reading level is Cody Harmon, king of pets?

Cody Harmon, king of pets by Claudia Mills is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 790L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Cody Harmon, king of pets appropriate for?

Cody Harmon, king of pets is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9C (Clear).

What genre is Cody Harmon, king of pets?

Cody Harmon, king of pets is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Cody Harmon, king of pets have any content warnings?

Cody Harmon, king of pets has a HootRating of 9C (Clear). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Cody Harmon, king of pets?

Cody Harmon, king of pets by Claudia Mills is 136 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Cody Harmon, king of pets

Claudia Mills

Cody Harmon, king of pets

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Claudia Mills

Illustrated by Shepperson, Rob, illustrator

Reading Level 4-5 9C Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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 gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be the king of pets? Cody Harmon is ready to prove it at the big class pet show, where every furry, scaly, and feathered friend is a contender. But when surprises pop up, can Cody keep his crown?

Themes

FriendshipSchoolsPetsPet showsFiction

Quick Assessment

This fifth installment in the Franklin School Friends series follows Cody Harmon as he participates in a school pet show, exploring themes of friendship, responsibility, and competition. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, it offers a lighthearted and relatable story without any intense content. Parents can expect a wholesome narrative focused on school life and pet care.

Why we rated Cody Harmon, king of pets 9C

Cody Harmon, king of pets is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 790L across 136 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Cody Harmon, king of pets works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Cody Harmon, king of pets as 9C ("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, Cody Harmon, king of pets explores friendship, schools, pets, pet shows, and fiction — 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 friendship, schools, pets.

Maybe not for

! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.