Flip & Fin
Timothy Gill
Flip & Fin
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
We Rule the School!
by Timothy Gill
Illustrated by Numberman, Neil, illustrator
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
Flip the sandshark is the funniest fish in school—until stage fright turns him into a statue! When the big moment arrives, only his twin brother Fin can help him find his laugh again. It’s a story about courage, family, and the power of a good joke.
Quick Assessment
This early reader story follows Flip, a sandshark who prepares for Joke Day but struggles with stage fright when performing in front of an audience. His twin brother Fin steps in to support him, highlighting themes of sibling bonds and overcoming fear. Suitable for ages 5-8, this lighthearted tale uses humor and relatable situations to encourage confidence in young readers.
Why we rated Flip & Fin 7LE
Flip & Fin is written at a Level 2 reading level across 32 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Flip & Fin works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate Flip & Fin as 7LE ("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, Flip & Fin explores humor, family, stage fright, twins, and fiction — 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 humor, family, stage fright.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7LE — 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
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
- 9780545862974
- Pages
- 32
- Publisher
- Scholastic
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction