Four Dollars and Fifty Cents
Eric A. Kimmel
Four Dollars and Fifty Cents
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Eric A. Kimmel
Illustrated by Glen Rounds
The text is written at a 1st grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
What if you owed someone money but didn’t want to pay it back? Imagine being a cowboy who tries to trick everyone by pretending to be dead! But what happens when the trick goes too far and you almost get buried alive?
Quick Assessment
This humorous early reader follows Shorty Long, a cowboy who tries to dodge paying a small debt by pretending to be dead. Suitable for children aged 5 to 8, the story uses lighthearted humor and a western setting to engage young readers. Parents should note the mild peril of the main character nearly being buried alive, though it is portrayed in a playful and non-threatening way.
Why we rated Four Dollars and Fifty Cents 6LP
Four Dollars and Fifty Cents is written at a Level 1-2 reading level across 32 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 2.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Four Dollars and Fifty Cents works for readers up to grade 3.5.
We rate Four Dollars and Fifty Cents as 6LP ("Light — Physical") 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, Four Dollars and Fifty Cents explores humor, adventure, cowboys, west (u.s.), and early readers — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about humor, adventure, cowboys.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
6LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A 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
- 9780823410248
- Pages
- 32
- Publisher
- Holiday House
- Published
- March 1993
- Type
- Fiction