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Funny Man (Cover-to-Cover Novels: Humor)

Margo Sorenson

Cover of Funny Man (Cover-to-Cover Novels: Humor)

Funny Man (Cover-to-Cover Novels: Humor)

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Margo Sorenson

Illustrated by Susan F. Cornelison

Reading Level 3 8LE Ages 5-8 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 3rd 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

What if being the funniest kid in class suddenly put everything you love at risk? Derrick loves making everyone laugh, but now his silly tricks might cost him a spot on the big football team. Can he find a way to keep the laughs and the game?

Quick Assessment

This early-reader fiction book follows Derrick, a young boy who enjoys being the class clown but faces challenges when his behavior threatens his place on the school's football team. Suitable for ages 5-8, it explores themes of balancing fun and responsibility in a lighthearted way with age-appropriate language and situations.

Why we rated Funny Man (Cover-to-Cover Novels: Humor) 8LE

Funny Man (Cover-to-Cover Novels: Humor) is written at a Level 3 reading level across 95 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Funny Man (Cover-to-Cover Novels: Humor) works for readers up to grade 5.0.

We rate Funny Man (Cover-to-Cover Novels: Humor) as 8LE ("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, Funny Man (Cover-to-Cover Novels: Humor) explores humor, friendship, coming of age, and sports — 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, friendship, coming of age.

Maybe not for

  • ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.

For Parents

Content Intensity

8LE — Light — Emotional
Emotional
Light
Physical
Clear
Social
Clear
Thematic
Clear

No conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

3/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
2
Emotional Weight
2
Theme Richness
4
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

95 pages
ISBN
9780756908997
Pages
95
Publisher
Cover-To-Cover Books Cover-To
Published
August 2002
Type
Fiction

Genres

Teasing

Subjects

LiteraryPractical JokesTeasingSchoolsFootball