How the second grade got $8,205.50 to visit the Statue of Liberty
Nathan Zimelman
How the second grade got $8,205.50 to visit the Statue of Liberty
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Nathan Zimelman
Illustrated by Slavin, Bill, 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
Susan counts coins while the lemonade stand buzzes with customers. The second grade races against time, juggling puppies, babies, and candy sales, all to visit the Statue of Liberty. But will their efforts add up to enough money before the big trip?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This humorous fiction story follows a second-grade class's creative fundraising efforts to visit the Statue of Liberty. Through various small jobs like collecting paper and running a lemonade stand, children learn about teamwork and money management in an age-appropriate way. Suitable for early readers ages 5-8, it contains light, everyday challenges without any sensitive content.
Why we rated How the second grade got $8,205.50 to visit the Statue of Liberty 7C
How the second grade got $8,205.50 to visit the Statue of Liberty is written at a Level 2 reading level across 35 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, How the second grade got $8,205.50 to visit the Statue of Liberty works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate How the second grade got $8,205.50 to visit the Statue of Liberty as 7C ("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, How the second grade got $8,205.50 to visit the Statue of Liberty explores fund raising, schools, humorous stories, friendship, and adventure — 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 fund raising, schools, humorous stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7C — ClearNo 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
- 0590485598
- Pages
- 35
- Publisher
- Albert Whitman & Company
- Published
- 1992
- Type
- Fiction