How to Catch a Cold
Adam T. Newman
How to Catch a Cold
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Adam T. Newman
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.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Here’s a secret: when a cold hits, it’s not just sniffles and sneezes—it’s an adventure waiting to happen. Imagine being pulled into a wild world where a funny coach named Boogie shows you how to battle the biggest, toughest cold ever. But that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This humorous and imaginative early reader follows a young boy who, while home sick with a cold, is transported to a fantastical world where he learns how to fight his illness with the help of a quirky coach named Boogie. Appropriate for ages 5 to 8, the story promotes themes of determination and resilience in a lighthearted way, with no intense content concerns.
Why we rated How to Catch a Cold 7C
How to Catch a Cold is written at a Level 2 reading level across 38 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, How to Catch a Cold works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate How to Catch a Cold 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 to Catch a Cold explores humor, adventure, family, and friendship — 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, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
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
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
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Colds (It's Catching)
Angela Royston
Colds (It's Catching)
Angela Royston
How Do I Cure This Cold?
Greg Williamson
How Do I Cure This Cold?
Greg Williamson
Handy health guide to colds and flu
Alvin Silverstein
Handy health guide to colds and flu
Alvin Silverstein
What Happens When You Catch a Cold/Audio Cassette/Book/Teacher's Guide (What Happens When)
Joy Richardson
What Happens When You Catch a Cold/Audio Cassette/Book/Teacher's Guide (What Happens When)
Joy Richardson
Colds, the flu, and other infections
Angela Royston
Colds, the flu, and other infections
Angela Royston
My First Cold (Thirty Word Books)
Julia Allen
My First Cold (Thirty Word Books)
Julia Allen
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780991090976
- Pages
- 38
- Publisher
- Milo Ink Books
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction