It Can Get Better
Paul Dickinson
It Can Get Better
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Guide for Parents and Carers
by Paul Dickinson
Illustrated by Steve Lockett
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
The quiet hum of the house is broken by a sudden shout and a burst of tears. Sometimes feelings get too big and hard to handle, especially for kids who see the world a little differently. But with patience and love, tough days can turn into better ones.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This gentle fiction book addresses common behavioral challenges faced by young autistic children, such as temper tantrums, toileting, sleep, and feeding difficulties. Intended for early readers aged 5 to 8, it offers practical strategies woven into a warm narrative that promotes understanding and patience within family relationships. Parents will find it a helpful tool to support children with special needs while fostering empathy.
Why we rated It Can Get Better 8LE
It Can Get Better is written at a Level 3 reading level across 68 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, It Can Get Better works for readers up to grade 5.0.
We rate It Can Get Better as 8LE ("Light — Emotional") 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, It Can Get Better explores children with special needs, family, relationships, and neurodivergent characters — 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 children with special needs, family, relationships.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
8LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781931282031
- Pages
- 68
- Publisher
- National Autistic Society
- Published
- February 10, 2002
- Type
- Fiction