Kokopelli & Company in attack of the Smart Pies
Larry Gonick
Kokopelli & Company in attack of the Smart Pies
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Larry Gonick
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), 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
Feather grips the giant pie launcher, eyes darting as the pies zoom through the air with a mind of their own! Kokopelli grins, but suddenly something unexpected happens—who’s really behind the flying Smart Pies? The chase is just getting started!
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction features Kokopelli and Feather, a muse, as they face a whimsical challenge involving self-guided pies while helping an orphaned girl search for her family. The story combines humor with themes of helpfulness and cleverness, suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. The narrative encourages empathy and problem-solving without any intense content.
Why we rated Kokopelli & Company in attack of the Smart Pies 9LE
Kokopelli & Company in attack of the Smart Pies is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 185 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Kokopelli & Company in attack of the Smart Pies works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Kokopelli & Company in attack of the Smart Pies as 9LE ("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, Kokopelli & Company in attack of the Smart Pies explores helpfulness, tricks, orphans, and humorous stories — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about helpfulness, tricks, orphans.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
Maggot Pie
Michael Lawrence
Maggot Pie
Michael Lawrence
Pigeon Pie, Oh My!
Debbie Singleton
Pigeon Pie, Oh My!
Debbie Singleton
Rabbit pie
Gerald Rose
Rabbit pie
Gerald Rose
Great Pika Pie Caper
Marlene Clapp
Great Pika Pie Caper
Marlene Clapp
More Pies!
Robert N. Munsch
More Pies!
Robert N. Munsch
Pie-Rat's revenge!
Jean Little
Pie-Rat's revenge!
Jean Little
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0812627407
- Pages
- 185
- Publisher
- Cricket Books
- Published
- 2005
- Type
- Fiction