Lilly Makes a Friend (First Novel Series)
Brenda Bellingham
Lilly Makes a Friend (First Novel Series)
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Brenda Bellingham
Illustrated by Clarke MacDonald
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
Lilly is not just any kid—she's a soccer hero in the making who sees beyond the surface. When she meets Davy, a blind boy from kindergarten who’s smaller but dreams just as big, she knows the game is about more than winning. Their friendship shows that courage and kindness make the strongest team.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This early-reader book tells the story of Lilly, a third grader who befriends Davy, a younger blind boy with a passion for soccer. It gently explores themes of friendship, inclusivity, and understanding special needs in a way that is accessible for kids ages 5-8. The story encourages empathy and social awareness without heavy emotional content.
Why we rated Lilly Makes a Friend (First Novel Series) 8LE
Lilly Makes a Friend (First Novel Series) is written at a Level 3 reading level across 64 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Lilly Makes a Friend (First Novel Series) works for readers up to grade 5.0.
We rate Lilly Makes a Friend (First Novel Series) 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, Lilly Makes a Friend (First Novel Series) explores friendship, social situations - special needs, juvenile fiction, and social issues - adolescence — 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 friendship, social situations - special needs, juvenile fiction.
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
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780887806247
- Pages
- 64
- Publisher
- Formac Publishing Company
- Published
- April 23, 2004
- Type
- Fiction