Moon rope
Lois Ehlert
Moon rope
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Peruvian Folktale
by Lois Ehlert
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
Soft whispers of the wind carry the scent of fresh grass as a clever fox and a shy mole grasp a long, green rope reaching all the way to the glowing moon. They climb higher and higher, each step filled with hope and wonder. What secrets will they find in the silvery light above?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This beautifully illustrated adaptation of a Peruvian folktale tells the story of a fox and a mole who use a grass rope to reach the moon. Designed for early readers ages 5-8, it introduces children to multicultural folklore and bilingual elements in Spanish and English. The gentle narrative encourages imagination and cultural appreciation without any intense content.
Why we rated Moon rope 7C
Moon rope is written at a Level 2 reading level across 36 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Moon rope works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate Moon rope 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, Moon rope explores folklore, bilingualism, 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 folklore, bilingualism, friendship.
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
- 9780152017026
- Pages
- 36
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Published
- 2003
- Type
- Fiction
- Language
- ES