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Mother, mother, I feel sick, send for the doctor quick, quick, quick

Remy Charlip

Cover of Mother, mother, I feel sick, send for the doctor quick, quick, quick

Mother, mother, I feel sick, send for the doctor quick, quick, quick

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

A Picture Book and Shadow Play

by Remy Charlip

Reading Level 1-2 6C Ages 5-8 Matched

The text is written at a 1st 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

The room buzzes with worry as a child clutches their belly, gasping, 'Mother, mother, I feel sick!' Suddenly, the doctor arrives, ready to find out what's really inside that tummy. But what strange surprises will the doctor discover?

Themes

SickStomachStories in rhymeShadow showsPlaysFiction

Quick Assessment

This playful rhyming story follows a child experiencing an unusual stomachache that is cured when a doctor removes many unexpected objects from the stomach. Designed for early readers aged 5 to 8, it includes instructions for a shadow play performance, encouraging interactive storytelling and imagination. The content is gentle and suitable for young children, focusing on themes of illness and recovery in a fun, lighthearted way.

Why we rated Mother, mother, I feel sick, send for the doctor quick, quick, quick 6C

Mother, mother, I feel sick, send for the doctor quick, quick, quick is written at a Level 1-2 reading level across 42 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 2.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Mother, mother, I feel sick, send for the doctor quick, quick, quick works for readers up to grade 3.5.

We rate Mother, mother, I feel sick, send for the doctor quick, quick, quick as 6C ("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, Mother, mother, I feel sick, send for the doctor quick, quick, quick explores sick, stomach, stories in rhyme, shadow shows, and plays — 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 sick, stomach, stories in rhyme.

Maybe not for

  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

6C — Clear
Emotional
Clear
Physical
Clear
Social
Clear
Thematic
Clear

No conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
1
Emotional Weight
2
Theme Richness
6
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

42 pages
ISBN
0590077724
Pages
42
Publisher
Four Winds Press
Published
1980
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

StomachSickStories in RhymeShadow ShowsPlaysSick in FictionDramaStomach in Fiction