Mouse with the Broken Tail
Dan Shutters
Mouse with the Broken Tail
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Dan Shutters
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
Sam the mouse isn’t just any mouse—he’s a brave leader with a broken tail who dares to challenge the sneaky cat and lead his tribe to freedom. But freedom isn’t easy, and outside the house, new challenges await that will test their courage and faith. This story shows how hard work and believing in something bigger can change everything.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This story follows Sam, a mouse with a broken tail, as he leads his tribe from danger to freedom, inspired by the biblical Book of Exodus. It gently explores themes like faith, perseverance, and moral lessons about good versus evil, making it suitable for early readers aged 5 to 8. Parents should note its strong religious undertones and its use as a children’s sermon tool.
Why we rated Mouse with the Broken Tail 8MT
Mouse with the Broken Tail is written at a Level 3 reading level across 62 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Mouse with the Broken Tail works for readers up to grade 5.0.
We rate Mouse with the Broken Tail as 8MT ("Moderate — Thematic") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Mouse with the Broken Tail explores faith, perseverance, leadership, moral lessons, and children's sermons — 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 faith, perseverance, leadership.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
8MT — Moderate — ThematicLight 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
- 9781453624173
- Pages
- 62
- Publisher
- Sunbury PressInc
- Published
- 2010
- Type
- Fiction