Mr. Putter and Tabby Clear the Decks
Cynthia Rylant
Mr. Putter and Tabby Clear the Decks
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Cynthia Rylant
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
Mr. Putter and Tabby are about to have the most exciting boat ride ever! The sun is shining, the orangesicles are melting, and even Mrs. Teaberry’s dog Zeke might cause a splashy surprise. This isn’t just a ride—it’s a summertime adventure full of fun and friendship that you won’t want to miss.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This charming early reader follows Mr. Putter and his cat Tabby as they embark on a summertime boat ride with their neighbor, Mrs. Teaberry. The story highlights themes of friendship and adventure, with gentle humor and delightful illustrations perfect for children ages 5 to 8. The book is suitable for early readers and contains no content concerns, making it an excellent choice for introducing young children to chapter books.
Why we rated Mr. Putter and Tabby Clear the Decks 7C
Mr. Putter and Tabby Clear the Decks is written at a Level 2 reading level across 44 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Mr. Putter and Tabby Clear the Decks works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate Mr. Putter and Tabby Clear the Decks 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, Mr. Putter and Tabby Clear the Decks explores friendship, family, humor, adventure, and summer — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, family, humor.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
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
3/10A 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
- 9780547505503
- Pages
- 44
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction