Not the quitting kind
Sarra J. Roth
Not the quitting kind
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sarra J. Roth
Illustrated by Bishop, Tracy, illustrator
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
What if trying something new always felt like failing at first? A brave girl takes on ballet, karate, and biking, tumbling and stumbling along the way—but she’s not the quitting kind. Find out how she turns those tricky first steps into a story worth cheering for.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This charming rhyming picture book follows a young girl who tries various activities and faces initial setbacks, ultimately learning the value of perseverance and self-confidence. Suitable for early readers aged 5 to 8, it offers a gentle, encouraging message about resilience without being heavy-handed. The diverse illustrations and relatable scenarios make it an excellent choice for parents and educators to support children in overcoming frustration and continuing to try new things.
Why we rated Not the quitting kind 6LE
Not the quitting kind is written at a Level 1-2 reading level across 32 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 2.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Not the quitting kind works for readers up to grade 3.5.
We rate Not the quitting kind as 6LE ("Light — Emotional") 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, Not the quitting kind explores perseverance, friendship, family, humor, and ability — 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 perseverance, friendship, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
6LE — Light — EmotionalNo 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781441314154
- Pages
- 32
- Publisher
- Peter Pauper Press
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction