Once Upon a Poem

Kevin Crossley-Holland, Peter Bailey, Sian Bailey, Carol Lawson, Chris McEwan

Cover of Once Upon a Poem

Once Upon a Poem

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

Favourite Poems that Tell Stories

by Kevin Crossley-Holland, Peter Bailey, Sian Bailey, Carol Lawson, Chris McEwan

Illustrated by Peter Bailey

Reading Level 4-5 Gentle (Lvl 1) Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

Did you know that some of the best stories ever told are actually poems? From magical creatures lurking in the shadows to twisted fairy tales, these verses hold secrets waiting to be discovered—but that's only the beginning.

Themes

English literature: poetry texts & anthologiesPicture booksFantasyAdventureHumorMythical

Quick Assessment

Once Upon a Poem is a beautifully illustrated anthology featuring a diverse collection of poems that retell classic and fantastical stories. Suitable for middle-grade readers, it offers an engaging introduction to poetry through well-known authors and vivid imagery. Parents can expect a mix of humor, adventure, and cautionary tales with no content concerns for ages 9-12.

For Parents

Content Intensity

Level 1 — Gentle
Gentle Mild Moderate Intense Very Intense

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

3/10

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
4
Emotional Weight
2
Theme Richness
6
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

128 pages
ISBN
9781904442745
Pages
128
Publisher
Chicken House Ltd
Published
October 3, 2005
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

English Literature: Poetry Texts & Anthologies