Pecos Bill
Steven Kellogg
Pecos Bill
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Steven Kellogg
Illustrated by Laura Robb
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
The crack of a whip and the thunder of hooves fill the air as Pecos Bill races across the vast Texas plains. Feel the dust swirl around you and hear the wild wind sing tales of his legendary adventures. Every moment bursts with excitement and the magic of a true cowboy hero.
Quick Assessment
This lively retelling of the Texas folklore hero Pecos Bill offers young readers an engaging introduction to American tall tales. Steven Kellogg's vivid illustrations and energetic storytelling make it an excellent choice for early readers ages 5 to 8. The book contains no intense content and is suitable for shared reading and classroom use.
Why we rated Pecos Bill 7C
Pecos Bill is written at a Level 2 reading level across 48 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Pecos Bill works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate Pecos Bill 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, Pecos Bill explores adventure, folklore, family, and humor — 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 adventure, folklore, family.
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
- 9780688099244
- Pages
- 48
- Publisher
- Harper Collins
- Published
- September 18, 1992
- Type
- Fiction