Please excuse Jaspar
Nathan Zimelman
Please excuse Jaspar
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Nathan Zimelman
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
What if every time you missed school, your mom wrote the most surprising and silly excuses? Imagine notes about wild adventures and curious mishaps that explain why Jaspar isn’t in class. But what happens when the teacher starts reading them out loud?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This charming early reader follows Jaspar, whose mother writes creative and humorous notes to explain his absences from school. Perfect for ages 5-8, it encourages imagination and reading confidence while exploring everyday school experiences. The book contains light humor and gentle themes suitable for young children.
Why we rated Please excuse Jaspar 7C
Please excuse Jaspar is written at a Level 2 reading level across 32 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Please excuse Jaspar works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate Please excuse Jaspar 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, Please excuse Jaspar explores excuses, letters, humor, and school life — 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 excuses, letters, humor.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
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
2/10A 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
- 068731643X
- Pages
- 32
- Publisher
- Abingdon Press
- Published
- 1987
- Type
- Fiction