Poetry with a Porpoise (with CD)
Rick Peoples
Poetry with a Porpoise (with CD)
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Rick Peoples
Illustrated by Rick Peoples
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
Poetry can make you laugh and think all at once! These poems come with music that brings each word to life, showing how being yourself and chasing your dreams can be a grand adventure. It's not just fun—it's a guide to growing up strong and kind.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book combines humorous and empathetic poetry with an accompanying CD of songs and readings to engage children ages 9 to 12. It addresses everyday challenges kids face, emphasizing self-improvement and goal-setting in a way that encourages meaningful conversations between adults and children. Suitable for middle-grade readers, it is a creative tool for fostering values and emotional growth.
Why we rated Poetry with a Porpoise (with CD) 9LE
Poetry with a Porpoise (with CD) is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 128 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Poetry with a Porpoise (with CD) works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Poetry with a Porpoise (with CD) as 9LE ("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, Poetry with a Porpoise (with CD) explores poetry, humor, friendship, coming of age, and family — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about poetry, humor, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — 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
- 9780966832839
- Pages
- 128
- Publisher
- Appenzell Press
- Published
- July 19, 1998
- Type
- Fiction