Red Dog Blue Fly
Sharon Bell Mathis
Red Dog Blue Fly
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Football Poems
by Sharon Bell Mathis
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
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to sprint down the field chasing a touchdown? Imagine the roar of the crowd, the thud of the ball, and the thrill of the game swirling around you. But what happens when the game is more than just football? That's the mystery waiting to be uncovered.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Red Dog Blue Fly is a collection of poems that capture the excitement and challenges of football through the eyes of young players. Suitable for early readers ages 5-8, it explores themes of practice, teamwork, competition, and resilience in a format that encourages a love of poetry and sports. Parents should know it includes mild references to sports injuries and the ups and downs of the game.
Why we rated Red Dog Blue Fly 7C
Red Dog Blue Fly 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, Red Dog Blue Fly works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate Red Dog Blue Fly 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril.
Thematically, Red Dog Blue Fly explores sports, poetry, friendship, and teamwork — 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 sports, poetry, friendship.
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.
Content Flags
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
- 9780606080651
- Pages
- 32
- Publisher
- Puffin
- Published
- September 1995
- Type
- Fiction