Simon Says
Sarah Willson
Simon Says
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
(Step-By-Step Readers)
by Sarah Willson
The text is written at a 1st 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
Simon is the best at playing Simon Says, and his dog is the fastest follower ever! When Simon gives a tricky command, can his clever dog keep up? It’s a playful race of laughs and surprises that shows why teamwork makes the game more fun than ever.
Quick Assessment
This simple and charming early reader follows a boy and his dog as they play the classic game Simon Says. With engaging, rhythmic text and familiar gameplay, it encourages listening skills and interaction for children ages 5 to 8. The book is suitable for beginning readers and contains no content concerns.
Why we rated Simon Says 6C
Simon Says is written at a Level 1-2 reading level across 1 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 2.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Simon Says works for readers up to grade 3.5.
We rate Simon Says as 6C ("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, Simon Says explores friendship, family, humor, and adventure — 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 friendship, family, humor.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
6C — 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
- 9781599390574
- Pages
- 1
- Publisher
- Reader's Digest Young Families
- Published
- July 2006
- Type
- Fiction