Sleeping Beauty
Shannon Eric Denton
Sleeping Beauty
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Shannon Eric Denton
Illustrated by Dubisch, Michael, illustrator
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
Soft petals brush against your cheek as the gentle song of the forest fills the air. A princess sleeps peacefully, wrapped in a magical spell that only true love can break. Can you feel the hope and wonder waiting just beyond the silence?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This beautifully illustrated retelling of the classic 'Sleeping Beauty' fairy tale is designed for early readers ages 5 to 8. It introduces young children to timeless storytelling with simple text and engaging visuals, making it an excellent choice for emergent readers. The story gently explores themes of magic and hope without any intense or frightening content.
Why we rated Sleeping Beauty 7C
Sleeping Beauty 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, Sleeping Beauty works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate Sleeping Beauty 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, Sleeping Beauty explores children's nonfiction, sleeping beauty (tale), folklore, and princesses — 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 children's nonfiction, sleeping beauty (tale), folklore.
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
1/10A 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
- 9780750277556
- Pages
- 32
- Publisher
- Wayland
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction