Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Splat the Cat makes dad glad
Alissa Heyman
Splat the Cat makes dad glad
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Alissa Heyman
Illustrated by Rick Farley
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. Its HootRating code, C, means gentle content.
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About This Book
Splat and his dad sprint across the grassy field, tied together in the six-legged race. The crowd cheers as they stumble and laugh, but then—uh oh! Something unexpected happens that could change everything.
Quick Assessment
This easy-to-read book follows Splat the Cat as he tries to cheer up his dad after a soccer game loss by entering a fun father-son race at their school picnic. Designed for early readers aged 5-8, the story explores themes of winning, losing, and family support with humor and warmth. The text is simple and supportive for children developing reading skills.
Why we rated Splat the Cat makes dad glad C (Gentle)
Splat the Cat makes dad glad is written at a Level 2-3 reading level across 28 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 4 and up can manage Splat the Cat makes dad glad on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.
We rate Splat the Cat makes dad glad as C (Gentle) 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, Splat the Cat makes dad glad explores winning and losing, family, humor, and beginner reader — 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 winning and losing, family, humor.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
C · GentleReading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate
No conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062115997
- Pages
- 28
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction