The baseball game
Danae Dobson
The baseball game
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Danae Dobson
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
What would you do if you had to play baseball against the meanest kids at school? Connor and his friends stand on the field, hearts pounding, wondering if they can be brave and play fair. But the biggest challenge might not be winning the game...
Themes
Quick Assessment
This early reader story follows Connor and his friends as they face a challenging baseball game against bullies at school. The book emphasizes the values of fairness and sportsmanship within a Christian life context, making it suitable for young children ages 5 to 8. Parents should note the theme of dealing with bullying in a gentle and positive way.
Why we rated The baseball game 7LE
The baseball game is written at a Level 2 reading level across 36 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The baseball game works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate The baseball game as 7LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Bullying.
Thematically, The baseball game explores baseball, bullying, christian life, friendship, and sports — 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 baseball, bullying, christian life.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" 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
- 0849951143
- Pages
- 36
- Publisher
- Thomas Nelson Publishers
- Published
- 1996
- Type
- Fiction