The big game from the Black Lagoon
Mike Thaler
The big game from the Black Lagoon
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Mike Thaler
The text is written at a 3rd 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
What if your class had to face the big, tough older kids in a football game? Imagine scoring touchdowns — but only for the other team! Can Hubie and his friends turn this game around before it's too late?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This humorous early-reader story follows Hubie and his classmates as they take on older students in a school football game. Perfect for ages 5-8, it highlights themes of teamwork and perseverance with lighthearted fun. Parents should know it contains gentle sports competition and playful mishaps.
Why we rated The big game from the Black Lagoon 8LP
The big game from the Black Lagoon is written at a Level 3 reading level across 63 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The big game from the Black Lagoon works for readers up to grade 5.0.
We rate The big game from the Black Lagoon as 8LP ("Light — Physical") 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, The big game from the Black Lagoon explores schools, humor, football, and friendship — 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 schools, humor, football.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
8LP — Light — PhysicalNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
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
- 9781614796015
- Pages
- 63
- Publisher
- Chapter Books
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction