The cheetah

Name: The cheetah
Author: Philippe Dupont
ISBN: 0881064254

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

Fast as Lightning

by Philippe Dupont

Animal Close-Ups (Charlesbridge)

Reading Level 4-5 LP · Mild · Physical Ages 9-12 Balanced Read Page-Turner

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material. Its HootRating code, LP, means mild content, mostly physical.

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About This Book

Discover the thrilling world of African cheetahs as they navigate the challenges of family life and the struggle to survive in the wild. Follow their swift movements, fierce instincts, and close bonds in an exciting adventure full of nature's wonders.

Themes

AnimalsFamily SurvivalNature

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 4-5 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated The cheetah LP (Mild)

The cheetah is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 26 pages (approximately 1,257 words). Reading-wise, most kids in grade 5 and up can manage The cheetah on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

Read aloud, The cheetah takes about 8 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate The cheetah as LP (Mild, mostly physical) 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: Mild Peril.

Thematically, The cheetah explores animals, family, survival, and nature — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about animals, family, survival.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there is one more book in the Animal Close-Ups (Charlesbridge) series.
✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.

Maybe not for

! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.

For Parents

Content Intensity

LP · Mild · Physical

Emotional

Gentle

Physical

Mild ←

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Gentle

Reading 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

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.