What reading level is The Costume Contest?

The Costume Contest by Mariah Balaban is at a Level 2-3 reading level. Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is The Costume Contest appropriate for?

The Costume Contest is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 7C (Clear).

What genre is The Costume Contest?

The Costume Contest is fiction — Clifford (Fictitious character : Bridwell). Part of the Clifford, The Big Red Dog; Clifford, The Big Red Dog: Big Red Reader series.

Does The Costume Contest have any content warnings?

The Costume Contest has a HootRating of 7C (Clear). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is The Costume Contest?

The Costume Contest by Mariah Balaban is 36 pages (approximately 473 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The Costume Contest

Mariah Balaban

The Costume Contest

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Mariah Balaban

Clifford, The Big Red Dog; Clifford, The Big Red Dog: Big Red Reader

Reading Level 2-3 7C Ages 5-8 Balanced Read Page-Turner

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.

Buy on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

With Halloween just around the corner, Clifford is on a fun quest to pick the perfect costume for trick-or-treating. Join him as he explores exciting ideas and gets ready for a night full of treats and laughter with his friends. It’s a delightful story about creativity and celebration!

Themes

Friendship Family HumorCelebration

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 2-3 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 5-8.

Why we rated The Costume Contest 7C

The Costume Contest is written at a Level 2-3 reading level across 36 pages (approximately 473 words). Strong independent readers around grade 3.3 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Costume Contest works for readers up to grade 4.3.

Read aloud, The Costume Contest takes about 3 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate The Costume Contest 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, The Costume Contest explores friendship, family, humor, and celebration — 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, family, humor.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 2 more books in the Clifford, The Big Red Dog; Clifford, The Big Red Dog: Big Red Reader series.