What reading level is The first day of school?

The first day of school by Mercer Mayer is at a Level 1-2 reading level. Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is The first day of school appropriate for?

The first day of school is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 6C (Clear).

What genre is The first day of school?

The first day of school is fiction — Juvenile Fiction. Part of the Little Critter series.

Does The first day of school have any content warnings?

The first day of school has a HootRating of 6C (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 first day of school?

The first day of school by Mercer Mayer is 20 pages (approximately 284 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The first day of school

Mercer Mayer

The first day of school

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Mercer Mayer

Little Critter

Reading Level 1-2 6C Ages 5-8 Matched Page-Turner

The text is written at a 1st 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 Find on Bookshop.org

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

About This Book

Join Little Critter as he gets ready for his exciting first day at school, discovering new things and meeting friends along the way. Peek under the flaps to uncover fun surprises and see what adventures await him throughout the day. It's a perfect story for young readers eager to explore school life!

Themes

Friendship Coming of Age Family AdventureLift-the-flap books

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 1-2 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 5-8.

Why we rated The first day of school 6C

The first day of school is written at a Level 1-2 reading level across 20 pages (approximately 284 words). Strong independent readers around grade 2.3 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The first day of school works for readers up to grade 3.3.

Read aloud, The first day of school takes about 2 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate The first day of school as 6C ("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 first day of school explores friendship, coming of age, family, adventure, and lift-the-flap books — 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, coming of age, family.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 80 more books in the Little Critter series.