The Great Smelly, Slobbery, Small-Tooth Dog
MacDonald, Margaret Read.
The Great Smelly, Slobbery, Small-Tooth Dog
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Folktale from Great Britain
by MacDonald, Margaret Read.
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.
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About This Book
The air is thick with the sharp, slobbery scent of a great dog who’s as smelly as he is brave. Barking loudly, he charges through the dark woods, ready to save the day. But what will happen when he asks for a surprising reward that changes everything?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This charming British folk tale features a brave but smelly and slobbery dog who rescues a wealthy man from bandits and then requests that the man’s beautiful daughter come live in his castle. Suitable for early readers ages 5-8, the story uses simple language and familiar fairy tale elements to engage young children. Parents should note the mild themes of rescue and reward typical of traditional folklore.
Why we rated The Great Smelly, Slobbery, Small-Tooth Dog 7C
The Great Smelly, Slobbery, Small-Tooth Dog is written at a Level 2 reading level across 32 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Great Smelly, Slobbery, Small-Tooth Dog works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate The Great Smelly, Slobbery, Small-Tooth Dog 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 Great Smelly, Slobbery, Small-Tooth Dog explores fairy tales & folklore, adventure, friendship, and family — 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 fairy tales & folklore, adventure, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7C — ClearNo 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
- 9780874838084
- Pages
- 32
- Publisher
- august house
- Published
- October 25, 2007
- Type
- Fiction