The new dragon book of verse
Michael Harrison, Christopher Stuart-Clark
The new dragon book of verse
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Michael Harrison, Christopher Stuart-Clark
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Here’s a secret: poems can take you on amazing journeys from roaring seas to mysterious forests. You’ll meet brave animals, curious children, and even whispers of history and war—but that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This collection offers a diverse range of poems exploring themes like nature, people, and historical reflections suitable for children aged 9 to 12. The language and content are appropriate for middle-grade readers, providing an engaging introduction to English poetry without intense or sensitive topics.
Why we rated The new dragon book of verse 11C
The new dragon book of verse is written at a Level 6 reading level across 267 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The new dragon book of verse works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The new dragon book of verse as 11C ("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 new dragon book of verse explores children's poetry, english poetry, nature, history, and reflection — 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about children's poetry, english poetry, nature.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 0198312407
- Pages
- 267
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Published
- 1977
- Type
- Fiction