The princess and the pig

Name: The princess and the pig
Author: Jonathan Emmett
ISBN: 9780802723352

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Jonathan Emmett

Reading Level 4-5 9C Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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 gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

Priscilla the princess is running through the royal nursery, but suddenly—she's not herself! Somehow, she's swapped places with Pigmella, the farmer’s piglet, and now everything is upside down. Will a kiss fix this fairy tale fiasco, or is this mix-up here to stay?

Themes

HumorFairy TalesAnimalsIdentity

Quick Assessment

This humorous middle-grade fiction follows a princess and a piglet who accidentally switch places, leading to funny and heartwarming adventures. Featuring playful nods to classic fairy tales and charming illustrations, it’s suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. The story explores themes of identity and happiness without any intense content.

Why we rated The princess and the pig 9C

The princess and the pig is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 700L across 32 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The princess and the pig works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The princess and the pig as 9C ("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 princess and the pig explores humor, fairy tales, animals, and identity — 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 humor, fairy tales, animals.

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.