This home we have made
Anna Hammond
This home we have made
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Anna Hammond
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
The city streets buzz with lights and music as a magical parade sweeps by. A child without a home follows quietly, eyes wide with hope and wonder. Where will the parade lead her next?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This gently told story follows a homeless child who discovers a magical parade, inspiring hope and the possibility of finding a place to belong. Written for early readers aged 5-8, it introduces themes of homelessness with sensitivity and includes bilingual Spanish materials. Parents should know the book offers a warm, imaginative perspective on a difficult social issue appropriate for young children.
Why we rated This home we have made 6LE
This home we have made is written at a Level 1-2 reading level across 28 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 2.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, This home we have made works for readers up to grade 3.5.
We rate This home we have made as 6LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, This home we have made explores homelessness, bilingual, hope, 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 homelessness, bilingual, hope.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
6LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0517593394
- Pages
- 28
- Publisher
- Knopf Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 1993
- Type
- Fiction