This is the game
Diane ZuHone Shore
This is the game
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Diane ZuHone Shore
The text is written at a 4th 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
Feel the thrill as the baseball zips from the pitcher’s hand to the batter’s swing in a lively celebration of America’s favorite sport. From neighborhood games to roaring stadium crowds, energetic poems and bright pictures capture the excitement and history of baseball. Perfect for young readers ready to dive into the fun and rhythm of the game.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 4-5 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 5-8.
Why we rated This is the game 9C
This is the game is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 32 pages (approximately 555 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.6 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, This is the game works for readers up to grade 6.6.
Read aloud, This is the game takes about 4 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.
We rate This is the game 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, This is the game explores sports, american, children's poetry, and baseball — 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.
- ✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about sports, american, children's poetry.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
6/10Engaging read with solid pacing and interesting themes.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780060555221
- Pages
- 32
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 2010
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 555
- Read-Aloud
- ~4 min
- Text Density
- Picture-Heavy