This is the Place For Me
Joanna Cole
This is the Place For Me
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Joanna Cole
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
What makes a place truly feel like home? Morty the bear explores a cozy cave, a yummy gingerbread house, a floating houseboat, and a tall teepee, hoping to find the perfect spot. But could the best home be the one he's known all along?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This gentle story follows Morty the bear as he searches for a new home, exploring various imaginative options before realizing the value of his original home. Suitable for early readers aged 5-8, it emphasizes themes of belonging and comfort without any intense content. The language and illustrations support emerging reading skills in a warm, engaging way.
Why we rated This is the Place For Me 7C
This is the Place For Me 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, This is the Place For Me works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate This is the Place For Me 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, This is the Place For Me explores home, family, animals, and children's fiction — 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 home, family, animals.
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
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
- 9780590339964
- Pages
- 32
- Publisher
- Scholastic
- Published
- 1987
- Type
- Fiction