What Is It? (Modern Curriculum Press Beginning to Read Series)
Margaret Hillert
What Is It? (Modern Curriculum Press Beginning to Read Series)
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Margaret Hillert
Illustrated by Kinuko Craft
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
The red string pulls tight in your hands as you follow it across the playground. Two kids chase it, laughing, until suddenly it stops—right at the feet of someone unexpected. Who will they find waiting there?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This early reader book uses simple rhymes and repetitive text to engage children ages 5 to 8 who are developing their reading skills. It tells a gentle, imaginative story about curiosity and friendship without any challenging content, making it suitable for young readers. The book supports vocabulary building and early literacy through its rhythmic and accessible language.
Why we rated What Is It? (Modern Curriculum Press Beginning to Read Series) 7C
What Is It? (Modern Curriculum Press Beginning to Read Series) is written at a Level 2 reading level across 31 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, What Is It? (Modern Curriculum Press Beginning to Read Series) works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate What Is It? (Modern Curriculum Press Beginning to Read Series) 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, What Is It? (Modern Curriculum Press Beginning to Read Series) explores friendship, adventure, rhyming stories, and early literacy — 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 friendship, adventure, rhyming stories.
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
2/10A 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
- 9780813655567
- Pages
- 31
- Publisher
- Modern Curriculum Press
- Published
- May 1978
- Type
- Fiction