What to do? what to do?

Name: What to do? what to do?
Author: Toni Teevin
ISBN: 061844632X

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Toni Teevin

Reading Level 1-2 C · Gentle Ages 5-8 Matched

A Junior Library Guild selection

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 gentle with no concerning themes. Its HootRating code, C, means gentle content.

Find on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links.

About This Book

Sophie is busy baking her tastiest bread when a chorus of birds starts singing outside her window. At first, their sweet songs feel like a special gift just for her. But when their chirps turn into loud squawks, Sophie wonders—how will she get her quiet back?

Themes

LonelinessBirdsBakingFriendship Family

Quick Assessment

This gentle fiction story follows Sophie, an elderly woman who finds unexpected company in a group of birds. Through vibrant illustrations and simple text suitable for early readers, the book explores themes of loneliness and friendship in a lighthearted way. It is appropriate for children ages 5-8, with no concerning content.

Why we rated What to do? what to do? C (Gentle)

What to do? what to do? is written at a Level 1-2 reading level across 32 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 3 and up can manage What to do? what to do? on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate What to do? what to do? as C (Gentle) 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 to do? what to do? explores loneliness, birds, baking, friendship, 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about loneliness, birds, baking.
✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — What to do? what to do? carries an award.

Maybe not for

! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.

For Parents

Content Intensity

C · Gentle

Emotional

Mild

Physical

Gentle

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Gentle

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

No conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?