What to Do When You Don't Want to Be Apart
Kristen Lavallee
What to Do When You Don't Want to Be Apart
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Separation Anxiety
by Kristen Lavallee
The text is written at a 3rd 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 if flying a hot air balloon meant leaving everything familiar behind? Imagine soaring high above the world, but feeling nervous about being away from your family. Could you find the courage to become the confident pilot of your own adventure?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This early reader gently addresses separation anxiety by guiding children through their fears with cognitive-behavioral strategies. Designed for ages 5-8, it uses the metaphor of hot air ballooning to help kids understand and manage feelings of being apart from their parents. The interactive approach supports both children and parents in building confidence and emotional resilience.
Why we rated What to Do When You Don't Want to Be Apart 8C
What to Do When You Don't Want to Be Apart is written at a Level 3 reading level across 92 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, What to Do When You Don't Want to Be Apart works for readers up to grade 5.0.
We rate What to Do When You Don't Want to Be Apart as 8C ("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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Fear & Anxiety.
Thematically, What to Do When You Don't Want to Be Apart explores separation anxiety, child psychology, family, and emotional resilience — 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 separation anxiety, child psychology, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
8C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Content Flags
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
- 9781433827136
- Pages
- 92
- Publisher
- Magination Press — American Psychological Association
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction