When I Am Angry
Michael Gordon
When I Am Angry
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Kids Books about Anger, Ages 3 5, Children's Books
by Michael Gordon
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Hear the rumble inside your chest like thunder rolling in a storm. That’s anger, a fiery feeling that can roar or whisper. Learning to listen to it can turn big, hot emotions into something you can understand and control.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This gently illustrated picture book helps young children recognize and understand their feelings of anger as a natural and healthy emotion. It offers simple strategies suited for early readers to manage disappointment and express their emotions constructively. Appropriate for ages 5-8, the book supports emotional literacy with clear language and engaging rhymes.
Why we rated When I Am Angry 7LE
When I Am Angry is written at a Level 2 reading level across 30 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, When I Am Angry works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate When I Am Angry as 7LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, When I Am Angry explores emotional literacy, family, and friendship — 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 emotional literacy, family, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
What Is Anger
Michael Gordon
What Is Anger
Michael Gordon
I Can Handle My Anger
Michael Gordon
I Can Handle My Anger
Michael Gordon
I Feel... Angry
D. J. Corchin
I Feel... Angry
D. J. Corchin
I Feel Angry
Brian Moses
I Feel Angry
Brian Moses
I feel angry
Kelly Doudna
I feel angry
Kelly Doudna
I'm feeling ... angry
Lisa Regan
I'm feeling ... angry
Lisa Regan
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781961069053
- Pages
- 30
- Publisher
- Self-Regulation Skills
- Published
- 2023
- Type
- Fiction