Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Wild Animals!
Laurent Richard
Wild Animals!
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Laurent Richard
The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Tao steps into the role of teacher, helping his little brother handle bullies and training his cat in ninja moves. As a new student with a secret crush joins Master Snow's school, Tao's days become a whirlwind of fun, friendship, and unexpected challenges. Can he juggle all the excitement and still find time to relax?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 2-3 book with gentle content intensity. Content themes include bullying. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated Wild Animals! 7C
Wild Animals! is written at a Level 2-3 reading level across 64 pages (approximately 1,941 words). Strong independent readers around grade 3.7 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Wild Animals! works for readers up to grade 4.7.
Read aloud, Wild Animals! takes about 13 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.
We rate Wild Animals! 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Bullying.
Thematically, Wild Animals! explores friendship, family, humor, martial arts, and adventure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, family, humor.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 3 more books in the Tao, the Little Samurai series.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7C — 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
10/10High engagement — fast-paced, fun, and hard to put down. Great for reluctant readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
More in the Tao, the Little Samurai Series
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781467720984
- Pages
- 64
- Publisher
- Lerner Publishing Group
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 1,941
- Read-Aloud
- ~13 min
- Text Density
- Picture-Heavy