Dickens & Rumi

book

There's a Fly Guy in My Soup

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Tedd Arnold · 2012

Is There's a Fly Guy in My Soup appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for There's a Fly Guy in My Soup by Tedd Arnold. This book is content notes include Frightening scenes, Products & advertising, Violence; positive qualities include Creativity & curiosity, Educational value.

Book 12 · Fly GuySource checked

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsFrightening scenes 1/5 · Products & advertising 1/5 · Violence 1/5
Strongest positivesCreativity & curiosity 3/5 · Educational value 2/5
Series positionBook 12 · Fly Guy
Recommendation2.3/5

Creativity & curiosity; strongest caution: frightening scenes.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Creativity & curiosity; strongest caution: frightening scenes.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Frightening scenes 1/5
Recommendation 2.3/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
10Scored categories
10Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Nov 7, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

Review depth10 scored categories10 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Frightening scenes1/5
  • Products & advertising1/5
  • Violence1/5

Strongest positives

  • Creativity & curiosity3/5
  • Educational value2/5
  • Good role models2/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

Next volumeBook 13 · Fly Guy and the FrankenflyStrongest cautions: Frightening scenes 2/5 · Products & advertising 1/5Open next review →
  1. Book 1 · Hi! Fly Guy
    Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 2 · Super Fly Guy!
    Frightening scenes1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  3. Book 3 · Shoo, Fly Guy!
    Frightening scenes1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  4. About the same
  5. Book 5 · Fly High, Fly Guy!
    Frightening scenes1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  6. Book 6 · Hooray for Fly Guy!
    Frightening scenes1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  7. Book 7 · I Spy Fly Guy!
    Frightening scenes1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  8. Book 8 · FLY GUY MEETS FLY GIRL
    Romance2/5Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5Violence1/5
    Gets more intense
  9. Book 9 · BUZZ BOY AND FLY GUYAges 5+
    Frightening scenes1/5
    Gets gentler
  10. Book 10 · Fly Guy Vs. the Flyswatter!
    Violence2/5Frightening scenes1/5
    Gets more intense
  11. Book 11 · Ride, Fly Guy, Ride!
    Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  12. Book 12 · There's a Fly Guy in My Soup
    Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  13. Book 13 · Fly Guy and the Frankenfly
    Frightening scenes2/5Products & advertising1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    Gets more intense
  14. Book 14 · Fly Guy's Amazing Tricks
    Frightening scenes1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    Gets gentler
  15. Book 15 · PRINCE FLY GUYAges 4+
    Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    Gets more intense
  16. Book 16 · Fly Guy's Ninja Christmas
    Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  17. Book 17 · Fly Guy's Big Family
    Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5
    Gets gentler
  18. Book 18 · Fly Guy and the Alienzz
    Frightening scenes2/5Products & advertising1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    Gets more intense
  19. Book 19 · Attack of the 50-Foot Fly Guy!
    Frightening scenes2/5Violence2/5Products & advertising1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same

Keep going

What should you do next?

One review should lead naturally to the next useful choice.

What’s in it?

Products & advertising1/5
Why this rating?

The restaurant setting may show ordinary food and dining, but the story does not strongly promote products or brands.

Frightening scenes1/5
Why this rating?

The fly-in-soup situation may briefly seem unpleasant, but it is played for silly humor rather than fear.

Violence1/5
Why this rating?

Only mild cartoon-style mishaps and comic trouble; there is no serious fighting or injury.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience1/5
Why this rating?

Characters deal with a socially awkward, silly situation, but the story does not center on major fear or hardship.

Creativity & curiosity3/5
Why this rating?

The playful premise and imaginative friendship with a fly encourage humorous, inventive thinking.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

The story offers limited human social representation; its focus is a child and an anthropomorphic fly rather than diverse backgrounds.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

Its main purpose is reading practice and vocabulary development, with incidental learning about a restaurant situation.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Friendship and cooperation are present, though kindness is secondary to the comic adventure.

Positive messages2/5
Why this rating?

It encourages friendship, humor, and handling embarrassing problems with creativity rather than panic.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

The child protagonist and Fly Guy are appealing, though the comedy includes mischievous behavior and limited moral instruction.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What was the most imaginative idea in the story, and what would you add to it?
  2. Which moment felt most tense or frightening? What helped the characters handle fear?
  3. Which choice in There's a Fly Guy in My Soup would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in There's a Fly Guy in My Soup, and what caused that change?
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Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

Community signal

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These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

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