What reading level is As Time Went By?

As Time Went By by José Sanabria is at a Level 3-4 reading level (Lexile 630L). Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is As Time Went By appropriate for?

As Time Went By is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 8C (Clear).

What genre is As Time Went By?

As Time Went By is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does As Time Went By have any content warnings?

As Time Went By has a HootRating of 8C (Clear). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is As Time Went By?

As Time Went By by José Sanabria is 48 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated July 16, 2026

As Time Went By

José Sanabria

As Time Went By

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by José Sanabria

Reading Level 3-4 8C Ages 5-8 Balanced Read

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 a magical ship could sail not just across the sea, but through time itself? Imagine watching it change from a fancy luxury liner to a place where everyone is welcome. But what secrets does this timeless journey hold for the people who love the ship most?

Themes

HistoricalTransportationConceptsFamilyInclusion

Quick Assessment

This beautifully illustrated book follows the journey of a steamship as it travels through different eras, showing how its purpose and the people around it change over time. Suitable for early readers aged 5-8, it introduces concepts of time, history, and social inclusion in an accessible way. Parents should know it gently explores ideas of change and community without intense content.

Why we rated As Time Went By 8C

As Time Went By is written at a Level 3-4 reading level with a Lexile measure of 630L across 48 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, As Time Went By works for readers up to grade 5.5.

We rate As Time Went By 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.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.

Thematically, As Time Went By explores historical, transportation, concepts, family, and inclusion — 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 historical, transportation, concepts.