What reading level is Captain Awesome and the new kid?

Captain Awesome and the new kid by Stan Kirby is at a Level 3-4 reading level (Lexile 650L). Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is Captain Awesome and the new kid appropriate for?

Captain Awesome and the new kid is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 8C (Clear).

What genre is Captain Awesome and the new kid?

Captain Awesome and the new kid is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Captain Awesome and the new kid have any content warnings?

Captain Awesome and the new kid 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 Captain Awesome and the new kid?

Captain Awesome and the new kid by Stan Kirby is 112 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Captain Awesome and the new kid

Stan Kirby

Captain Awesome and the new kid

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Stan Kirby

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

Crunch! The snap of a cape in the wind signals adventure at Sunnyview Elementary. Captain Awesome and Nacho Cheese Man face a new challenge: a mysterious new kid whose true intentions are a puzzle. Meanwhile, a soft purr stirs a storm at the squad’s headquarters—can a new cat join the team, or will trouble follow?

Themes

FriendshipSchoolsSuperheroesCatsFiction

Quick Assessment

This early reader chapter book follows Captain Awesome and Nacho Cheese Man as they navigate friendship and trust with a new student at their school. With simple language and frequent illustrations, it supports emerging readers while exploring themes of friendship, acceptance, and teamwork. Suitable for ages 5-8, the story contains light superhero action without any intense content.

Why we rated Captain Awesome and the new kid 8C

Captain Awesome and the new kid is written at a Level 3-4 reading level with a Lexile measure of 650L across 112 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Captain Awesome and the new kid works for readers up to grade 5.5.

We rate Captain Awesome and the new kid 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, Captain Awesome and the new kid explores friendship, schools, superheroes, cats, and fiction — 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 friendship, schools, superheroes.