What reading level is EllRay Jakes and the beanstalk?

EllRay Jakes and the beanstalk by Sally Warner is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 800L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is EllRay Jakes and the beanstalk appropriate for?

EllRay Jakes and the beanstalk is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is EllRay Jakes and the beanstalk?

EllRay Jakes and the beanstalk is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does EllRay Jakes and the beanstalk have any content warnings?

EllRay Jakes and the beanstalk has a HootRating of 10LE (Light — Emotional). 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 EllRay Jakes and the beanstalk?

EllRay Jakes and the beanstalk by Sally Warner is 127 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

EllRay Jakes and the beanstalk

Sally Warner

EllRay Jakes and the beanstalk

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Sally Warner

Illustrated by Biggs, Brian, illustrator

Reading Level 5-6 10LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 5th 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

The sharp scrape of wheels on concrete fills the air as EllRay watches the skateboarders zoom past. The scent of fresh pavement and summer sun mixes with the thrill of trying something new. Can EllRay master skateboarding and save his friendship before it’s too late?

Themes

FriendshipAfrican AmericansSkateboardingComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows EllRay, a young boy who tries to reconnect with his best friend by learning to skateboard. The story explores themes of friendship, identity, and trying new activities, suitable for readers ages 9 to 12. It offers a positive message about perseverance and social connection without any intense content.

Why we rated EllRay Jakes and the beanstalk 10LE

EllRay Jakes and the beanstalk is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 800L across 127 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, EllRay Jakes and the beanstalk works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate EllRay Jakes and the beanstalk as 10LE ("Light — Emotional") 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, EllRay Jakes and the beanstalk explores friendship, african americans, skateboarding, and coming of age — 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.
✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, african americans, skateboarding.

Maybe not for

! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.