What reading level is EllRay Jakes the recess king!?

EllRay Jakes the recess king! by Sally Warner is at a Level 3-4 reading level (Lexile 690L). Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is EllRay Jakes the recess king! appropriate for?

EllRay Jakes the recess king! is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 8C (Clear).

What genre is EllRay Jakes the recess king!?

EllRay Jakes the recess king! is fiction — Juvenile Nonfiction.

Does EllRay Jakes the recess king! have any content warnings?

EllRay Jakes the recess king! 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 EllRay Jakes the recess king!?

EllRay Jakes the recess king! by Sally Warner is 166 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated June 9, 2026

EllRay Jakes the recess king!

Sally Warner

EllRay Jakes the recess king!

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Sally Warner

Illustrated by Biggs, Brian, illustrator

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

EllRay Jakes is not just any kid—he’s the king of recess! With his brilliant ideas for fun games, he’s about to turn the playground into the coolest place ever. But can he find a friend who loves recess as much as he does?

Themes

FriendshipSchool StoriesAfrican American BoysFamily

Quick Assessment

EllRay Jakes the Recess King is a delightful story about friendship and creativity set in an elementary school. Perfect for early readers aged 5-8, it highlights themes of social connection and African American family life without any intense content. The book encourages positive social skills and imaginative play.

Why we rated EllRay Jakes the recess king! 8C

EllRay Jakes the recess king! is written at a Level 3-4 reading level with a Lexile measure of 690L across 166 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, EllRay Jakes the recess king! works for readers up to grade 5.5.

We rate EllRay Jakes the recess king! 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, EllRay Jakes the recess king! explores friendship, school stories, african american boys, and family — 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, school stories, african american boys.