Mad about swimming
Judith Heneghan
Mad about swimming
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Swimming
by Judith Heneghan
The text is written at a 2nd 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
Here's a secret: swimming isn't just about splashing around—it's a whole world of exciting strokes, speedy races, and underwater adventures. Imagine diving into water polo, exploring with snorkels, or even scuba diving beneath the waves—but that's only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This early reader introduces young children to various swimming techniques and aquatic sports, encouraging physical activity and water confidence. Suitable for ages 5-8, it combines simple language with engaging content about swimming, competitive clubs, and water-based activities like snorkeling and scuba diving.
Why we rated Mad about swimming 7C
Mad about swimming is written at a Level 2 reading level across 32 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Mad about swimming works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate Mad about swimming as 7C ("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, Mad about swimming explores sports, adventure, and juvenile literature — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about sports, adventure, juvenile literature.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780750282710
- Pages
- 32
- Publisher
- Wayland
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Nonfiction