What reading level is Puppy Power?

Puppy Power by Judy Cox is at a Level 3 reading level (Lexile 500L). Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is Puppy Power appropriate for?

Puppy Power is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 8LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is Puppy Power?

Puppy Power is fiction — Dogs.

Does Puppy Power have any content warnings?

Puppy Power has a HootRating of 8LE (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 Puppy Power?

Puppy Power by Judy Cox is 90 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Puppy Power

Judy Cox

Puppy Power

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Judy Cox

Illustrated by Steve Bjorkman

Reading Level 3 8LE Ages 5-8 Matched

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 mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

The soft, fluffy fur of a giant Newfoundland puppy brushes against your cheek as it licks your hand excitedly. Fran’s puppy fills her days with loud barks and wild energy, making it hard for her to stay calm. But as she learns to train her furry friend, something amazing happens that helps her shine on stage.

Themes

Animals - DogsBullyingFriendship Coming of Age Family

Quick Assessment

This early chapter book follows Fran, a lively third-grader who struggles with self-control, as she learns responsibility through training her large Newfoundland puppy. The story gently addresses themes of managing behavior and overcoming challenges like bullying, making it suitable for ages 5-8. It also includes practical tips on puppy training, adding an educational element for young readers.

Why we rated Puppy Power 8LE

Puppy Power is written at a Level 3 reading level with a Lexile measure of 500L across 90 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Puppy Power works for readers up to grade 5.0.

We rate Puppy Power as 8LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

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

Thematically, Puppy Power explores animals - dogs, bullying, friendship, coming of age, 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 animals - dogs, bullying, friendship.