What reading level is Riding the ferry with Captain Cruz?

Riding the ferry with Captain Cruz by Alice K. Flanagan is at a Level 2-3 reading level. Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is Riding the ferry with Captain Cruz appropriate for?

Riding the ferry with Captain Cruz is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 7C (Clear).

What genre is Riding the ferry with Captain Cruz?

Riding the ferry with Captain Cruz is nonfiction — Juvenile Nonfiction. Part of the Our Neighborhood series.

Does Riding the ferry with Captain Cruz have any content warnings?

Riding the ferry with Captain Cruz has a HootRating of 7C (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 Riding the ferry with Captain Cruz?

Riding the ferry with Captain Cruz by Alice K. Flanagan is 32 pages (approximately 260 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Riding the ferry with Captain Cruz

Alice K. Flanagan

Riding the ferry with Captain Cruz

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Alice K. Flanagan

Our Neighborhood

Reading Level 2-3 7C Ages 5-8 Balanced Read Page-Turner

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

Join Captain Cruz as he steers the ferry across the water, carrying passengers between Staten Island and New York City. Discover what it takes to be a ferry captain through easy-to-understand words and colorful photos that bring the journey to life.

Themes

OccupationsAdventureTransportationFriendship

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 2-3 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 5-8.

Why we rated Riding the ferry with Captain Cruz 7C

Riding the ferry with Captain Cruz is written at a Level 2-3 reading level across 32 pages (approximately 260 words). Strong independent readers around grade 3.3 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Riding the ferry with Captain Cruz works for readers up to grade 4.3.

Read aloud, Riding the ferry with Captain Cruz takes about 2 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate Riding the ferry with Captain Cruz 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, Riding the ferry with Captain Cruz explores occupations, adventure, transportation, and friendship — 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about occupations, adventure, transportation.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 24 more books in the Our Neighborhood series.
✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.