Splash's secret friend

Name: Splash's secret friend
Author: Cathy Hapka
ISBN: 9780545750264

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Cathy Hapka

Illustrated by Hibbert, Hollie, illustrator

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

Bubbles pop and splash as dolphins race through the sparkling ocean waves. But today, Splash is nowhere to be seen at dolphin school, and Pearl, Echo, and Flip feel a flutter of worry deep in their fins. What secret could Splash be hiding beneath the shimmering surface of the sea?

Themes

Friendship AdventureJuvenile FictionAnimalsSchools

Quick Assessment

This early reader story follows a group of young dolphins as they navigate friendship and trust during the annual shark migration. When Splash befriends a lost young shark, the dolphins must decide whether to follow the rules or help someone in need. Suitable for ages 5-8, the book gently explores themes of empathy, courage, and overcoming fear in a child-friendly underwater setting.

Why we rated Splash's secret friend 8LE

Splash's secret friend is written at a Level 3 reading level with a Lexile measure of 530L across 95 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Splash's secret friend works for readers up to grade 5.0.

We rate Splash's secret friend 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, Splash's secret friend explores friendship, adventure, juvenile fiction, animals, and schools — 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, adventure, juvenile fiction.