The dolphin, prince of the waves

Name: The dolphin, prince of the waves
Author: Renée Le Bloas-Julienne
ISBN: 0881064408

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Renée Le Bloas-Julienne

Animal Close-Ups (Charlesbridge)

Reading Level 5-6 10C Ages 9-12 Balanced Read Page-Turner

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

Discover the fascinating world of bottlenose dolphins as you explore their unique features, lively habits, and the journey they take through life. Dive into the ocean to learn what makes these playful creatures so special and how they navigate their underwater home.

Themes

Science & NatureAnimals

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5-6 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated The dolphin, prince of the waves 10C

The dolphin, prince of the waves is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 27 pages (approximately 1,455 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.3 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The dolphin, prince of the waves works for readers up to grade 7.3.

Read aloud, The dolphin, prince of the waves takes about 10 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate The dolphin, prince of the waves as 10C ("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, The dolphin, prince of the waves weaves together science & nature and animals.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 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 science & nature, animals.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there is one more book in the Animal Close-Ups (Charlesbridge) series.
✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.

Maybe not for

! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.