The Ferryboat Ride
Robert Perry
The Ferryboat Ride
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Robert Perry
Illustrated by Greta Guzek
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
This ferryboat isn’t just any boat—it sails through a magical world where whales fly and islands whisper secrets. Bright colors splash across every page, inviting you to spot seagulls, lighthouses, and tugboats on a journey you won’t forget. It’s not just a ride; it’s an adventure that shows how wondrous the world can be.
Quick Assessment
The Ferryboat Ride is a charming board book designed for early readers aged 5 to 8. Featuring simple four-line rhymes and vibrant illustrations, it introduces young children to the natural beauty of the British Columbia coastline, including wildlife and boats, in an engaging and imaginative way. The gentle storytelling and colorful visuals make it suitable for shared reading and early literacy development.
Why we rated The Ferryboat Ride 7C
The Ferryboat Ride 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, The Ferryboat Ride works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate The Ferryboat Ride 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, The Ferryboat Ride explores adventure, science & nature, friendship, 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 adventure, science & nature, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
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
2/10A 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
- 9780889711556
- Pages
- 32
- Publisher
- Gibsons, B.C. : Nightwood
- Published
- January 1, 1993
- Type
- Fiction