What reading level is There was an old astronaut who swallowed the moon!?

There was an old astronaut who swallowed the moon! by Lucille Colandro is at a Level 2-3 reading level. Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is There was an old astronaut who swallowed the moon! appropriate for?

There was an old astronaut who swallowed the moon! is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 7C (Clear).

What genre is There was an old astronaut who swallowed the moon!?

There was an old astronaut who swallowed the moon! is fiction — Juvenile Nonfiction. Part of the There Was an Old Lady series.

Does There was an old astronaut who swallowed the moon! have any content warnings?

There was an old astronaut who swallowed the moon! 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.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

There was an old astronaut who swallowed the moon!

Lucille Colandro

There was an old astronaut who swallowed the moon!

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Lucille Colandro

There Was an Old Lady

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

An adventurous astronaut gobbles up the Moon and other space wonders, while two curious kids explore the mysteries of the Solar System. Join their playful journey through stars and planets that sparks wonder and learning about the universe.

Themes

Science & Nature Adventure Friendship Humor

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 There was an old astronaut who swallowed the moon! 7C

There was an old astronaut who swallowed the moon! is written at a Level 2-3 reading level (approximately 442 words). Strong independent readers around grade 3.8 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, There was an old astronaut who swallowed the moon! works for readers up to grade 4.8.

Read aloud, There was an old astronaut who swallowed the moon! takes about 3 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate There was an old astronaut who swallowed the moon! 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, There was an old astronaut who swallowed the moon! explores science & nature, adventure, friendship, and humor — 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 science & nature, adventure, friendship.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 21 more books in the There Was an Old Lady series.