This Is Tap!
Selene Castrovilla
This Is Tap!
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Savion Glover Finds His Funk
by Selene Castrovilla
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
Tromp, tromp, tromp! Savion's feet are flying across the floor, making music with every step. But what happens when his tapping turns into something no one has ever seen before?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This vibrant picture book biography tells the inspiring story of Savion Glover, a tap dancer who transformed the art form with his unique blend of jazz and hip-hop influences. Perfect for early readers ages 5-8, it combines rhythmic text and bold illustrations to celebrate creativity and cultural heritage. Parents should note the book emphasizes self-expression and perseverance without any intense content.
Why we rated This Is Tap! 7C
This Is Tap! is written at a Level 2 reading level across 40 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, This Is Tap! works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate This Is Tap! 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, This Is Tap! explores recreation, biography, dance, creativity, and multicultural — 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 recreation, biography, dance.
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
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780823438631
- Pages
- 40
- Publisher
- Holiday House
- Published
- 2023
- Type
- Fiction