What reading level is When Penny met POTUS?

When Penny met POTUS by Rachel Ruiz is at a Level 3 reading level (Lexile 530L). Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is When Penny met POTUS appropriate for?

When Penny met POTUS is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 8C (Clear).

What genre is When Penny met POTUS?

When Penny met POTUS is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does When Penny met POTUS have any content warnings?

When Penny met POTUS has a HootRating of 8C (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.

How many pages is When Penny met POTUS?

When Penny met POTUS by Rachel Ruiz is 39 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated July 16, 2026

When Penny met POTUS

Rachel Ruiz

When Penny met POTUS

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Rachel Ruiz

Illustrated by Manwill, Melissa, illustrator

Reading Level 3 8C Ages 5-8 Balanced Read

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 gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

The sharp click of the Oval Office door echoes in Penny’s ears as she tiptoes through the grand room. The scent of polished wood and fresh flowers fills the air while Penny wonders: who—or what—is POTUS? Her curious heart races with every secret she uncovers, feeling a world of wonder just beneath her fingertips.

Themes

ImaginationPresidentsJuvenile fictionFriendship

Quick Assessment

This charming early reader follows Penny as she spends a day at her mother’s workplace, the White House, and embarks on an imaginative journey to understand POTUS. Suitable for ages 5-8, the story gently introduces presidential settings with playful elements like monsters, encouraging curiosity and creativity in young readers. The book is lighthearted with no intense content, making it perfect for early elementary children.

Why we rated When Penny met POTUS 8C

When Penny met POTUS is written at a Level 3 reading level with a Lexile measure of 530L across 39 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, When Penny met POTUS works for readers up to grade 5.0.

We rate When Penny met POTUS as 8C ("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, When Penny met POTUS explores imagination, presidents, juvenile fiction, and friendship — 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 imagination, presidents, juvenile fiction.