What reading level is XO, Ox?

XO, Ox by Adam Rex is at a Level 3-4 reading level (Lexile 610L). Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is XO, Ox appropriate for?

XO, Ox is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 8C (Clear).

What genre is XO, Ox?

XO, Ox is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does XO, Ox have any content warnings?

XO, Ox 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 XO, Ox?

XO, Ox by Adam Rex is 38 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

XO, Ox

Adam Rex

XO, Ox

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

A Love Story

by Adam Rex

Illustrated by Campbell, Scott, 1973- illustrator

Reading Level 3-4 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

Love letters have never been this funny! An ox falls head over hooves for a gazelle, and their wild, wacky letters will have you roaring with laughter. This story shows why even the biggest differences can’t stop true feelings.

Themes

Humor FriendshipLoveAnimalsLetters

Quick Assessment

XO, Ox is a humorous fictional story told through letters between an ox and a gazelle, exploring themes of love and friendship with playful language suitable for early readers aged 5 to 8. The book's lighthearted approach to differences and affection encourages empathy and reading engagement without any intense content.

Why we rated XO, Ox 8C

XO, Ox is written at a Level 3-4 reading level with a Lexile measure of 610L across 38 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, XO, Ox works for readers up to grade 5.5.

We rate XO, Ox 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, XO, Ox explores humor, friendship, love, animals, and letters — 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 humor, friendship, love.