Attaboy, Sam!
by Lois Lowry
Assigned across 2 curriculum lists · 2 states
Attaboy, Sam! by Lois Lowry is assigned in US schools at grades 4–6. It appears across 2 curriculum references and 2 states, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where Attaboy, Sam! is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
Audible trial: new members only. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.
- Grade range
- Grades 4–6
- Age range
- Ages 9–11
- Pages
- 122
- Reading time
- about 2h 15m (est.)
- First published
- 1992
- Genre
- Realistic Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780544582361
More formats & details
Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook
As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. Pricing, Prime, and trial terms shown on Amazon.
About this book
Sam is able to help his sister Anastasia with the poem she is writing for their mother's birthday, but his own efforts to create a special perfume are disastrous.
Similar grade-level books
The GiverLois Lowry · 760L
RememberToni Morrison
The Hunger GamesSuzanne Collins · 810L
HatchetGary Paulsen · 1020L
See all books like Attaboy, Sam!→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Why widely assigned
This Realistic Fiction title, typically at grades 4–6. Written in the 1990s; pairs with curriculum units on gifts and birthdays; cited across 2 curriculum frameworks.
Themes
gifts · birthdays · family life · family
Where this book is assigned
Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award
- recommended·4th grade · Arkansassource: Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award — Arkansas's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-6): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
- recommended·5th grade · Arkansassource: Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award — Arkansas's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-6): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
- recommended·6th grade · Arkansassource: Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award — Arkansas's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-6): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA)
- recommended·4th grade · Iowasource: Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) — Iowa's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 3-6): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
- recommended·5th grade · Iowasource: Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) — Iowa's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 3-6): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
- recommended·6th grade · Iowasource: Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) — Iowa's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 3-6): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
Was this page helpful?
Common questions
- What grade level is Attaboy, Sam!?
- Attaboy, Sam! is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–6. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- How long does it take to read Attaboy, Sam!?
- It takes about 2h 15m to read Attaboy, Sam! (122 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 135 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- What curricula assign Attaboy, Sam!?
- Attaboy, Sam! appears on reading lists for Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award, Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Attaboy, Sam! banned in schools?
- Attaboy, Sam! does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
- What themes does Attaboy, Sam! explore?
- Central themes in Attaboy, Sam! include gifts, birthdays, family life, family. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.
Why this book is on this list
How we classifyHide
Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.
- Lexile measure
- Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
- Grade band
- Grades 4–6 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Cited in 2 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
- State-level evidence
- Cited in 2 states ELA frameworks or DOE list (see citations above).
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- Tagged for: book-club.