
Daphne's Book
by Mary Downing Hahn · Grades 4–8 · Realistic Fiction
Daphne's Book by Mary Downing Hahn is on US reading lists at grades 4–8. It appears on 1 list: the William Allen White Children's Book Award, across 1 state. Every citation below links to the primary source.
Free at your library: Libby
Before you buy: Ages 9–13 · Grades 4–8 · 177 pages. The button opens an Amazon search: pick the edition with ISBN 9780547016412 if that is the one your class uses.
Listen free on Audiblestarts instantlyPrefer an independent bookstore? Buy it on Bookshop.org →
Audible trial: new members only. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. ReadingList also earns a commission from Bookshop.org purchases, which supports independent bookstores.
Assigned across 1 curriculum list · 1 state
Grade placement varies by school — the median assigned book spans 4 grade levels (83% span three or more, across 13,258 source-cited assignments).
This page shows where Daphne's Book is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
Reading level at a glance
- Grade range
- Grades 4–8
- Age range
- Ages 9–13
- Pages
- 177
- Reading time
- about 3h 15m (est.)
- First published
- 1983
- Genre
- Realistic Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780547016412
Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-09-24; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.
Good fit for grade 4?
If you have read it with a child or a class in this grade, tell other parents and teachers. One tap, no account.
New to these terms? Reading levels by grade
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.
More like this
Same grade band, chosen by theme and by how many reading lists carry them. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Attaboy, Sam!Lois LowryAlso about family life · on 2 reading lists
Grades 4–6 · 122 pages
Check price on Amazon →
Fourth Grade RatsJerry SpinelliAlso about schools · on 2 reading lists
Grades 4–6 · 90 pages
Check price on Amazon →
Mr. Lincoln's WayPatricia PolaccoAlso about schools · on 2 reading lists
Grades 3–8 · 48 pages
Check price on Amazon →
The Cat Ate My GymsuitPaula DanzigerAlso about schools · on 2 reading lists
Grades 4–6 · 147 pages
Check price on Amazon →
The Fourteenth GoldfishJennifer L. HolmAlso about family life · on 2 reading lists
Grades 4–6 · 195 pages
Check price on Amazon →
Eight KeysSuzanne M. LaFleurAlso about schools · on 1 reading list
Grades 4–6 · 216 pages
Check price on Amazon →
Fig PuddingRalph J. FletcherAlso about family life · on 1 reading list
Grades 3–5 · 136 pages
Check price on Amazon →
Flying SoloRalph J. FletcherAlso about schools · on 1 reading list
Grades 4–6 · 138 pages
Check price on Amazon →
The Perfect ScoreRob BuyeaAlso about schools · on 1 reading list
Grades 3–8 · 368 pages
Check price on Amazon →
Trading Places with Tank TalbottDori Hillestad ButlerAlso about authorship · on 1 reading list
Grades 4–6 · 139 pages
Check price on Amazon →
Love That DogSharon CreechAlso about authorship · on 3 reading lists
Grades 4–8 · 92 pages
Check price on Amazon →
PieSarah WeeksAlso about family life · on 3 reading lists
Grades 3–8 · 183 pages
Check price on Amazon →
Similar grade-level books
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee · 870L
Of Mice and MenJohn Steinbeck · 630L
The GiverLois Lowry · 760L
The OutsidersS.E. Hinton · 750L
See all books like Daphne's Book→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Why it is assigned
This realistic fiction title is typically read at grades 4–8. Written in the 1980s; pairs with curriculum units on family problems and schools; cited on the William Allen White Children's Book Award.
Themes
Where this book is recommended
William Allen White Children's Book Award
- recommended·4th grade · Kansassource: William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — 1986 winner (4-8)
- recommended·5th grade · Kansassource: William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — 1986 winner (4-8)
- recommended·6th grade · Kansassource: William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — 1986 winner (4-8)
- recommended·7th grade · Kansassource: William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — 1986 winner (4-8)
- recommended·8th grade · Kansassource: William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — 1986 winner (4-8)
Did you find what you were looking for?
Thank you. We read every answer and use it to improve this site.
Common questions
- What grade level is Daphne's Book?
- Daphne's Book is listed for grades 4–8. It appears on 1 state book-award list across 1 state. Exact placement varies by school and district.
- How long does it take to read Daphne's Book?
- It takes about 3h 15m to read Daphne's Book (177 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 195 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- What curricula assign Daphne's Book?
- Daphne's Book appears on reading lists for William Allen White Children's Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Daphne's Book banned in schools?
- Daphne's Book 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. See the banned books list by state.
- What themes does Daphne's Book explore?
- Central themes in Daphne's Book include family problems, schools, authorship, family life.
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 4–8 — drawn from the state book-award lists citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
- State-level evidence
- On state book-award lists in 1 state (see citations above).
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- Tagged for: book-club.