What grade level is In a Dark, Dark Room?

In a Dark, Dark Room is listed for grades K–3. 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 In a Dark, Dark Room?

It takes about 1h 10m to read In a Dark, Dark Room (64 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 70 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign In a Dark, Dark Room?

In a Dark, Dark Room appears on reading lists for Virginia Readers' Choice. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is In a Dark, Dark Room banned in schools?

In a Dark, Dark Room 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 In a Dark, Dark Room explore?

Central themes in In a Dark, Dark Room include horror tales, folklore, horror stories, tales.

In a Dark, Dark Room

Name: In a Dark, Dark Room
Availability: InStock
Author: Alvin Schwartz
ISBN: 9780590450287

by Alvin Schwartz · Grades K–3 · Mystery

In a Dark, Dark Room by Alvin Schwartz is on US reading lists at grades k–3. It appears on 1 list: the Virginia Readers' Choice, across 1 state. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 5–8 · Grades K–3 · 64 pages. The button opens the print edition (ISBN 9780590450287). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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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).

On reading-award lists:Virginia Readers' Choice

This page shows where In a Dark, Dark Room 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 K–3
Age range: Ages 5–8
Pages: 64
Reading time: about 1h 10m (est.)
First published: 1984
Genre: Mystery
ISBN-13: 9780590450287

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.

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Similar grade-level books

See all books like In a Dark, Dark Room→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why it is assigned

This mystery title is typically read at grades k–3. Written in the 1980s; pairs with curriculum units on horror tales and folklore; cited on the Virginia Readers' Choice.

Themes

horror tales · folklore · horror stories · tales

Where this book is recommended

Virginia Readers' Choice

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Common questions

What grade level is In a Dark, Dark Room?: In a Dark, Dark Room is listed for grades K–3. 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 In a Dark, Dark Room?: It takes about 1h 10m to read In a Dark, Dark Room (64 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 70 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign In a Dark, Dark Room?: In a Dark, Dark Room appears on reading lists for Virginia Readers' Choice. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is In a Dark, Dark Room banned in schools?: In a Dark, Dark Room 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 In a Dark, Dark Room explore?: Central themes in In a Dark, Dark Room include horror tales, folklore, horror stories, tales.

Why this book is on this list

How we classify

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 K–3 — 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.