Cover of Many Moons

Many Moons

by James Thurber · Grades K–3 · Fairy Tale/Folklore

Many Moons by James Thurber is on US reading lists at grades k–3. It appears on 1 list: the Caldecott Medal. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 5–8 · Grades K–3 · 47 pages. The button opens the print edition (ISBN 9780590322720). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Assigned across 1 curriculum list

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:Caldecott Medal

This page shows where Many Moons 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
47
Reading time
about 50 minutes (est.)
First published
1943
Genre
Fairy Tale/Folklore
ISBN-13
9780590322720

Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-09-23; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

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New to these terms? Reading levels by grade · What is the Caldecott Medal?

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Why it is assigned

This fairy tale/folklore title is typically read at grades k–3. Written in the 1940s; pairs with curriculum units on princesses and caldecott medal; cited on the Caldecott Medal.

Themes

princesses · caldecott medal · unicorns · illustration

Where this book is recommended

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Common questions

What grade level is Many Moons?
Many Moons is listed for grades K–3. It appears on 1 book-award list. Exact placement varies by school and district.
How long does it take to read Many Moons?
It takes about 50 minutes to read Many Moons (47 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 50 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Many Moons?
Many Moons appears on reading lists for Caldecott Medal. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Many Moons banned in schools?
Many Moons 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 Many Moons explore?
Central themes in Many Moons include princesses, caldecott medal, unicorns, illustration.

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 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
Not yet documented in a state-level framework on this site.
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: award-winner.

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