What grade level is Oliver's Great Big Universe?

Oliver's Great Big Universe is listed for grades 3–6. It appears on 1 state book-award list across 1 state, from grade 3 to grade 5. Exact placement varies by school and district.

How long does it take to read Oliver's Great Big Universe?

It takes about 3 hours to read Oliver's Great Big Universe (162 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 180 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign Oliver's Great Big Universe?

Oliver's Great Big Universe appears on reading lists for South Carolina Children's Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is Oliver's Great Big Universe banned in schools?

Oliver's Great Big Universe 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 Oliver's Great Big Universe explore?

Central themes in Oliver's Great Big Universe include science, humor, middle school.

Oliver's Great Big Universe

Name: Oliver's Great Big Universe
Availability: InStock
Author: Jorge Cham
ISBN: 9781398520264

by Jorge Cham · Grades 3–6 · Middle Grade Fiction

Oliver's Great Big Universe by Jorge Cham is on US reading lists at grades 3–6. It appears on 1 list: the South Carolina Children's Book Award, across 1 state. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Free at your library: Libby

Before you buy: Ages 8–12 · Grades 3–6 · 162 pages. The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9781398520264). 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:South Carolina Children's Book Award

This page shows where Oliver's Great Big Universe 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 3–6
Age range: Ages 8–12
Pages: 162
Reading time: about 3 hours (est.)
First published: 2023
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
ISBN-13: 9781398520264

Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-06-09; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

Good fit for grade 3?

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Similar grade-level books

See all books like Oliver's Great Big Universe→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why it is assigned

This middle grade fiction title is typically read at grades 3–6. Written in the 2020s; pairs with curriculum units on science and humor; cited on the South Carolina Children's Book Award.

Themes

science · humor · middle school

Where this book is recommended

South Carolina Children's Book Award

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Common questions

What grade level is Oliver's Great Big Universe?: Oliver's Great Big Universe is listed for grades 3–6. It appears on 1 state book-award list across 1 state, from grade 3 to grade 5. Exact placement varies by school and district.
How long does it take to read Oliver's Great Big Universe?: It takes about 3 hours to read Oliver's Great Big Universe (162 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 180 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Oliver's Great Big Universe?: Oliver's Great Big Universe appears on reading lists for South Carolina Children's Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Oliver's Great Big Universe banned in schools?: Oliver's Great Big Universe 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 Oliver's Great Big Universe explore?: Central themes in Oliver's Great Big Universe include science, humor, middle school.

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 3–6 — 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.