The BFG
by Roald Dahl
The BFG by Roald Dahl is assigned in US schools at grades 3–6, with a Lexile measure of 720L. It appears across 1 curriculum reference, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where The BFG is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
- Lexile
- 720L
- Grade range
- Grades 3–6
- Difficulty for grade
- Within the grade 2–3 band (420–820L)
- Age range
- Ages 8–12
- Pages
- 208
- Reading time
- about 3h 50m (est.)
- First published
- 1982
- Genre
- Middle Grade Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780142410387
Reading difficulty: At 720L, The BFG falls within the typical 420–820L text-complexity range for 3rd grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge.
Where to find this book
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About this book
A giant who blows dreams into children's windows befriends the orphan Sophie, and together they plot to stop the man-eating giants terrorizing the countryside. Dahl's invented vocabulary ("whizzpoppers," "snozzcumbers") makes it a favorite for 3rd-5th grade phonics-game units.
Why widely assigned
This Middle Grade Fiction title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 3–6. Written in the 1980s; pairs with curriculum units on friendship and courage; cited across 1 curriculum framework.
Themes
friendship · courage · imagination · loneliness
Content notes
giants who eat children (fantastical)
Common Sense Media recommends age 7+.
Where this book is assigned
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
Similar grade-level books
The GiverLois Lowry · 760L
The Hunger GamesSuzanne Collins · 810L
Charlotte's WebE.B. White · 680L
MatildaRoald Dahl · 840L
See all books like The BFG→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is The BFG?
- The BFG is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–6, with a Lexile measure of 720L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What is the Lexile level of The BFG?
- The BFG has a Lexile measure of 720L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- How long does it take to read The BFG?
- It takes about 3h 50m to read The BFG (208 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 230 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- Is The BFG hard to read for 3rd grade?
- At 720L, The BFG falls within the typical 420–820L text-complexity range for 3rd grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.
- What curricula assign The BFG?
- The BFG appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Why this book is on this list
Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.
- Lexile measure
- 720L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
- Grade band
- Grades 3–6 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” 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
- No seasonal or program-specific tags on this book.