What grade level is The Butterfly?

The Butterfly is listed for grades 3–6. 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 The Butterfly?

It takes about 55 minutes to read The Butterfly (48 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 55 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign The Butterfly?

The Butterfly appears on reading lists for Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is The Butterfly banned in schools?

The Butterfly 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 The Butterfly explore?

Central themes in The Butterfly include jews, france, world war, 1939-1945, history.

The Butterfly

Name: The Butterfly
Availability: InStock
Author: Patricia Polacco
ISBN: 9780399231704

by Patricia Polacco · Grades 3–6 · Realistic Fiction

The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco is on US reading lists at grades 3–6. It appears on 1 list: the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania), across 1 state. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 8–11 · Grades 3–6 · 48 pages. The button opens the hardcover edition (ISBN 9780399231704). 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:Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania)

This page shows where The Butterfly 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 8–11
Pages: 48
Reading time: about 55 minutes (est.)
First published: 1972
Genre: Realistic Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780399231704

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 3?

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Similar grade-level books

See all books like The Butterfly→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why it is assigned

This realistic fiction title is typically read at grades 3–6. Written in the 1970s; pairs with curriculum units on jews and france; cited on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania).

Themes

jews · france · world war, 1939-1945 · history

Where this book is recommended

Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania)

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Common questions

What grade level is The Butterfly?: The Butterfly is listed for grades 3–6. 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 The Butterfly?: It takes about 55 minutes to read The Butterfly (48 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 55 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign The Butterfly?: The Butterfly appears on reading lists for Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is The Butterfly banned in schools?: The Butterfly 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 The Butterfly explore?: Central themes in The Butterfly include jews, france, world war, 1939-1945, history.

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.