The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza
by Mac Barnett
The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza by Mac Barnett is assigned in US schools at grades 2–5. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
- Grade range
- Grades 2–5
- Age range
- Ages 7–11
- Pages
- 323
- Reading time
- about 5h 55m (est.)
- First published
- 2022
- Genre
- Middle Grade Graphic Novel
- ISBN-13
- 9780063084100
Where to find this book
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About this book
The moon is being eaten by rats, and the only one who can save it is a cat — launched into space alongside a toenail-clipping robot and the Queen of the Moon. Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris's absurd, laugh-out-loud graphic novel. A recent winner of the Garden State Children's Book Award (grades 2-5), the New Jersey Library Association's statewide children's-choice award — children across NJ read the nominees and vote for their favorites.
Why widely assigned
This Middle Grade Graphic Novel title, typically at grades 2–5. Written in the 2020s; pairs with curriculum units on space and humor.
Themes
space · humor · adventure · friendship
Where this book is assigned
No curriculum assignments on file yet.
Similar grade-level books
Charlotte's WebE.B. White · 680L
MatildaRoald Dahl · 840L
The BFGRoald Dahl · 720L
Bridge to TerabithiaKatherine Paterson · 810L
See all books like The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza?
- The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 2–5. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- How long does it take to read The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza?
- It takes about 5h 55m to read The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza (323 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 355 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- Is The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza banned in schools?
- The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza 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 The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza explore?
- Central themes in The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza include space, humor, adventure, friendship. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.
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
- Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
- Grade band
- Grades 2–5 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Not yet documented in any tracked curriculum.
- 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.