What grade level is The Houdini Box?

The Houdini Box is listed for grades 3–6. It appears on 2 state book-award lists across 2 states. Exact placement varies by school and district.

How long does it take to read The Houdini Box?

It takes about 1h 5m to read The Houdini Box (60 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 65 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign The Houdini Box?

The Houdini Box appears on reading lists for Rhode Island Children's Book Award, Texas Bluebonnet Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is The Houdini Box banned in schools?

The Houdini Box 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 Houdini Box explore?

Central themes in The Houdini Box include magicians, magicians, fiction, escape (psychology), conduct of life.

The Houdini Box

Name: The Houdini Box
Availability: InStock
Author: Brian Selznick
ISBN: 9780679854487

by Brian Selznick · Grades 3–6 · Fantasy

The Houdini Box by Brian Selznick is on US reading lists at grades 3–6. It appears on 2 lists: 2 book-award lists, across 2 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 8–11 · Grades 3–6 · 60 pages. The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9780679854487). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Assigned across 2 curriculum lists · 2 states

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:Rhode Island Children's Book Award Texas Bluebonnet Award

This page shows where The Houdini Box 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: 60
Reading time: about 1h 5m (est.)
First published: 1991
Genre: Fantasy
ISBN-13: 9780679854487

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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About this book

Book facts and sources (2)

On award reading lists: Rhode Island Children's Book Award (source: olis.ri.gov)
Texas Bluebonnet Award (source: txla.org)
Catalog record: First published 1991 · 60 pages (edition lengths vary) (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

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

Why it is assigned

This fantasy title is typically read at grades 3–6. Written in the 1990s; pairs with curriculum units on magicians and magicians, fiction; cited on 2 lists: 2 book-award lists.

Themes

magicians · magicians, fiction · escape (psychology) · conduct of life

Where this book is recommended

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Common questions

What grade level is The Houdini Box?: The Houdini Box is listed for grades 3–6. It appears on 2 state book-award lists across 2 states. Exact placement varies by school and district.
How long does it take to read The Houdini Box?: It takes about 1h 5m to read The Houdini Box (60 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 65 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign The Houdini Box?: The Houdini Box appears on reading lists for Rhode Island Children's Book Award, Texas Bluebonnet Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is The Houdini Box banned in schools?: The Houdini Box 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 Houdini Box explore?: Central themes in The Houdini Box include magicians, magicians, fiction, escape (psychology), conduct of life.

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 2 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence: On state book-award lists in 2 states (see citations above).
Removal / banning records: No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags: Tagged for: book-club.