The Mouse and the Motorcycle
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary is assigned in US schools at grades 2–4, with a Lexile measure of 860L. It appears across 1 curriculum reference and 1 state, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where The Mouse and the Motorcycle is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
- Lexile
- 860L
- Grade range
- Grades 2–4
- Difficulty for grade
- Above the grade 2–3 band (420–820L)
- Age range
- Ages 7–10
- Pages
- 192
- Reading time
- about 3h 30m (est.)
- First published
- 1965
- Genre
- Middle Grade Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780380709243
Reading difficulty: At 860L, The Mouse and the Motorcycle reads above the typical 420–820L text-complexity range for 2nd grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a stretch text that may need scaffolding for the youngest assigned readers.
Where to find this book
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About this book
A mouse named Ralph befriends a boy at a mountain hotel and discovers he can ride the boy's toy motorcycle if he makes motor noises. Cleary's Newbery-honored novel is a staple early-chapter-book assignment in 2nd-4th grade.
Why widely assigned
This Middle Grade Fiction title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 2–4. Written in the 1960s; pairs with curriculum units on friendship and responsibility; cited across 1 curriculum framework.
Themes
Where this book is assigned
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
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 Mouse and the Motorcycle→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is The Mouse and the Motorcycle?
- The Mouse and the Motorcycle is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 2–4, with a Lexile measure of 860L. 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 Mouse and the Motorcycle?
- The Mouse and the Motorcycle has a Lexile measure of 860L 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 Mouse and the Motorcycle?
- It takes about 3h 30m to read The Mouse and the Motorcycle (192 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 210 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- Is The Mouse and the Motorcycle hard to read for 2nd grade?
- At 860L, The Mouse and the Motorcycle reads above the typical 420–820L text-complexity range for 2nd grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a stretch text that may need scaffolding for the youngest assigned readers. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.
- What curricula assign The Mouse and the Motorcycle?
- The Mouse and the Motorcycle 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
- 860L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
- Grade band
- Grades 2–4 — 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
- Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- No seasonal or program-specific tags on this book.