Cover of The Trumpet of the Swan

The Trumpet of the Swan

by E.B. White · Grades 3–6 · Middle Grade Fantasy

The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White is on US reading lists at grades 3–6. It appears on 3 lists: 3 book-award lists, across 3 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 8–11 · Grades 3–6 · 251 pages. The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9780008139438). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Widely assigned — 3 curriculum lists · 3 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:William Allen White Children's Book AwardOklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book AwardYoung Hoosier Book Award

This page shows where The Trumpet of the Swan 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
251
Reading time
about 4h 35m (est.)
First published
1970
Genre
Middle Grade Fantasy
ISBN-13
9780008139438

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.

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About this book

Book facts and sources (3)
On award reading lists
Catalog record
First published 1970 · 251 pages (edition lengths vary) (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

See all books like The Trumpet of the Swan→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This middle grade fantasy title is typically read at grades 3–6. Written in the 1970s; pairs with curriculum units on perseverance and family; cited on 3 lists: 3 book-award lists.

Themes

perseverance · family · courage · nature · animals

Where this book is recommended

The Trumpet of the Swan by the numbers: pages, reading time and where it is listed, on Book Statistics.

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Common questions

What grade level is The Trumpet of the Swan?
The Trumpet of the Swan is listed for grades 3–6. It appears on 3 state book-award lists across 3 states, from grade 3 to grade 8. Exact placement varies by school and district.
How long does it take to read The Trumpet of the Swan?
It takes about 4h 35m to read The Trumpet of the Swan (251 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 275 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign The Trumpet of the Swan?
The Trumpet of the Swan appears on reading lists for Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award, William Allen White Children's Book Award, Young Hoosier Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is The Trumpet of the Swan banned in schools?
The Trumpet of the Swan 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 Trumpet of the Swan explore?
Central themes in The Trumpet of the Swan include perseverance, family, courage, nature, animals.

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 3 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
On state book-award lists in 3 states (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: book-club.

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