Cover of Whale Eyes

Whale Eyes

by James Robinson

Assigned across 1 curriculum list

Whale Eyes by James Robinson is assigned in US schools at grades 3–10. It appears across 1 curriculum reference, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where Whale Eyes 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 3–10
Pages
305
Reading time
about 5h 35m (est.)
First published
2026
Genre
Children's
ISBN-13
9780593523964
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About this book

From Emmy Award–winning documentary filmmaker James Robinson comes a breathtaking illustrated memoir for readers ages 10 and up—inspired by the viral, Emmy-nominated short film Whale Eyes. WINNER OF THE SCHNEIDER FAMILY BOOK AWARD • AN ORBIS PICTUS RECOMMENDED BOOK • A BEST BOOK THE YEAR: School Library Journal, NPR, BCCB, New York Public Library, and Chicago Public Library Told through an experimental mix of intimate anecdotes and interactive visuals, this book immerses readers in James’s experiences growing up with strabismus, allowing them to see the world through one eye at a time. Readers will get lost as they chase words. They’ll stare into this book while taking a vision test. They’ll hold it upside down as they practice “pretend-reading”…and they’ll follow an unlikely trail toward

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Why widely assigned

This Children's title, typically at grades 3–10. Written in the 2020s; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

Common questions

What grade level is Whale Eyes?
Whale Eyes is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–10. 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 Whale Eyes?
It takes about 5h 35m to read Whale Eyes (305 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 335 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Whale Eyes?
Whale Eyes appears on reading lists for Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Whale Eyes banned in schools?
Whale Eyes 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.

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 3–10 — 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
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
Tagged for: read-aloud.
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