Cover of Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

by Maurice Sendak · Grades K–3 · Picture Book

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak is assigned in US schools at grades k–3, with a Lexile measure of 740L. It appears on 2 lists: 1 state standards document and 1 book-award list. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 4–8 · Grades K–3 · Lexile 740L · 48 pages. Content notes: mild peril (imaginary) (Common Sense Media: 4+). The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9780064431781). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Assigned across 2 curriculum lists

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:Caldecott Medal

This page shows where Where the Wild Things Are 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

Lexile
740L
Grade range
Grades K–3See the list:K1st2nd3rd
Listed most for
1st grade (3 of 8 cited list rows)
Age range
Ages 4–8
Pages
48
Reading time
about 55 minutes (est.)
First published
1963
Genre
Picture Book
ISBN-13
9780064431781

Sources: Lexile from MetaMetrics as recorded in our catalog (method); grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-06-20; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

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New to these terms? What is a Lexile level? · Reading levels by grade · What is the Caldecott Medal?

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About this book

Book facts and sources (2)
Award won
Named in curriculum frameworks
  • Common Core State Standards (ELA) (source: nysed.gov)
Catalog record
First published 1963 · 48 pages (edition lengths vary) (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Where the Wild Things Are→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why it is assigned

This picture book title reads at middle-grade prose complexity and is typically read at grades k–3. Written in the 1960s; pairs with curriculum units on imagination and anger and tantrums; cited on 2 lists: 1 state standards document and 1 book-award list.

Themes

imagination · anger and tantrums · home and family · wildness and order · boyhood

Content notes

mild peril (imaginary)

Common Sense Media recommends age 4+.

Where this book is assigned

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Common questions

What grade level is Where the Wild Things Are?
Where the Wild Things Are is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades K–3, with a Lexile measure of 740L. It appears on 3 school reading lists. Exact placement varies by school and district.
What is the Lexile level of Where the Wild Things Are?
Where the Wild Things Are has a Lexile measure of 740L 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 Where the Wild Things Are?
It takes about 55 minutes to read Where the Wild Things Are (48 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 55 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Where the Wild Things Are?
Where the Wild Things Are appears on reading lists for Caldecott Medal, Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Where the Wild Things Are banned in schools?
Where the Wild Things Are 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.

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
740L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
Grade band
Grades K–3 — drawn from the curriculum sources cited on this page.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 3 curricula 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: award-winner, summer.

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