Cover of The Trumpet of the Swan

The Trumpet of the Swan

by E.B. White

The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White is assigned in US schools at grades 3–6. 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 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.

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
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About this book

In E.B. White's 1970 fantasy, Louis is a trumpeter swan born without a voice. Unable to trumpet to win the swan he loves, he learns to read and write, then masters a real brass trumpet — playing in nightclubs and summer camps to earn the money to win her over. A tender story about finding your own way to be heard.

Why widely assigned

This Middle Grade Fantasy title, typically at grades 3–6. Written in the 1970s; pairs with curriculum units on perseverance and family; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Themes

perseverance · family · courage · nature · animals

Where this book is assigned

Similar grade-level books

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

Common questions

What grade level is The Trumpet of the Swan?
The Trumpet of the Swan is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–6. 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 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. 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. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.

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 3–6 — 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
Tagged for: book-club.