1950s books assigned in 6th grade
US schools assign 21 books written in the 1950s to 6th grade students, across 10 states, spanning 680L–850L. Every title below is cited from a state ELA standard, district reading list, or AP/IB syllabus.
Most widely assigned from the 1950s
Old Yeller
Fred Gipson · on 4 reading lists
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- Titles
- 21
- Written
- 1950–1959
- Lexile range
- 680L–850L
- States assigning
- 10
The list — 1950s, 6th grade
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Amos Fortune, Free ManElizabeth Yates
And Now MiguelJoseph Krumgold
Brighty of the Grand CanyonMarguerite Henry
By the Shores of Silver LakeLaura Ingalls Wilder
Carry On, Mr. BowditchJean Lee Latham
Charlotte's WebE.B. White · 680L
Flaming ArrowsWilliam O. Steele
Ginger PyeEleanor Estes
Henry and the Paper RouteBeverly Cleary
Henry HugginsBeverly Cleary
Henry Reed, Inc.Keith Robertson
Little VicDoris Gates
Miracles on Maple HillVirginia Sorensen
Old YellerFred Gipson
Onion JohnJoseph Krumgold
Rifles for WatieHarold Keith
Secret of the AndesAnn Nolan Clark
The Diary of Anne FrankFrances Goodrich
The Helen Keller StoryCatherine Owens Peare
The Wheel on the SchoolMeindert De Jong
The Witch of Blackbird PondElizabeth George Speare · 850L
Most-assigned 1950s authors in 6th grade
Joseph Krumgold (2) · Beverly Cleary (2) · Marguerite Henry · E.B. White · Eleanor Estes · Keith Robertson
Common questions
- How many 1950s books are assigned in 6th grade?
- 21 books written between 1950 and 1959 appear on 6th grade reading lists tracked by ReadingList. Each one is cited from a state department of education, district list, or AP/IB syllabus.
- What Lexile range do these 1950s books cover?
- Lexile measures for the 1950s titles assigned in 6th grade run from 680L to 850L. Poetry, drama, and graphic novels without a published Lexile measure are not counted in that range.
- Are these assigned nationally or in a few states?
- 10 states assign at least one 1950s title at 6th grade in the lists tracked here, so this is a broad pattern rather than a single state's canon. Per-state lists are on each state page.