Cover of Barrio

Barrio

by George Ancona

Assigned across 1 curriculum list

Barrio by George Ancona is assigned in US schools at grades k–5. 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 Barrio 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 K–5
Pages
52
Reading time
about 55 minutes (est.)
First published
1998
Genre
Picture Book
ISBN-13
9780152010485
Buy on AmazonListen free on Audible

As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

More formats & details

Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook

As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. Pricing, Prime, and trial terms shown on Amazon.

About this book

Welcome to José's neighborhood. In his barrio, people speak an easy mix of Spanish and English and sometimes even Chinese. The masked revelry of Halloween leads into the festive remembrances of the Day of the Dead. And murals on the walls and buildings sing out the stories of the people who live here. As familiar as any neighborhood yet as strange as a foreign country, Jose's barrio isn't in Mexico or Argentina--it's in San Francisco. Award-winning author and photographer George Ancona follows José through a season in the barrio, and in the process gives readers a glimpse of a community as rich and varied as America itself.

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Barrio→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Picture Book title, typically at grades k–5. Written in the 1990s; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

Common questions

What grade level is Barrio?
Barrio is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades K–5. 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 Barrio?
It takes about 55 minutes to read Barrio (52 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 Barrio?
Barrio appears on reading lists for Pura Belpré Illustrator Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Barrio banned in schools?
Barrio 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 K–5 — 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.
Buy on AmazonAudible

Affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases & membership trials.