Dadaji's Paintbrush
by Rashmi Sirdeshpande
Dadaji's Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande is assigned in US schools at grades k–3. 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 Dadaji's Paintbrush 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–3
- Age range
- Ages 4–8
- First published
- 2022
- Genre
- Picture Book
- ISBN-13
- 9781646142132
Where to find this book
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About this book
A boy in a small Indian village who loves to paint loses his beloved grandfather, Dadaji — and slowly finds his way back to joy by sharing Dadaji's paintbrush with a new friend. a 2026-2027 California Young Reader Medal (Primary) nominee.
Why widely assigned
This Picture Book title, typically at grades k–3. Written in the 2020s; pairs with curriculum units on grief and family; cited across 1 curriculum framework.
Where this book is assigned
California Young Reader Medal
- recommended·Kindergarten grade · Californiasource: California Young Reader Medal 2026-2027 Nominee List (Primary, Picture Books for Older Readers, Intermediate, Middle School/Junior High, Young Adult)
- recommended·1st grade · Californiasource: California Young Reader Medal 2026-2027 Nominee List (Primary, Picture Books for Older Readers, Intermediate, Middle School/Junior High, Young Adult)
- recommended·2nd grade · Californiasource: California Young Reader Medal 2026-2027 Nominee List (Primary, Picture Books for Older Readers, Intermediate, Middle School/Junior High, Young Adult)
- recommended·3rd grade · Californiasource: California Young Reader Medal 2026-2027 Nominee List (Primary, Picture Books for Older Readers, Intermediate, Middle School/Junior High, Young Adult)
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See all books like Dadaji's Paintbrush→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is Dadaji's Paintbrush?
- Dadaji's Paintbrush is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades K–3. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What curricula assign Dadaji's Paintbrush?
- Dadaji's Paintbrush appears on reading lists for California Young Reader Medal. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Dadaji's Paintbrush banned in schools?
- Dadaji's Paintbrush 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 Dadaji's Paintbrush explore?
- Central themes in Dadaji's Paintbrush include grief, family, art. 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 K–3 — 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.