Cover of Mr. Tanen's Ties

Mr. Tanen's Ties

by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

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Assigned across 1 curriculum list · 1 state

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:Young Hoosier Book Award

Mr. Tanen's Ties by Maryann Cocca-Leffler 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 Mr. Tanen's Ties 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 5–8
Pages
32
Reading time
about 35 minutes (est.)
First published
1999
Genre
Realistic Fiction
ISBN-13
9780807553022

New to these terms? Reading levels by grade

More formats & details

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About this book

Mr. Tanen, the principal at Lynnhurst Elementary School, is well known for his colorful and unusual ties, but he and his students are saddened when his boss orders him to stop wearing them.

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Mr. Tanen's Ties→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Realistic Fiction title, typically at grades k–3. Written in the 1990s; pairs with curriculum units on neckties and schools; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Themes

neckties · schools · school principals · schools, fiction

Where this book is assigned

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Common questions

What grade level is Mr. Tanen's Ties?
Mr. Tanen's Ties 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.
How long does it take to read Mr. Tanen's Ties?
It takes about 35 minutes to read Mr. Tanen's Ties (32 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 35 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Mr. Tanen's Ties?
Mr. Tanen's Ties appears on reading lists for Young Hoosier Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Mr. Tanen's Ties banned in schools?
Mr. Tanen's Ties 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 Mr. Tanen's Ties explore?
Central themes in Mr. Tanen's Ties include neckties, schools, school principals, schools, fiction. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.

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
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.

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