Cover of Shark vs. Train

Shark vs. Train

by Chris Barton

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Assigned across 2 curriculum lists · 2 states

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 AwardMountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania)

Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton is assigned in US schools at grades k–3. It appears across 2 curriculum references and 2 states, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where Shark vs. Train 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
20
Reading time
about 20 minutes (est.)
First published
2010
Genre
Realistic Fiction
ISBN-13
9780316007627

New to these terms? Reading levels by grade

More formats & details

Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook

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About this book

A shark and a train compete in a series of contests on a seesaw, in hot air balloons, bowling, shooting baskets, playing hide-and-seek, and more.

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See all books like Shark vs. Train→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Realistic Fiction title, typically at grades k–3. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on new york times bestseller and nyt:picture_books=2010-07-04; cited across 2 curriculum frameworks.

Themes

new york times bestseller · nyt:picture_books=2010-07-04 · sharks · play

Where this book is assigned

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Common questions

What grade level is Shark vs. Train?
Shark vs. Train 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 Shark vs. Train?
It takes about 20 minutes to read Shark vs. Train (20 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 20 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Shark vs. Train?
Shark vs. Train appears on reading lists for Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania), Young Hoosier Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Shark vs. Train banned in schools?
Shark vs. Train 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 Shark vs. Train explore?
Central themes in Shark vs. Train include new york times bestseller, nyt:picture_books=2010-07-04, sharks, play. 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 2 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 2 states ELA frameworks 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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