What grade level is Song of the Swallows?

Song of the Swallows 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 Song of the Swallows?

It takes about 45 minutes to read Song of the Swallows (40 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 45 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign Song of the Swallows?

Song of the Swallows appears on reading lists for Caldecott Medal. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is Song of the Swallows banned in schools?

Song of the Swallows 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.

Song of the Swallows

Name: Song of the Swallows
Availability: InStock
Author: Leo Politi

by Leo Politi

Assigned across 1 curriculum list

Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi is assigned in US schools at grades k–3. 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 Song of the Swallows 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
Pages: 40
Reading time: about 45 minutes (est.)
First published: 1949
Genre: Juvenile Fiction

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About this book

Relates the story of the annual return of the swallows to the mission of San Juan Capistrano in California.

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Why widely assigned

This Juvenile Fiction title, typically at grades k–3. Written in the 1940s; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

Caldecott Medal

Common questions

What grade level is Song of the Swallows?: Song of the Swallows 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 Song of the Swallows?: It takes about 45 minutes to read Song of the Swallows (40 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 45 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Song of the Swallows?: Song of the Swallows appears on reading lists for Caldecott Medal. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Song of the Swallows banned in schools?: Song of the Swallows 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–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: 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: award-winner.