Cover of Song of the Swallows

Song of the Swallows

by Leo Politi · Grades K–3 · Juvenile Fiction

Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi is on US reading lists at grades k–3. It appears on 1 list: the Caldecott Medal. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Grades K–3 · 40 pages. The button opens the hardcover edition (ISBN 9780808528234). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Assigned across 1 curriculum list

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:Caldecott Medal

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.

Reading level at a glance

Grade range
Grades K–3
Pages
40
Reading time
about 45 minutes (est.)
First published
1949
Genre
Juvenile Fiction
ISBN-13
9780808528234

Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-06-20; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

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New to these terms? Reading levels by grade · What is the Caldecott Medal?

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Why it is assigned

This juvenile fiction title is typically read at grades k–3. Written in the 1940s; cited on the Caldecott Medal.

Where this book is recommended

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Common questions

What grade level is Song of the Swallows?
Song of the Swallows is listed for grades K–3. It appears on 1 book-award list. Exact placement varies by school and district.
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

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 the book-award lists citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where recommended” 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.

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