Cover of Tacky the Penguin

Tacky the Penguin

by Lester, Helen.

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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:Nebraska Golden Sower Award

Tacky the Penguin by Lester, Helen. 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 Tacky the Penguin 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
1988
Genre
Humor
ISBN-13
9780395455364

New to these terms? Reading levels by grade

More formats & details

Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook

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About this book

Tacky the penguin does not fit in with his sleek and graceful companions, but his odd behavior comes in handy when hunters come with maps and traps.

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Tacky the Penguin→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Humor title, typically at grades k–3. Written in the 1980s; pairs with curriculum units on individuality and penguins; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Themes

individuality · penguins · human behavior · behavior

Where this book is assigned

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Common questions

What grade level is Tacky the Penguin?
Tacky the Penguin 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 Tacky the Penguin?
It takes about 35 minutes to read Tacky the Penguin (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 Tacky the Penguin?
Tacky the Penguin appears on reading lists for Nebraska Golden Sower Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Tacky the Penguin banned in schools?
Tacky the Penguin 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 Tacky the Penguin explore?
Central themes in Tacky the Penguin include individuality, penguins, human behavior, behavior. 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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