Cover of Counting to Tar Beach

Counting to Tar Beach

by Faith Ringgold

Counting to Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold is assigned in US schools at grades k–5. 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 Counting to Tar Beach 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–5
Pages
14
Reading time
about 15 minutes (est.)
First published
1999
Genre
Picture Book
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About this book

Count all the good things from one to ten that Cassie and her family take to the rooftop for their scrumptious picnic on Tar Beach. Lemonade, chickens, watermelons, and chocolate chip cookies are just some of the things they're going to enjoy. Toddlers will love learning to count with this delicious introduction to numbers.

Why widely assigned

This Picture Book title, typically at grades k–5. Written in the 1990s; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

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Common questions

What grade level is Counting to Tar Beach?
Counting to Tar Beach is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades K–5. 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 Counting to Tar Beach?
It takes about 15 minutes to read Counting to Tar Beach (14 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 15 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Counting to Tar Beach?
Counting to Tar Beach appears on reading lists for Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Counting to Tar Beach banned in schools?
Counting to Tar Beach 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–5 — 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: read-aloud.