The Garden of Abdul Gasazi
by Chris Van Allsburg
Assigned across 1 curriculum list
The Garden of Abdul Gasazi by Chris Van Allsburg 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 The Garden of Abdul Gasazi 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
- 34
- Reading time
- about 35 minutes (est.)
- First published
- 2025
- Genre
- Children's
- ISBN-13
- 9780547793900
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More formats & details
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About this book
From the astonishing imagination of Chris Van Allsburg (Jumanji, The Polar Express) A Caldecott Honor Book Sometimes that very thin line between illusion and reality is not as clearly defined as we would like it to be. It certainly wasn't the day that Alan Mitz stumbled into the garden of Abdul Gasazi. For in this bizarre and eerie place—where strange topiary trees loomed—the eerie visage of Gasazi casts its shadow. And even after Alan escapes, the spell of Gasazi still seems to penetrate into his everyday world. The very first picture book from the astonishing imagination of legendary Chris Van Allsburg explores both the real and surreal worlds with incredible deftness in this unusual tale. In doing so, he has created exquisite and beautiful images that will linger in the minds of readers
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Why widely assigned
This Children's title, typically at grades k–5. Written in the 2020s; cited across 1 curriculum framework.
Where this book is assigned
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award
- recommended·Kindergarten gradesource: Boston Globe–Horn Book Award winners, via Wikipedia — 1980 Winner
- recommended·1st gradesource: Boston Globe–Horn Book Award winners, via Wikipedia — 1980 Winner
- recommended·2nd gradesource: Boston Globe–Horn Book Award winners, via Wikipedia — 1980 Winner
- recommended·3rd gradesource: Boston Globe–Horn Book Award winners, via Wikipedia — 1980 Winner
- recommended·4th gradesource: Boston Globe–Horn Book Award winners, via Wikipedia — 1980 Winner
- recommended·5th gradesource: Boston Globe–Horn Book Award winners, via Wikipedia — 1980 Winner
Common questions
- What grade level is The Garden of Abdul Gasazi?
- The Garden of Abdul Gasazi 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 The Garden of Abdul Gasazi?
- It takes about 35 minutes to read The Garden of Abdul Gasazi (34 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 The Garden of Abdul Gasazi?
- The Garden of Abdul Gasazi appears on reading lists for Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is The Garden of Abdul Gasazi banned in schools?
- The Garden of Abdul Gasazi 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.