Cover of Tikki Tikki Tembo

Tikki Tikki Tembo

by Arlene Mosel

Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel 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 Tikki Tikki Tembo 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
48
Reading time
about 55 minutes (est.)
First published
2007
Genre
Children's
ISBN-13
9781466815520
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About this book

Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo- chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo! Three decades and more than one million copies later children still love hearing about the boy with the long name who fell down the well. Arlene Mosel and Blair Lent's classic re-creation of an ancient Chinese folktale has hooked legions of children, teachers, and parents, who return, generation after generation, to learn about the danger of having such an honorable name as Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo. Tikki Tikki Tembo is the winner of the 1968 Boston Globe - Horn Book Award for Picture Books.

Why widely assigned

This Children's title, typically at grades k–5. Written in the 2000s; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

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Common questions

What grade level is Tikki Tikki Tembo?
Tikki Tikki Tembo 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 Tikki Tikki Tembo?
It takes about 55 minutes to read Tikki Tikki Tembo (48 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 55 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Tikki Tikki Tembo?
Tikki Tikki Tembo appears on reading lists for Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Tikki Tikki Tembo banned in schools?
Tikki Tikki Tembo 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.