Cover of When You Can Swim

When You Can Swim

by Jack Wong

When You Can Swim by Jack Wong 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 When You Can Swim 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
2023
Genre
Children's
ISBN-13
9781338830989
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About this book

Winner of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Picture Book Award Winner of the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award A reverent celebration of learning to swim among a diverse cast of children and families who each experience the mysterious joys of water in nature. In this exploration of what it truly means to swim, expansive vignettes introduce sandpipers, tannin-soaked lakes, and the feeling of a small waterfall on sun-soaked shoulders. But what about those who are afraid of the water's mysterious ways and resist learning to swim? Painting a compelling picture of the many joys and surprises that the water holds, artist and author Jack Wong has delivered an empowering, poetic journey that invites children to discover their confidence within to receive the warmth and wonder of the natural world.

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

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Common questions

What grade level is When You Can Swim?
When You Can Swim 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 When You Can Swim?
It takes about 55 minutes to read When You Can Swim (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 When You Can Swim?
When You Can Swim appears on reading lists for Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is When You Can Swim banned in schools?
When You Can Swim 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.