Cover of Dash (Dogs of World War II)

Dash (Dogs of World War II)

by Kirby Larson

Dash (Dogs of World War II) by Kirby Larson is assigned in US schools at grades 4–7. It appears across 3 curriculum references and 2 states, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where Dash (Dogs of World War II) 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 4–7
Pages
256
Reading time
about 4h 40m (est.)
First published
2016
ISBN-13
9780545416368
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About this book

Although Mitsi Kashino and her family are swept up in the wave of anti-Japanese sentiment following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mitsi never expects to lose her home -- or her beloved dog, Dash. But, as World War II rages and people of Japanese descent are forced into incarceration camps, Mitsi is separated from Dash, her classmates, and life as she knows it. The camp is a crowded and unfamiliar place, whose dusty floors, seemingly endless lines, and barbed wire fences begin to unravel the strong Kashino family ties. With the help of a friendly neighbor back home, Mitsi remains connected to Dash in spite of the hard times, holding on to the hope that the war will end soon and life will return to normal. Though they've lost their home, will the Kashino family also lose their sense of family?

Where this book is assigned

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Common questions

What grade level is Dash (Dogs of World War II)?
Dash (Dogs of World War II) is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–7. 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 Dash (Dogs of World War II)?
It takes about 4h 40m to read Dash (Dogs of World War II) (256 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 280 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Dash (Dogs of World War II)?
Dash (Dogs of World War II) appears on reading lists for Garden State Children's Book Award, Nevada Young Readers' Award, Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Dash (Dogs of World War II) banned in schools?
Dash (Dogs of World War II) 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 4–7 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 3 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 2 states ELA frameworks or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: award-winner, book-club.