Each school year, fifth graders across the Shenendehowa Central Schools look forward to the opportunity to participate in the Battle of the Books – a competition that combines reading, trivia, friends, and fun. The CPH Friends sponsors the program each year – funding t-shirts for the final battle (this year on March 18 at Karigon and Orenda Elementary Schools), trophies, and snacks.
The Clifton Park Halfmoon Public Library also sponsors a first-round competition between multiple teams each year. This opens the program to non-Shen students in the library district, which is important as it provides access to the broader community. It also enables students from different schools to join the same team and strengthen friendships (or meet new friends ahead of middle school!). The library also allows fourth graders to participate, a unique feature that can help some students get a head start.
Samantha Green, a youth services librarian at CPH Library who leads the program there, sees this as an opportunity not just for those who already love reading. “Two years ago, I was chatting with a mom whose son hated reading, but was competitive.” The mom signed him up as a fourth grader, and the competition format fueled his reading. “He came back the following year, recruited his friends, and now he’s in accelerated reading in middle school.
“Battle of the Books is a nationwide movement that is adapted to what works locally, including book selections. Librarians from each elementary school and the library’s youth services department meet to nominate, discuss, and vote on books for each of the two rounds of competition. The books range in genre and topics for each battle. They often include non popular book (as a hook for reluctant readers), one graphic novel, one nonfiction – with a large array of diversity represented.
They also try to choose a book that delves into a deeper world issue to help kids learn more and pique their interest; last year’s was Linked by popular author Gordon Korman, which follows a group of current-day students as they learn more about the Holocaust and take action to empower themselves after finding a swastika painted on a wall in their school.
Each team must read the same five books per round – then battle in a head-to-head trivia competition where they answer a series of 24 questions, including two wagering questions (at the mid-point and end of the battle). The format ensures deep reading, while also introducing fun and strategy with the bigger wagers.
“I love hearing the kids really form a team,” said Samantha, “and I love hearing them discuss what they liked and didn’t like about the books. You can really see them progress from shallow reading to deep reading. Also, the kids are just fantastic kids, and it’s fun getting to know them.”
Each first-round battle winner faces off in the final competition on Wednesday, March 18, which is open to the public. The library’s team – the Kitty Queens – will take on the winners of each elementary school at Karigon and Orenda to crown the Battle of the Books champion!