Battle of the Books!
Each year, the Battle of the Books is open to all 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students. It is a great opportunity to read books, enjoy discussions about books with others, and experience reading as a "team sport" during competition. Each team will consist of four to six students, and teams will compete against teams from the same grade level only. There will be multiple copies of each title available in the Media Center. Fourth and fifth grade students read titles from Division I of the Maud Hart Lovelace nominees (see below). Third grade students will read selections from past Maud Hart Lovelace nominee lists (see the bottom of this page).
Each team member is expected to read five of the ten Battle books over the course of three months (four of the eight books for 3rd graders). Teams will meet with a parent coach during the school day (during lunch and recess) once each month. Each team participates with their grade level, answering questions about the books. Students are only required to read five Battle books to participate in 4th and 5th Grade, and four Battle books for 3rd Grade. Parents have the option to select the books they would like their student to read.
The Battle is held in February or early March each year. This year's Battle was held on March 5, 2020.
The new Maud Hart Lovelace Student Choice Book Award winner is announced each year on April 25th, Maud Hart Lovelace's birthday. Students at Red Rock vote for the award after they come back from Spring Break. This year due to Covid-19, voting has been extended so the winners will not be announced until sometime this summer.
The 2019-20 Maud Hart Lovelace Children's Choice Book Award winner in Division I is...
WISH by Barbara O'Connor
Click here to check out the Maud Hart Lovelace Web Site: Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award
Remember, students may vote for their favorite book for the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award if they have read 3 of the 12 books listed here. They do not need to participate in the Battle of the Books to be eligible to vote. Voting for the MHL Award takes place in March, with the statewide winner announced each year on April 25th, Maud Hart Lovelace's birthday, at the Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul.
Battle Books for 2020-21
To print a copy of the booklists, click here:
Fourth and Fifth Grade Battle List for 2020-21
Third Grade Battle List for 2020-21
(Thanks to Amazon and Follett for book covers and descriptions.)
For questions about the Battle, please contact Lois Williams, Reading Specialist, at lwilliam@sowashco.org.