Battle of the Books

What is Battle of the Books?

Sponsored by the Niles Public Library, the Battle of the Books program promotes reading for students in 5th through 8th grades. It encourages students to read carefully for details and sharpen their comprehension skills. It provides an opportunity to expose students to a wide variety of quality literature that might not be covered in the classroom. It helps students build confidence and improve communication skills in a fun setting.

How does it work?

There are 15 books on each grade level's Battle of the Books list. Each person on your team should read at least five of the listed books. The more you read and remember, the stronger your team will be. 

How do the battles work?

Each team will be asked the same number of questions. Team members will have the opportunity to discuss the answer to each question within a 30-second time limit.  

When do the battles take place?

Battles usually begin in October and continue into December, with several local schools competing. At the end, all of the competitors, their families and their coaches are invited to an awards ceremony, where the winning school receives a plaque. Then everyone gets to hear a speech by an author of one of the books on the reading list. Some recent authors have been Adam Gidwitz, Katherine Hannigan, Candace Fleming, Wendelin Van Draanen and Dan Gutman. It's a great celebration, and one more important thing happens—students get their first look at the next year's Battle of the Books list so they can start reading all over again!

Battle of the Books Practice and Match Schedule 24-25
Battle of the Books Match Schedule 24-25

Sponsor:

Mr. Ed Rybicki
erybicki@niles71.org
Intervention Teacher