Battle of the Books: Information

BOTB Winners - 2025

3^rd Grade

1st Place - Johnsburg CSD

2nd Place - Big Cross Elementary

3rd Place - Lake Avenue Elementary

4^th Grade

1st Place - Hudson Falls Intermediate

2nd Place - St. Clement's 

3rd Place - Greenfield Elementary

5^th Grade

1st Place - Dorothy Nolan Elementary

2nd Place - Ballard Road Elementary

3rd Place - Warrensburg Elementary

6^th Grade

1st Place - Queensbury Middle

2nd Place - Argyle CSD

3rd Place - Ballston Spa Middle

Battle of the Books is organized by our local librarians to:

* Select up to 10 books per grade level to make this manageable and realistic 
* Add and/or remove titles each year as needed
* Include non-fiction as well as fiction material 

Here's an overview:

• Librarians serve as the contact person and/or coach, but coaching could be run by a teacher, parent or other adult.
• We recommend "scrimmages" along the way at your school to decide who will best represent your district.
• The teams will be organized by the following grade levels:
  • Third Grade
  • Fourth Grade
  • Fifth Grade
  • Sixth Grade

• Questions will be recall and recognition.
  • Please read the rules for more information
  • The questions for each grade level will be based on a set list of up to 10 books. The books have been carefully chosen by this, and previous, committees. We have chosen a blend of fiction and non-fiction to support the emphasis of building knowledge and reading texts carefully for comprehension and factual learning. 
  • There will be banners awarded to the winning schools for 1st through 3rd place

If there are more than 15 students per grade, it is up to the school to run "elimination" battles, since in-person teams going to SUNY Adirondack can have a maximum of 15 students. Battles compete in classrooms where there is limited space.

JUNE

• Booklists available

SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER

• Determine who will coach

• Begin to form teams

• Begin reading!

• Information Night for all coaches (October)

NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER

• Continue reading!

• Lunchtime and after-school discussions recommended

• Get approval for transportation to the event in March

• Finalize teams - registration of teams (December)

JANUARY

• Teams are encouraged to practice with self-created questions

• Continue reading!

• Go over rules and explain how the day will be run

FEBRUARY

• Complete reading of books

• In-school practice battles

• Select team captain (only the captains can speak for the team in competition). Choose alternate captain and team member(s)

• Letters to school administrators will go out from WSWHE SLS

MARCH

• District permission slips should be sent home for signature, if needed.

• Let the games begin!

APRIL/MAY

• Committee will meet to review competition and make suggestions for following year