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DC Battle of the Books

The BOB (Battle of the Books) is a district-wide reading motivation program based upon the current Three Stars nominated titles.  This program is sponsored by DCLA SLS (District of Columbia Library Association School Library Section).  Students in 4th-8th grades participate in this competition by simply reading the Three Stars titles listed on the DCLA SLS website and answering questions.   

DCLA SLS’s BOB mission is to encourage a culture of reading and introduce students to new and exciting titles that they might not normally read. We recognize that the in-person BOB competition is an annual event that staff and students enjoy and look forward to each year.  We hope to resume our in-person competition as funding and time allows.   

Virtual Battle of the Books 2024

Mark your calendars and begin sharing with your students and colleagues! The Battle of the Books working group is excited to announce details for the 2024 competition.  

This year’s Battle of the Books competition will take place virtually with the opportunity for the top 4 teams to attend an in-person battle. All D.C. upper elementary students (4th and 5th graders) and middle school students (6th, 7th, and 8th graders) are invited to join. This year’s Three Stars nominees will serve as the Battle of the Books picks.  The coach from each participating school MUST be a member of DC Library Association.  If not a member, join today.

If you are interested in coaching a Battle of the Books team at your school, please fill out this form (linked) so you will continue to receive communications about the event. Librarians who wish to have a set of books donated by the Junior League of Washington should complete the form by January 19th.  

Reach out to (catherine.fravel@k12.dc.gov) or the DCLA School Library Chair (eboni.henry@k12.dc.gov) with any questions. 

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Full details below: 

District-Wide Virtual Battle: Thursday, May 23rd (10AM for Upper Elementary, 1PM for Middle School) 

In-person Battle for top Upper Elementary + Middle School Teams: 

Thursday, May 30th at the Charles Sumner School. Upper Elementary, 10AM and Middle School, 12:30PM

Book Picks: Visit the DCLA Three Stars website (linked)  

Teams: Each school can have up to 3 teams of up to 5 students each.

NEW! Flyers to promote BOB at your school

Upper Elementary BOB Flyer.pdf                Middle School BOB Flyer.pdf

2024 BOOK LIST

UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

  1. Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega (Author), Rose Bousamra (Illustrator). ISBN-13: 978-1250259639. Published: October 18, 2022
  2. The Girl in the Lake by India Hill Brown. ISBN-13: 978-1338678895. Published: January 4, 2022
  3. Just a Girl: A True Story of World War II by Lia Levi (Author), Jess Mason (Illustrator), Sylvia Adrian Notini (Translator). ISBN-13: 978-0063065086. Published: March 22, 2022
  4. Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee. ISBN-13: 978-1984830272. Published: February 1, 2022
  5. Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas. ISBN-13: 978-0063225138. Published: April 4, 2023
  6. Not an Easy Win by Chrystal D. Giles. ISBN-13: 978-0593175217. Published: February 28, 2023
  7. A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga. ISBN-13: 978-0063113923. Published: October 4, 2022
  8. The Vanquishers by Kalynn Bayron. ISBN-13: 978-1547609772. Published: September 20, 2022

MIDDLE SCHOOL

  1. Different Kinds of Fruit by Kyle Lukoff. ISBN-13: 978-0593111185. Published: April 12, 2022
  2. The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander. ISBN-13: 978-0316441865. Published: September 27, 2022
  3. Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson. ISBN-13: 978-0316056618. Published: February 1, 2022
  4. Inheritance: A Visual Poem by Elizabeth Acevedo (Author), Andrea Pippins (Illustrator). ISBN-13: 978-0062931948. Published: May 3, 2022
  5. Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango (Author), Alyssa Bermudez (Illustrator). ISBN-13: 978-0593563977. Published: September 13, 2022.
  6. Miles Morales, Suspended by Jason Reynolds (Author), Zeke Peña (Illustrator). ISBN-13: 978-1665918466. Published: May 2, 2023.
  7. School Trip by Jerry Craft. ISBN-13: 978-0062885531. Published: April 4, 2023
  8. Undercover Latina by Aya de León. ISBN-13: 978-1536223743. Published: October 11, 2022

    Practice with Our Previous Virtual Battle of the Books Questions

    DC-area schools can participate in a Virtual Battle of the Books through Kahoot. In partnership with Junior League of Washington, questions were designed using titles from the Three Stars Book Award nominees from their respective years in the Upper Elementary and Middle School categories. Play at home or stage a virtual battle with students!

    2023 Upper ES and Middle School Questions (160 questions)

    2022 High School Battle of the Books (100 questions)

    2022 Middle School Battle of the Books (80 questions)

    2022 Upper Elementary Battle of the Books (80 questions)

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    2021 Middle School Battle of the Books (100 questions)

    2021 Upper Elementary Battle of the Books (80 questions)


    Middle school participants display their answers during the 2019 event at Dunbar HS



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