For the first time, students at Madison and Lincoln elementary schools have the opportunity to participate in a national reading program called “Battle of the Books”. The goal of the program is to support students in their love and discovery of reading by introducing them to quality literature and to develop friendships between students based upon socialization, competition, and mutual respect.

This year, the Battle of the Books program will be open to 4th and 5th grade students.  The students who are interested in participating will have until April 2010 to read as many books on the 2010 reading list as possible.  Some of the books on the list such as Dinosaurs Before Dark, the first book in the Magic Tree House series, the students will find easy to read, others such The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis, might be more challenging.   Many Madison students will recognize books on the reading list such as No Talking and Superfudge.  If they’ve already read some of the books, they’ll have a head start! 

In April there will be an exciting tournament of reading where teams of students will answer questions about the books they have read. Students do not have to read all 29 books on the 4th-6th grade list but they do have to read at least 10 of the books to participate in the Battle.  The books will be available in the school library and many titles are also available in the 4th and 5th grade classroom libraries. 

To register for the program, students should return the Battle of the Books form to their teacher or e-mail Caroline Osborne at acosborne@verizon.net.  You can download the form and a copy of the reading list from the Battle of the Books locker in the left hand column.

Join the 2010 Battle of the Books.   By encouraging students to read, this is a battle that everyone wins!