Global Reading Challenge

2013 Winners!

This year’s winning team was:

Arcadia Elementary’s “Dopheide’s Dream Readers”

The other teams competing at the District Challenge were:

Milwood Elementary School
Northglade Montessori Magnet School
Parmount Charter Academy
MLK Westwood

Congratulations to all!

Arcadia Elementary’s “Dopheide’s Dream Readers,” 2013 District Challenge winners! | More photos on Flickr

What is the Global Reading Challenge?

The Global Reading Challenge is a Battle of the Books program sponsored by the Kalamazoo Public Library. The Challenge promotes the reading of fiction and nonfiction that celebrate the world's diverse community. The Global Reading Challenge is limited to 4th- and 5th-grade classes within the Kalamazoo Public Library District.

History

In the late 1930s two Chicago school librarians developed a program to test young readers' knowledge of good literature. The program reached thousands of Chicago school children and was quickly turned into a weekly radio quiz program known as "The Battle of the Books." Questions about characters, plots, and settings were answered by teams representing public elementary schools. Answers were usually the titles of well-known fiction books and biographies.

photo: George Kuttner

How it Works

Ten books are selected each year by Kalamazoo children's librarians, especially suited to the reading interests of their young readers. A wide range of reading levels is represented by selected books so all students can participate in the Challenge. Questions are based on specific factual and content information found within the 10 selected books.

In the month of March, school challenges are conducted in each school building by library staff. Branch challenges are then held at individual branches. Winning branch teams will compete in the District Challenge.