We have the books for Battle of the Books!
About the Battle of the Books
The purpose of the Battle of the Books is to:
- Promote recreational reading.
- Expose students to a variety of literature.
- Enhance reading comprehension and retention.
- Foster academic competition, and
- Develop the ability to work as a team.
The BISD Librarians select the books based on:
- Appropriate variety of reading levels and interests.
- Variety of genres, such as adventure, mystery, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, biography, folktales, fairytales and realistic fiction. (Due to the nature of Battle of the Books we have excluded other informational texts.)
- Variety of authors
- Quality books that are well written and timeless. Possible candidates may include: Newbery, Caldecott, Texas Bluebonnet Award and other award lists.
- Availability: Books should be in print. Paperback bindings are preferred.
Primary List
Links to all books can be found on the
Library's Pinterest page.
A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker
Bear's efforts to keep out visitors to his house are undermined by a very persistent mouse.
Last Stop on Market Street by Mat de la Pena
A young boy rides the bus across town with his grandmother and learns to appreciate the beauty in everyday things.
The Night Gardener by Terry Fan
Everyone on Grimloch Lane enjoys the trees and shrubs clipped into animal masterpieces after dark by the Night Gardener, but William, a lonely boy, spots the artist, follows him, and helps with his special work.
Dog vs Cat by Chris Gall
A dog and a cat, both newly adopted and forced to share a room, do not get along until a howling, smelly, terrifying newcomer unites them in a common cause.
The Bad Seed by Jory John
A grumpy bad seed tells lies, cuts in line and commits other naughty acts before declaring his intention to renounce his mischievous nature, an effort that is met by skepticism by his fellow seeds.
Barkus by Patricia MacLachlan
Barkus is a large and very smart dog who comes to live with seven-year-old Nicky when Nicky's Uncle Everton goes traveling--and soon he is a family and school favorite.
Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner
Celebrates the forms of life that live above and under a pond, including turtles, red-winged blackbirds, blue herons, minnows, frogs, and catfish.
After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) by Dan Santat
After falling off the wall, Humpty Dumpty is very afraid of climbing up again, but is determined not to let fear stop him from being close to the birds.
Not Quite Narwhal by Jessie Sima
Born deep in the ocean, Kelp is not like the other narwhals and one day, when he spies a creature on land that looks like him, he learns why.
Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion by Alex Smith
Safari-themed adaptation of the classic fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood.
The Dance of the Violin by Kathy Sinson
Young violinist Joshua Bell enters a competition determined to perform a difficult piece of music, but when he begins to play, he promptly makes a mistake and instead of leaving the stage, Joshua decides to ask the judges for a second chance.
Gone Camping: A Novel in Verse by Tamera Will Wissinger
Camping is fun. Until it's time to sleep. Then, Lucy wonders, what kinds of creatures lurk in the dark? With only her brother and grandpa as tent mates, will Lucy be able to face her camping fears?
Intermediate List
Links to all books can be found on the
Library's Pinterest page.
A Boy Called Bat by Elana Arnold
For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life tends to be full of surprises—some of them good, some not so good. Today, though, is a good-surprise day. Bat’s mom, a veterinarian, has brought home a stray baby skunk, which she needs to take care of until she can hand him over to a wild-animal shelter. But the minute Bat meets the kit, he knows they belong together. And he’s got one month to show his mom that a baby skunk might just make a pretty terrific pet.
Cici's journal : the adventures of a writer-in-training by Joris Chamblain
When aspiring writer Cici becomes obsessed with discovering the deepest secrets of the people around her, believing it will help her understand them, her friends and family suffer the consequences.
Losers Club by Andrew Clements
Alec, a sixth-grade bookworm always in trouble for reading instead of listening and participating in class, starts a book club, solely to have a place to read, and discovers that real life, although messy, can be as exciting as the stories in his favorite books.
Book Uncle and Me by Uma Krishnaswami
When the mayor tries to shut down the free lending library set up by Book Uncle, a retired teacher, Yasmin decides to do something about it.
Framed by James Ponti
In Washington, D.C., twelve-year-old Florian Bates, a consulting detective for the FBI, and his best friend Margaret help thwart the biggest art heist in United States history.
Esperanza Rising by Pam Monoz Ryan
Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave their life of wealth and privilege in Mexico to go work in the labor camps of Southern California, where they must adapt to the harsh circumstances facing Mexican farm workers on the eve of the Great Depression.
Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar
Tamaya Dhilwaddi and Marshall Walsh walk to and from school together since elementary school. But their routine is disrupted when bully Chad Wilson starts a fight with Marshall. To avoid Chad, Marshall and Tamaya take a shortcut home through the off-limits woods. They are soon lost, and they find trouble. More trouble than anyone could imagine.
Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh
Years before the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling Brown v. Board of Education, Sylvia Mendez, an eight-year-old girl of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage, played an instrumental role in Mendez v. Westminster, the landmark desegregation case of 1946 in California.
