Battle of the Books

Ann K Heiman's Battle of the Books Competition has begun! Check out the Coach and Parent information, gather your team, and get reading!

A Closer Look at Battle of the Books

Battles of the Books is a question and answer type of competition among teams of 3-5 students, who have all read from the same list of 12-15 books. Competitions take place in each school and among schools in the spring.

The Battle of the Books program that we work with comes from the Alaska Association of School Librarians. They create the booklists and questions used for the year. We work within the context of their guidelines and competition protocols.

Battle of the Books is a year-long program in 3 parts.

What does BOB require?

What are the benefits?

Guidelines for Organizing BOB

These guidelines are used for both school and district competitions. They follow Alaska's competition guidelines and rules.

Each team will participate in three battles. A battle consists of eight rounds of questiosn for each team. The judge will ask a question to Team A, then Team B, then Team C (if needed). There is a 30 second time limit on the team spokesperson to give an answer. The timer/scorer will enter the points scored for each question on the score sheet. After the battle is completed, each team will be invited to the score table to see its score. The other scores will be covered. When it is time, each team will move on the next battle and repeat the process. Please remind students that they are not to enter the next room until the door is opened and the precious battle is complete.
No help is allowed during the competition from coaches, judges, audience members, extra team members or anyone else.
Ask for the spokesperson to identify themselves by name before the contest begins. There should be 3 or 4 members on a team. If a team has 5 members, one of them must be an alternate and sit separate from the team. Teams may substitute an alternate at the end of a battle to participate in the next battle.
You will notice that each question begins with the words, "In which book does..." After the test question is asked, the timer will start the 30 second timer. When 10 seconds remain, the timer will say "10 seconds left." When the full 30 seconds has elapsed, the timer will say, "Time is up." After the spokesperson gives the answer, the judge repeats the correct answer without any further comment. If the spokesperson has not answered within 2-3 seconds, the judge will say "I need an answer now." If 2-3 seconds again pass, the judge will give the answer and no points are awarded.
A team is free to discuss answers with their own teammates during their 30 seconds. The other teams should not be talking or distracting the team at this time. The judge should give reminders as necessary to any teams violating this rule.
Based on the answer given by the spokesperson, the timer/scorer will assign the point total for each question (round) answered. If necessary, consult the judge for scoring a question. Work together as a team.
A total of 8 points is possible for each question. The correct title is worth 5 points. The correct author is worth 3 points. Correct title and author is worth 8 points. For each question, a team may earn 8, 5, 3, or 0 points.
It is okay for the judge to repeat a question when asked by the spokesperson, but it will count off on the 30 second time limit.
Challenge:
- If a team disagrees with the answer the judge gives, they must immediately call for a challenge. The timer/scorer will need to get a copy of the book that is requested by the team. The sets can be found where the coordinator designates. The team is given two minutes to find the exact page and passage in the book that proves their answer is also correct. Key words in the question and answer are important. The spokesperson will briefly explain to the judge the basis and proof for their challenge. Points may be awarded based on their original answer. The judge's decision is final. Unnecessary challenges are discouraged, and a series of unfounded challenges will penalize a team. On challenges, the timer will give the team 2 minutes to prove their answer once they have been given the book they requested. Announce time remaining in 30 second increments.
When the battle is completed, total each team's score and sign the score sheet (judge and timer). Teams may be shown their score, but the score should remain confidential to each team. Send the signed score sheets to the library after each battle.

Competition Guidelines & Rules

These guidelines are used for both school and district competitions. They follow Alaska's competition guidelines and rules.

Each team will participate in three battles. A battle consists of eight rounds of questions for each team. The judge will ask a question to Team A, then Team B, then Team C (if needed). There is a 30 second time limit on the team spokesperson to give an answer. The timer/scorer will enter the points scored for each question on the score sheet. After the battle is completed, each team will be invited to the score table to see its score. The other scores will be covered. When it is time, each team will move on the next battle and repeat the process. Please remind students that they are not to enter the next room until the door is opened and the precious battle is complete.
No help is allowed during the competition from coaches, judges, audience members, extra team members or anyone else.
Ask for the spokesperson to identify themselves by name before the contest begins. There should be 3 or 4 members on a team. If a team has 5 members, one of them must be an alternate and sit separate from the team. Teams may substitute an alternate at the end of a battle to participate in the next battle.
You will notice that each question begins with the words, "In which book does..." After the test question is asked, the timer will start the 30 second timer. When 10 seconds remain, the timer will say "10 seconds left." When the full 30 seconds has elapsed, the timer will say, "Time is up." After the spokesperson gives the answer, the judge repeats the correct answer without any further comment. If the spokesperson has not answered within 2-3 seconds, the judge will say "I need an answer now." If 2-3 seconds again pass, the judge will give the answer and no points are awarded.
A team is free to discuss answers with their own teammates during their 30 seconds. The other teams should not be talking or distracting the team at this time. The judge should give reminders as necessary to any teams violating this rule.
Based on the answer given by the spokesperson, the timer/scorer will assign the point total for each question (round) answered. If necessary, consult the judge for scoring a question. Work together as a team.
A total of 8 points is possible for each question. The correct title is worth 5 points. The correct author is worth 3 points. Correct title and author is worth 8 points. For each question, a team may earn 8, 5, 3, or 0 points.
It is okay for the judge to repeat a question when asked by the spokesperson, but it will count off on the 30 second time limit.
Challenge:
- If a team disagrees with the answer the judge gives, they must immediately call for a challenge. The timer/scorer will need to get a copy of the book that is requested by the team. The sets can be found where the coordinator designates. The team is given two minutes to find teh exact page and passage in the book that proves their answer is also correct. Key words in the question and answer are important. The spokesperson will briefly explain to the judge the basis and proof for their challenge. Points may be awarded based on their original answer. The judge's decision is final. Unnecessary challnges are discouraged, and a series of unfounded challnges will penalize a team. On challneges, the timer will give the team 2 minutes to prove their answer once they have been given the book they requested. Announce time remaining in 30 second increments.
When the battle is completed, total each team's score and sign the score sheet (judge and timer). Teams may be shown their score, but the score should remain confidential to each team. Send the signed score sheets to the library after each battle.

Part 1: Reading

Most of the year is spent by the students reading as many titles as they can from a list of 12-15 books designated for their level.
Booklists are compiled as followed:

Kindergarten - 2nd
3rd - 4th
5th - 6th
7th - 8th
9th -12th

Books on each list range from "on grade level" to easier and harder. This is a program designed for participation by any motivated reader, and is not a program exclusively for advanced readers.

Part 2: Teams & Coaches

After students have "proven" their interest in BOB by reading books throughout the fall, teams of 3-5 students are formed. A coach is enlisted for each team.
Minimum requirements can be set for readers to join a team (i.e. student must have read 3-5 books by January). However, participation can't be faked, and teams will not want team members who aren't doing the reading. This issue usually works itself out by students dropping out or getting on the bandwagon and reading to catch up.

Teams can be put together in any way that works for you, staff, and students. Generally, students organize themselves. However, teachers or librarians can take a more active role in forming teams.

Coaches can be recruited by students, teachers, coordinators, or librarians. Anyone may be a coach, though this role is usually held by parents of a participating student.
The coach's role is a commitment of about 1 hour a week for 6-10 weeks (weekly practice sessions are common from Feb. - Apr.). They are responsible for helping the students develop a team of successful readers. Their participation is expected at the school and district battles.

Part 3: Competition

In April or May, there are 3 rounds of competition.

Round 1:

We encourage schools to hold some sort of "practice" round in your building or classroom. This allows students to become familiar with the competition protocols, without penalties of any sort. This can happen in classrooms, the library, during school, or outside school hours.

Round 2:

School Competition: The BOB coordinator organizes opportunities for all teams to battle other teams in the same building who have read the same books. Battles are conducted using very specific protocols.

Round 3:

District Competition: One school will host and organize a district level competition for all BOB schools. Teams from each school will compete against each other. First and second place teams from 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades compete in the district battle. Middle school usually holds their own district battle at a separate location.