Book battle
The winning fifth-grade team celebrates their victory in the Battle of the Books, a reading comprehension bowl, at Atlas Elementary School in Hayden on Monday. From left, Annalise Hunt, Ava Rusche, Jacob Smith and Logan Shaw. HANNAH NEFF/Press
Fifth-grade finalist team, Savannah O'Hara and Magdalene Sobek, compete in the first Battle of the Books, a reading comprehension bowl, at Atlas Elementary School on Monday. HANNAH NEFF/Press
Atlas Elementary School librarian Sara Grimm facilitates the winning fourth and fifth grade teams in a competition for the school-wide championship during the Battle of the Books reading comprehension bowl on Monday. HANNAH NEFF/Press
Members of the winning fifth and fourth grade teams shake hands after competing against each other for the school-wide championship in the Battle for the Books reading comprehension bowl at Atlas Elementary School on Monday. HANNAH NEFF/Press
Teammates and third-graders Ariana Leferink and Halle Hatfield confer during the Battle of the Books reading comprehension bowl at Altas Elementary School on Monday. HANNAH NEFF/Press
On right, fifth-grader Logan Shaw answers a question during Battle of the Books, a reading comprehension bowl, at Atlas Elementary School on Monday. Other teammates from left include Annalise Hunt, Ava Rusche and Jacob Smith. HANNAH NEFF/Press
Atlas Elementary School librarian Sara Grimm stands with some members of the winning fourth and fifth grade teams after the Battle of the Books on Monday. Students from left include Jacob Smith, Logan Shaw, Aubrey Hanson, Savannah Preece, Halle Hatfield and Arianna Leferin. HANNAH NEFF/Press
HAYDEN — Bookworms lined up to battle Monday for the schoolwide reading championship.
Twenty-eight third- through fifth-graders at Atlas Elementary School competed in the first Battle of the Books competition in the district.
“I think it was really cool,” said fifth-grader Logan Shaw, part of the winning team, the Librarians.
“I think it was really competitive,” said teammate Jacob Smith.
“But also everyone had really good sportsmanship,” Logan added.
The boys said they were happy to win the championship. The students formed teams of three to five students in the same grade, reading 16 books collated by a collaboration of librarians across the state.
The mission of the program is to encourage and recognize students who enjoy reading, share the love of reading and increase reading comprehension and teamwork.
Logan said he read each book once or twice to prepare. The students began reading the books in October, and participated in mock battles in February.
Earlier this month they narrowed down which of the three fourth-grade teams and four fifth-grade teams would be the two finalists from each division for the championship rounds.
School librarian Sara Grimm facilitated the event, and each team was given turns to answer reading comprehension questions from the selected books, earning points for correct answers.
Jacob said he was nervous during the competition.
“It was very nerve wracking to sit up there,” Logan added.
This was the first year the Coeur d’Alene School District has competed in the Battle of the Books.
“The kids surprised me,” Grimm said. “They worked a lot harder than I expected.”
Grimm said she thought it was cool how a lot of students came to the library at lunchtime to practice together.
“That showed me that they really wanted it," she said.
Winners of the competition received a basket of reading prizes, including gift cards to The Well-Read Moose, half of which were donated.
Bob and Joyce Rusche came to see their granddaughter Ava Rusche compete.
“She was with the Librarians,” Joyce Rusche said.
“The champs,” Bob Rusche added, beaming.
