Frequently Asked Questions – Wolftrap Battle of the Books

1. Who participates in the Battle of the Books?

All fifth students are eligible to participate in the Battle of the Books; however, this is an optional reading incentive program and therefore neither the school nor FCPS requires participation.

2. What is the purpose of the Battle of the Books?

The purpose of the Battle of the Books is to encourage students to read a variety of good books, including some of the Virginia Readers Choice selections, and to promote team building and spirit within the classroom during the school year.

3. Where do I find a list of the book titles that will be used in the next Battle of the Books?

The current list can be found in the Library portion of the Wolftrap website and on Blackboard.

4. What do students need to do if they choose to read any of Battle of the Book selections?

When the student reads a book from the list, we hope they will take a few moments to jot down two or three questions about the plot or characters in the book. The title/author of the book should always be the answer to these questions. For example, “In which book does the main character call her father the preacher?” (Answer: Because of Winn Dixie by DiCamillo). Prior to the competition, students should give these questions to their classroom teacher or the librarian and they will be used in the Battle of the Books competition. If possible, the students should write down their questions on an index card.

5. What happens during a Battle of Books competition?

The competition has a game show format. Three-person teams represent classrooms and the game is played in three rounds. In the first round, the emcee will go from team to team asking the questions about the books. Teams will score ten points for identifying the correct book title and five points for the correct author. In the second round, each team is given an opportunity to answer as many questions correctly as possible in a three-minute time period. The last round is similar to Final Jeopardy. Each team will wager up to fifty points on the Final Battle of the Books question. During the competition, if a team does not know an answer, they can opt to ask a friend in the audience for help. This option can only be used twice during the competition. The team with the most points at the conclusion is the winner and the Battle of the Books trophy will be awarded to that team and their classroom.

6. How do students become a contestant for the Battle of the Books?

A few weeks before the competition is scheduled to occur, all interested students will take a 15-question quiz about the books in class. The students who score the highest number of correct responses on the quiz become the contestants and represent their class.

7. How many times in the school year does a Battle of the Books occur?

There will be two Battle of the Books during the school year. One will take place in December and the other in June. Students, teachers and parents are encouraged to attend the Battle of the Books and will likely be very impressed by the knowledge the students will demonstrate about the books.

September 2011 Battle of the Books Titles –
Wolftrap ES