Battle of the Books 2022
This November marks the 35th year that the Washington County Free Library has held its annual Battle of the Books competition!
Children in grades 4-6, along with a sponsoring adult, are invited to form teams from across the county to participate in this literary event.
The program has evolved over time, but its goal remains the same: to provide great books to kids and create positive reading experiences that will last a lifetime. The Fletcher Branch Library Children’s Department staff have selected a set of books that we hope will excite kids to read, inspire creativity, and engage in friendly competition.
The library issues the set of twenty books to registered teams of up to eight children in grades 4-6. The same books are used for all teams. Teams must have an adult team manager who is responsible for arranging transportation to and from rounds, turning in team projects, and encouraging their teams. The library does not form the teams; that is up to individual schools or parents. Managers must either be Washington County residents or have a Washington County Free Library card.
Teams have from November until late February to read the books and to complete a book related project. A written round is held on the last Saturday in February. The scores from the submitted projects and the written round score are totaled and the top eight teams advance to a final competition held on the second Saturday in March. The first and third Saturdays are snow dates.
Every child who participates receives a new paperback book and a certificate of participation. Teams that advance to the final round receive medals for their achievement. Teams may register at any library in the Washington County Free Library system during the month of November.
Books chosen for the Battle include Newbery Award and Honor books, Maryland’s Black Eyed Susan Award books, popular fiction, classics, and books that exhibit a unique perspective on the world.
2022 Battle of the Books List
1. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
2. Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan
3. The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop
4. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
5. The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
6. Front Desk by Kelly Yang
7. The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald
8. Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
9. Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
10. Justin Morgan Had a Horse by Marguerite Henry
11. Kavik the Wolf Dog by Walt Morey
12. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
13. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
14. Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
15. Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
16. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
17. Schooled by Gordon Korman
18. Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
19. The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis
20. The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
For more information about Battle of the Books, contact Jeff Ridgeway at the Fletcher Branch Library Children's Department: Children’s Department: pr01@washcolibrary.org or 301-739-3250 ext. 250.
