Battle of the Books Reading List: Back-To-School Countdown (Day 29)

The Brandon Patch Back-To-School Countdown proceeds with this Day 29 report, offering news of interset as the first day of classes approaches.

Teachers in the Hillsborough County School District go back to school Aug. 15 to prepare for the first day of classes, Aug. 23.

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We'll skip the discussion about reading for intrinsic or extrinsic motivation in this report on this year's Battle of the Books titles for students in grades 3-5.

We'll assume your kid is an avid reader, or that an incentive program is the best way, or a valid way, for sparking, in your child, that interest in reading.

Toward that end, the stated purpose of the Hillsborough County School District's Barbara Rooks Battle of the Books program is "to encourage recreational reading, to offer a variety of types of literature, to increase familiarity with different authors and to share books through written and oral expression."

Each year, 15 titles are chosen to be Sunshine State Young Readers Award books for grades 3-5, and those books become the titles chosen for the year's Battle of the Books readings.

In April, the fourth graders are given a written test to determine who will compete in each classroom's Battle of the Books team. The test is to determine which students are most familiar with all the stories from the books on the list.

The team from each class competes for a schoolhouse winner. The winning team advances to an area battle (see the list of past winners below).

Here's the list of Battle of the Books titles for the 2011-12 school year:

"Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things" / By Lenore Cook / Reading Level (3.8) / Points (3) / Quiz ID (123779)

"Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally)" / By Lisa Yee / Reading Level (4.1) / Points (3) / Quiz ID (133664)

"Captain Nobody" / By Dean Pitchford / Reading Level (4.7) / Points (5) / Quiz ID (131362)

"Dragon's Egg" / By Sarah L. Thomson / Reading Level (4.9) / Points (6) / Quiz ID (118144)

"Dying To Meet You" / By Kate Klise / Reading Level (4.9) / Points (2) / Quiz ID (129821)

"Extra Credit" / By Andrew Clements / Reading Level (5.3) / Points (5) / Quiz ID (130571)

"Flight of the Phoenix" / By R.L. LaFevers / Reading Level (4.2) / Points (3) / Quiz ID (132418)

"How Oliver Olson Changed the World" / By Claudia Mills / Reading Level (4.7) / Points (2) / Quiz ID (129911)

"NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society" / By Michael Buckley / Reading Level (5.3) / Points (9) / Quiz ID (134181)

"Out of My Mind" / By Sharon M. Draper / Reading Level (4.3) / Points (8) / Quiz ID (136421)

"The 100-Year-Old Secret" / By Tracy Barrett / Reading Level (4.4) / Points (4) / Quiz ID (122356)

"The Magic Half" / By Annie Barrows / Reading Level (4.1) / Points (5) / Quiz ID (119446)

"The Secret of Zoom" / By Lynne Jonell / Reading Level (5.1) / Points (10) / Quiz ID (132139)

"Umbrella Summer" / By Lisa Graff / Reading Level (4.6) / Points (6) / Quiz ID (131217)

"Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" / By Grace Lin / Reading Level (5.5) / Points (7) / Quiz ID (131480)

PREVIOUS BATTLE OF THE BOOKS WINNING SCHOOLS:

• 2009-10: Clark Elementary School
• 2008-09: Clark Elementary School
• 2007-08: Clark Elementary School
• 2006-07: Clark Elementary School
• 2005-06: Westchase Elementary School
• 2004-05: Westchase Elementary School
• 2003-04: Dale Mabry Elementar School
• 2002-03: Chiles Elementary School
• 2001-02: Westchase Elementary School
• 2000-01: Seminole Heights Elementary School
• 1999-00: Claywell Elementary School
• 1998-99: Claywell Elementary School
• 1997-98: Claywell Elementary School
• 1996-97: Essrig Elementary School
• 1995-96: Citrus Park Elementary School

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ABOUT THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL COUNTDOWN:

This is the 29th posting in a 41-day effort that counts down the days before the opening bell of the 2011-12 school year for the Hillsborough County School District.

Previously posted:

• Back-To-School Countdown (Day 15) — Education Quotes To Consider
• Back-To-School Countdown (Day 16) — Sizer on Adolescence
• Back-To-School Countdown (Day 17) — Bully Prevention and Reporting
• Back-To-School Countdown (Day 25) — School Assignment, Choice in Hillsborough County