Gold Medal Readers

The Battle of the Books competition was yesterday morning and a certain nine-year-old I know was a big bundle of nerves. It seems she got over it quickly, though...

There were nineteen elementary schools who competed in Arlington's Battle of the Books 2008. Each group was seated at a table with a librarian from a different school who scored their answers. The parents were all sequestered at the back of the room behind a partition - I guess to eliminate any parental help. (Even though I read most of these books, I wouldn't have been much help as I only knew five answers for sure...)

At the beginning of the match, the officials explained that 50 questions would be asked. If a team scored between 0-29 questions correct they would receive an honorable mention certificate. Scoring 30-39 correct would earn them a red ribbon. If they answer 40-44 questions correct they would receive a silver medal and if the team answered 45-50 questions correctly they would earn a gold medal.

Rules were read, criteria announced, and then the questions began. "In which book does a stare feel like being stung by a thousand bumblebees?" Mister and Me. "In which book does a character have leaf-shaped eyes?" The Forging of the Blade. "In which book do the characters know not to drink from a river?" Earthquake Terror. If I leaned WAY over in the aisle from my chair I could see Cara as the answers were read all the way across the room. There were only a few times that I could gage from her reaction if they got the questions correct or not. Most of the time she and her team sat there quietly moving the chosen book titles back and forth.

At the end of the fifty questions, Cara's librarian, Mrs. Bogart, who was scoring another team, must have talked to the librarian who had been seated with Team Amos because she was SO excited and was jumping around with a huge smile. She told me the great news even before Cara did - that they earned a GOLD medal! It was a first in Amos Elementary history! The team missed only five out of fifty questions and was one of only three schools that earned gold medals. We are very proud of Cara, her team, and the librarian for all the hard work that was put into the Battle of the Books. :)

Team Amos: Gabrielle, Louis, Francisco, Cara & Mrs. Bogart

Calling the principal, Mr. Rinn, on speakerphone to let him know all about their success!