What is the Global Reading Challenge?
The Global Reading Challenge is a Battle of the Books program sponsored by the Kalamazoo Public Library and the Seattle Public Library. The Challenge promotes the reading of fiction and nonfiction that celebrate the world's diverse community. The Global Reading Challenge is limited to 4th- and 5th-grade classes within the Seattle and Kalamazoo Public Library Districts.
History
In the late 1930s two Chicago school librarians developed a program to test young readers' knowledge of good literature. The program reached thousands of Chicago school children and was quickly turned into a weekly radio quiz program known as "The Battle of the Books." Questions about characters, plots, and settings were answered by teams representing public elementary schools. Answers were usually the titles of well-known fiction books and biographies.
How it Works
Ten books are selected each year by Seattle and Kalamazoo children's librarians, especially suited to the reading interests of their young readers. A wide range of reading levels is represented by selected books so all students can participate in the Challenge. Questions are based on specific factual and content information found within the 10 selected books.
School challenges will be conducted in each school building by library staff. Branch challenges will be held at individual branches. Winning branch teams will compete in the Grand Challenge. Grand Challenge winners will compete via long distance technology in the Super Challenge with the winners from Seattle.
- School Challenges: March 6 - March 25
- Branch Challenges: April 17 - April 30
- District Challenges: May 1
- Final Challenge: May 9
Resources