2017 Knox County Battle of the Books Team Competition set for Tues, April 4, 6 pm at Mt Vernon Memorial Theater

More than 80 books have been read, the buzzers are ready, and the teams are in place for the return of  “Knox County Battle of the Books” team competition on Tuesday, April 4, 6:00 p.m., at the Mount Vernon Memorial Theater, 112 E. High Street.

After the success of last year’s competition, 12 teams are scheduled to compete: Centerburg, Danville, East Knox, Columbia Elementary, Dan Emmett Elementary, Pleasant Street Elementary, Twin Oak Elementary, Wiggin Street Elementary, St. Vincent de Paul, and East Elementary. After not having a coach last year, Fredericktown will send two teams to the competition this year.

Battle of the Books was originally started and sponsored by the Mount Vernon City School System and St. Vincent de Paul School in 1993 as a friendly competition between teams of fifth graders who love to read.  In its heyday before it was cut due to school budget constraints in 2012, the program flourished as parents, teams and supporters filled auditoriums for the popular competition and cheered on their favorite teams and contenders in good-natured competition.

Program leaders Marilyn Chidester, Mount Vernon City Schools retiree, and Sharon Tharp, St. Vincent de Paul,  revived Battle of the Books last year with a goal of opening the program to all fifth graders from schools throughout the Knox County area and homeschoolers. The Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County, like many other public libraries across the country, agreed to serve as annual sponsor for the Battle of the Books program with Central Ohio Technical College and the Friends of the Library. Additional support and prizes were contributed by area businesses and organizations.

Chidester said she has received support from area school board members and superintendents, and is thrilled to see more school teams and team sponsors sign up for this year’s competition.

The reading list of more than 80 books for Battle of the Books is compiled by librarians and includes all fiction genres—historical, classics, New York Times bestsellers—books that are well-written, possibly award winners, from a variety of authors.

“Yes, B.O.B. (Battle of the Books) is a very competitive event, but then kids often like to challenge others as well as themselves,” Chidester and Tharp explained. “It is exciting to see if you can make it ‘at the plate’ …and it helps kids to strengthen memory and think about the story…the strength of fiction is that it puts kids inside the story. ”

The program encourages participants to become lifelong readers and share their excitement with their families, siblings, classmates and friends. It encourages teamwork and community team spirit. Many of the contenders from the past are now adults who read or have children who read and are excited to see the return of the program.

Families and the public are welcome to join in cheering for the teams and their coaches.  The group is particularly hoping students or families of students in third and fourth grade this year will attend the competition as spectators and then encourage students to try out for a team as fifth graders in the future.

Anyone interested in learning more about the event or the Battle of the Books program can contact Debbie Baker, head of Youth Services at the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County, at 740-392-BOOK (2665) Ext. 257, visit www.knox.net, or email Battle@knox.net.