• RATTLESNAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BATTLE OF THE BOOKS 2024-2025 

     

    Dear 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Families: 

     

    Rattlesnake PTA, in conjunction with Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS), is bringing Battle of the Books (BOB) to Rattlesnake Elementary School again this school year.  This year is the first year that 3rd graders will be participating.

     

    What is Battle of the Books? BOB is a volunteer reading program for Rattlesnake Elementary 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. The purpose of the program is to encourage students to read and help increase their reading comprehension. Participating students meet weekly and also participate in reading comprehension “Battles” in teams of three every two months. The program takes place during school hours. The goal is to make reading fun! 

     

    How Does a Student Sign Up? To participate, your student will need to complete the sign-up sheet and return it to their teacher by September 27th. 

     

    When do Participating Students Meet? Students meet weekly, beginning the week of October  and continuing through April. Meeting times will be during the school day, time and place TBD once we have coaches for each grade level. Typically, the participating students eat lunch together in the school’s atrium and will meet for the remainder of lunch and lunch recess. Parent volunteers facilitate discussion and book-related activities. 

     

    What is a “Battle”? A Battle will be held at the end of each two-month period (December, February, and April). Each Battle will take place during school and will last approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Student teams earn points by answering questions about the four books they have read during that two month period. The teams accumulate points as the year progresses. The team with the most points after the third Battle has the opportunity to compete in a Battle hosted by MCPS in April (only the winning team from 4th OR 5th will compete at the district level).

     

    How are Teams Selected? Students are able to select their own teammates within their own grade level. We anticipate that not all students will have a “team” and, therefore, the volunteers will group students in teams of three, as needed. MCPS rules do not allow us to change the makeup of the teams after the first Battle, so it is very important that students understand that this is a commitment to their respective team members. If a student drops out, then a team will consist of one less person. 

     

    What Books are on the BOB List and Where Can We Get Them? This year’s reading list is  below. Families can purchase the books on their own and/or get them from the local library (the school library will have limited copies available). Please contact Amy Petrini (ampetrini@mcpsmt.org) if you need financial assistance with obtaining books. We ask that participating 4th grade students read Out of My Mind and 5th grade students read A Wolf Called Wander for discussion at their first BOB meeting. Students will receive a calendar providing detailed information regarding when the books will be discussed at school.



    Battle of the Books 

    Grade 3

    2024 - 2025

     

     

    Title and Author

    # of Pages

    Reading Level

    Genre


    BA

    T

    T

    L

    E


    1

    Upside Down Magic 

    by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins

    196

    3.7

    Fantasy

    Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor 

    by John Scieszka

    179

    4.7

    Science Fiction

    Turtle in Paradise 

    by Jennifer Holm  

    191

    3.7

    Historical

     

    566

    4.0

     

    B

    A

    T

    T

    L

    E


    2

    Honus and Me 

    by Dan Gutman

    145

    4.3

    Sports

    Fangbone! Third-Grade Barbarian 

    by Michael Rex

    120

    2.2

    Graphic Novel

    Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

    by Kate DiCamillo 

    198

    4.4

    Animal

     

    463

    3.6

     

    B

    A

    T

    T

    L

    E


    3

    Ruby Lee and Me

    by Shannon Hitchcock

    207

    4.2

    Historical

    Moo 

    by Sharon Creech 

    278

    4.4

    Animals

    The Quest of the Cubs

    by Kathryn Lasky

    231

    4.6

    Fantasy

     

    716

    4.4

     







    Battle of the Books

    Grades 4 and 5

    2024-2025

     

     

    Title and Author

    # of Pages

    Reading Level

    Genre



    B

    A

    T

    T

    L

    E

     

    1

    Out of My Mind 

    by Sharon Draper

    295

    4.3

    Realistic

    A Wolf Called Wander

    by Rosanne Parry

    243

    4.0

    Animals

    Wild Robot 

    by Peter Brown 

    279

    5.1

    Science Fiction

    Legend of Ghost Dog 

    by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

    200

    4.7

    Mystery

     

    1017

    4.5

     


    B

    A

    T

    T

    L

    E


    2

    Circus Mirandus 

    by Cassie Beasley

    292

    4.8

    Fantasy

    Short 

    by Holly Goldberg Sloan

    296

    5.3

    Realistic

    NERDS 

    by Michael Buckley  

    306

    5.3

    Humor

    Amal Unbound 

    by Aisha Saeed

    226

    4.2

    Realistic

     

    1120

    4.9

     


    B

    A

    T

    T

    L

    E

     

    3

    The War That Saved My Life 

    by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

    316

    4.1

    Historical

    Ghost 

    by Jason Reynolds

    181

    4.6

    Sports

    Skeleton Tree 

    by Iain Lawrence

    278

    4.8

    Adventure

    The Night Gardener

    by Jonathan Auxier

    350

    4.9

    Horror

     

    1125

    4.6