Reading Rivalry

What is Reading Rivalry?

Reading Rivalry is an optional, PTO-sponsored event open to students in grades 3-5.

The intent is to:

foster a love of reading
introduce the students to books they may not otherwise choose
provide opportunities to work as a team
have fun!

Students sign up to read any number of books from the list and then work together as a team to prepare for a competition in March.

The Reading Rivalry books are those 10 books selected annually for the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award. After the competition, the participants vote to select the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award Winner! The award winner will be announced in late April, along with new nominees for the following year.

Preparing for the competition:

Teams are formed by teachers, made up of 4-8 students (dependents upon the number of students and coaches).
Each team has a volunteer coach (typically a parent) to provide guidance and encouragement.
Contact the Literacy Chair via email if you would like more information about your child's team or the program (MESreads833@gmail.com).
Students can choose which and how many books to read, while ensuring at least one person from each team is reading is reading one of the 10 books. Students who read all 10 books will be recognized on competition day.
Coaches meetings are designed to foster discussion and encouragement to continue reading, thus it does not allow time for the coach to read each book side-by-side with the students. The bulk of the reading will take place outside of school hours and we appreciate all encouragement you can provide to help each student achieve their goal and further their love of reading.
Books are available in the school library as well in teachers' libraries or at the public library.
Teams meet weekly for about 15-20 minutes, typically during recess/specified time, to discuss books, check in on progress, and prepare for the competition.
There is an opportunity for you as caregivers to join in on the fun at home! Please use the book summaries and questions provided in the links below to bring the Reading Rivalry discussions and fun to your home!

The competition (each grade will meet for their own competition):

30 questions will be asked about the 10 books.
Teams work together to select which of the 10 books is the answer to the question.
- Sample questions from the past:
  - What book begins and ends in Duluth, MN?
  - The main characters in this book are pets. Name the book and the five pets.
  - How did Jake become the Smartest Kid in the Universe?
The team that answers the most questions right in each grade will be awarded a prize!
Individuals who read ALL of the Reading Rivalry books will also be recognized.

When is Reading Rivalry?

Kick-off: December

Meeting Frequency: Weekly between December - March

Competition: March 27, 2025

What is the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award?

The Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award is a children's read and vote book award. Its purpose is to encourage recreational reading among school age children. Nominated titles are works of fiction of recognized quality selected by independent regional reading groups.

The books on the nominee lists are selected by the Maud Hart Lovelace Selection Committee.

Criteria for selection include:

books must be available in paperback as of January 1st of the selection year
author must live in North America
original copyright must be within three years of the selection year
must be work of fiction and not classified as a picture book

Who is Maud Hart Lovelace?

Maud Hart Lovelace is best known for her beloved series of Betsy-Tacy books, which were set at the turn of the twentieth century in Mankato. Find more information on her here.

2024-2025 Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award Nominees/Reading Rivalry Books

Click the links below for summaries and discussion questions.

Better with Butter by Victoria Piontek

The Adventure is Now by Jess Redman

The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo

Across the Desert by Dusti Bowling

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega

How to Win a Slime War by Mae Respicio

Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd

Odder by Katherine Applegate

A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga

Squished by Megan Wagner Lloyd