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Fourth Annual Battle of the Books to Feature NYT Bestselling Author
A New York Times bestselling author and a local first-time author are among the special guests slated to make appearances at Fort Worth ISD’s fourth annual Battle of the Books, May 22 and 23.
More than 1,200 students from 95 FWISD schools are registered to participate in the fun, fast-paced literacy competition at Texas Christian University’s Brown-Lupton University Union from 10:15 a.m.- 1: 45 p.m. May 22 (elementary) and May 23 (secondary). Allison F. Speer, who recently published the children’s book, “Theodore: The Turkey Who Found a Zoo,” will sign books and talk with Battle of the Books contestants, May 22. Rachel Caine, a NYT bestselling author of young adult and adult thriller, fantasy and science fiction novels, is slated to meet with secondary contestants on May 23 when they’re not competing.
Fort Worth ISD partners with TCU’s College of Education to host Battle of the Books, a quiz-style competition in which teams have just seconds to confer and respond to questions about various children and young adult books. To prepare, students read multiple award-winning books and compete in campus-level contests vying for the chance at advancing to the District competition.
“There is nothing more exciting than watching the students’ faces as they collaborate and then anxiously wait to learn if they have successfully answered a question,” said Courtney Butler, a librarian at FWISD’s Glen Park Elementary School. “This event encourages even the most reluctant of readers to get excited about reading! Students have the opportunity to enjoy quality, award-winning books while preparing with a team for this quiz show style competition.”
“Reading is normally something we do by ourselves in private, but Fort Worth ISD Battle of the Books makes students realize they are part of a community of readers,” added Carter Cook, Director of Library Media Services.
Battle of the Books supports the District’s 100 X 25 FWTX early literacy initiative, which has a goal to ensure 100 percent of third-grade students are reading at or above grade level by the year 2025. 100 X 25FWTX will ensure all children in Fort Worth are prepared for college, career and community leadership.
Superintendent Kent P. Scribner is partnering with Mayor Betsy Price, BNSF Executive Chairman Matt Rose to lead the community-wide Read Fort Worth initiative. Anel Mercado serves as the executive director. This cradle-to-career strategy puts childhood literacy front and center and aligns the resources of the Fort Worth ISD with the city’s business sector, city leaders, higher education, nonprofit organizations, the faith-based community as well as educators and parents.
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