Larchmont Youth Participate in 2016 Battle of the Books

Two teams representing the Larchmont Public Library will compete in the countywide “Battle of the Books” event on Saturday, October 15. The event will be held from 9:30am to 4:00pm at Ossining High School in Ossining, NY.

This fast-paced trivia competition, using buzzer systems and with a heavy emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, is for avid readers entering Grades 4 – 10. Public libraries who are members of the Westchester Library System are sponsoring teams in the competition. There will be two separate competitions on the same day: a Children’s (Grades 4 – 6) and a Teens’ (Grades 6 – 10) tournament. While similar programs are offered for teens in other library systems around New York State and the country, the Westchester Library System Battle of the Books is distinctive in its inclusion of a children’s tournament.

For last year’s competition, The Larchmont Public Library fielded a team in the Teen division of the competition and nearly made it to the semi-finals! The six team members and their parents loved the event, noting the unique ability to engage in heated competition outside of the sports realm. Teen Librarian Kim Larsen coached the Larchmont team. “Celebrating reading, encouraging teamwork, fighting to win, and accepting defeat in a sportsmanlike manner…what an amazing experience”, said Larsen. “This was the Larchmont Library’s first time participating in the Battle of the Books but it won’t be the last!” Larsen is coaching the 2016 Teen team whose members are Maria Haralampopoulos, Daniel Karn, Maddie Pittman, Zecharia Ramos, Sophie Thorpe and Mark Yukelis. Children’s Librarian, Linnea Moosman will coach the grades 4 through 6 team whose member are Sophia Cai, Rohan Gupta, Mila Kinnear, Ellie Konvisser and Tyler Prozes.

CHILDREN’S TOURNAMENT

Participants in the Children’s Battle of the Books will read the following works:

· Blizzard! The Storm that Changed America (Jim Murphy, 2006)

· Crispin: The Cross of Lead (Avi, 2002)

· The Fourteenth Goldfish (Jennifer L. Holm, 2014)

· Gods of Manhattan (Scott Mebus, 2008)

· Rules (Cynthia Lord, 2006)

TEEN’S TOURNAMENT

Participants in the Teens Battle of the Books will read the following novels:

· Counting by 7’s (Holly Goldberg Sloan, 2013)

· Every Day (David Levithan, 2012)

· Dead End in Norvelt (Jack Gantos, 2011)

· Life As We Knew It (Susan Beth Pfeiffer, 2006)

· Under A Painted Sky (Stacey Lee, 2015)

PARTICIPATING LIBRARIES (as of 9/1/16)

The following libraries are scheduled to participate:

Ardsley Public Library

Bedford Free Library

Briarcliff Manor Public Library

Bronxville Public Library

Dobbs Ferry Public Library

Eastchester Public Library

Greenburgh Public Library

Hendrick Hudson Free Library (Montrose)

John C. Hart Memorial Library (Shrub Oak)

Larchmont Public Library

Mamaroneck Public Library

Mount Pleasant Public Library

Ossining Public Library

Ruth Keeler Memorial Library (N. Salem)

Rye Free Reading Room

Somers Library

Town of Pelham Public Library

White Plains Public Library

The goal “Battle of the Books” program is to promote a love of reading in kids and teens, to expose them to titles and authors that they might not encounter otherwise, to encourage them to think of their local public library as a resource for entertainment and to inspire teamwork and good sportsmanship in an atmosphere of friendly competition. “Battle of the Books” is sponsored by the Youth Services Department of Westchester Library System in New York.