The Battle of the Books event, hosted by the Estevan and Area Literacy Group, has returned this year with an impressive turnout, bringing students, teachers, and community volunteers together for a fun and educational competition.
Louise Schnare, a member of the Estevan and Area Literacy Group board, is leading the event this year. “This year we have 60 kids for just grades 5 and 6, and then we have 12 teams that signed up for grades 7 and 8, and over 15 adult volunteers helping throughout the process.”
The competition encourages students to engage with books outside of their usual curriculum, focusing on themes like racism, body issues, autism, and other important topics. Schnare explained, “Some of the greatest highlights are getting kids to read additional books that are outside of their usual curriculum. We usually go for some themes that deal with racism, body issues, and autism. We’ve got Restart, which talks about a kid who had a serious injury and now has to deal with amnesia. We also have books that talk about autism and other different physical issues.”
One of this year’s standout books is Firefox, an Indigenous-written book. Schnare shared, “It talks about a girl in Ontario going through her identity but also has a lot of their different words and a lot of their culture. It’s a really good book.”
The competition isn’t just about reading—students also demonstrate their understanding of the material. “One of my favorite comments from one of the kids in previous years was when we did a book on segregation, and the kid sitting at the table said, ‘Doesn’t make sense why they wouldn’t get to go in the pool because their skin’s a different color,’” Schnare recalled. “The kids really do pick up on these things.”
Student's also get to flex their creative muscles.“Not only do they get to draw and make their own posters and costumes,” Schnare added, “but they get to actively participate in being a part of this event. It’s not just they read the books and go away. The kids are really into it.”
Teachers and education assistants are key to the event’s success, spending extra time with students to help them prepare. “The teachers and EAs are the biggest. They continue questioning these kids at their lunchtime,” Schnare said. “They spend time with these kids making sure that they’ve done the work. It’s really not just about reading the books and going away.”
The Battle of the Books wouldn’t be possible without the support of several sponsors. “United Way is our biggest sponsor, and without them, we wouldn’t be able to run any of our programs,” Schnare noted. “We also have to thank the Community Initiative Fund, Sask. Lotto, Estevan Kinnettes, RBC, and the Estevan Library, who all donate and volunteer for the prizes and the time spent marking stuff.” Domino's Pizza also plays an important role in the festivities. “Anyone who can feed this many kids and keep them happy is a great day,” Schnare said.
The excitement continues on Thursday when the grade 7 and 8 students battle it out at Spruceridge School.