Oregon Battle of the Books

Unlock the World of Reading & Join the Oregon Battle of the Books!

Key Dates

  • Registration: Opens in early October 2025

  • OBOB Practices begin mid-October 2025

  • School Battles: Early February 2026 (winning team goes to regionals)

  • Regional Battles: March 2026

  • State Battles: April 2026

Welches Elementary OBOB

Welcome Welches Students & Families to the Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB), a fun and engaging statewide reading program sponsored by the Oregon Association of School Libraries in conjunction with a Library Services and Technology Act grant.

Our Welches OBOB program is sponsored by the Welches Parent Teacher Community Organization (WPTCO) this year! Our Welches OBOB program invites 3rd to 5th-grade students of all reading abilities to dive into high-quality literature, exploring a diverse range of styles and perspectives.

OBOB’s Mission is to:

  • Encourage a love of reading

  • Broaden students’ literary interests

  • Boost reading comprehension

  • Promote academic excellence

  • Foster teamwork and cooperative learning among students

Questions? Reach out to our OBOB Leader Allison Hornor at info@welchesptco.org

2025-26 OBOB BOOK LIST

  • Better with Butter by Victoria Piontek 

  • The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau — Please note this is the original novel, not the adapted graphic novel by the same name.

  • Elf Dog and Owl Head by M. T. Anderson 

  • Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein — Please note this is the original novel, not the adapted graphic novel by the same name.

  • Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome 

  • Hatchet by Gary Paulsen — The questions for this specific title will be taken from the original text, not supplemental material. Any American edition of this book will prepare OBOBers for a battle, although page numbers may differ [ISBN 9781416936473]

  • Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhhà Lại 

  • Just Like Click by Sandy Grubb 

  • The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass 

  • The Million Dollar Race by Matthew Ross Smith 

  • Number the Stars by Lois Lowry — The questions for this specific title will be taken from the original text, not supplemental material. Any American edition of this book will prepare OBOBers for a battle, although page numbers may differ.

  • Odder by Katherine Applegate — Please note this is the novel, not the author’s picture book by the same name! We are using the hardback edition as the paperback has only been published in the UK.

  • The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow by Elaine Dimopoulos 

  • The Secret Garden on 81st Street by Ivy Noelle Weir and Amber Padilla 

  • Squished by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter

  • The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler — Be sure you are purchasing a US version of this, as the UK version differs in some ways.

Resources

General OBOB Info:

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Teams are formed by students and parents/guardians. Parents/guardians of each team member need to submit a registration form to the office. Please make sure to communicate with the WPTCO and parents/guardians of all team members before registering a team.

  • We ask that you try to find a team for your child by reaching out to classmates and parents/guardians, but please reach out to Ally Hornor at info@welchesptco.org if you are not able to find or form a team and we will try our best to find a place for your student.

  • It is most common that teams are made up of students in the same grade, however, teams can include students in any of the grades in a division (3rd-5th). Note: If a 3rd grader joins a 4th or 5th grade team they will be required to meet the 16 book requirement as a team.

  • Teams are typically made up of four or five students, but can participate with as few as three students.

  • In a given battle, a maximum of four students may participate. If a team has five members, the members can rotate between battles or the 5th member can act as an alternate.

  • A battle is a trivia game in which student teams compete against each other and  earn points by answering 16 detailed questions about the books on the list. There are 2 types of questions in each battle, 8 of each.  

    “In Which Book” questions as the team to name the book and author in which the questions pertains to.  Example: In which book does someone call their bike a Magic Broom?  Answer: Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson 

    Content questions are more straightforward trivia questions.  Example: In Leonard (My Life as a Cat), what is Leonard’s home planet made out of?  Answer: Helium 

    There are a few different ways battles are run.  Some battles allow “steals” meaning, if a team answers their question wrong the other team has the chance to “steal” the points if they can answer it correctly.  Welches battles will only allow steals in the final battle between the top 2 teams competing for the spot at regionals.

  • The best way to prepare is for students to read! 

    Preparation beyond that varies, but some ideas: reread books for detail; take notes on specific, concrete details; meet regularly as a team to learn how to work together; answer practice questions found online; have students write questions.

    Check the resources section above for free online practice questions. Unofficial practice questions are also available for purchase online. Please be sure when using questions found online that they are for the current books, not books from previous years.

  • No, and most students do not necessarily read all the books! Books may be divided among the team members, but it is advisable to have at least one (and ideally two or more) students read each book.

    Of course, please use your best judgment if you do not feel a book is appropriate for your student for any reason.

  • It is so important for OBOB students to have the support of their parents/guardians. Both to help encourage them to read and to practice. Parents also need to communicate with their team’s coach. 

    Welches will need a few parent volunteers when it comes to School Battles. Please reach out to Tanya, our WPTCO Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@welchesptco.org if you are interested.