Battle of the Books

The Library hosts the Battle of the Books program annually for teams from local elementary schools. Battle aims to promote literacy by encouraging students to read and have fun in a friendly competition.

Book lists are released in the fall through the schools. Teams come together in the spring to compete in a round robin tournament and crown a Grand Champion.

Intermediate Battle of the Books - Thursday, April 24, 2025

Junior Battle of the Books - Thursday, May 8, 2025

For more information on the Battle of the Books program, or to learn how to participate, please email Lauren Tilly, 519-941-0610 ext. 5230.

Junior Battle of the Books 2025 Book List - Grades 4 to 6

Classic Favourites

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Matilda by Roald Dahl
(The) Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene
(A) Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
(The) Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

New Favourites

(The) Wild Robot by Peter Brown
(The) New Kid by Jerry Craft
Bless This Mouse by Lois Lowry
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea by Dav Pilkey

Canadian

Cammie Takes Flight by Laura Best
Anyone's Game by Sylv Chiang
Winnie's Great War by Lindsay Mattick and Josh Greenhut
(The) Great Bear by David A. Robertson
(The) Fabulous Zed Watson by Basil & Kevin Sylvester

Award Winners/Nominees

Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
Mr. Jack is a Maniac! by Dan Gutman
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Pax by Sara Pennypacker
Safe as Houses by Eric Walters

Silver Birch

Gamerville by Johnnie Christmas
Game Face by Shari Green
Scarewaves by Trevor Henderson
Mortified by Kristy Jackson
Bertie Steward is Perfectly Imperfect by Melanie Mosher

For a print copy of the Junior book list click here

Intermediate Battle of the Books 2025 Book List - Grade 7 and 8

New Favourites

(The) Crossover by Kwame Alexander
(The) Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett
Walking in Two Worlds by Wab Kinew
Cinder by Melissa Meyer
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

Classic & Award Winning

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
Firefly by Philippa Dowding
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
(The) Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo

Red Maple Nominees

40 Days in Hicksville by Christina Kilbourne
(The) Cricket War by Tho Pham and Sandra McTavish
Call me Al by Wali Shah and Eric Walters
Escape to Ponti by Brian Slattery
Why we Play with Fire by Giselle Vriesen

For a print copy of the Intermediate book list click here