This summer, 140 area students joined Battle of the Books, a reading program available through Brainerd Community Education. This unique opportunity for students is heavily supported through an ongoing sponsorship from the Friends of the Brainerd Public Library. Designed for middle school students, the program encourages kids to keep reading over the summer with author visits, discussion sessions, and a final “Grand Battle” trivia competition in September.
Students received four carefully selected books (aligned with state reading standards), participated in four discussion/author sessions during the summer, and finally converged in September for a “Grand Battle” trivia showdown. To sweeten the deal, students enjoyed meals at sessions, met authors (virtually and in person), and walked away with books, prizes, and a $10 certificate to spend at their school’s Scholastic Book Fair.
This year’s lineup included True Colors, When Stars Are Scattered, The Collectors, and Turn Left at the Cow. Students gathered at Forestview Middle School on September 10 for the final event, where they answered questions about each book and even got to hear from Omar Mohamed, co-author of When Stars Are Scattered.
Programs like this demonstrate the power of community collaboration, and Widseth is proud to be one of many area sponsors for this year’s Battle of the Books. By supporting programs like this, we’re helping build a love of reading, encouraging critical thinking, and investing in the next generation of learners in our community.
From left: Karen Johnson (Friends of the Brainerd Public Library), Noelle Bussler (Forestview Middle School Special Education Teacher), and Lori Anderson (Volunteer).
