Elementary students race to read in Battle of the Books

WASHOUGAL — Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School is energizing third- through fifth-grade students to read with the Battle of the Books. Teachers offer a list of 36 books. Students choose a title, read the book, write a summary and have a “book chat” with the teacher who is assigned to listen to the “chat” for that book. The theme of the program is Knights of the Reading Table and is aimed at helping students understand successful behavioral traits such as honesty, courage and generosity. Two tournaments are scheduled during the year with a third tournament as a part of the final battle. To qualify, third-graders have to complete four books; fourth-graders five books; and seven books for fifth-graders. So far, 117 students have qualified and have read a total of 726 books.