Results from the first round of the first-ever Pinewood Elementary School March Madness-style Book Bracket Challenge were met with big cheers as winners were announced in classrooms the last week in January.
A total of 562 Pinewood students voted on their favorites from a field of 16 fiction titles that are among the most popular books in the school’s library. The “Sweet Sixteen” were announced last December, giving students in grades 3-5 several weeks to read the books before the initial two-week voting period began.
While Pinewood got an early start, bracket-style book challenges and voting will be held at each of the district’s schools. Watch your social media feeds through the end of March for photos of students and the top book contenders. They will include the hashtag #MohonReads. The book challenge will conclude with a districtwide celebration and Family Fun Night scheduled for April 11.
The building events are being led by librarians Mindy Holland (Pinewood); Mary Frances Manno (Draper); Lisa Backman (High School); and Teacher on Special Assignment in the library Lisa Smith (Bradt).
Below are results from the first round of the Pinewood Book Bracket Challenge:
- Better Off Undead vs. Who was… Biographies
Winner: Better Off Undead by James Preller – 73%
(James Preller visited Pinewood School last year)
- Harry Potter Series vs. I Survived Series
Winner: Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling – 53%
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid vs. Bob
Winner: Diary of a WImpy Kid by Jeff Kinney – 74%
- Mad Scientist Academy vs. One and Only Ivan
Winner: Mad Scientist Academy by Matt McElligott – 55%
(Matt McElligott is visiting Pinewood on March 5)
- Smile / Sisters / Ghosts vs. El Deafo
Winner: Smile / Sisters / Ghosts by Raina Telegemieger – 74%
- Wild Robot vs. Scary Tales
Winner: Scary Tales by James Preller
(James Preller visited Pinewood last year) – 64%
- Dog Man vs Big Nate
Winner: Dog Man by Dav Pilkey – 74%
- Benjamin Franklinstein vs. Franny K. Stein
Winner: Benjamin Franklinstein – 77% by Matt McElligott
(Matt McElligott is visiting Pinewood on March 5)
Voting for the remaining “Elite 8” ends on Friday, February 8. There will be two more rounds of voting before the “champion of books” is named in March.
Keep reading and don’t forget to vote!