Book Madness

Engaging Schools,

Teachers, & the Community

June 6, 2024

1

Are you familiar with March Madness?

Why are we here?

Purpose & Goals of Session

• Feel: energized & confident ���
• Think: collaboratively & � creatively��
• Do: create a Book Madness� program of your own

2

What is Book Madness? Why play?

Description & Benefits

• Friendly competition matching pairs of picture books
• Winners advance, losers eliminated, Champion crowned
• Make community connections
• Promote literacy and connections to the library
• Market Summer Reading Program
• Enjoy reading to young children!

3

Getting Started

Making connections, �selecting best location

• Reach out to local schools and entities: �teachers, parents/PTO, administrators, Homeschool network, etc.
• Location depends on your community:�school library, public library – Homeschool connection, a variety of classrooms/schools (private, public)
• Determine reading schedule(s): �location and times teachers are available, work with administrators to identify best schedule for the building, or work with school library personnel, Homeschool network

4

Recruitment Letter

How it Looks – traditional program

Length, Competition, Voting

• Create 7 groups of readers:�grade levels, classrooms, Prek-K, etc.
• Competition runs for 3 weeks – 30- minute session per group per week
• Voting occurs after each pair of books is read, teach kids about voting, tabulate votes, and announce bracket winners
• Week #1 – Sweet 16
• Week #2 – Elite 8 & Final 4
• Week #3 – Championship – voting tips

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5

How it Looks – passive programs

Length, Competition, Voting

• Define length of program – 3 weeks
• Set up voting boxes at each location
• Voting occurs after each pair of books �is read (independently), tabulate votes at end of each week, and announce bracket winners
• Week #1 – Elite 8
• Week #2 –Final 4
• Week #3 – Championship left bracket; Championship right bracket; Finals paired left vs. right bracket

6

Book Selection

Narrowing Down & Making Pairs

• Choose current, readable books with engaging pictures (start with 16 titles)
• Use national book lists, shop local bookstores, utilize Storytime librarians
• Each book should take 7-10 minutes to read aloud to the group
• Pair similar books for Week #1:�theme, genre, character type, tone, etc.
• Select books with nice mix of humor, social-emotional, and lesson/messages
• Acquire multiple copies of each title so there are enough to go around; reader practice�

7

Making Brackets

Pairing books, making schedules, week #1 match-ups

• Bracket creation: �(1) determine times & define groups; �number groups 1-7 (traditional program)�(2) add book pairs to grade level groups
• Week #1 - book pairs are assigned to �most appropriate grade level; this won’t make a difference later or for passive programs
• Demonstrate brackets �Book Madness Excel Spreadsheet

7

Recruiting Readers

Community involvement, sign up, communication, & Plan B

• Parents, teachers, administrators, community leaders and helpers, students, public library staff
• Digital sign-up is helpful; Google Form
• Awaken your inner thespian and read with expression – make it fun; nothing is off the table – you want to win!
• Reach out to confirm times, make books available for practice (multiple copies)
• Plan B in place in case someone cancels last minute – library staff!

9

And the winner is…

Tabulating votes &

announcing the Champion

• Many ways to announce winner and celebrate:�all-school assembly, morning announcements on PA/video, social media, parent newsletter
• Parents, kids, and teachers want to enjoy all books after the event; share the titles
• Promote your Summer Reading Program

10

Book Giveaways!

Simulation

Demonstration of brackets and how winning books advance in the competition

11

Let’s have some

Book Madness fun!

Share key takeaways from 2024:�- Behavior management�- Homeschool network�- Christian Academy

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Wrap-up

• Fun, Engaging, & Rewarding
• Involve teachers, parents, & kids
• Make community connections
• Promote SRP

Time for Q & A

12

• Feel: energized & confident���
• Think: collaboratively &� creatively� �
• Do: create a Book Madness� program of your own

Thank You!

Let the best �book win!

Book Madness Folder - Google Drive

~ Chris Newell ~

cnewell@gcld.org

~ Emily Pedersen ~

epedersen@gcld.org

https://tinyurl.com/skn7purn

Book Lists 2022

14

2022 – listed in competition pairs

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1. Norman Didn’t Do It, (2^nd grade)�by Ryan T. Higgins�2. The Bruce Swap, �by Ryan T. Higgins

1. A Tree for Mr. Fish, (kindergarten)�by Peter Stein�2. Clovis Keeps His Cool, �by Katelyn Aronson�1. Change Sings, (5^th grade)�by Amanda Gorman�2. The Year We Learned to Fly, �by Jacqueline Woodson�1. Mabel: A Mermaid Fable, (4^th grade)�by Rowboat Watkins�2. The King’s Golden Beard, �by Klaas Verplancke

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������1. Knight Owl, (3^rd grade)�by Christopher Denise�2. Dragons Are the Worst, �by Alex Willan�1. No Bunnies Here!, (Preschool)�by Tammi Sauer�2. A is for Another Rabbit, �by Hannah Batsel�1. New in Town, (4^th grade)�by Kevin Cornell�2. The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess, �by Tom Gauld�1. Ear Worm!, (1^st grade)�by Johanna Knowles�2. Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates, �by Cheryl B. Klein

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Book Lists 2023

15

1. Busy Betty, (3^rd grade)�by Reese Witherspoon�2. Every Dog in the Neighborhood,�by Philip Christian Stead

1. Blue Bison Needs a Haircut, (Preschool)�by Scott Rothman�2. I’m a Unicorn,�by Helen Yoon�1. Pig the Rebel, (2^nd grade)�by Aaron Blabey�2. Everywhere with You,�by Carlie Sorosiak�1. Three Billy Goats Gruff, (5^th grade)�by Mac Barnett�2. Too Many Pigs and One Big Bad Wolf,�by Davide Cali

1. Berry Song, (5^th grade)�by Michaela Goade�2. Be a Good Ancestor,�by Leona Prince�1. The Kindest Red, (4^th grade)�by Ibtihaj Muhammad�2. The World Belonged to Us,�by Jacqueline Woodson�1. Pick Me!, (1^st grade)�by Max Amato�2. The Sour Grape,�by Jory John�1. Gold!, (kindergarten)�by David Shannon�2. The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster,�by Mo Willems

2023 – listed in competition pairs

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Book Lists 2024

16

1. The World’s Best Class Plant, (1^st grade)�by Liz Garton Scanlon�2. We Don’t Lose Our Class Goldfish, �by Ryan T. Higgins

1. Yetis Are the Worst, (2^nd grade)�by Alex Willan�2. Long Goes to Dragon School, �by Helen H. Wu�1. Dolly Parton’s Billy the Kid Makes It Big, (3^rd grade)�by Dolly Parton and Erica S. Perl�2. The Together Tree, �by Aisha Saeed�1. Mr. S, (Kindergarten)�by Monica Arnaldo�2. The Boo-Boos of Bluebell Elementary, �by Chelsea Lin Wallace

1. We, the Curious Ones, (5^th grade)�by Marion Dane Bauer�2. The Boy Who Loved Maps, �by Kari Allen�1. The Truth About Dragons, (4^th grade)�by Julie Leung�2. Just Like Grandma, �by Kim Rogers�1. My Friend, Loonie, (Pre-K/Kindergarten)�by Nina LaCour�2. Jack the Library Cat, �by Marietta Apollonio�1. Gravity is Bringing Me Down, (2^nd grade)�by Wendelin Van Draanen�2. Make Way for Butterfly, �by Ross Burach

2024 – listed in competition pairs