OBOB (Oregon Battle of the Books)
What is Battle of the Books?
The Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) is a statewide voluntary reading motivation and comprehension program sponsored by the Oregon Association of School Libraries in conjunction with a Library Services and Technology Act grant. Students in 3rd-12th grade, regardless of ability, are exposed to quality literature representing a variety of literary styles and viewpoints.
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OBOB’s mission is to encourage and recognize students who enjoy reading, to broaden reading interests, to increase reading comprehension, promote academic excellence, and to promote cooperative learning and teamwork among students.
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Alameda Elementary has a long history of participating in OBOB. Teams will form and go through several rounds of battles in a quiz-show-like format. The Alameda winner will represent the school at the Regional Battle of the Books competition in March.
Register your Team! If you have not already done so, please register your child’s team on the Alameda OBOB website. The more teams the more fun!
The registration deadline is Friday, December 12, 2025.
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Important Upcoming dates:
December 4 @ 7pm: Coaches meeting (link to come)
December 12: Team registration deadline (Register here: Alameda OBOB Registration)
January 21/29: Practice Battles (signups to come)​
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New to OBOB
If you are new to OBOB or new to being a coach, the Dec 4th meeting is for you! Each team should have one or more "coaches" who help to ensure their team is registered, on track, motivated, and most of all, having fun! Please attend this informational meeting to learn more about being an OBOB coach.
Grant High School OBOB Coaching Club
Speaking of coaches, Grant High School has formed an OBOB coaching club! The OBOB Coaching Club is a student-led initiative started at
Grant High School that pairs high school volunteers with elementary students whose families want to participate in OBOB, but may not have the time or resources to coach. Find more information on their website: https://obobcoachingclub.my.canva.site/
Looking for a Team
If your child is looking to join a team or a team is looking for additional teammates, visit the Alameda OBOB website and complete the “Get Help Finding a Team or Teammate” form. We will do our best to help match your child with a team.​
General OBOB Info
For more information about OBOB, please visit the Alameda OBOB website, which includes the OBOB Coaches Handbook, parent informational video, important dates, and more!
2025-2026 OBOB Title List
3rd-5th Grade Division
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Better with Butter by Victoria Piontek – ISBN 9781338662214
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The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau – ISBN 9780375822742 – Please note this is the original novel, not the adapted graphic novel by the same name!
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Elf Dog and Owl Head by M. T. Anderson – ISBN 9781536235166
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Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein – ISBN 9780307931474 — *Please note this is the original novel, not the adapted graphic novel by the same name!
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Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome – ISBN 9780823445820
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Hatchet by Gary Paulsen – ISBN 9781416936473 — *The questions for this specific title will be taken from the original text, not supplemental material. Any American edition of this book will prepare OBOBers for a battle, although page numbers may differ.
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Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhhà Lại – ISBN 9780061962790
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Just Like Click by Sandy Grubb – ISBN 9781646034390
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The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass – ISBN 9781250838834
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The Million Dollar Race by Matthew Ross Smith – ISBN 9781534420281
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Number the Stars by Lois Lowry – ISBN 9780547577098 — *The questions for this specific title will be taken from the original text, not supplemental material. Any American edition of this book will prepare OBOBers for a battle, although page numbers may differ.
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Odder by Katherine Applegate – ISBN 9781250147424 — *Please note this is the novel, not the author’s picture book by the same name! We are using the hardback edition as the paperback has only been published in the UK.
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The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow by Elaine Dimopoulos – ISBN 9781623545857
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The Secret Garden on 81st Street by Ivy Noelle Weir and Amber Padilla – ISBN 9780316459709
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Squished by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter – ISBN 9781338568936
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The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler – ISBN 9780763660208 — *Be sure you are purchasing a US version of this, as the UK version differs in some ways.