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STEUBENVILLE -- Pugliese West Elementary pupils are brushing up on their reading skills for the upcoming Book Wars competition.
Instructional coach Krystal Yourkovich explained the school is beginning the first chapter in what will hopefully be a series of contests involving 43 third- and fourth-graders, as they get ready for a battle of the books April 10 at Steubenville High School.
"It is a fun, voluntary academic competition for some of our third- and all of our fourth-grade boys and girls at Pugliese West Elementary School," Yourkovich said. "Teams of four-to-five students are responsible for reading a pre-selected list of five novels to prepare for a competition."
This is the first year the school has participated in the event. The inspiration came from a school in Montour, Pa., as well as a team of school educators, which includes Principal Lynnett Gorman.
Educators review an online list of suggested stories. They then select fiction titles which they believe might interest their students.
Among the selected stories are "Shiloh," by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor; "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane," and "The Tiger Rising," both by Kate DiCamillo; "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe," by C.S. Lewis; and "The Toothpaste Millionaire," by Jean Merrill.
Parent volunteers will meet with the teams and practice each week during the next few months. Yourkovich likened the activity to Destination Imagination or Odyssey of the Mind, where teams create a team name, theme, design a poster and take part in a trivia-style contest.
"The actual battle will look like a game show and we are planning to invite all the West students and their families," she said.
"We are also hoping to have some community organizations there," Yourkovich added. "The actual plans for the night of the battle are still in the works, but we are super excited about all of this."
At its conclusion, one team will be awarded the 2024 Pugliese West Book Wars champion.
The winners will receive a trophy, gift card and medal while the other teams will garner medals for their efforts.
Yourkovich said everyone will receive surprises throughout the 12-week period.
The event will conclude with a pizza party for all participants.
She noted the activity could spur some bookworms in the process.
"We feel that this will benefit students by improving their reading skills, teamwork, comprehension and help them develop an even stronger love for reading."