Battle of the books builds literacy and teamwork

“They just learn that love of reading.”

That’s the main reason Darren Gaines, a fourth-grade teacher at Cottonwood Creek Elementary, brought the “Battle of the Books” to the Cherry Creek School District in 2012. It’s why he’s still involved in the program 13 years later.

“I want kids to have an opportunity to work together and to read books because I just think reading books is so awesome,” Gaines said. Reading helps students improve their vocabulary, comprehension, and writing skills. It also reduces stress and even improves sleep. 

Gaines' team won the CCSD Battle of the Books in 2024, which meant Cottonwood Creek would host the finals in 2025.

On March 25, Gaines posed questions like this to the top six Battle of the Books teams from across the district:

“A picture of a woman reminded one character of the smile in the portrait of the Mona Lisa,” Gaines said.

Team members would confer, then announce their answer.

“The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson,” said a member of the Mission Viejo team.

"Correct!” Gaines said.

The Battle of the Books is a national reading incentive program, where students can read any or all of a list of 15 age-appropriate books, then compete for the chance to be part of a team representing their school. Nine teams competed in 2012, but more than 40 CCSD elementary schools competed in the four-day semi-finals, held March 10-13 at schools across the district.

The top six teams advanced to the CCSD finals: Belleview, Cherry Hills Village, Heritage, Indian Ridge, Mission Viejo, and Willow Creek elementary schools. After school on March 25, those teams, along with dozens of their parents and other supporters, gathered in the Cottonwood Creek Elementary Library for the Battle of the Books finals. They competed in three rounds of questions about the books they had read, before Mr. Gaines announced the winner: “Willow Creek Elementary!”

As the Willow Creek students and families celebrated their victory, and team members accepted Barnes and Noble gift cards, they reflected on what got them to this point.

“We did lots of practices at a teammate’s house to get warmed up for the finals,” said fourth-grader Oliver Heersink.

“Everybody just had one book that they focused on and got really good at, and we all covered all the books, and we all worked together,” added fifth-grader Anjali Kanitkar.

Gaines said all the competitors deserved congratulations.

“Look how you’ve worked in a team. You’ve brought your team this far. You compromised. You probably didn’t always agree, but you worked together as a team, and I’m really proud of you!” Gaines said.

Congratulations to all CCSD Battle of the Books participants!