We're thrilled to announce that Arco Iris Spanish Immersion School students in grades 3-5 are participating in the Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) again this year! Our readers have spent the school year reading a wide variety of literature and are ready to compete against students across Oregon.
What is the Oregon Battle of the Books?
The Oregon Battle of the Books is a voluntary reading program where student teams read from a curated list of 16 books, then compete in trivia-style challenges testing their comprehension and recall. It's like Jeopardy!, but young for book lovers. We love how it promotes teamwork, critical thinking, and most importantly a love of reading in our students.
This year's book list offers a wonderful mix of beloved classics and contemporary Young Adult literature featuring diverse voices and themes:
- Better with Butter by Victoria Piontek
- The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
- Elf Dog and Owl Head by M. T. Anderson
- Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
- Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome
- Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
- Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhhà Lại
- Just Like Click by Sandy Grubb
- The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass
- The Million Dollar Race by Matthew Ross Smith
- Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
- Odder by Katherine Applegate
- The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow by Elaine Dimopoulos
- The Secret Garden on 81st Street by Ivy Noelle Weir and Amber Padilla
- Squished by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter
- The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler
That's a lot of reading for elementary students! But this is where the team aspect really shines. Students can divide the reading load and contribute their knowledge to the collective team effort. Most competing students read about half the books on the list, making the challenge manageable while still building impressive literacy skills.
Why We Love OBOB
OBOB aligns beautifully with our school values. While we don't assign homework, we strongly encourage families to read together for pleasure. OBOB takes that joy of reading and adds an exciting team element that builds community and celebrates literary excellence. OBOB gives them a chance to showcase those skills while exploring diverse stories and perspectives.
Join the Adventure!
Our OBOB teams will compete in regional battles this spring, with top teams advancing to the state competition. We're incredibly proud of the dedication our students have shown in preparing for this challenge.
Want to support our readers? Ask them about their favorite books from the list, attend a regional battle if you're able, or simply celebrate the hours of reading they've accomplished. We love how OBOB captures what we think makes Arco Iris special - learning that's rigorous, joyful, and done together.
About Arco Iris
Arco Iris Spanish Immersion is a small tuition-free public charter school providing a rich, immersive Spanish language experience and robust academics in a true multicultural setting. Centrally located off 217, between SW Portland and Tigard, we serve K-5 students in the greater Beaverton area to become bilingual and biliterate leaders of the future. Get to know us on Instagram @arcoiris_spanishimmersion and on the web at www.arcoirisschool.org. We’re enrolling for Fall 2026-27.