Albuquerque Public Schools
Bookworms Unite at Central NM Battle of the Books
Over 200 student readers to compete in literary showdown at Marie Hughes Elementary.
Young bibliophiles from across the region will test their book smarts on April 26 at the Central New Mexico Battle of the Books, hosted this year by Marie Hughes Elementary School. The event is open to the public and runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Battle of the Books has been a New Mexico tradition since 1990. It brings together students in grades 4 through 8 to celebrate reading, teamwork and academic growth. Participants qualify by reading at least 10 books from a list of 20 titles, spanning various genres and highlighting diverse characters and perspectives.
This year, more than 400 students are participating in Battles across the state, with 203 readers registered for the Central event. Other regional competitions will take place the same day in Gallup and Roswell.
“The preparation for the event helps readers to grow in many directions,” Tamara Judge, teacher librarian at Marie Hughes, said. “They try new genres. They build reading stamina. They have great discussions with peers and inspire each other to try the books they enjoyed. This event allows students who love reading to have a goal ahead of them to keep pushing them to grow and get stronger as readers.”
Family, friends and book lovers of all ages are encouraged to attend and cheer on the competitors. The event will also feature local vendors, including Books on the Bosque, food trucks and other fun surprises, making it a true celebration of literacy and learning.
This event is more than a competition for young readers—it’s a chance to build community through the shared joy of books.