This year (2026) permission slips are due Friday April 10th, and the competition will take place May 21st. The books for this year are:

Meri Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina

Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros

Dog Man by Dav Pilkey

A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielson

Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Who was Friday Kahlo? by Sarah Fabiny

Battle of the Books

Each year, MME librarians and MME staff coordinate a “Battle of the Books.” MME students from 4th-6th grade are able to participate in this literacy competition. Students form groups of 2-6, and read the 6 books chosen for the year’s competition. The books can be gotten elsewhere, or borrowed (one at a time per student) from the MME library. Participating students must sign a permission slip, and then near the end of the year they will compete together to show their knowledge from each book. 

The winning group often gets a prize such as a gift card to Avid Reader.