Star Readers: HRRB
Sanders will take a team to the January, 2027, Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl!
Helen Ruffin was a DeKalb County School librarian. She wanted to motivate students to read excellent books, so she started the Reading Bowl. The annual HRRB pits teams from participating Cobb County schools against each other in a competitive game format. Students are asked questions about the 10 books chosen by the Georgia Peach Book Award Nomination Committee.
The Reading Bowl is a competition with other elementary school teams in Cobb County that compete after reading 10 different chapter books selected by the committee. We will compete the 2nd or 3rd Saturday in January, 2027. We will have a practice every Monday after school until 4:00, starting the 2nd week of August and going through the week we compete.
To prepare for the Reading Bowl competition, we will read and discuss the ten books, learn about topics pertaining to the books, write practice questions, practice using the competition buzzers, and memorize facts about the books. What is the benefit of being part of this club? First, students are able to share their love of reading with others. Second, students are given the chance to participate in friendly competition (involving cool buzzers like the ones used on Jeopardy). Finally, team members will be allowed to check out a Reading Bowl book in addition to the 2 books they check out from the library.
You may purchase the books, (you don’t have to) or you can have your child check them out from the public library. We would love for them to begin reading the over the summer to get a jump start. 😊
Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl is a state-wide reading initiative and quiz bowl-style competition that tests students’ knowledge of Georgia Peach Award books.
Potential benefits of participation in this reading program include:
- Improved academic achievement
- Increased standardized test scores
- Increased reading comprehension
- Improved verbal communication skills
- Improved cooperation skills
- Increased sense of team spirit
- Enhanced appreciation of literature
- Greater self-esteem
Expense
We will be ordering team shirts. They should not cost more than $10 each.
Practices
- Practices will be held on Mondays after school, from 2:45 – 3:45.
There will not be practice on early release days. - Students who stay after school for practice will be required to enroll in the ASP program. (Link on Sanders website) www.cobbk12.org/sanders
- Students who prefer to join practices virtually from home may do so via Teams if they have Microsoft 365 on a personal device. All CCSD students have access to M365 for free .(Link on school website)
Questions/Assignments
Students will be expected to take notes or write questions about the books they read for use at practices.
Students may, but are not required to, read all 10 books.
Below is the list of books to read to prepare for the 2026-2027 HRRB.
The AI Incident by J. E. Thomas
Botticelli’s Apprentice by Ursula Murray Husted
The Creepening of Dogwood House by Eden Royce
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
Into the Rapids by Ann Braden
J vs. K by Jerry Craft and Kwame Alexander
Monster Locker by Jorge Aguirre and Andrés Vera Martínez
Opal Watson: Private Eye by Brittany J. Thurman
Spark by Chris Baron
Teddy vs. The Fuzzy Doom by Braden Hallett
Start reading NOW!
New this year!
For students in grades K-3, we will have a picture book club. More info and details will be sent home to students soon. In the meantime, here is a list of the picture books students will read:
And Then Came You by Christina Shawn and Illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani
Bats Beneath the Bridge by Janet Nolan and Illustrated by Emily Cox
The Bear Out There by Jess Hannigan
Before I Lived Here by Stacy S. Jensen and Illustrated by Victo Ngai
The Blue Velvet Chair by Rio Cortez and Illustrated by Aaron Marin
The Boy Who Said Wow by Todd Boss and Illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh
Cee Cee: Underground Railroad Cinderella by Shana Keller and Illustrated by Laura Freeman
A Chest Full of Words by Rebecca Gugger and Simon Röthlisberger and Translated by Tim Mohr
Daughter of the Light-Footed People by Belen Medina and Illustrated by Natalia Rojas Castro
Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson and Illustrated by Dan Santat
Fox and the Mystery Letter by Alex G. Griffiths
The Gabi That Girma Wore by Fasika Adefris and Sara Holly Ackerman and Illustrated by Netsanet Tesfay
Go and Get with Rex by David LaRochelle and Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka
How to Pee Your Pants: The Right Way by Rachel Michelle Wilson
I am Not Your Hat by Lisa Bentley
The Man Who Didn’t Like Animals by Deborah Underwood and Illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Maybe Just Ask Me! by Katie Mazeika
My Home is in My Backpack by Eugenia Perrella and Illustrated by Angela Salerno
We Are Definitely Human by X. Fang
What Lolo Wants by Cristina Oxtra and Illustrated by Jamie Bauza
For more information and to join the Sanders HRRB Team, email Mrs. Hunt or Mrs. Roberts.
