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    Name that Book (NTB) is a Kindergarten – High School year-long event which celebrates and champions literature for young people. The program was started over fifty years ago by Maxine Jackson, a Librarian at  River Oaks Elementary. Library Services now facilitates the event for the whole district. The program has since been adopted by the rest of Houston’s surrounding school districts and independent schools.

    The HISD Name That Book competition is open to all HISD schools or HISD affiliated charter schools. The program begins each May when the following year’s book lists are revealed. The book lists are award-winning books. 

    In the fall, Library Services trains sponsors on the rules and guidelines of the program. 

    The schools practice for the culminating event in the Spring: the Houston ISD Name that Book competition, our Superbowl of Books! During the 2022-2023 school year, over 140 schools competed over a three-week period.

    Schools may have one team to compete in each level in which they qualify. Three to six students may make up a team with one official alternate. One student is designated to serve as captain. Each contest will consist of five (5) rounds, with each round consisting of five (5) questions. A quotation is read, and each team will have 60 seconds to identify the book. The top team scoring team(s) win the competition.

    “It is wonderful to have a place at school to exchange ideas and discuss incredible books with other students. The books on the Name That Book list really provide something for everyone. They are thought-provoking and challenging, and I have fallen in love with some great books I probably wouldn’t have read if it hadn’t been for Name That Book. I have also made friends that I probably wouldn’t have made if not for Name That Book!”

    -Senior Student,  High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and a member of 2009 1st place high school team.

    Student literati make reading into a team sport with annual Name That Book Competition - HISD Blog Post, 2023

  • 2022-2023 Name that Book Winners

    During the 2022-2023 school year, over 140 schools competed over a three-week period.

    Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Name That Book contest for High School. 

    1st place - Westside
    2nd place - HSPVA
    3rd place - DeBakey
     
    Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Name That Book contest for Middle School.
    1st place - TH Rogers 
    2nd place - Meyerland 
    3rd place -  MIMS
     
    Congratulations to the winners of the 2022 Name That Book contest for 3-6.
    1st place - AIMS / West University
    2nd place - Horn / Lovett
     
    Congratulations to the winners of the 2022 Name That Book contest for K-2.  (note - there are no finals for this division.  These are the winners for each competition day.)
    1st place - Condit / TH Rogers, Field, Lovett / West University, Milne, Piney Point, River Oaks, Twain