Follow Resilience, a Mars rover who develops human-like emotions as he prepares for his mission to the Red Planet. Through Resilience's adventures and challenges on Mars, as well as letters from a young girl on Earth, readers explore…
- General Recommendations
- Staff-Created List
Battle of the Books 2025
Are you ready to read 4th and 5th graders? Here are the 16 extraordinary books chosen for our 44th annual BOB competition!
StaffLibrary Staff
Glenview Public Library


16 items
- In this exciting mystery, three middle schoolers compete for a big scholarship by solving clues around Chicago. While working together, they uncover a surprising twist and learn that the competition is not what it seems.
- Fourth-grader Amy Anne starts a secret library of banned books in her school locker when her favorite story is removed from the library shelves. As Amy Anne fights against censorship, she discovers her own voice and the power of standing…
- Ben Yokoyama takes a fortune cookie's advice to "live each day as if it were your last" very seriously. Thinking he only has one day left to live, the eight-year-old creates a bucket list and goes on a hilarious adventure trying to…
- Three-legged Chance is the perfect narrator and guide to Dogtown, a shelter that houses both warm-blooded and robot dogs waiting to be adopted. When a new arrival, a misfit dog with a mysterious past, joins them, they head out on a…
- A hilarious and achingly real love story about a girl, a ghost, a grandmother, and growing up.
- Enjoy the adventure as P.T. Wilkie and his friend Gloria come up with inventive schemes to save his family's struggling motel (the world's wackiest) from financial ruin. Their efforts lead to hilarious situations and uncover a surprising…
- Follow Judi Wilson and her high school teammates as they form their school's first girls' basketball team in 1975, facing numerous challenges and inequalities compared to the boys' team. Inspired by true events!
- Five middle school students from different Latin American backgrounds are forced to work together on a community service project. As they help a homeless family, they learn to look past stereotypes and discover they have more in common…
- A true story about a Jewish girl growing up in Italy during World War II. Lia faces many changes and challenges as her family moves from place to place, but she remains brave and hopeful throughout her experiences.
- A true story, told in verse, about a boy named Ken who escapes the bombings in London during World War II by boarding a ship to Canada. When the ship is hit by a torpedo, Ken and others must survive in a lifeboat with little food and…
- Portico Reeves, a young boy with a secret identity as Stuntboy, navigates the challenges of his parents' separation and bullying at school. Using his alter ego to protect those around him, Portico discovers the true meaning of bravery and…
- Follow Johannes, a free-spirited dog who serves as the "Eyes" of an urban park, observing and reporting to the park's elders. When human developments threaten the park's balance, Johannes embarks on a heroic adventure with his animal…
- This exciting graphic novel tells the story of two kids trying to escape the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Through colorful illustrations and an action-packed plot, readers will learn important facts about this historical disaster while…
- Join in on the excitement as a brother and sister compete to see who can sell the most lemonade before school starts! As Evan and Jessie try to outsell each other, they learn important lessons about business, math, and getting along with…
- Embark on a fantastical journey with twins Alex and Connor as they tumble into a magical book and find themselves in a realm where fairy tales come to life. Join them on their thrilling adventure to gather special items needed for a spell…
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