Chappaqua Challenge FAQ's 2023
WHAT IS IT?
It’s a fun, low-key reading program for 4th to 6th graders who want to read some great books with their friends.
WHEN IS IT?
The Challenge will be on SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2023 at 2 P.M.
WHEN SHOULD I REGISTER?
Register from November 14 until December 10 or until all 12 team spots are filled.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
- Kids form teams of 2-4 people and take a few months to read from a list of 12 books.
- Team members can divvy up the books any way they like; try to have each book read by two people.
- In February your team will find out their book (randomly chosen by the library) and will have time to write 11 questions about one of the books.
- On the Saturday of the Challenge in March, the teams will quiz each other. At this point we are hoping to be in person; this might change if necessary.
- There is NO AUDIENCE, we don’t keep score, and no one wins or loses. Each team will try to answer one question about each of the other books, and all the teams quiz each other at once. It’s a little crazy, but fun!
- Each participant will earn a gift certificate to Scattered Books, and then we party!
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
- Form a team of 2-4 people, and choose a name for your team.
- Choose one member’s adult as the contact person, who will be responsible for sharing any messages (usually email) between the library and the rest of the team.
- If you’ve already done the Challenge, email us and we’ll send your contact person the registration and permission slip links.
- Any new participants must attend ONE challenge meeting via Zoom, on:
Wednesday, November 16 at 7 pm
Tuesday, November 29 at 4:30 pm, or
Saturday, December 3rd at 2 pm.
Please register to get the Zoom link.
- The meeting will be brief; parental eavesdropping is recommended. After the meeting you’ll be sent the link for the actual Challenge registration form and permission slips.
- Each team member must turn in a signed permission slip. The contact person can bring them all in, or each member can bring, email or fax their own. F: (914) 238-3597.
- Registration is complete once we have a registration form AND all permission slips. Then a librarian will put you on the team poster, and that’s it!
WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE OTHER PEOPLE TO DO IT WITH ME?
Let us know you’re interested—sometimes other teams need another member.
WILL I NEED TO READ ALL 12 BOOKS?
Some people do, if they want to and have the time. Most people divide up the list with the rest of their team, and read between 6-12 books. The books will be a mix of types: graphic novels, realistic stories, fantasy, animals, a biography, etc.
WHAT ARE THE BOOKS THIS YEAR?
| Author | Title | Genre |
| Bowling | Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus | Humor/Mystery |
| Case GN | Little Monarchs | Sci Fi |
| Christmas GN | Swim Team | Sports |
| Hale GN | One Dead Spy (J B Hale) | History |
| Konigsburg | From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler | Classic |
| Nguyen GN | Saving Sorya | Animal |
| Ortega GN | Frizzy | Realistic |
| Ponti | Framed! | Myst/Adventure |
| Sell GN | Cardboard Kingdom | Friendship |
| Swanson | Ben Yokoyama & the Fortune Cookie of Doom | Humor |
| Sweet | Some Writer! (JB White) | Biography |
| Yang | Front Desk | Realistic |
The Friends of the Library sponsor the purchase of extra copies, and Challenge books are kept on a cart by the Children’s Room office. Click here to see the list with links to the online catalog. You’ll see the various media versions there, too: CD audiobooks, large print, etc. You can put any of them on hold. If we run out, you can get them from another library within a few days.
If you’re looking for downloadable ebooks or e-audiobooks, here’s a list of what’s available and where. Access ebooks on the eLibrary page of our website; choose Overdrive/Libby or hoopla under “eBooks”. (Each of those platforms also has an app.) Log in with your library card number (starting with “21005...”) and PIN (typically the last 4 digits of your phone number). Then search for the title you want. In Libby, be sure to log in with a Chappaqua Library card before searching, to gain priority access to any extra digital copies we’ve bought.
HOW LONG WILL THE CHALLENGE TAKE?
The Challenge itself takes 1-1 1⁄2 hours, if everyone is on time. That includes doing all the questions and having the party.
I SIGNED UP—NOW WHAT?
Talk to your teammates about who’s reading which books. Start reading as soon as you sign up; depending on when you start, you have 15-18 weeks to read the books.
WHAT ABOUT WRITING THE QUESTIONS?
In mid-February, the library will randomly assign your team a book, and will tell your contact person, so you’ll have time to read the book if you haven’t yet. Team members will write 11 questions (total, not per member) about that book. You’ll turn in the questions the day before the Challenge; via email is fine.
Questions should be factual, based on details actually mentioned in the books.
Some teams like to get together to write the questions--that’s optional! And you don’t need to study!
WE SIGNED UP; NOW WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
If the members of your team change, or some (or all) of you change your minds or have a conflict, please let the library know as soon as possible. There may be someone waiting for a chance to take part.
I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS!
- Call 238-4779, x3.
- Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., with "Chappaqua Challenge" in the subject line