École Martha Currie Elementary reclaims victory in third Surrey Schools Book of the Year Battle!
From left, École Martha Currie Elementary teacher-librarian Dil Mcdonough; students Kane, Emma, Hailey and Amanuel (not pictured: Umut and Avalon); and teacher Michelle Donaldson. The team of Grade 6 and 7 students tested their reading smarts in this district's third-annual Book of the Year battle and returned the championship to École Martha Currie.
The Book of the Year Battle trophy has returned to École Martha Currie Elementary as the inaugural winning school took back the championship in this year’s districtwide competition!
The third annual literacy contest saw intermediate students from elementary schools across Surrey and White Rock test their knowledge of the 10 Book of the Year candidates from the 2026 Surrey Book Awards. While George Greenaway Elementary took the top spot last year, Martha Currie students crammed as much as they could in the pursuit of this year’s first place position.
“We are thrilled to have reclaimed it this year,” said teacher-librarian Dil McDonough. “Our team was made up of six Grade 6 and 7 students who demonstrated exceptional commitment and enthusiasm for reading.
“Their success is a testament to their dedication, teamwork and genuine love of reading.”
Students were challenged with remembering plot points, characters and unique details from books such as Lost at Windy River by Tina Rathberger, We Are Big Time by Hena Khan and the 2026 winner, Lion Dancers by Cai Tse.
As part of the rules of the competition, students cannot receive preparation support from teachers or teacher-librarians. Instead, the Martha Currie students earned the title all on their own, independently reading, studying and preparing for this year’s contest.
McDonough thanked the many teacher-librarians from across the district who formed the committee that hosted this year’s competition for so many students in our schools.
“Their efforts made this year's competition possible, and we are grateful for their commitment to fostering a culture of reading in our schools,” she said.
Congratulations, École Martha Currie Elementary, on winning the third annual Book of the Year Battle!
2026 Book of the Year
Winner: Lion Dancers by Cai Tse
Nominees:
- Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan
- The Deadlands: Hunted by Skye Melki-Wegner
- Jude Saves the World by Ronnie Riley
- Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi
- Lost at Windy River by Trina Rathgeber
- Oliver’s Great Big Universe by Jorge Cham
- Safe Harbor by Padma Venkatraman
- Valor Wings by Sam Subity
- We Are Big Time by Hena Khan
