Ten teams of fourth- and fifth-graders from Auburn elementary schools will vie for the district title in King County Library System’s 11th annual Global Reading Challenge to take place on Friday at Lakeland Hills Elementary School.

A team representing each school has advanced to the next round of the challenge after participating in a quiz bowl based on 10 books given to the school by the youth librarians from the King County Library System. The winning team from this round will represent their school district at the regional challenge, which will be held later this month to determine the participants in the grand challenge.

Winning teams from the four regional challenges will compete in the March 25 final. Grand challenge winners will take back to their school a trophy, T-shirts, medals and will meet the author of one of this year’s books.

The “Global Reading Challenge” program is modeled after the popular “Battle of the Books” and has been well received by students in the Auburn School District.

In 2001, the first Global Challenge in King County was initiated with two schools and 42 students. The program will involve 56 schools and more than 1,700 students this year. The program has generated enormous enthusiasm among participants as well as their parents, peers and teachers, by creating an opportunity to foster and express a love of books and reading across all reading levels.

This event is sponsored by the King County Library System and the King County Library System Foundation with funding by the Stocker Foundation.