To the Editor:

The 2011 Canton Free Library Battle of the Books was a fantastic success thanks to every person who played a part. I’d like to recognize the teams, coaches, families and the valuable volunteers for all they did to make this event special.

We had 13 teams compete in an exciting double-elimination tournament. The following teams participated: The Exactitudes with Ticia Yerdon, Bri Larrabee, Olivia Craig, Izzy Clark, and Coach Paula Jones; the Disco Divas with Paige Corbine, Sara Archer, Grace Bessette, Katelyn Flanagan, and Coach Kristie Dow; the Ghost Readers with Daysia Wagner, Maya Goldie, Riley Shea, Erin Grandaw, and Coaches Carol Goldie and Ramona Schaeffer; The Catastrophic Cliffhangers with Autumn Crabtree, Lexi Hebb, Naiya Budler, and Coach Ken Hebb; The Book Bros with Nathan Aldous, Mike Gagliardi, Mark Mahoney, Trey Hodgdon and Coach Beverly Snyder: the Dictionary DNA with Brandon Lorenc, Noah Goldie, Mary Chisholm, Hunter Dean and Coach Susan Lorenc; The Spinetinglers with Anna Ladouceur, Kaitlyn Parcell, Jayden Ladison, Marley Davis, and Coach Gena Ladouceur; The Supreme Reading Warriors with Claire Bartlett, Elise Franck, Maggie Christy, Emma Crowell, and Coach Robin Crowell; the Mighty Teddy Bears with Jackson Cowser, Quinton Currie, Max Monroe, Danny Monroe, and Coach Fran Monroe; The Literary Llamas with Darren Ricalton, Louden Porter, Matt Gollinger, Bridger Royce, and Coach Jodee Cotey; The Unnormallz with Alberta Nash, Amanda Kendrick, Catriona Huber, Lexi Bessette, Xiomara Oey-Langen, and Coach Christine Nash;

The Golden Readers with Maggie Passamonte, Emma Bortnick, Miranda Smith, Hannah Tupper, and Coaches Amy Bortnick, Kristen Betrus and Ryan Davis; The Smarty Pants with Alex DeJoy, Angus Johnson, James Pinckney, Brittany Wilcox, and Coach Robin McNamara.

We were graciously hosted by the First Presbyterian Church of Canton, prizes were donated by the St. Lawrence University Bookstore and lunch was donated by the Friends of the Canton Free Library. I’d like to give special thanks to volunteers Nancy Palmateer, Krista Briggs, Emily Owen, Kelly Wilson, Tiffany Zook, Cassie Griffin, Sarah Ricalton and Joseph White for their help. I am so proud of all the children, especially for the good spirit and hard work which they demonstrated in the competition! I’m already looking forward to next year!

Valerie White

Youth Services Specialist

Canton Free Library