Junior High Battle of the Books

For the first time, we will host an in-person Junior High Battle of the Books event at the Abel Maldonado Community Center in Santa Maria.

• Date: April 16, 2026
• Time: 8:30am–12:30pm
• Location: Abel Maldonado Community Center in Santa Maria
• Cost: $12 per student
• Who: Students in grades 7–8
• Registration details:

  Each school may bring up to seven students.

  You may request additional spots at the time of registration. After registration closes, we will review available space and contact schools to confirm any additional student invitations.

  All student participants must read at least 14 of the 28 books from the 2025–2026 SBCEO Battle of the Books Junior High List.

• Registration link:
  Register for Junior High Battle of the Books

Elementary Battle of the Books – North County

• Date: April 23, 2026
• Time: 8:30am–12:30pm
• Location: Abel Maldonado Community Center in Santa Maria
• Cost: $12 per student
• Who: Students in grades 4–6
• Registration details:

  Each school may bring up to five students. You will be required to provide the names of each student attending at the time of registration.

  You may request additional spots at the time of registration. After registration closes, we will review available space and contact schools to confirm any additional student invitations.

  All student participants must read at least 14 of the 28 books from the 2025–2026 SBCEO Battle of the Books Elementary List.

• Registration link:
  Register for North County Elementary Battle

Elementary Battle of the Books – South County

• Date: April 30, 2026
• Time: 8:30am–12:30pm
• Location: SBCEO Auditorium in Santa Barbara
• Cost: $12 per student
• Who: Students in grades 4–6
• Registration details:

  Each school may bring up to five students.

  You may request additional spots at the time of registration. After registration closes, we will review available space and contact schools to confirm any additional student invitations.

  All student participants must read at least 14 of the 28 books from the 2025–2026 SBCEO Battle of the Books Elementary List.

• Registration link:
  Register for South County Elementary Battle

Batalla de los Libros

Please join us for our in-person Batalla de los Libros event! Santa Barbara County Education Office’s Batalla de los Libros celebrates the joy of reading in Spanish. Participants will tackle our uniquely curated 16-book list spanning narrative to nonfiction and poetry to graphic novels. The top placing Batalla team will receive recognition and a special prize. For more specific details, please see the Batalla de los Libros event page.

• Date: May 14, 2026
• Time: 8:30am–12:30pm
• Location: Santa Barbara County Education Office – Auditorium
  4400 Cathedral Oaks Road
  Santa Barbara, CA 93110
• Who: Students in grades 4–7, teachers, and administrators
• Facilitator: Melissa Garcia
• Cost: $12 per student
• Registration details:

  Students must have read at least 10 of the 16 books on the Batalla de los Libros list to participate.

• Registration link:
  Register for Batalla de los Libros