Name that Book (NTB) was a Kindergarten – High School year-long event which celebrated and championed literature for young people. The program was started over fifty years ago by Maxine Jackson, a Librarian at River Oaks Elementary. Library Services facilitated the event for the whole district up until the end of the 2023-2024 school year. The program has since been adopted by surrounding Houston school districts and independent schools.

The HISD Name That Book competition was open to all HISD schools or HISD affiliated charter schools. The program began each May when the following year’s book lists were revealed. The book lists were award-winning books. 

In the fall, Library Services trained sponsors on the rules and guidelines of the program. 

The schools practiced for the culminating event in the Spring: the Houston ISD Name that Book competition, our Superbowl of Books! During the 2022-2023 school year, over 140 schools competed over a three-week period.

Schools had the opportunity to have one team to compete in each level in which they qualified. Three to six students made up a team with one official alternate. One student was designated to serve as captain. Each contest consisted of five (5) rounds, with each round consisting of five (5) questions. A quotation was read, and each team had 60 seconds to identify the book. The top team scoring team(s) won the competition.

“It is wonderful to have a place at school to exchange ideas and discuss incredible books with other students. The books on the Name That Book list really provide something for everyone. They are thought-provoking and challenging, and I have fallen in love with some great books I probably wouldn’t have read if it hadn’t been for Name That Book. I have also made friends that I probably wouldn’t have made if not for Name That Book!”

-Senior Student,  High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and a member of 2009 1st place high school team.

Student literati make reading into a team sport with annual Name That Book Competition - HISD Blog Post, 2023