Digital Dragon Book Madness 2026 

If you’ve ever heard the phrase, “In 49 other states it’s just basketball, but this is Indiana,” then you know how seriously our state takes the March Madness tournament. It can be a great teaching tool for kids of all ages! Even for students who don’t love basketball, “bracketology” is another fun way for kids to participate in lessons. 

For several years, Indiana Gateway Digital Academy (INGDA) has held Digital Dragon Book Madness, but this is the first year we’ve held it at the elementary level. In previous years, we hosted a virtual read-aloud area in the K12 Zone and featured a virtual library of read-alouds from elementary staff in March. Digital Dragon Book Madness for elementary students felt like a natural next step and a fun way to switch things up while maintaining a culture of reading—not just for academics but for enjoyment. 

How were the books chosen? 

Instructional Coach Katie Lunsford, M. Ed., chose the eight books for Digital Dragon Book Madness with input and recommendations from the elementary staff. She arranged the final selections into balanced matchups to compete in similar categories, e.g., humor vs. humor or Social Emotional Learning (SEL)-focused stories vs. SEL-focused stories. She prioritized books that work well as engaging read-alouds across grade levels and that students can easily watch and vote on quickly. 

How does Digital Dragon Book Madness work? 

Using INGDA’s new online learning system (OLS), the voluntary, school-wide reading celebration was designed to be quick and accessible so students could participate in a low-pressure way that easily fit into their day. 

The eight books competed head-to-head in exciting read-aloud matchups. Students watched both stories in each matchup and voted for their favorite to help it advance to the next round. 

INGDA staff have been supportive by encouraging participation and generating interest in the weekly matchups, and it has also been a helpful activity during the elementary students’ and staff’s in-person IREAD testing. 

Why is this activity important? 

Programs like Digital Dragon Book Madness encourage elementary schools to continue fostering a strong reading culture. Engagement with books at this level is key to long-term academic success, and shared reading experiences help students see reading as enjoyable and meaningful.  

And the winner is… 

Voting kicked off March 2. Each week’s winners were determined by student votes and moved on to the next round. Digital Dragon Book Madness voting concluded on March 19, and the champion was crowned on Friday, March 20, before students and staff left for spring break. 

We are excited to announce that this year’s winner is: Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin. 

We look forward to carrying on this tradition into next school year. If you are interested in a flexible learning environment with engaging activities and lessons like Digital Dragon Book Madness, learn more about enrollment options at INGDA.

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