{"id":6135,"date":"2026-02-18T11:28:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T17:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/?p=6135"},"modified":"2026-02-21T14:13:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T20:13:19","slug":"battle-of-the-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/?p=6135","title":{"rendered":"Battle of the Books!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2940.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\" height=\"604\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2940.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6136\" srcset=\"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2940.jpg 1000w, http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2940-300x181.jpg 300w, http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2940-768x464.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This morning, I had the honor of being one of the speakers for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esc1.net\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Region One ESC<\/a> Battle of the Books!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2864.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\" height=\"506\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2864.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6137\" srcset=\"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2864.jpg 1000w, http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2864-300x152.jpg 300w, http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2864-768x389.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>My audience was very special indeed, being the winning teams from each school district in Region One!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2893.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\" height=\"443\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2893.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6138\" srcset=\"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2893.jpg 1000w, http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2893-300x133.jpg 300w, http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2893-768x340.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I got to meet so many great teams and even got to see fellow author, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/dianalopezbooks.com\" target=\"_blank\">Diana L\u00f3pez<\/a>! I never get to watch another author&#8217;s presentation, so seeing her was a real treat!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2915.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\" height=\"775\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2915.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6139\" srcset=\"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2915.jpg 1000w, http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2915-300x233.jpg 300w, http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2915-768x595.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After our presentations, Diana and I had signings and even took some photos with some of the teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2926.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\" height=\"547\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2926.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6143\" srcset=\"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2926.jpg 1000w, http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2926-300x164.jpg 300w, http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2926-768x420.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_5265.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\" height=\"850\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_5265.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6140\" srcset=\"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_5265.jpg 1000w, http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_5265-300x255.jpg 300w, http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_5265-768x653.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2939.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\" height=\"794\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2939.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6141\" srcset=\"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2939.jpg 1000w, http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2939-300x238.jpg 300w, http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2939-768x610.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I was especially thrilled to see Mrs. Rios and her team from <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/livas.psjaisd.us\" target=\"_blank\">Santos Livas Elementary<\/a>&#8211;one of my former, very special school visits!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2964.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\" height=\"749\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2964.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6142\" srcset=\"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2964.jpg 1000w, http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2964-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2964-768x575.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Thanks to all the event sponsors, including <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.libraria.com\" target=\"_blank\">Libraria<\/a> and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.literacyfortexas.com\" target=\"_blank\">Literacy for Texas<\/a>. Thanks to Mrs. Garcia for inviting me and for the tasty lunch. And the biggest thanks of all goes to all the Battle of the Books teams themselves! I know you made your districts proud!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2969.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\" height=\"959\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2969.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6144\" srcset=\"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2969.jpg 1000w, http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2969-300x288.jpg 300w, http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2969-768x737.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This morning, I had the honor of being one of the speakers for Region One ESC Battle of the Books! My audience was very special indeed, being the winning teams from each school district in Region One! I got to meet so many great teams and even got to see fellow author, Diana L\u00f3pez! I [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[28],"tags":[60,61,126,79],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6135"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6135"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6135\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6147,"href":"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6135\/revisions\/6147"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6135"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6135"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelanthonysteele.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6135"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}