Readers from Around the World to Compete

13 June 2006

Top Young Readers from Around the World to Compete in Literature Quiz

Some of the world’s best young readers will showcase their literary knowledge at the World Final of the Paper Plus Kids’ Lit Quiz being held on Sunday 18 June at Auckland’s Aotea Centre, The Edge, starting at 10.30am.

The winning teams from the twelve New Zealand regional finals will compete against a team from Springfield Convent, South Africa, Bancroft’s School, Essex and the International School of Beijing from China.

Wayne Mills, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Education, University of Auckland, and the mastermind behind the quiz, says this year’s World Final will be particularly exciting as last year’s winning school is defending their title.

“St Margaret’s College from Christchurch won the World Final last year and the Canterbury regional final this year so they will be very keen to keep their title,” he says.

“It is the first time that a school has managed to get through and defend their title so it promises to be a very exciting competition.”

This year, every region in New Zealand had an increase in the number of teams competing and countries around the world are keen to take part.

Wayne Mills says the growth of the quiz in New Zealand and worldwide has been astounding.

“Australia is coming on board next year and I have had interest expressed from Bahrain, Canada and even Mongolia,” he says.

Paper Plus sponsor the event, providing a total prize pool of over $30,000 including Paper Plus Gift Vouchers and assistance towards travel and accommodation expenses.

The winning team gets to take home the Paper Plus Cup along with other wonderful book prizes provided by Paper Plus including a $250 book voucher for each team member and a $1500 book grant for the school.

Tony Moores, Books Manager for Paper Plus, says they are proud to support an initiative that not only fosters children’s reading but encourages young readers from all over the world.

“We are continually astounded at the breadth of literary knowledge of the participants and having so many entries from overseas adds to the challenge and excitement for all the kids involved,” he says.

The annual school-based competition for year seven and eight students aims to promote reading and test the literary knowledge of young readers.

Teams of four students work together to answer wide-ranging literary questions from almost any genre including comics, poetry, nursery rhymes, classics and contemporary fiction.

The Paper Plus Kids' Lit Quiz is a major feature of the annual Storylines Festival of New Zealand Children's Writers and Illustrators, being held 12-18 June.

ENDS

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