Kids Lit Quiz World Final 2008

Again, I’ve been meaning to blog about this for a while. The final was actually about a month ago, but I’ve just been too snowed under with writing and events to think about blogging. Here’s a picture of me at the event in a suit … I don’t often wear a suit these days.

Last year I was amazed at the amount of organisation that the KLQ team put into the World Final. To my delight, this year was even better. The venue was bigger and better suited - The Oxford Playhouse. The competition was tighter - several teams could have won it right up until the final round. The dinner venue was spectacular - The Oxford Town Hall. The after dinner speech was funny and apt. All in all I, personally, had a great time. But best of all (aside from the fact that the UK team won!) was that the biggest winners of the day were reading and literature in general. That’s what I love most about this quiz.

Here’s a picture of me in a suit taking a picture of other authors!

The knowledge displayed by the young people from all of the nations involved was quite amazing. They knew stuff from books I’d never even heard of, let alone read. They knew everything from nursery rhymes and picture books to classics to modern fiction to the names of illustrators to who wrote what when and which pen they used on Tuesdays! Alright, I might be exaggerating just a tiny bit on the last bit, but you had to see them to believe just how much they knew about books. It was fantastic to see. What was also fantastic was to see so many boys in the top teams. Girls may read more in general, but when boys read … they really read! It was wonderful to see.

Wayne Mills was in fine form again this year and resplendent in his famous Quizmaster’s hat. (I’m tempted to try and steal it next year … but it’s pretty closely guarded. I wonder if I can get Femke or Reynik to come up with a cunning plan … !) His questions were well thought out as usual, but he rarely got to read them out in full, as the teams were so quick with their answers.

Finally, here’s a picture of me in a suit with the triumphant UK team. Well done Arnold House School - you were amazing! … well, there would be if I could find it. Will try to add it later - sorry!

I look forwards to taking part again in some of the regional finals later in the year and hope to make the trip to Newcastle to see the UK final. Sadly, I doubt I’ll get to South Africa to see the World Final, but I’m sure it will be another fantastic event. Well done to Jacky Atkinson and her team of organisers for doing the UK proud once more.