University of Auckland education lecturer Wayne Mills, initiator of children’s literature quizzes in New Zealand and internationally, is the winner of the 2008 Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal and Lecture Award. The award recognises Mills’ achievement in establishing the popular Kids’ Lit Quiz held annually in New Zealand since 1991 and in expanding it to an international event in 2003.
“The quiz is about rewarding kids who love reading and who are good at it,” says Wayne Mills. “The competitive side to the quiz is a real draw and I believe it is specifically benefiting boys as a result.” The first event featured 14 teams; New Zealand now has 423 teams from 244 schools.
Teams of four 11-13-year-olds answer wide-ranging questions about children’s books; they ‘train’ by reading widely to build up knowledge. Regional winners compete in Auckland each June at the annual Storylines Festival. The winner represents New Zealand internationally, competing against teams from China, South Africa and Britain at the World Final, to be held this year in Oxford, U.K. The British Government, local bodies, publishers, private companies and top author Phillip Pullman have supported the event.
Mills is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Education, University of Auckland School of Arts, Languages and Literacies, and a popular speaker around New Zealand. The Margaret Mahy Medal will be presented to him at the Storylines Children’s Literature Trust’s annual Margaret Mahy Day in Auckland on Saturday 29 March 2008.