Book quiz competitive and fun

August is Wordfest month at Tākaka Library. There will be events throughout the month.

Tuesday 15 August

3.30pm - 4.30pm for children (5-8 please bring a parent with you)

Saturday 19 August

10.30am - 12.00pm for everyone

Thursday 24 August

10.30am - 12.00pm for adults

Book Giveaway

Four sharp-witted homeschool students calling themselves “Lunar Eclipse” took out the top prize in the Tasman District Libraries Book Quiz held at the Rec Centre last week.

Competing against the four other Golden Bay primary schools – Collingwood, Tākaka, Central Tākaka, and Motupipi – they emerged triumphant as overall winners based on their reading knowledge, to be awarded books, certificates, and the Grand Champions Trophy.

This interschools competition began 10 years ago at the Tākaka library as the Breakfast Book Quiz under manager Tish Potter, but current children’s librarian Nerissa Cottle explained that it had grown and become just “too full on” to continue there. With 44 excited participants, the larger Rec Centre venue was really appreciated.

Now there are three libraries involved in this fun educational initiative. Both Richmond and Motueka libraries adopted the idea and were to hold their quizzes over the following two days. Children’s librarians Krystel and Sophus from Richmond, and Kumala from Motueka, joined Nerissa to conduct the quiz, all flamboyantly dressed as book characters in the spirit of the occasion.

Months ago, the librarians agreed on three different books to be quizzed over three rounds: The Last Fallen Star by Gracie Kim, Pipi and Pou and the River Monster by Tim Tipene, and Wild Coasts: exploring Aotearoa’s marine reserves by Ned Barraud. A fourth round tested general knowledge, from naming the five members of the Famous Five and the name of the rat in Charlotte’s Web, to where the Dursley family lived in the Harry Potter series.

“It’s special because it brings all the primary schools in the Bay together once a year, and it gives those children that aren’t hugely into sports or whatever a chance to win a trophy,” explained Nerissa. “And they can dress up as book characters or anything they like.”

The event has a big lead up, with teachers often needing to purchase the chosen books weeks beforehand, then facilitate the reading times. Each school organises their student readers differently. But competition is stiff.

“It takes a lot of people to make this happen,” says Nerissa.

Be in to win a copy of Gone Bush by Paul Kilgour. Simply answer this question: Approximately how many backcountry huts has the author visited?

Email your answer to: admin@gbweekly.co.nz with "Gone Bush" in the subject line by Monday 21 August.

Please include your address and phone number.

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