NZ reading quiz for Britain

British schoolchildren will take part in a literary competition developed by a New Zealand specialist in language education.

Auckland College of Education senior lecturer Wayne Mills will take his Kids' Lit Quiz through 10 regions in Britain, starting next week.

About 1200 children aged 12 and 13 are expected to take part.

They will be asked 100 questions about writers such as Anne Fine, Michael Morpurgo and Harry Potter creator J. K. Rowling.

Mr Mills' trip is being sponsored by the Times Educational Supplement newspaper in London.

Kids' Lit Quiz has been running in New Zealand since 1991, when 14 school teams entered.

This year, there were 348 entries and the final was held as part of the annual Storylines Festival of Writers and Illustrators in Auckland.

Teams of four students answer questions on subjects ranging from the classics to fantasy stories and poetry.

Mr Mills said the quiz was a way of rewarding children who loved to read.

Achievement in other areas such as science, maths and sport had been recognised in schools for decades.

His long-term aim was to have an international Kids' Lit Quiz in New Zealand.

- NZPA