Sunshine Coast Hinterland Times

GRADE FOUR students, friends, family and teachers gathered at Maleny State School recently for the sixth annual Gary Crew Readers Cup.

The quiz type competition challenges students recall of four books chosen by the teachers and librarians. All three Year 4 classes read the books and a heat determines the three teams to go forward into the final.

This year the judges were Library co-ordinator, Patricia Stahl, Maleny Friend of the Library Annette Kitchin and author Gary Crew, who has donated the perpetual trophy and medallions for winning team members. Local businesses, Rosetta Books and Maleny Additions provided sample bag items for all participants.

Maleny Friends of the Library donated book vouchers for members of the second place team.

The four books chosen this year were Uno’s Garden by Graeme Base, Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda, The Saw Doctor by Gary Crew and Goblin in the rainforest by Victor Kelleher and Stephen Michael King plus a website; Make a Hero. The four groups are given 45 seconds to consult with each other over their spoken answers to the ten questions. The judges can award up to two points depending on the accuracy of each answer.

Vikki Meehan, Teacher Librarian said there is always a lot of student interest in winning the trophy with students often debating questions about a particular book, and the questions that won or lost the competition. Patricia Stahl, Maleny Library Coordinator said she was pleased that Gary Crew, the community, (through Maleny Friends of the Library), and retail businesses all supported the competition to encourage reading at the school.

Gary presented the prizes at the end of the competition which has now become a popular class activity at Maleny State School.

He expressed his delight with the depth of student knowledge of the nominated books and the high level of interest the Readers Cup competition generated each year.