West Hartford Middle School Students Crowned Kids’ Lit Quiz World Champions in New Zealand
- Submitted
- Aug 29
- 3 min read
Photography submitted
(Editor’s note: in April, we shared a story called “Well Read: Kid Lit Club takes first place in the National Kids’ Lit Quiz and sets their sights on the international contest this summer.” We are thrilled to hear that they won the international competition they were vying for! We are sharing the follow-up to their big win sent to us by their teacher, David St. Germain, about the championship.)
Following a victory at the U.S. National Finals, a four-student reading team from King Philip Middle School has been crowned world champions. Team "King Philip 1", comprising Vera Kozmin, AJ Salerno, Amy Long and Jillian Forrest, traveled to New Zealand for the Kids’ Lit Quiz World Finals, held July 7–12, 2026, where they secured a first-place finish against elite literary teams from eight competing countries.
In the week leading up to the competition, the team immersed itself in New Zealand’s rich culture. Organized by the Kids’ Lit Quiz program, the students explored the natural beauty of Paihia and learned about the history and traditions of the Māori people. The team also participated in a writing seminar led by national reading ambassador and acclaimed author Kate De Goldi. Demonstrating their literary passion on a global stage, team member AJ Salerno was interviewed by John Campbell for New Zealand national radio, while Amy Long delivered a speech on The Chocolate War to a standing ovation at the Paihia Gala Dinner.
"Starting with the very first event where Amy and I played book character Pictionary with the Thailand and Hong Kong teams, all the way through the very last night of staying up late and bonding with teammates, it was an amazing experience," said team member Jillian Forrest. "I am really proud of my team for coming in first, and I hope to stay in touch with the friends I met."
The official competition took place on Friday, July 10. Supporters from West Hartford and around the globe tuned in to the live stream as teams put their knowledge of children’s literature to the test. The quiz featured ten categories—ranging from Cryptids and Giants to Graphic Novels and Love Stories—alongside the competition's recurring Authors and Titles categories.
The West Hartford team delivered a dominant performance. After seizing the lead in the third round, King Philip 1 held the top position through the tenth and final round, finishing with 43 points. Host country New Zealand took second place with 31 points, while Hong Kong placed third with 23 points.
For their achievement, the students received the World Finals trophy, a cash prize of $1,000 NZD, and a personalized book selection handpicked by Quizmaster Wayne Mills.
"The kids are so excited. Despite winning nationals with one of the highest scores founder Wayne Mills has ever seen, they kept working incredibly hard to prepare for the world final," said David St. Germain, library media specialist at King Philip Middle School, who co-coached the team and accompanied the students to New Zealand. “It shows how West Hartford supports reading. A culture of literacy starts at home and is fostered in our school libraries and classrooms. This win is the outcome of that partnership—our students’ success represents a collective effort to instill a lifelong love of reading.”
The broader King Philip Kids' Lit program includes more than 30 students who practice weekly throughout the school year, guided by co-coaches and language arts teachers Carissa Teff and Kimberly Harrell.
Created more than three decades ago by Wayne Mills, the Kids’ Lit Quiz celebrates the joy of reading and challenges students aged 10 to 13. This marks the first time a team from King Philip Middle School has won the world title and only the second time a U.S. team has claimed victory. WHL