“The Quiz Kids” T.V. show premiered on July 6, 1949. This show began on radio and continued on T.V. with the original host, Joe Kelly, and later with Clifton Fadiman. The format was a panel of five child prodigies who answered questions sent in by viewers. Four were regulars, staying for weeks or months, while the fifth was a “guest child.” The ages of the panelists varied from 6 to 16.
     Wouldn’t be amazing to compete in a quiz bowl or quiz show? At the Rapides Parish Library we have items geared toward preparing you for all sorts of questions or information.
     Barron’s Illustrated Fact Finder: An Encyclopedia for Young Students is a treasury of information for young and older pupils. It consists of thousands of fascinating facts. Hundreds of full-color illustrations, charts, and maps are packed into this attractive volume that presents information under the subjects of History, Geography, Language and Literature, Mathematics, Physical Science, Natural Science, English Grammar, and Arithmetic. An index gives an alphabetical guide to every topic. Here’s a fine educational aid that will hold a child’s interest and is sure to become a favorite resource among young students.
     Books Every Child Should Know: The Literature Quiz Book has three purposes: to turn quizzes into fun games that allow children to enjoy the experiences of literature, to promote children’s fluency through the reading of books and stories in a wide variety of genres, to assess children’s knowledge of literature. This book is divided into genres so that the parent, teacher, or librarian can integrate the quizzes and games with the study of a wide variety of literature. Quizzes and games are included for Mother Goose rhymes, Aesop’s fables, Greek and Roman myths, folktales from Germany, France, Great Britain, Scandinavia, Asia, India, and Africa, as well as Hispanic tales, and Native American tales and fantasy. The Literature Quiz Book is designed to help busy teachers and librarians implement either introductory or culminating activities for any genre of literature, the use of the quizzes and games can be as creative as the adult who introduces and uses them.
     A quiz book of a different type is CosmoGirl! Quiz Book – All About You.  Want to learn more about yourself? Of course you do. Who doesn’t? Well now’s your chance to get the lowdown on your inner self: you know, the stuff that you keep hidden inside, or stuff that you may not even be aware of and that even your best friend might not tell you about. They include: Are you a good friend? What do people think about you? What’s your secret power? The answers to these questions and many more can change the way you live your life in a good way. One of CosmoGirl’s favorite ways to help you along this journey of yours is to give you quizzes that let you discover things you may not yet know about yourself.
     Focus! It’s time to test your wits on how “Raven” you are! Are You So Raven?: Quiz Book is filled with tons of show trivia and hilarious personality quizzes. This quiz book will entertain “That’s So Raven” fans for hours.
     Are you bored with easy-to-solve puzzles/quizzes? Do you find Trivial Pursuit only mildly challenging? If you really want to go a little farther in challenging your knowledge, then The Ultimate Quiz Book is for you, covering everything from animal kingdom/science and sports to kings and queens and sea creatures. It is the perfect book for the know-it-all individuals.
     Are you the “Weakest Link”? It’s the fastest, most nail-biting quiz show on television and now you have a chance to play in your own home with over 1,800 specially selected questions that will test your general knowledge and your nerve. Weakest Link Quiz Book is a publication in the format of a game to test you, your friends or your family.
     Stop by any branch of the Rapides Parish Library and try your luck on one of these books to see how knowledgeable you are.
     Brenda Harvey is the Circulation Manager at Main Library.