Kingfield launches community read program with puzzles, giant present

Kingfield Elementary turned their Community Read project into a full-blown event last week. (Photos courtesy of Kenny Brechner)

KINGFIELD – The local elementary school has launched its Community Read program to much fanfare last week.

Keeping the title of the book an absolute secret, Kingfield English teacher Maggie Adams arranged students into teams and invited area seniors to the launch. Adams then projected scrambled titles on a screen, showing the letters to be found in the title. The first team to solve the anagram would picked to reveal the books and hand them out.

A team solved it with only one hint, the first word being: The. Then the lights went out and the music came on. Principal Kim Ramharter and an able assistant wheeled out the books on a display wrapped as a present!

The winning team tore it open and revealed 175 copies of Megan Frazer Blakemore's great book, The Water Castle. Each winning team member grabbed a pile of books. — The winning team tore it open and revealed 175 copies of Megan Frazer Blakemore’s great book, The Water Castle. Each winning team member grabbed a pile of books.

Then the team hit the stands and gave everyone in the room a copy The Water Castle.

Kenny Brechner went next to tell everyone a bit about The Water Castle and why it's such a great book, and such a great choice for their Community Read, particularly one launched with mystery and puzzle solving. — Kenny Brechner went next to tell everyone a bit about The Water Castle and why it’s such a great book, and such a great choice for their Community Read, particularly one launched with mystery and puzzle solving.

After that Principal Kim Ramharter sat down and read everyone the first chapter.

Many people followed along in their copies.

There was still ten minutes left for everyone to read more on their own before it was time to get ready for the bus. The Community Read launch mission was a giant success!