Alconbury Elementary Unites Through Reading During ‘One School, One Book’ Event

Joanne Fuller

Nov 18, 2025

Alconbury Elementary School recently celebrated its annual One School, One Book event, uniting students, families, and staff through a shared reading experience centered on The Water Horse by Dick King-Smith.

Alconbury Elementary students receive copies of The Water Horse during the school’s annual One School, One Book event at Alconbury Elementary School, England. The “book fairies” kicked off the program by delivering the novels to classrooms, sparking excitement for the schoolwide reading initiative.

ALCONBURY, England — Alconbury Elementary School recently celebrated its annual One School, One Book event, uniting students, families, and staff through a shared reading experience centered on The Water Horse by Dick King-Smith.

This year’s selection—a heartwarming tale set in Scotland—was embraced by the school community, inspiring thoughtful discussions and a renewed love for reading across all grade levels. The Alconbury Elementary PTA once again sponsored the program, helping provide every student with a copy of the book.

To kick off the event, “book fairies” delivered The Water Horse to students, sparking excitement and curiosity. Families were encouraged to read the novel together at home, while classrooms incorporated themed activities such as interactive Kahoot quizzes and lessons inspired by the story.

Ms. McBride, the school’s P.E. and Host Nation teacher, introduced students to the sport of curling—featured in the book—and led a modified version during Host Nation classes. The hands-on activity helped bring the story to life in a fun, physical way.

The celebration concluded with a family movie night in the school gym, where families gathered to watch the film adaptation of The Water Horse. The junior class at Alconbury Middle High School provided snacks, adding to the cozy, community atmosphere.

“Watching the students at Alconbury discover the wonder of imagination, the strength of friendship, and the courage to take care of something extraordinary reinforces the importance of why stories matter,” said Ms. Davis, an Alconbury Elementary teacher. “It inspired creativity and brought our school community together, one page at a time.”

“I liked that you got to see Crusoe, the water horse, grow up because it reminds me of life,” said student Caroline. “In life you just grow up.”

From magical book deliveries to engaging classroom lessons, Alconbury Elementary’s One School, One Book event once again highlighted the power of storytelling to connect people and build community—one page at a time.