Each March the Flood Brook Literacy Committee designs a school-wide project for students to celebrate National Reading Month. Last year, March Madness was the backdrop to a school wide contest for selecting favorite books - complete with a Final Four. In 2026, all eyes shifted north to Alaska and the iconic, yet grueling, Iditarod Dog Sled Race. At Flood Brook, the renowned “Last Great Race on Earth!” was turned into “The Great School Reading Race!”
The Iditarod became IditaRead.
“One day a teacher came to school with a map of Alaska highlighting the famous race from Anchorage to Nome,” said FBS Librarian Darcy Perry. “We all know that kids love dogs. We decided to link that passion to reading.”
And so it began. The rules for the IditaRead were quite simple. Over a designated three week period in March, that aligned with the dog sled race, all students set a goal of reading for 1,049 minutes (17 hours, 29 minutes), an amount equal to distance in miles of the Iditarod. Time spent with the written word was documented each day for each student and each class.
The Flood Brook book lovers smashed their goal by logging in nearly 21,000 minutes. One third grader alone contributed 430 minutes during the challenge and pointed out, “I am an excessive reader.”
But that’s not all. Each classroom was encouraged to adopt one Musher or dog team from the more than 30 participants in the race and then track their performance from start to finish. A virtual map of the Iditarod was created in the school hallways to illustrate the progress of the sleds. Each day, the school announcements on the intercom included an Iditarod Update, with weather conditions, and other fun facts of the race.
Even the greater Flood Book community pitched in to help turn the page for the IditaRead. Volunteers from Londonderry’s Neighborhood Connections, including a few retired teachers and a family visitor from Alaska, signed up to serve as community readers. During the month they visited the school to read picture books for all students.
For the grand finale of the IditaRead, Flood Brook invited Vermont author and owner of Siber Sled Dogs, Milagro Amaya Turner, and six of her Siberian Huskies to the school. Students were able to see how she used the dog's winter fur to make felt hats and artwork. Best of all, the kids were able to meet the pets and stand in a dog sled.
“Milagro spoke to the students about her passion for Siberian Huskies, snow, and adventure,” said FBS Principal Johanna Liskowsky-Doak. “She moved to Vermont from Honduras and has authored bi-lingual children’s stories to share her love of winter and mushing. It was a wonderful experience for our kids.”
One first grade student’s observation best summed up the occasion, “Those dogs were pawsitively adorable!”
(Photo Above: Flood Brook students show some love for one of their guests at the IditaRead celebration.)
Milagra Amaya Turner, Vermont author and owner of Siber Sled Dogs, spoke to the students about her passion for Siberian Huskies, snow, and adventure.
Flood Brook students were able to meet the pets and learn the ropes of driving a dog sled team.