KOOTENAI — As Kootenai Elementary principal Kelli Knowles rode an adult-size tricycle around the playground on Thursday morning dressed in a monkey suit, a student hollered, "Wait, you're really doing it?"

As a large group of kids ran alongside her, dancing to the music playing from her tricycle, Knowles responded with an emphatic, "Of course."

Why though, you might ask, was she riding around on a tricycle in a monkey suit?

Before school ended last year, Knowles challenged the students to read a combined minimum of 3,000 hours over the summer — a number surpassed by the kids with the help of the East Bonner County Library District.

"We know that it's hard for kids to be in the habit of reading once it's summer, so we set a school-wide goal," Knowles said.

In partnership with the library, the kids received some prizes as they met certain goals as well.

This was the second year Knowles made a promise to the kids that she would do something, of their choice, if they met the goal. Last year, she said, it was difficult for the kids to meet the goal and the deadline was extended, but she ultimately ended up kissing a pig after they read a combined 5,000 hours. This year, with a smaller goal of 3,000 hours, they gave the kids a strict deadline of turning in their logs by the second week of school, Knowles said, and they met it.

"I think last year it kind of stirred up the hype," Knowles said. because it has been so successful for the past two years, we are going to try to do it throughout the year and do different competitions," Knowles said.

With the success of the summer challenge over the past two years, Knowles said she and the school staff are going to try to do some different competitions throughout the year as well. These would be broken up by classes rather than a single school-wide challenge, she said.

"I just think it is cool that we can make them so excited to be here, and excited about something like reading, because that is the foundation for everything," Knowles said, adding that it also builds community.

The Kootenai fun continues next Friday with the school's annual Fall Fest, complete with bounce houses, carnival games, raffle prizes, and more. Food, provided by Sweet Lou's and MickDuff's, will be available to purchase with tickets or cash. Tickets are available for presale at the school, or can be purchased at the door.

Kootenai Elementary's Fall Fest is a family event open to the public. Fall Fest will be held on the Kootenai Elementary playground Friday, Oct. 5 from 2-6 p.m.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.