What happens when you mix a small-town bookstore, a nonprofit with a big mission, and local banks that believe in investing in the future? A program that’s delivering free books—and the authors who wrote them—straight to kids across the Potomac Highlands.
That’s the idea behind Banks for Books, a new initiative from WordPlay Connects, the nonprofit arm of WordPlay Bookstore in Wardensville. Its mission is simple but powerful: connect young people with authors, illustrators, and books that spark a lifelong love of reading.
The program launched this school year with support from Capon Valley Bank and Pendleton Community Bank (PCB), the first “Champion of Readers” sponsors. Their funding puts brand-new books into children’s hands and brings authors into classrooms.
On Friday, Sept. 12, Capon Valley Bank sponsored the first event at East Hardy Elementary, where author Cristin Bishara shared her latest book, Mothman, with about 150 fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. She then visited Ice Mountain Elementary and South Branch Elementary in Hampshire County, reaching nearly 400 students in one day.
Each child left with a copy of the book to keep.
PCB will sponsor the next event on Nov. 3 at Moorefield Intermediate.
Bishara’s visit centered around Mothman, part of the Cryptic Chronicles Choose Your Own Adventure series. Bishara read from her book, talked about writing, and gave students a behind-the-scenes look at how a story comes to life.
Mothman draws on West Virginia’s own legendary creature, blending mystery, adventure, and folklore in a format where kids get to decide what happens next. The interactive nature of the book—where every choice leads to a different outcome—fit with WordPlay Connects’ goal of showing children that books aren’t just things you read – they’re experiences that shape you.
Bishara said there are 19 possible outcomes to the book. “It’s kind of like a video game,” she said. “If you get to an ending that you don’t like, you get to just start over.”
The interactive format, she said, was perfect for exploring folklore. “Every state has its own mysterious creature. For me, it started with Bigfoot—I honestly thought he lived in the woods behind my house when I was a kid.”
East Hardy Elementary’s Robin See said kids and teachers alike love the program.
“It’s so great to see these kids get to build personal libraries at home.”
For the kids, the chance to meet Bishara and explore a story rooted in their own cultural landscape makes the power of reading feel personal, she said. It’s one thing to read about far-off places, but quite another to see your home state’s mysteries at the center of a nationally published book. “Once they hear the authors’ story and background, they get so excited, and WordPlay does a great job of matching authors with our students,” she said.
While WordPlay Connects has been distributing books since it launched five years ago—nearly 6,000 across 34 school events in the last two years alone—the Banks for Books campaign is its newest way to expand that mission.
The non-profit also receives funding from other foundations, grants, businesses, and individuals.
Though Hardy County’s schools face tight budgets and even more limited book budgets, Banks for Books helps sidestep those constraints, said Michael McDonald, president and CEO of Capon Valley Bank, who introduced Bishara to the students.
“As a community bank, we recognize that rural families often face barriers to books and enrichment opportunities. Banks for Books offers a direct way to address that challenge while reinforcing our commitment to educational growth,” he said. “With both WordPlay and Capon Valley Bank rooted in Wardensville, this partnership feels especially meaningful. Together, we can encourage literacy, spark curiosity, and help strengthen the foundation for the next generation.”
Sheldon Arbaugh, PCB’s executive vice president for West Virginia, echoed that view.
“This partnership with WordPlay Connects is a perfect fit for PCB’s community focus because it directly addresses a critical need in our rural areas: access to books and literacy resources. Many families in our region face challenges that limit their ability to build home libraries, and this program provides a direct, tangible solution,” he said.
“It aligns perfectly with our broader strategic giving, which is centered on supporting initiatives that build a stronger, more vibrant community. We believe that investing in children’s education and well-being is one of the most impactful ways to give back, and this program does just that by fostering a love of reading and learning from a young age,” he added.
For the students, the benefit is immediate: the chance to own a book, meet the person who wrote it, and imagine themselves as storytellers too. For Bishara, the experience was equally inspiring.
“Kids just naturally exude curiosity and energy. I can’t help but feel recharged and inspired after speaking with them,” she said. “Seeing their genuine excitement reminds me why my work matters.”
The name Banks for Books is more than clever branding. It’s a reminder that local banks are more than financial institutions—they’re community anchors. By partnering with WordPlay Connects, banks like Capon Valley and Pendleton Community are investing directly in the next generation of readers and thinkers.
McDonald said he looks forward to continuing the partnership with WordPlay and Banks for Books.
“Strong communities are built through shared responsibility. Local businesses play a vital role in creating opportunities that might not otherwise exist,” he said.
“We’re not only encouraging literacy but also demonstrating the power of partnership – schools, nonprofits, and businesses working together to make a lasting impact. When the community thrives, everyone benefits,” McDonald said.
The program is just one piece of a larger effort by WordPlay Connects to weave reading more deeply into the fabric of rural life in the Potomac Highlands Region. More programs, more author visits, and more events are planned—all with the goal of making sure every child has access to stories that can open doors and expand horizons.
Bishara is fully behind that goal. “At its heart, Mothman is about curiosity, courage, and the choices we make when facing the unknown. I hope readers see that even in scary or uncertain moments, they have the power to forge their own path,” she said.
As Arbaugh put it, “Books are not just for school, but are sources of adventure, imagination, and new perspectives. Ultimately, we hope to inspire a new generation of readers and creators.”
WordPlay’s model proves that when you place books—and creators—right where people live and learn, you don’t just deliver stories. You ignite curiosity, build confidence, and plant a lifelong love of reading. Mission accomplished.
