Secret Code for Hometowns and Countries

A secret code was left for the hometowns and countries of the characters in the book Enigma, by Graeme Base.

See if YOU can tell what their hometowns are. Here is the code page:

Prepared by Flora Joy. File: GAT12A/EnigmaCodeHometowns.docx

Secret Code for Locations of Paw Prints

A secret code was left for the location of the nine paw prints on each page. Here is the code page:

Prepared by Flora Joy. File: GAT12A/EnigmaCodePawPrints.docx

Answer Page

for the Alphabet Code To accompany the book Enigma, by Graeme Base

Below is the key to the alphabet code for this book. To crack this code, readers need to turn the three dials to show the correct symbols. Those symbols are hidden in one of the

pictures in the book--the photo of Grandpa and Bertie on page 29. Note the three question marks—now compare the photo to the illustration on page 3. [They are club, star, and

heart—in that order.] Turn the three dials to those images, then push down the green button to reveal the code as shown below.

Prepared by Flora Joy. File: GAT12A/EnigmaCodeKeyAlphabet.docx

Answers for Enigma Coded Messages

CRACKING THE ALPHABET CODE: The following page (entitled “Secret code for missing items”) needs

to be decoded. On the inside back cover are flaps that open to a code-breaking system. Readers are told that to

crack the code they need to turn the three dials to show the correct symbols. Those symbols are hidden in one of

the pictures in the book. SPOILER ALERT: The solution lies in the photo of Grandpa and Bertie on page 29.

Note the three question marks—now compare the photo to the illustration on page 3. [They are club, star, and

heart—in that order.] Turn the three dials to those images, then push down the green button to reveal the code.

An enlarged image of that code is shown on an earlier page (which may be duplicated for classroom

viewing/use).

INTERPRETING THE MISSING ITEMS PAGE: After the students have cracked the code, they will be able

to figure out the location of the missing items. Below are the answers, with the COLUMN LETTER (shown in

TINY print at the top of each page) and the ROW NUMBER (shown in tiny print on the sides of each page) to

indicate the position of the “hidden” missing item. Here is the code interpretation:

[pp. 8-9] Babushka doll – Vlad’s room, upside down in wallpaper (Column P, Row 3)

[pp. 10-11] Queen of hearts – Bill’s room, sideways on wall (T-2)

[pp. 12-13] Interlocking rings – Monkey’s room, in border (K-1)

[pp. 14-15] Ball and cups – Miss Poodle’s room, in windows (H-5, J-5, M-5, M-4)

[pp. 16-17] Jar of crackers – Pollyanna’s room, front of bar (S-11)

[pp. 18-19] Jade bells – Hoo Min Floo’s room, behind (below) panda (T-11, U-11)

[pp. 20-21] Mystic sphinx – Mistress Hypnosis’s room, in veil (K-13)

[pp. 22-23] Magic rope – Maharaja’s room, on window ledge (G-4)

[pp. 24-25] Magic wand – Grandpa’s room, in garden (M-13)

[pp. 26-27] Top hat – Grandpa’s room, flowerpot (L-11)

[pp. 28-29] Silver cape with red trim – Grandpa’s room, tablecloth (P-11)

HOMETOWNS AND COUNTRIES: On the left flap (inside back cover) is another page of coded items for the

hometowns and countries of the story characters. (An enlargement of this section is provided later in this packet.)

Here are the answers to the code:

[pp. 2-3] Oxford, England

[pp. 8-9] Moscow, Russia

[pp. 10-11] New Orleans, United States

[pp. 12-13] Mombasa, Kenya

[pp. 14-15] Paris, France

[pp. 16-17] Caracas, Venezuela

[pp. 18-19] Beijing, China

[pp. 20-21] Aswan, Egypt

[pp. 22-23] Agra, India

[pp. 6-7] And where we* live now, Melbourne, Australia

*The “we” refers to the author’s hometown.

LOCATIONS OF PAW PRINTS: On the right flap (inside back cover) is another page of coded items for the

locations of the nine paw prints found on each page. The TOP message is: “There are nine magic paw prints in

every illustration. Use the border coordinates on each page to find them. Here are the locations:

[pp. 2-3] B8 F9 H4 H6 H9 K4 L8 S12 V8

[pp. 4-5] C7 D2 K9 L8 R4 S6 T11 U8 U11

[pp. 6-7] B7 F7 J5 L11 N7 O5 S9 U5 U14

[pp. 8-9] A7 B2 B5 C7 J9 L12 T8 U7 V13

[pp. 10-11] F1 J6 K3 K11 L3 L7 M2 R3 S13

[pp. 12-13] C8 D9 H14 L12 M2 M13 M13 Q1 Q11

[pp. 14-15] B8 G2 O6 P3 S2 T2 T3 U3 U10

[pp. 16-17] C9 G9 F2 H3 M11 R2 R5 U3 U8

[pp. 18-19] B8 C4 C9 F14 H4 R14 U5 U8 V12

[pp. 20-21] B7 D2 D5 D8 L10 M14 P13 R11 U5

[pp. 22-23] B6 D10 F9 G9 K12 L11 M3 T1 V5

[pp. 24-25] C5 C9 G4 L3 O11 S14 U2 U4 U6

[pp. 26-27] B10 D3 D9 H5 M9 M11 N2 Q12 V13

[pp. 28-29] B4 B7 C8 J13 N12 Q12 S4 T12 U11

[pp. 30-31] B6 F4 G3 H6 M6 N11 Q12 T5 U1

[pp. 32-33] A9 B9 D4 F11 K11 P12 Q1 Q7 V8

[pp. 34-35] G9 H9 H11 I11 I11 J11 K11 K11 K12

FINDING THE BUNNY AND AUTHOR’S SIGNATURE: Something should be left for which there are no

provided answers, right? Just have fun looking for the signature and the bunny on each page (or at least PARTS

of the bunny), and have fun with ALL of it! Prepared by Flora Joy. File: GAT12A/EnigmaAnswers.docx