Had to share ....

... an end of summer photo I took this weekend.

Sometimes it pays to have your camera tucked away in your purse!!! ;)

The Attack of the Wimpy Kid

If the Wimpy Kid attacked your heart and took hold of it with the first book then beware!!!

The 6th book in this series is due to hit Newsstands November 15th, 2011!!!

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Help is about a young white woman in the early 1960s in Mississippi who becomes interested in the plight of the black ladies' maids that every family has working for them. She writes their stories about mistreatment, abuse and heartbreaks of working in white families' homes, all just before the Civil Rights revolution. That is the story in a nutshell - but it is so much more than just stories.

OK - so if you have ever seen this book then you know it is rather long. I have put off reading this partly due to length, but also just really didn't think I would like it.

Well, I wish I had read it sooner!!!! It was amazing well written. Will make you laugh, break your heart, scare you and cause you to count your blessings!!!

So take a minute to download it, order it, store at the book store , borrow it from a friends or run to the Library BECAUSE - YOU MUST READ!

It's amazing!!

Definately a 5 Star in my book!!!

Summer Rental

What a great summer read!!! Especially for you Moms sitting at the pool with your kiddos or at the beach! Mary Kay Andrews has captured the feel of Nags Head in this great book with a touch of romance!!

Madison and I had the extreme pleasure of meeting Mary Kay in Duck this past month just a few days after the release of this book. She was wonderfully delightful, funny and so sweet! I must say this has been one of the highlights of my summer so far!!

Looking forward to next summer's release - she told us there would be one! :)

Blackwater Library Summer Reading Starts Soon!!

Summer Library Fun is now posted online!!! Here is a link for the Blackwater Library Summer Reading for children, teens and even the adults!!

Pop over and see what they have planned for your readers this summer. There is a listing for all of their libraries sites.

Star Rating System

I borrowed this rating system from my crafty friend Jenn over at www.eighteen25.blogspot.com.

If you need some cue crafty ideas pop over and see her! She is one of my favorite crafty people and she loves sharing a super idea with everyone.

Summer Love .... AHHHH!

Summer for Belly was always amazing because she spent it at the Cousins Beach house with her Mother, her brother and special family friends. Each year she looked forward more than anything towards those summer days with the Fisher family.

This amazing YA triliogy of love and loss will take your heart and put you straight into Belly's shoes. You will feel her loss ,her joy, her anger and her pain. Jenny Han has done a wonderful job making you feel as if you are right there in the moment with each and every character in the book.

I am right at the end of the 3rd book and holding my breath as I turn every last little page. I started the series last week when we got out of school and have not been able to put them down. I give them a 5 star rating for great summer romance - whether you are poolside, beach bound or stuck at home! :)

And the Winner is ......

VIRGINIA READERS CHOICE AWARDS WINNERS 2010-11

Primary: CHESTER by Melanie Watt
(Kids Can Press)

Elementary: ALVIN HO: ALLERGIC TO GIRLS, SCHOOL AND OTHER SCARY THINGS
by Lenore Look (Random House)

Middle School: BREATHE: A GHOST STORY
by Cliff McNish (Carolrhoda)

High School: THE HUNGER GAMES
by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic)

"To Read This Summer" Pile

BIRTHMARKED by Caragh O'Brien

In a dystopian world of the future, apprentice midwife Gaia, who has served the Enclave faithfully along with her parents, is thrust suddenly into a crisis. She delivers her first baby independently of her midwife mother and takes it to the Enclave inside the Wall as the first of her monthly quota of three newborns. Then her parents are arrested and she learns that they will soon be executed. Gaia springs into action and smuggles herself into the Enclave to rescue them. What follows is an exciting, almost breakneck adventure, as Gaia tries to discover what information the Enclave wants from her and her mother and tries to save both of them from prison. Along the way there is a mildly romantic turn to the story as Gaia develops a friendship and attraction to one of the soldiers, a man with a mysterious past. This world is one in which a small society, composed of an elite inside the Wall and a subservient class outside, is completely cut off from knowledge of anyone or anything outside of its borders. The rulers are authoritarian and mysterious and resemble a monarchy rather than the strictly ideological communitarian system in Lois Lowry's The Giver (Houghton, 1993). The cliff-hanger ending sets up the action for a sequel. Readers who enjoy adventures with a strong heroine standing up to authority against the odds will enjoy this compelling tale.

This is on the top of my "to be read" pile for the summer. It is also part of a triology and the 2nd book, PRIZED comes out November 2011! :)

MUST READ FOR HIGH SCHOOL!!

SO..... if you are wondering what to read this summer and have not read Lauren Oliver's 2 books BEFORE I FALL and DELIRIUM - they are a must! They were very well written and I loved every word - you won't be sorry!!!

So run now and download a copy of them, or a copy or hit your local Library and check them out!! You won't be sorry!!!!

OK, so you are ahead of the game and have read both of those. Don't worry!!! I have another super suggestion.

MATCHED by ALLY CONDIE!

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.

Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s hardly any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one… until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow — between perfection and passion.

This is the 1st book of a triology and the 2nd installation is due out this Fall in October! The next book is called CROSSED! I am so looking forward to it.

I give MATCHED 5 stars!!

Ideas for Pre K - 1st Graders

Super Summer Reading Ideas

Pre K & Kindergarten

Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell

Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio & LeUyen Pham

Hot Rod Hampster by Cynthis Lord & Derek Anderson

If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff

Silverlicious by Victoria Kann

We’re Going on a Lion Hunt by David Axtell

Kindergarten & 1^st Grade

Duck Duck Moose by Dave Horowitz

Flat Stanley by Marc Brown

Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parrish

Cam Jensen by David A. Alder

Fly Guy by Ted Arnold

Nate the Great by Marjorie S. Sharmat

Petal Fairies by Daisy Meadow

Miss Bindergarten Stays Home From Kindergarten by Joesph Slate & Ashley Wolff

Ideas for Rising 3rd Graders

Super Summer Reading Ideas

{rising 3rd grade}

Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing

By Judy Blume

Fourth grader Peter Hatcher has a terrible problem – his little brother Fudge! The first in a very funny five book series.

Judy Moody was in a Mood (Series #1)

By Megan McDonald

To start, Judy Moody doesn't have high hopes for third grade. Her new desk won't have an armadillo sticker with her name on it. Her new classroom will not have a porcupine named Roger. And with her luck, she'll get stuck sitting in the first row, where Mr. Todd will notice every time she tries to pass a note to her best friend, Rocky. An aspiring doctor, Judy does have a little brother who comes in handy for practicing medicine, a cool new pet, and a huge Band-Aid collection.

Judy also has an abundance of individuality and attitude, and when Mr. Todd assigns a very special class project, she really gets a chance to express herself! Megan McDonald's spirited text and Peter Reynolds's wry illustrations combine in a feisty, funny first chapter book for every kid who has ever felt a little out of sorts.

The Homework Machine

By Dan Gutman

The unlikely foursome made up of a geek, a class clown, a teacher's pet, and a slacker -- Brenton, Sam "Snick,", Judy and Kelsey, respectively, -- are bound together by one very big secret: the homework machine. Because the machine, code named Belch, is doing their homework for them, they start spending a lot of time together, attracting a lot of attention. And attention is exactly what you don't want when you are keeping a secret.

Before long, members of the D Squad, as they are called at school are getting strange Instant Messages from a shady guy named Milner; their teacher, Miss Rasmussen, is calling private meetings with each of them and giving them pop tests that they are failing; and someone has leaked the possibility of a homework machine to the school newspaper. Just when the D Squad thinks things can't get any more out of control, Belch becomes much more powerful than they ever imagined. Soon the kids are in a race against their own creation, and the loser could end up in jail...or worse!

Henry & Ribsy

By Beverly Cleary

At last, Henry Huggins's father has promised to take him fishing, on one condition. Henry's dog, Ribsy, has been in all sorts of trouble lately, from running off with the neighbor's barbecue roast to stealing a policeman's lunch. To go on the fishing trip, Henry must keep Ribsy out of trouble -- no chasing cats, no digging up lawns...and no getting anywhere near little Ramona Quimby, the pest of Klickitat Street.

Ramona the Brave

By Beverly Cleary

Ramona is happy to have a new bedroom all to herself—during the day, at least. It's not as easy to be brave when there might be ghostly, boneless gorillas oozing under the door at night. Then there is the big, mean dog that steals Ramona's shoe on her way to school. Any other first grader might be frightened. But it's going to take more than monsters and dogs to scare this fearless first grader!

Ideas for Rising 2nd Graders

Super Summer Reading Ideas

{rising 2^nd grade}

Young Cam Jansen and the Pizza Shop Mystery

by David A. Alder

Cam Jansen and her friend Eric go to the mall and eat. They have the best pizza in the world. Afterward, they realize that Cam's jacket has disappeared. Could someone have taken it? Where could it be? Cam's amazing memory goes into action with a click! Can Cam find her jacket and solve the pizza shop mystery?

Cool Zone with the Pain & the Great One

By Judy Blume

The Pain and the Great One hardly agree on anything. But deep down, they know they can count on each other, especially at school, where it often takes two to figure things out. Like when that first baby tooth falls out on the school bus. Or when an unwanted visitor on Bring Your Pet to School Day needs to be caught. Or worst of all, when a scary bully says you’re burnt toast. On days like these it can feel good not to go it alone. (And don’t forget Fluzzy the cat, who knows a thing or two himself.)

Magic Tree House Series

By Mary Pope Osborne

Junie B. Jones is Captain Field Day

By

Barabara Park

Afternoon kindergarten is having a field day, and Junie B. Jones is team captain! Only, here's the problem. Room Eight keeps on winning too many events. And so how will Room Nine ever become the kindergarten champions? As Captain Field Day, will Junie B. find a way to lead her team to victory? Or will it be up to someone else to save the day?

2nd & 3rd Grade Summer Reading

All rising 2nd graders will be reading Freckle Juice by Judy Blume this summer.

All rising 3rd graders will be reading Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner this summer.

Both amazing books!

Mrs. Baker & Mrs. Beale have amazing activities planned for both of these books. So be ready for some fun stuff this Fall!!

5th & 6th Grade Summer Reading

Summer Reading for 5^th & 6^th grades

These are some suggested and popular books that many

5^th graders and 6^th graders have enjoyed. This a great jumping off point for jumping into summer!

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

Lucy Rose (Series) by Katy Kelly

The Magic Thief (Series) by Sarah Prineas

Eragon (Series) by Christopher Paolini

The Lightning Thief (Series) by Rick Riordan

The Red Pyramid (Series) by Rick Riordan

Swindle (Series) by Gordon Korman

“Who Was…?” (Series) Various Authors

Number the Stars by Louis Lowry

Witch and the Wizard (Series) by James Patterson

The Big Field by Mike Lupica

100 Cupboards (Series) by N.D. Wilson

Dog’s Life: The Autobiography of a Stray by Ann Martin

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

Utterly Me, Clarice Bean by Lauren Child

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

Hunger Games (Series) by Suzanne Collins

Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls (Series) by Meg Cabot

Make a splash this summer with a good book!

Fourth Grade Summer Reading List ... a note from Mrs. Crowder

Reading is a skill, just like riding a bike or roller skating. The only way to continue to improve this skill, like any other, is to practice. In hopes of helping each student develop better reading skills and a love of reading, we have developed a summer reading plan that allows for flexibility and choice.

This summer, rising fourth graders will be required to read one book from the list below. They need to be prepared on the first day of school to take the Accelerated Reading Test on the book they chose to read. The book must be one they have not read before!!

Million Dollar Putt, by: Dan Gutman – Can a blind kid really win a million dollars playing a game of golf? Edward Bogart is going to try. He won’t let his disability stand in his way!

Ø Granny Torrelli Makes Soup, by: Sharon Creech – Twelve-year-old Rosie and her friend Bailey don’t always get along, but Granny Torrelli seems to know just how to make things right with her stories and family recipes. What a great story of friendship!

Ø Hachiko Waits, by: Leslea Newman – This is a story of a faithful dog that would never stop waiting for his master to come home. This novel is based on a true story of a Japanese Akita that became a national symbol of loyalty and devotion.

Ø The Lemonade War, by: Jacqueline Davies – Evan discovers that his younger sister Jessie will be skipping 3^rd grade and will be in his fourth grade class next year. Normally buddies, now these two are finding themselves in a competition over the summer to see who can earn the most money before school starts.

Ø Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective, by: Donald Sobol and Leonard Shorttail – This is the first book in the Encyclopedia Brown series. Leroy Brown, a ten-year-old detective, has an uncanny way of cracking cases. See if you can help him solve these mysteries!

Ø Mr. Popper’s Penguins, by: Richard and Florence Atwater – Mr. Popper, the neighborhood painter, loves to read about Antarctic explorers. Boy is he in for a surprise when he wins a competition and receives a pet penguin as the prize!

Ø The Get Rich Quick Club, by: Dan Gutman – When a group of neighborhood kids decide to create a club that will work towards making them millionaires, lots of money-making schemes come to light. Will any of them work??

Ø 100 Cupboards, by: N.D. Wilson – Twelve-year-old Henry York has to move in with his aunt and uncle when his parents go missing. It is at this farm house that he discovers 100 hidden cupboards. He and his cousin soon realize that these doors are actually portals to other worlds.

Ø The Secret School, by: Avi – When a one-room school in Colorado threatens to close, Ida, a fourteen-year-old, secretly takes over, so students can complete the year. Without taking her end of the year exam, she would not be allowed to go to high school, and her dream of becoming a teacher would come to an end.

Ø Bunnicula, by: Deborah and James Howe – Is he or isn’t he a vampire? Before it is too late, Harold the dog and Chester the cat must find out the truth about the pet in the Monroe household, a suspicious-looking bunny with unusual habits and fangs!

As part of Southampton Academy’s Summer Challenge, we are asking each student to keep track of the amount of time they read using their reading passports. Bring those back to school on the first day! We want to see how many reading minutes we can accumulate as a lower school. Will my fourth graders read the most?? I hope so!! Prizes will be given out to top readers! Have a great summer and HAPPY READING!!

Who Rocks? .... SHE DOES!

Who rocks you ask? Do you really have to ask after today? If you are asking it is because you have not talked to me this morning or this afternoon - because then you would know!

LAUREN OLIVER DOES!!!!!


Lauren came and spoke to the middle and upper school students at assembly and then later in the library. She spoke about writing, the process, how she got where she is today. You name it she mentioned it.

She is a raw natural beauty of a person and such a delightful addition to our day. I have been counting down the days for her to come to SA and it was well worth the wait!!! I cannot say enough sweet things about her. She is a personable person that you could chat with all day long!!!!

Big thanks to the Franklin Library for bringing her here through a grant from the Camp Foundation! THANK YOU !!!! :)

Digital Downloads

OK, those that know me know that I LOVE a gadget!!! I have especially fallen in love with being able to download a book! Yes, I know some of you are like what? I could never imagine now turning a page of a real book.

Well, I used to feel the same way, but living in rural NC has changed that for me and I don't like waiting or waiting for someone to return the book to the library so I can check it out.

The best part of this digital downloading we can now all do is being able to grab a sample of a book and read it to see if it will hook me or not! I mean the back flaps of books are great, but being able to sample the actual text makes me love it even more.


So if you are in the market for one of these beauties do your homework first and see which one suits your needs. I am a glutton and actually have a NOOK Classic and Santa brought me an iPad for Christmas. Don't forget the iPod Touches , iPhones, Blackberries or Androids because thanks to apps you can download a Kindle application or a Nook application to these as well.

So whatever you choose remember - they make a super gift for that super reader in your life! Remember you can still check out books with your favorite library, but you can also carry your favorite library with you wherever you go as well!

Summer Reading .... What will you be reading by the pool?

Just a quick heads up!

Watch for lists of some great books to read this summer.

I will be posting "Mrs. Dildays' Fab Five for the Poolside!"

These lists are just suggestions of some great books that I have read or been recommended to me by fellow library ladies. It's just a place to jump off and start if your bookshelf is empty.

I will also be listing Summer Reading lists for Lower School students as well. These books have been suggested by each grade level teacher. I have seen a sneak peek at these lists and they are super great!

Information for Lower School about great activities that will be going on at local libraries will be coming home soon and also listed here on my blog!

SUMMER?????

The students here at SA constantly amaze me with their enthusiasm for reading!!

With summer knocking at our doors we are all ready to slide into vacation mode. This summer we invite you to challenge that “summer slide” feeling.

Instead count the minutes as you take off on grand adventures, solve mysteries, travel the world or fight crimes while turning page, after page in your favorite books!

We want to see how many minutes we can read as a school this summer.

We will be including a “reading log” to keep track of your minutes read. Simply shade in 1 block per 10 minutes that you read. Return the reading log back to school with parent’s signature the first week back to school.

We will also attach a list of SUPER summer activities that will be going on at the Blackwater Regional Library.

Are you up for the challenge?

Read , set, READ !!!!

THURSDAY, MAY 12th

This fabulous lady is coming to see us Thursday, May 12th!!!

YES! Right here at Southampton Academy. She will be speaking to our 9th - 12th grades about how she became a writer and also her 2 best sellers BEFORE I FALL and DELIRIUM!!!

I can't wait and neither can the students! She has receiver rave reviews from all the students and teachers that have had a chance to read her books

Happy Spring Break Ya'll

Hope everyone has a super Spring Break! We are all ready for it and NEED it!!!

So, what will you be reading over break?

Me??? Well, hmm ... let's see ...... Sabatoged by Maragaret Peterson Haddix , The Puzzling Mind of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin, finishing up MATCHED by Ally Condie and also finishing up DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver.

Can't wait to hear what you read while we were out.

Stay tuned for Summer Reading Ideas to pass the time while you are pool side, your toes are in the sand or just for hanging around the house.