Purchasing Information:
Bulk paperback orders are available directly from the publisher at a discount. Contact Steven for more information. Books are available through most educational distributors and these retailers:
Paperback & Hardcover Versions:
Additional Resources:
Activity Questions PDF Download
Summer of the Woods has been used by many elementary schools for their One School, One Book or similar program. It works as a great read-aloud for younger grades and the exciting adventure has proven to hold the attention of even the most upper elementary students.
I hope you’ll take advantage of the variety of resources to make your school’s reading program as successful as possible.
Items on this page include:
- Book description
- Testimonial
- Purchasing information
- Student introductory video example
- Author reading Chapter One video
- Activity Questions Downloadable PDF
- Trivia Questions Downloadable PDF
- Midlothian Mines Park link
- Indian Head Cent information link
- List of schools who have used SOTW for school-wide reading program
Book Description:
When young brothers Derek and Sam move with their family to Virginia, they have no idea what adventures the summer will bring. As the boys explore their creaky and the deep surrounding woods, they uncover the mystery of a valuable coin collection stolen from the local museum sixty years earlier. Join the boys as they spend their summer running from danger and searching the woods, secret caves, rushing waters, and hidden passageways for treasure and the rare 1877 Indian Head cent coin!
Testimonial:
“Our school, Temperance Elementary, chose to read Summer of the Woods as our One School, One Book program this year. We enjoyed all of the resources readily available, such as the introductory videos and trivia questions. Students followed a one chapter per night reading schedule with an emphasis on reading with parents/guardians/siblings. The students enjoyed the mystery of the book and made connections to the setting of the story. Each day, students had the opportunity to answer a trivia question about the previous night’s reading. Correct answers were sorted and compiled for our final assembly where names were drawn for prizes. The students were so excited to earn chocolate coins, Indian Head Cent pennies, and other books by Steven K. Smith! The next day, Steven came for a visit and shared an engaging presentation with all classes about this life and his work. The presentations were broken down by grade (K-2) and (3-5), and were intriguing, informative, and well-paced. We were so impressed with Steven’s rapport with the students and his genuine interest in their many questions. Overall, it was an excellent learning experience for all! I know my kiddos will be fighting over his other books in my library for years to come!”
Naomi Giles, Librarian, Temperance Elementary, Amherst, Virginia
Student Introductory Video Example
Student Introductory Video Example
Author Reading Chapter One Video
Participating Schools List
Summer of the Woods has been used as a school-wide reading program at the following elementary schools:
- Weaver (Chesterfield, VA)
- Fox (Richmond, VA)
- Curtis (Chesterfield, VA)
- Glen Allen (Henrico, VA)
- Reams (Chesterfield, VA)
- Crestview (Henrico, VA)
- Greenwood (Henrico, VA)
- Rolling Valley (Fairfax, VA)
- Providence (Chesterfield, VA)
- Donahoe (Henrico, VA)
- Temperance (Amherst, VA)
- Waverly Yowell (Madison, VA)
- Colonial (Botetourt, VA)
- Greendale (Abingdon, VA)
