Published by the Dorrance Publishing Co., “Harry Hampton” is a new book by local author David R. Tiffany. Recommended for ages 8 to 10, it is a 68-page paperback chapter book about the playful and relatable adventure of an injured seagull and a classroom of fourth graders.

ABOUT THE BOOK

According to the publishing company, Harry Hampton is a young seagull trying to find his place in the world. After having no luck finding a welcoming environment with adequate food at the New York Bay, Harry goes to a local landfill on Long Island, where a bigger gull promptly injures him while protecting his territory. Luckily for Harry, a group of students on a school field trip happen to find him and take him home. After being nursed to health by the students, Harry decides to hang around the school, where he quickly becomes a celebrity. The kids love Harry, and Harry loves the kids. Follow this unique gull on his adventures as he helps the students and shows them anyone can be a hero!

REVIEW

“Harry Hampton” is a cute chapter book following the adventures of a new kid and a struggling seagull. As their two worlds collide, mayhem and fun pursue, always ending with the rehabbed bird as the hero. The main character, Tony, dives into life lessons of bullying and responsibility while coming to terms with life and making new friends. The book is also a local reader’s dream, with references to the Town of Brookhaven landfill and the Great South Bay. All in all, the book is a compilation of short stories that relate and weave together as a larger retelling of a place in time at a local elementary school on Long Island. It makes you wonder, eager to find your very own Harry Hampton.

PRICE

The book retails on Amazon or with the publishing company for $11, $6 for the e-book. The ISBN is 978-1-6386-7021-6.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David R. Tiffany, 91, is a retired schoolteacher living in Delray Beach, Fla. He taught elementary school for 27 years in Bellport, which became the inspiration for this story. Thus, his lifelong love for reading and passion for teaching young minds sparked his interest in writing his first book at the age of 90.

Born in New Jersey, Tiffany moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, for some time before moving to Long Island. He first lived in West Islip, where he also graduated from Babylon High School in 1948. He was then drafted into the Army, where he served during the Korean War.

After the war, he went to college in New Paltz to get his teaching degree. He was then married and had three children. He first taught in Kingston, N.Y., before coming to Bellport where he taught fifth-grade social studies at the Hampton Avenue School, now Frank P. Long.

He lived in Bellport with his wife for over 25 years. His children lived there, though two of his children tragically died. His wife died five years ago while living in Florida. He now lives with his surviving daughter.

He said he originally wrote the book while teaching at the school in Bellport. The kids and teachers there would always reference “Harry Hampton” and often produce stories about him in the school’s monthly newsletter.

“I just had so much fun teaching; we were just creating and ‘Harry Hampton’ just somehow became the inspiration behind the whole thing,” he said, remembering his time teaching.