Once upon a Poodle

Step inside the home of one lonely, little poodle, whose search for a brother turns into a ‘wild’ adventure
In a quiet home, where mini-poo Woody lives alongside his sweet, loving, and often daft human mom, Mrs. Flout, there is room for exploration, hope, and the funniest of adventures.

When mini-poo Woody wants more of a real playmate than his mom can be, he takes matters into his own hands. He decides he must go outside of their home, where all the action seems to be, and find a brother himself. He leaves the house through the dog door, down their front path where he runs into some questionable characters.
Chaos erupts as a goose winds up in the bathtub with mom, Mrs. Flout, a squirrel in a pile of nuts in the kitchen reserved for baking, and one hungry bunny in the garden patch, where he does his own special way of harvesting the carrots Mrs. Flout has just picked!

Where in the world did you come from? Mrs. Flout often asks of her visitors, and one-by-one, they are quietly escorted out. That is, until the end. And that’s when one sweet, furry creature with four legs and a tail wind up indoors. Another poodle makes the perfect playmate for Woody. But not so fast! An escapee from an animal shelter, he’s not quite ‘free’ to go live wherever he chooses. That is, until Mrs. Flout persuades the shelter that her adoption of young Archie, will give him the home and the love he needs.

Playful surprises will delight young listeners in this read-aloud that uplifts, inspires, and holds onto hope.

Why readers love Once upon a Poodle:

• A quietly powerful story about patience, hope, and sharing love
• An excellent resource for expecting parents bringing a new family member into the house
• Adorable, humorous illustrations make kids want to linger, finger-point, and laugh
• A read-aloud that will tickle your child and bring a smile to your face
• A positive message about believing in your dreams
• A Mom's Choice Silver Award Winner

So who is Chrysa Smith? Let s see I ve been writing freelance magazine features for over 20 years on everything from celebrity chefs and resorts to homing pigeons and pot-bellied pigs. In return, I not only received bylines in magazines such as Pool & Spa Living, Bucks County Magazine, Philly Style, Design NJ, The Cooperator and others, I gained invaluable experiences both in writing and learning about people, places and things. It s the same starting point with the students I visit. I tell them that ideas exist all around them. And all they need do is observe what s happening long enough, and voila! Boom. An idea. It s all it takes. And it s exactly where my dogged existence began. Wanting a dog. Acquiring a motley crew of them. Watching them. When the magazine features were finished and papers filed away, my dogs became my entertainment. I watched them do so much more than play but trick, steal and manipulate each other. Dastardly? I should say so. So I took fingers to keyboard and began to capture their antics. Fiction was unfamiliar, so I practiced, went for a few classes and decided to take my latest idea and embark on one of the greatest journeys of my life The Adventures of the Poodle Posse. With a Mom s Choice Silver Medal for excellence in Juvenile Fiction, an endorsement from The Dove Foundation and book five complete, it s safe to assume that the adventures will continue for just awhile longer. And I couldn t be happier. Right about now, you can find me in my usual position keyboard on my lap, tea in one hand, poodles on either side, thinking about what other tricks I might have up my sleeve to share this coming school year. Education: BS, St. John s University, New York; Continuing education: Temple University, Gwynedd Mercy, PA; University of the South, TN Organizations: SCBWI (Society for Children s Book Writers & Illustrators), NJASL (New Jersey Association of School Librarians), CLA (Catholic Library Association) Published in the following magazines: American Salon, BUCKS, Bucks County, The Cooperator, Drug & Cosmetic Industry, Design NJ, Low Carb Living, Philly Style, Pool & Spa Living Published in the following books: As If By Magic