Book #3 in the series is a Halloween tale & activity book. About ten elementary schools in or near the Greater Philadelphia Area participated in the preview, edit, creative process.  The tale is not only about Halloween, but what it means to be yourself. It is followed by fun holiday activities including a maze, make-your-own masks, a fortune teller, trivia and healthy Halloween dog treat recipes. Released fall 2010.

Amazon Children’s Bookshelf Top Pick, January 2011

featured in Small Press Bookwatch,

January 2011, the Midwest Book Review

Featured in Children’s Bookwatch, Midwest Book Review, January 2013

Just Released Book #4 in the series is a midwinter tale & activity book.  When a burrowing poodle and his friends meet another famous burrowing creature, not only does the fur fly, but the weather is predicted. Accurate? Perhaps, but the tale is not only about Groundhog Day--it teaches us patience--the reality that we just can’t rush Mother Nature.  Activities including a groundhog and word search and a board game plus comprehension, sequencing & cause/effect follow-up for teachers. Released fall 2012.

Featured in Reviewer’s Bookwatch, 2010, The Midwest Book Review

Book #1 contains two tales:

The Case of the Missing Steak Bone/Who Let the Dogs Out?

The first tale started it all, as Top Dog Woody tries to outsmart his brother by stealing and hiding a special treat. But Archie innocently turns events around in the house when he unexpectedly finds it and is a bit more welcome to the idea of sharing. In the second story, rescued dog Archie returns to the shelter to help out his friends with a caring, but crazy night of antics. Released winter, 2007.

Book #2 in the series contains two tales: The Princess & the Frenchmen/No Dogs Allowed! It was edited/previewed by students in two elementary schools. The first tale is about the growth of the posse. There’s now a third poodle in the mix: a girl with a poodlicious attitude, and everyone needs to adjust and accept. The second tale, with it’s Jersey Shore beach image on the front cover, takes the posse on a beach vacation where things don’t quite go as planned. The message? Sometimes we need to readjust our sails when the wind is blowing the wrong way.  Released fall 2009.

The Well Bred Book:

The first book in the series began as a diversion from writing lifestyle magazine features--a 20 year career writing about everything from celebrity chefs to pot-bellied pigs. Always seeking a new challenge, I turned my attention to a series of children’s writing classes, where encouragement, research and some determination led me to publish my first book in late 2007. The ideas for new adventures have kept coming to me and book #4 sits somewhere in my head.

Through it all, I have spent a great deal of time in elementary schools, talking with students about my love for writing and encouraging them to develop their own. Educators became engaged in the interactive nature of my programs and shortly thereafter, I began inviting elementary students to participate in the editorial process during the manuscript stage. The results have been heart-warming.

All of this has led to even more new adventures this past fall----creative writing workshops that further encourage students to take something fun, add what they know and let their imaginations soar. Please browse the sight, learn more about workshops on the opportunities page, check if I will be in your area on the author visit page and if you’d like to know more, please drop me a line at chrysasmith@verizon.net.

I always knew writing was fun.

Now, with a close bond with readers, it is also extremely rewarding.

                                                                   Chrysa Smith, Author/Publisher

To date, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of books has helped support the following charities:

Children Bucks County Autism Support Coalition, Annual TODAY SHOW toy drive, GIVE KIDS THE WORLD, classroom requests from www.Iloveschools.com, the Bucks County Children & Youth Social Services Agency, Tree House Books and Mighty Writers in Center City, Philadelphia., Montgomery County Court Child Care.

Animal rescue & welfare Bucks County SPCA, Animal Lifeline, Brookline Labrador Retriever Rescue, Best Friends, Doylestown Dog Park.

Others: Relay for Life

Member of the Keystone State Reading Association (part of the IRA), the Catholic Library Association, Midatlantic Book Publisher’s Association and the Association of Independent authors.

winner, mom’s choice awards

silver medal, juvenile fiction, 2009

*(suggested for grades 2-4, appropriate for some first graders, as a read-aloud for younger children and for dog lovers of all ages), School visits & creative writing workshops for grades K+. See links above for ‘Author Visits’ and ‘Workshops for students, teachers & all writers.’

NEW FOR 2012!

HAVE SOME ADVENTURES OF YOUR OWN WITH YOUR OWN POODLE!

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