Summer Academy welcomes author Chrysa Smith

For Animal Adventures week, the elementary students in the Colonial School District’s Summer Academy welcomed Chrysa Smith, a writer inspired by her dogs. 

The Bucks County author has written nine children’s books, including a five-part series that follows The Adventures of the Poodle Posse and a book she read to the students called Once Upon a Poodle. 

“My favorite was when she read the book, because I liked the dogs,” said second grader Mia Ramos.  

Echoing Mia’s sentiment, Caleb Wiley added, “My favorite part was when she was talking about the poodles. The book was good."

The author also talked to the children about how she found ideas and worked with an illustrator. She hoped that her visit inspired the students. 

“It makes it more real for them,” said Ms. Smith. “A lot of times, I get kids leaving saying ‘I want to be an author’ or ‘I want to go write a story’. Kids will come up to me and say ‘I have an idea for a book’, and that is so rewarding.”

Back in the classroom, the students are also writing about animals. The children were excited to select a creature to study. Second grader Aubrey Koneski chose her animal because it was especially colorful. “I picked the poisonous frog, because it looked cool,” she said.

Approximately 250 students in grades 1-8 are spending four weeks working on their math and reading skills in the Colonial School District’s Summer Academy.