Originally I wrote this story to explain the history and personalities of my sister’s three old dogs to her new husband’s young children, Ross and Sara, so they could understand not only my sister’s love for her pets, but how to treat each according to her personality and her order in the canine hierarchy. My sister, Flo, not only taught me everything about these dogs, but about all dogs in general.  After attending a conference by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, I joined the Circle of Children’s Authors, and they helped shape the story into something I could send out to publishers. Tricycle Press took an interest and requested that it be expanded into a novel.

When I am asked the age group for my book, I smile and say, “It’s for children…about our age”, meaning anyone can enjoy this book, no matter what age or stage. Very young children enjoy the humor of Layla, the light-hearted Rottweiller whose concerns revolve around food, naps, and ‘making puddles’. Older children relate to the difficulty of being the youngest (in a family, school, or neighborhood) like Mina who is smart and observant, but lacks authority. They respond powerfully to the death of Chris and the triumph of Mina. Adults recognized the aging parent/ adult child relationship in that of Chris and Mina. I was assisting my aging, dying in-laws while writing this book, and know that experience found its way into the pages of this story. Older adult readers with grandchildren understand the importance of the cycle of learning passed from one generation to the next, as illustrated in the epilogue with Mina, now an older dog, taking on the responsibility of training the family’s new puppy.

As a homeschooling parent I discovered how difficult it can be to find interesting but easy books for older beginning readers. Layla’s Tale is writing in a simple straightforward manner, and is ideal for new readers to participate in read-out-loud session, taking Layla’s part while the teacher/parent takes the rest. 

A wise woman once said children should hear stories that are both funny and heroic. I have kept this in mind as I wrote The BossQueen, Little BigBark and the Sentinel Pup.

Go back to the description of this book.