Hi, Mom ~ It’s Maía
A Little Doggy’s Vacation Adventures in Ohio
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Peggie was new to being the Mommy of a little puppy and Maía was overflowing with love and energy in her early years. Unfortunately, Mommy needed to travel for her work for the Seminole Tribe and couldn't take Maía with her on those trips. Even though it was sad to be far apart so often, the perfect solution was for Maía to stay with her PaPa and Grandma in Ohio until she could go home to Florida with her Mommy.
To make things easier for her Mommy, Maía sent letters and stories from Grandma's email. There were so many new adventures to share as Maía grew more comfortable being separated from Mommy and learned to have fun playing with PaPa and Grandma on her numerous visits to Ohio. Here are a few of Maía's discoveries:
> Mom, guess what! Grandma is teaching me where the different parts of my body are. I now know where my ears, nose, chin, head and tummy are. I let her rub each part while she repeats what it is. I even let her tickle me under my chin. Before now no one touched my chin! And I just love my tummy being rubbed. I am still trying to learn how to shake hands, but I am having a hard time with that one.
> I got a bath today. It made me feel so good that I streaked all through the house. Once I got going, I couldn't stop. PaPa and Grandma tried to catch me to dry me off, but that just made me run faster and faster. Finally, I had to give up. I was exhausted. Grandma got the hair dryer and I got a blow dry. I let her brush me all over, even my face and ears. I am so white and fluffy now! Grandma took my picture, too!
> Grandma's chair scares the wits out of me! It makes a really loud noise and drops down. When this happens, it wakes me up and I jump off Grandma's lap and run. One time I was just ready to jump on Grandma's lap and BANG! Did I ever take off! Grandma tells me it is OK, but I don't trust that chair. I make a big circle out and around it to get to PaPa. Grandma just laughs. I am afraid it is going to eat me.
> Oh, Mom, you should see me now. My hair is growing out after that awful haircut at the groomer. I am beginning to look like a cute little doggy again. My nose is getting that little fluff ball on top. My pink skin doesn't show through the hair and Grandma says I don't look like a white rabbit anymore. What is a rabbit? Now Grandma brushed my hair and says I look like a little angel. I don't mind her brushing my hair like I used to. Do you think I am growing up?
> Oh, Mom, I had the best day ever! Grandma got my leash and I knew I was going someplace. I jumped up on the sofa. I was so excited. I wiggled and squirmed and danced all around. Grandma couldn't get my leash on. She had to grab me and hold me down to get it on me.
We walked all around the yard. I smelled the yellow dandelions and sniffed the tiniest little blue flowers you ever saw. They looked like dainty pansies, but they weren't even as big as Grandma's little finger nail. Then I rolled in them. We walked and walked and I sniffed and sniffed. It was the prettiest day.
> Grandma was rubbing something on her knees today. I thought I would taste it to see what it was, so I licked her knee. Yuck! Whatever it was, it stuck on my tongue and I didn't like it one bit! I couldn't even spit it out.
Then Grandma took me to the bathroom and let me drink from the faucet. That was fun. She cups her hand to make a little pocket so that I can drink. The water washed down the bitter taste.
> Mom, something happened to the dandelions. When we went outdoors today, I could hardly find any yellow ones. They had turned into little balls of white fluff. It was magic. When I touched one of them, the fluff all flew away and into the wind.
> MOMMY! MOMMY! I SAW MY FIRST BUNNY RABBIT! It was big and brown and had a white fluffy ball for a tail - not at all like mine. Also, it had bigger ears than I do. But I wasn't afraid of it. In fact, I wanted to chase it, but PaPa wouldn't let go of my leash. I bet we could have had fun playing together, but PaPa spoiled it.
> Mom, there is something wrong here! Nothing is the same as when I was here in September and October. There is no grass. I don't get to go outdoors and sniff the ground or play in the leaves. In fact, there are no leaves, either. The ground is covered with white stuff as far as I can see. Grandma calls it SNOW. Why don't we have snow in Florida? One day she gathered up some and made it into a hard ball. She brought it into the house for me to see. I sniffed at it and it didn't have much of a smell. And my birdie friends are gone, too. I know why. They don't like this snow, either.
Maía made many trips back and forth between Florida and Ohio in her 18 years. But like many human children, this little doggy always remembered those special times when she was just a kid and spent days of fun and discovery with her PaPa and Grandma.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Maía is a Maltipoo puppy who spends a lot of time with her PaPa and Grandma in Ohio while her Mommy travels around the country for her work.
Grandma and Maía have a very special relationship and Maía can turn her grouchy PaPa into an old softie with one special hug and cuddle. The furry little bundle of joy keeps herself busy playing tug of war with her toys, drinking water from the bathroom faucet and shredding tissues into little pieces. Now with Grandma’s help, Maía writes emails to her Mommy in Florida telling of her many adventures that include a talking frog, dandelion magic, singing doggies, a hungry chair, a funny bunny, her pug cousins and so much more!
In this animal tale for all ages, Maía describes her surprising adventures in Ohio as she discovers all kinds of fun and mischief on her many visits with PaPa and Grandma.
About the Author
Although Sarah Reynolds passed away in 2012, she suddenly became an accidental author in 2017. While her natural writing abilities surfaced regularly in her many personal and travel journals, this collection of stories about her Granddoggy Maía stayed packed away for 16 years.
Sarah’s professional background included a 20-year career with the US Department of Agriculture and owning a farm insurance business, neither of which required creative writing.
However, it was in her personal time that Sarah’s love of the printed word flourished, both as an avid reader and as a daily writer. One of her greatest achievements was setting foot on all 7 continents, exploring 34 countries and 46 states. Her travel journals reflect her great appreciation of other countries and peoples, as well as her sense of adventure. Just 6 months before her passing she was 4-wheeling in Iceland and a mere 3 weeks prior to her death she was walking a vortex in Sedona, Arizona.
Above all, love of family was her greatest joy. Married 52 years to Donald Reynolds (PaPa), they have 2 daughters, Peggie Reynolds and Donita Smith, son-in-law Gene Smith and cherished grandsons and wives, Cale & Sarah Smith and Dr. Graham & Jennifer Smith.
This accidental author now holds a distinction that would surprise and thrill her – to have a published children’s book. What will not come as a surprise to those who read these stories is seeing themselves in Sarah’s words and in their relationships with their own 4-legged family members.