In-Person Author Visits
Bring stories to life for your students.
Invite award-winning children's author Chrysa Smith to your school for an engaging, interactive program filled with storytelling, creativity, laughter, and a behind-the-scenes look at how books are made.
A Visit They Will Remember
More than a reading.
A spark for young imaginations.
Each visit can be shaped around your students, schedule, and learning goals—from joyful read-alouds to practical writing workshops.
Interactive Storytime
A lively read-aloud experience designed to pull children into the story and make books feel exciting, welcoming, and fun.
- Character voices and audience participation
- Questions, predictions, and story discussion
- A warm introduction to meeting a real author
Meet the Author
Students discover where story ideas come from and what happens between a first idea and a finished book.
- Chrysa's path from writer to children's author
- How characters and plots develop
- Student Q&A about books and publishing
Creative Writing Workshop
A hands-on session that helps students move from “I don't know what to write” to a story idea they are excited to develop.
- Brainstorming memorable characters
- Building a beginning, middle, and end
- Confidence-building prompts and participation
Why Schools Invite Chrysa
Students see that writers are real people—and that they can write, too.
Makes writing feel possible
Chrysa breaks the creative process into approachable steps that help students trust their own ideas.
Keeps students involved
Participation, humor, questions, and memorable characters turn a passive assembly into a shared experience.
Supports a culture of reading
Meeting an author gives books a human connection—and can motivate reluctant and developing readers.
Easy to tailor for your school
Programs can be adapted for different age groups, group sizes, schedules, and school-day formats.
Stories Kids Love
Books that open the door to conversation, creativity, and fun.
Chrysa's visit can feature titles selected to fit the age and interests of your students.
Once Upon a Poodle
Woody the poodle sets out to find a friend in a sweet, energetic story made for read-aloud fun.
The Adventures of the Poodle Posse
Playful chapter-book adventures created for hesitant, transitioning, and growing independent readers.
The Upside-Down Gardener
A colorful story that invites young readers to explore imagination, problem-solving, and a different way of seeing things.
Look Up, Little Mouse
A gentle, meaningful story about faith, hope, and learning to look beyond what is immediately in front of us.
Meet Chrysa Smith
A lifelong writer who knows how to connect with young readers.
Before writing children's books, Chrysa spent more than 20 years as a freelance magazine-feature writer. Her work appeared in publications including Costco Connection, Bucks County Magazine, Philly Style, Design NJ, and The Cooperator.
Her move into children's literature began when the everyday antics of her poodles inspired The Case of the Missing Steak Bone. Today, she brings that same sense of curiosity, humor, and warmth into classrooms—helping children understand how ordinary moments can become extraordinary stories.
Start a ConversationPlan Your Visit
Give your students a story-worthy school day.
Share your school, student age range, preferred date, approximate group size, and the kind of experience you have in mind. Chrysa will help shape a visit that fits.