Cozy and Taz - by Joy Grisoli (Hardcover)

About the Book

This is the true story of Cozy, the poodle, and her sister, Sugar, who get adopted. What their family doesn't know is that both puppies are deaf. As the fluffy, new family members grow, they teach their humans that having a pup that cannot hear is interesting, a bit chaotic and sometimes funny! For her first year of life, Cozy cannot bark at all and is unable to communicate with people or other pets. Through this colorful, rhyming tale, see how she learns to bark through an unlikely friendship with the neighbor dog, Taz. But the biggest surprise comes when Cozy shows the world a little poodle who happens to be deaf can save someone's life and become a true hero.

Book Synopsis

This is the true story of Cozy, the poodle, and her sister, Sugar, who get adopted. What their family doesn't know is that both puppies are deaf. As the fluffy, new family members grow, they teach their humans that having a pup that cannot hear is interesting, a bit chaotic and sometimes funny! For her first year of life, Cozy cannot bark at all and is unable to communicate with people or other pets. Through this colorful, rhyming tale, see how she learns to bark through an unlikely friendship with the neighbor dog, Taz. But the biggest surprise comes when Cozy shows the world a little poodle who happens to be deaf can save someone's life and become a true hero.
For parents and educators-This picture book, with 21 well-illustrated scenes, is appropriate for young readers as well as pre-readers. The illustrations tell an entertaining story while emphasizing themes of (1) understanding disabilities, (2) the importance of communication, (3) the benefits of perseverance, and (4) the joy and power of friendship!

About the Author

Born in New Orleans, Joy Grisoli is a lifelong resident of Louisiana. She is a graduate of St. Mary's Dominican High School and the LSU School of Dentistry in Allied Health, where she trained as a dental hygienist. She practiced for 5 years in a multispecialty practice that included caring for head and neck cancer patients. After moving to Hammond, Louisiana, in the early 1980's, she was a stay-at-home mother to her two children for twelve years. During this time, she was an active member of the Junior Auxiliary, where she directed the Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program for Tangipahoa Parish. This experience sparked her love for children's books and highlighted the importance of giving underprivileged children the chance to own their own books.
In 1998, Grisoli returned to the healthcare field in a business partnership with her husband. Their ongoing business is in its' 27th year, 18 of which were in Destin, Florida. Now semi-retired and living in Mandeville, Louisiana, she now has the time to pursue her own interests. She never expected to write a children's book, but as she states "God gave our family a dog with a story that just had to be told".