Published: July 25, 2008 09:53 am            

Pawsitive influence

Kentucky author Leigh Anne Florence let children pet “Woody the Kentucky Wiener Dog,” the inspiration for her children’s books, during a visit to the Laurel County Public Library on Thursday. She told the children Woody’s ways to be successful — listen to your parents and teachers, work hard in school and visit your local library. “Woody says if he can do great things, so can you,” she said. Her “Woody Tour” has visited more than 100 schools and libraries in all of Kentucky’s 120 counties. Last year, Florence’s book, “Mr. Dogwood Goes to Washington” ran in The Times-Tribune and other Kentucky Press Association member newspapers as a special series. Look for “Heads & Tails,” a new series that follows Woody and his sister wiener dog Chloe as they learn about Abraham Lincoln, this fall in The Times-Tribune.

Chloe Young came to the Laurel County Public Library Thursday with her mom Crystal and brother Austin to hear author Leigh Anne Florence speak about her children’s books, and, of course, to meet her pet dachshunds. Woody and Chloe the wiener dogs are the inspiration for Florence’s children’s books, and Chloe (the girl) said she has visited Florence’s Web site to e-mail back and forth with Chloe (the dog.) Chloe (again, the girl) has read all of Florence’s books from the Laurel County Library and said of Thursday’s event, “It was really cool that I got to meet them.”

        

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