ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shura Saul began her professional life as an educator in the field of early childhood. As kindergarten teacher, nursery school director, music teacher and camp director, she wrote stories, poems, songs and plays for young children. These were performed on stage and aired on radio. Some have been published. As the mother of her three children, Mark, Jonathan and Jennifer, she created stories especially for them. The tales of Almost, their puppy, are among these. Later in her life, the author became Dr. Saul, gerontologist, college professor and author of several books and professional publications. However, as grandmother, she continued to tell the childrens'' stories to her eight grandchildren, the children of the children in her stories. The Saul family is glad to share these tales with other children who may enjoy them.