O’MALLEY’S HOLIDAY SURPRISE

About the Book

This book is the third in a series about our cat Boots O’Malley. The second book, O’Malley’s Most Important Day, tells of the cat’s visit to the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. His first book, O’Malley’s Uninvited Guest, was the book that made him famous. It was a true adventure about an unwanted house guest, a squirrel, who fell down the chimney and almost wrecked the Christmas tree. O’Malley saved the day and the tree by trapping Christopher, the squirrel, who was later set free, unharmed. This book tells the story of the family’s trip to Paris, France to promote the first book, O’Malley’s Uninvited Guest. My name is O’Malley—Boots to the family I adopted when they moved into the military quarters at Ft. Totten, New York, that had been my family’s ancestral home for many generations. This is the story our trip to France to promote my book. Everything was great. I didn’t mind the thought of a long trip in a plane. But then my life changed forever. A DOG CAME TO LIVE IN MY HOUSE. The Shih Tzu puppy was a gift to the Mother of the family, who was the author of my books. Everyone was thrilled about the new addition-- except for me. The little fur ball would not leave me alone. She jumped on everything and constantly squeaked a little yellow duck toy that was her favorite. At first I thought she was a total nuisance, but later her bravery saved my life, and I learned to appreciate all new comers to the family. One cannot judge one’s bravery by their size.

About the Author

Sylvia Graham Olejniczak was educated in the sciences and worked in research and as an editor for scientific publications prior to her marriage. Frequent moves, due to the life of an Army wife, meant she could no longer work in her original profession. Instead, trained in classical ballet and a dance teacher during her college years, she began a long and happy career as a children’s creative drama and dance director at each of the military posts to which her husband was assigned. She and her husband Julian, a career Army officer, wrote three children’s musicals that were performed at West Point, New York; Fort Lewis, Washington; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Years ago she documented the events that are told in the O’Malley books; this is the first in a series of books about this adventurous cat. The Olejniczak children: Julian, Julie Ann, and Sandy, along with their cat, Boots O’Malley, provided great material for the book series.