"How Smudge Came" by Nan Gregory
When Cindy finds a puppy in the rain she takes him home with her despite the fact she knows will not be aloud to keep him. She tries to hide him during the night and during the day takes the puppy to work with her. A problem arises when the people she lives with find the puppy and take it away. She works to get the puppy back and the story ends with the patients at the hospice center she works at find the puppy and decide to keep her there for her. Students can use this story to study plot diagrams and problem and solution. They could use a cause and effect graphic organizer or fill out a plot diagram.
