Book One in The Daisy Stories Series

If Daisy Can,I Can.

True stories about a real dog named Daisy.

A tiny dog named Daisy shares her brave.

Somewhere in Canada, there is a tiny dog named Daisy. She weighs under five pounds, has the softest floppy ears, and the loudest, most joyful snort you have ever heard. Life hasn't always been easy for Daisy. But she has never, not for one single day, forgotten how to be joyful.

Ages 4–7 Chronic Illness True Story Bravery Picture Book
Coming Soon — Watch This Space
✦ ⭐ ✦ 🌼 Welcome to The Daisy Stories — written and illustrated by Tanya Rich
If Daisy Can, I Can — the book cover, written and illustrated by Tanya Rich

About the Book

Hard things and beautiful things
do not take turns.

If Daisy Can, I Can is the first book in The Daisy Stories series — a true picture book following Daisy, a tiny Yorkshire Terrier born with health challenges she will carry all her life. None has a cure. All are cared for daily with love.

And yet — Daisy has a miraculous ability to balance daily hardship with delight. She steals socks. She chases squirrels. She snorts with joy when she finds her green ball.

This is her true story. A contagious spirit of love and bravery that teaches us that pain and joy, hard things and beautiful things, do not take turns. They live together.

"If Daisy can, so can you."

Why this book, why now?

There is a child in a hospital bed right now who needs this book. Daisy is real; her medical history is documented, and every page of her story is true. This authenticity is everything.

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True Story

Every illustration was inspired by real photographs of Daisy, taken throughout her life

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Ages 4–7

For children living with chronic illness, and any child who needs a little more brave

Get to Know Daisy

The Real Daisy

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Born

July 7, 2021. A tiny Yorkshire Terrier, born in Canada, born a little bit different — and extraordinary because of it.

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Health

Daisy was born with stertorous breathing, stenosis of the nasal choana, an abnormal asymmetrical soft palate, bilateral non-destructive rhinitis, deviation of the nasal septum, dynamic tracheal disease, and no left kidney. There is no specific treatment for any of these; Daisy is provided with ongoing supportive care. In addition, she suffers from regular upper respiratory tract infections, a very sensitive gut, and various GI issues including pancreatitis.

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Famous For

Snorting, stealing socks, nibbling fingers and toes, chewing the coffee table legs, chasing squirrels, squeaking her green ball, running in the garden with her floppy ears flying, and hiding her favourite toys after lots of searching for the perfect spot.

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Always at Her Side — Guy

Daisy has a little companion toy named Guy — a stuffed dog with a heartbeat inside. He smells like home and goes wherever Daisy goes. On every hospital stay, her sister Abi and brother Cooper send one of their little sweaters with Mum for Guy to wear — so that even in hospital, Daisy is surrounded by the smell of home and the ones she loves.

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Her Family

Sister Abigail (Abi), born from the same litter — a few minutes older. Brother Cooper, adopted at 6 months, 3 years younger. Also a Yorkie.

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Favourite Person

Her Daddy. When he walks in, her whole being erupts with wags, jumps, and snorts. Every single time.

Meet the real Daisy — a watercolour illustration from the book

The Star of the Story

Meet Daisy

Daisy is a tiny Yorkshire Terrier who lives somewhere cold, somewhere beautiful, and where gardens are full of things worth sniffing. She has floppy ears, always soft and down, and a story worth knowing.

Daisy was born a little bit different. On the inside, her nose is shaped in a special way. Her airway is narrower than most dogs. She has one kidney instead of two. None of these things has a cure. They are simply part of who she is. And who she is… is extraordinary.

Daisy does not know she is brave. She just keeps going — joyful, mischievous, playful, and loving, all four at the same time, every single day. Her innocence and joy are a gift of hope to everyone around her.

Joyful Brave Playful Mischievous Loved

What This Story Carries

Themes That Matter

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Bravery

Not fearlessness — the real kind. Hard things are real, and true, and named. And you keep going anyway.

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Joy & Struggle Together

Pain and joy do not take turns. They live side by side — and somewhere in that, life is still beautiful.

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Encouragement

You don't have to be fearless. You don't have to make it look easy. You just have to keep going.

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Friendship

The comfort of a loyal companion — like Guy — who goes wherever you go and smells like home.

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Love

Unconditional, daily, present love — from family, from doctors, from those who show up and stay.

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Resilience

A true story that openly celebrates resilience as it unfolds — because Daisy is proof it's possible.

A Note for Grown-Ups

For the Adults Who Love Them

This book was written for any child who needs to feel brave and needs a little something to get them through a hard day. Not the kind of brave that means nothing is hard. The real kind — the kind that means hard things are real, and true, and named.

If your child is facing something difficult — a health challenge, hospital stays, a body that works differently from other bodies — this book is for them. But it is also for any child who simply needs to know that joy and struggle can coexist. Daisy proves this every day.

After reading, you might ask:

"What makes Daisy brave?"
"Does being brave mean nothing is hard?"
"What does Daisy do when she gets home from hospital?"
"Do you have something that feels like home, the way Guy does?"
"Is there something hard in your life right now you want to talk about?"
"If Daisy can — what is one thing you think you can do too?"

The Series Continues

More Daisy Stories Are Coming

Book Two

Daisy Takes a Big Breath

When Daisy has to slow down in the garden, she discovers that going at your own pace means you see the things the fast ones miss. Abi learns that with a gentle nudge, she can be brave too.

Book Three

Daisy Takes Lots of Naps

Daisy needs lots of rest — and rest is not giving up. Rest is how you get ready for the next adventure. A gentle reminder that slowing down is part of the journey, not a pause from it.

Mark Your Calendar

The Story Is Almost Here

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Coming Soon

Daisy's story is on its way to the little ones who need to hear it most. Watch this space — and in the meantime, she is probably stealing a sock somewhere.