Nathanael, age 8 is a third-grader at Walter B. Howard Elementary School. He is enjoying Social Studies this year because his class gets to “travel” to different countries and then have a “feast” with foods from each country. His hobbies include building things with Legos and K’nex, playing Wii, computer and DSi games, drawing and reading. The book he chose to read to Simon is about Jack Russell: Dog Detective.
Simon, a French Bulldog, is a therapy dog, who with his handlers John Walker and Cydney Cross, participates in the New Lebanon Library’s Paws-to-Read program. The program gives children a chance to
practice reading to a non-judgmental audience. A child who may be hesitant or embarrassed to read aloud to adults or peers often finds it easier to share a story with a therapy dog. According to Library Director Jeanie Bogino, “Research indicates that the presence of these dogs can play an important role in reducing stress in the case of children who are troubled readers. Reading to a dog is inherently reinforcing, since the dogs wag their tales and respond positively to the children regardless of whether the child reads well or pronounces the words correctly. We also have children who are afraid of dogs attending sessions, as well as kids who do it just for the fun of it.” Three other therapy dog/handler teams are Piggy and Kathleen Pierce, Daisy and Chad Cuevas and Myka and Mary Allen. All three of these dogs are pit bulls or pit bull mixes.
The NL READ poster campaign was modeled after the American Library Association READ program and seeks to promote reading and the use of library services.