by Holly Schaffer, Communications Specialist
Read to a Dog has long-been a staple of Library programming. Offered at a dozen libraries, it is a perennial favorite! This year, we decided to check in with a few participants.
Meet human Kamella from El Rio Library!
Before I met Kamella, age 6, and her mom Linda in person, I received an email that read:
My little girl and I are Read to a Dog groupies. We go to Finn at El Rio on Mondays, Sadie at Nanini on Tuesdays, Kobe at Woods on Wednesdays and Honey at Woods on Saturdays (sometimes Griffi at Nanini on Saturdays). My daughter LOVES the program—and it’s invaluable to her in so many ways—so I’ll take her for as long as she’s interested!
A few weeks later, I sat down with Kamella and Linda at El Rio Library before the weekly Read to a Dog session with Finn. Fun fact… therapy dog Finn belongs to branch manager Morgen Daniels.
Kamella excitedly told me, “Finn taught me to read. He also sent me a birthday card! I made a frame and put Finn’s picture in it!”
The list of what they enjoy reading together is quite long! “We love Bad Kitty and Bruce the Bear. We read about caterpillars, butterflies, dogs, cats, and axolotls.
Once Finn entered the library, Kamella was at his side. It was time to chat with Linda.
Linda said, “Morgen and staff have become part of our family. We’ve built a community here, and at the other libraries we go to.”
Books have been a part of Kamella’s family life since before she was born. Linda said, “There’s a not a day I haven’t read to her.” She smiled, “When I was pregnant, I would read instruction manuals out loud while assembling furniture.”
An author of early literacy books, Linda loves reading and writing. It only makes sense, then, that Kamella has taken after her mom as a reader. And thanks to Finn and other Read to a Dog pups, Kamella has a strong reading foundation, which I’m sure she’ll build on for years to come.
Meet canine Honey from Woods Memorial Library!
What is Honey’s favorite smell?
There are lots, but some of the top smells in Honey’s book is the cheese bag from the fridge, books, and pup cups.
What is Honey’s favorite toy?
Cow hooves
What is Honey’s favorite book?
Roy Digs Dirt by David Shannon is a classic!
Does Honey have a favorite Read to a Dog memory?
There are too many to count, but here are some:
- Honey loves the babies who attend Read to a Dog.
- She also loves when young readers can spell out a word by themselves or with help.
- She also likes when kids improve their reading skills!
- Honey gets excited when she recognizes her regular Read to a Dog friends.
If Honey could speak human to the kids who read to her, what would she say?
Honey would tell them to stay in school, thank them for reading her stories, and share with them how much she loves receiving pets and attention from readers.
There's more!
Reading with dogs is for adults, too! In September 2024, Paws for Grownups launched at Joyner-Green Valley Library! Many customers had asked why Read to a Dog was just for kids, so, without missing a beat, the staff introduced the program for adult readers to enjoy canine companionship. Offered twice monthly, adults are invited to read to Yorkshire terrier Louie, Golden Retriever Lucy, Husky mix Hopi, and Maltese-Poodle mix Mali.
