‘When my son was in first grade, his assigned “homework” was to read for 20 minutes each day.
As a former first-grade teacher and a self-proclaimed bookworm, I knew that frequent reading would help my 7-year-old develop a solid foundation in literacy.
What a surprise it was, then, to discover that my own son wouldn’t do his homework. It wasn’t that he couldn’t read; he refused to read. I tried every ploy in my (extensive) bag of make-a-reader tricks, but nothing stuck. We had a reluctant reader, and I didn’t know how to help him.
Enter Reading with Rover, a partnership between therapy dogs and public resources that brings highly-trained furry reading companions and young readers together — kids like my son. The first time he attended a Reading with Rover event, he was immediately drawn to the fluffy Golden Retriever lying in the corner of a local library meeting room. My son sat on the floor and nestled into the dog’s soft fur. Then he pulled out his book and, miracle of miracles, he began to read.
(Image: Reading with Rover)
His story is one of many about the powerful impact of Reading with Rover on young readers. Dogs trained for the program offer constant comfort and non-judgmental approval as they sit with kids. They are perfect listeners as youngsters sound out words and test their emerging reading skills.
“I want to inspire children to discover the joy of reading and developing literacy while reading with dogs,” says Reading with Rover founder Becky Bishop. “I’m using my therapy dogs as a conduit to help people and kids so they can go into the world and do good things.”
Since its inception in 1999, Reading with Rover has expanded from a summer program in a single library to a full-fledged nonprofit organization with dozens of events each year, typically held in libraries, schools, hospitals, and other public venues. Each event gives children like my son the chance to discover the joy of reading. With a gentle dog by their side, that lesson becomes more deeply ingrained.
“We’re building memories,” says Becky. Memories and, I would add, eager readers.
Support the effort: Donate at readingwithrover.org/donate
