Reading to the Library Dogs

Our local library has a program called "Paws to Read," where kids who are nervous about reading out loud read to specially trained, very patient dogs. I signed up my shy eight-year-old, Leo, half expecting him to refuse.

His dog was a calm, enormous Newfoundland named Barnaby, who lay on a blanket and put his head on Leo's sneaker. Leo started reading in a whisper. Barnaby sighed contentedly. Leo kept going.

By week six, Leo was reading in a full voice, doing character voices, even. He reads Barnaby books about dogs, because "he likes to hear about his friends." When Leo stumbles on a word, Barnaby just thumps his tail on the floor.

On the last day, Leo brought Barnaby a drawing of the two of them reading together under a tree. Barnaby's owner cried. I cried. Barnaby fell asleep on the drawing, which Leo took as a compliment.