Let your child experience the joy of reading aloud while building their skills during a reading session with a certified therapy dog. Kids may bring their own book or choose one from the library. Although each library has their own program, typically kids are paired with a dog for 15 minutes and parents may help their child read one to two books. The age range is usually from kindergarten to 5th grade.
To prepare your child, Pages, Pens, and Paws is a website that offers books and activities such as discussion questions and coloring sheets to supplement Animal Assisted Reading Programs. It features Moxie Makes a Difference, by Nicole Selby (author), Kira Alexanian (illustrator) and Tonya Cartmell (contributor), about a therapy dog who visits a school. There are also several books that may be available at your library or for purchase such as Archer the Therapy Dog – A Read Together Book, by Katie Baron (author) and Emily Beach (illustrator) about a golden retriever who invites your child to join him on his journey as he becomes a therapy dog and makes visits to a library.
Upcoming Reading with Dogs Programs
Maryland
Montgomery County Public Libraries
- Aspen Hill Library
Saturdays, April 05, 19, and 26: 11 a.m.–12 p.m. - Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library
Saturday, April 12: 2–3 p.m. - Connie Morella Library
Thursdays, April 10 and 24: 4–5 p.m. - Davis Library
Wednesdays, April 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30: 4–5 p.m. - Gaithersburg Library
Mondays, April 7, 14, 21, and 28: 4:45–5:45 p.m. - Germantown Library
Tuesdays, April 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29: 5:15–6 p.m.
Practice your reading with Kiwi, a certified therapy dog, who is bilingual and can understand both English and Spanish. - Kensington Library
Saturdays, April 12 and 19: 10:30–11:30 a.m. - Long Branch Library
Saturday, April 19: 11 a.m.–12 p.m. - Potomac Library
Thursday, April 17: 4:30–5:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 19: 10:30–11:30 a.m. - Quince Orchard Library
Tuesdays, April 8 and 22: 6–7 p.m. - Rockville Library
Thursday, April 17: 5–6 p.m. - Twinbrook Library
Wednesday, April 2: 4–5 p.m.
VIRGINIA
Alexandria Library
- Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Wednesday, April 2: 5–6 p.m.
Prince William County Public Libraries
- Bull Run Library
Wednesday, April 16: 5–6 p.m. - Chinn Park Library
Wednesday, April 9: 4–5 p.m. - Central Children’s Area
Wednesday, April 9: 5:30–6:15 p.m. - Dumfries Library
Monday, April 21: 4:30–5:30 p.m. - Haymarket Gainesville Library
Saturday, April 5: 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Fairfax County Public Library
- Herndon Fortnightly Library
Mondays, April 7, May 5, June 2: 7:15–7:30 p.m. - Manassas, Independent Hill Library
Mondays, April 14 and 28: 4:30–5:30 p.m. - Woodbridge, Lake Ridge Library
Saturday, April 12: 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m. - Alexandria, Martha Washington Library
Wednesday, April 2: 3:30–4:30 p.m.
Washington, DC
Children are welcome to Read with Dogs with PAL (People Animals Love) at various schools in the DC area.
Local parent Diana M. Martin has been an adjunct professor at Montgomery College and freelance writer for more than 20 years.
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Diana M. Martin, MFA, has been an adjunct professor in the Writing, Reading and Learning Center at Montgomery College and a freelance writer for more than 20 years.
