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Kevontae Haye read slowly and carefully with one hand holding a book and his other hand resting on a dog that lay peacefully beside him. Kevontae, a third grader, was one of several children last Saturday who practiced his reading at the East Norwalk Library with a furry friend cuddling close.
Every Saturday for the past year, the Library has hosted the literacy program Dogs To Read To, or D2R2, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. The concept is simple. For one hour, all kinds of readers- struggling, shy, theatrical- practice reading aloud to a dog.
"Dogs are non judgemental and they dont tease, says Don Smith, an organizer of the program. "The goal is to give kids confidence in reading." Smith says that kids' reading scores improve as much as a grade level if they practice with dogs.
Smith, who regularly brings his Whippet, Brasil, to the library, works with R.E.A.D.--Reading Education Assistance Dogs. R.E.A.D dogs are not just any dogs. They are registered therapy animals who volunteer with their owners/handlers as a team. Brasil, like many of the dogs that come to the library, is part of the Healing Hounds, a dog therapy program at Stamford Hospital. He has logged more than 1,800 hours of service in hospitals and 200 hours in local libraries. Lisa Singer also volunteers at the library with Monty, her Maltese poodle.
I really love doing this," said Singer. "You can see the kids relax with the dog."
Library Director Stan Sieglel explains the process: Children select a book to read from the table in the front of the library. They sit in a group of three to five children and take turns reading to a dog. In some cases, they do one-on-one sessions. After they are done, the kids are allowed to keep the books and get a certificate and bookmark with the picture of the dog they read to. Over 50 children, most of them elementary age, have participated in the program this year. Many of the children come over and over again.
Since starting the program at the East Norwalk Library, Smith has started similar programs in Darien, Westport, Byram and Rowayton. "It all started here in East Norwalk," Smith says.
There has been so much interest in the program, that Kevontae is going to be the subject of an "ABC World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer" segment in a few months. Kevontae is below grade level in reading. CBS News is tracking and filming Kevontaes progress as he spends time reading to Brasil.
Not all kids who come to the library are struggling with reading. Wyatt Glenn, a first grader who is reading chapter books, comes to the library a couple of times a month. Wyatt's mother, Maia Fitzpatrick, says they dont have a dog at home. "Wyatt loves his dog time."
The program is free but pre-registration is suggested. To register, call 838-0498 ext 100 or email mail@eastnorwalklibrary.org.
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