Read to Rover

Every Tuesday afternoon, local children head to the Louisville Public Library to spend some time reading to an enthusiastic audience: therapy dogs.

The popular Read to Rover program, which has been a regular feature at the Library since 2011, attracts young people who want to improve their reading confidence and hang out with adorable pups. Everyone takes a turn reading to (and petting) the dogs, whose owners volunteer their time to this worthwhile program that has had a positive effect on so many children – including Isaac and Emma.

Katie, mom of Isaac (age 4.5) and Miriam (nearly age 2), commented on the value of Read to Rover:

“We love Read to Rover! It really helps Isaac wind down and relax after a busy day at preschool and learn gentleness and respect with the dogs. He has been an avid and early reader so he loves having the chance to practice reading out loud, and I love seeing him grow in confidence. It's such a creative way to help kids get more comfortable as they learn to read, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.”

Commenting on her family’s experience, Elizabeth, mom to Emma (age 6), said:

“Even though Emma was only 3. 5 years old when we started participating and she could not read by herself at the time, I wanted her to experience working with a therapy dog. Every dog at the library has displayed calmness, sweetness, and immense patience, and my daughter has gained an appreciation and love for her furry friends.

“Last year when she was in kindergarten and learned how to read fluently, she was finally able to read to the therapy dog all by herself. At first, she read in a whisper. When I prompted her to read louder so the dog could hear her, she raised her voice slightly. As the school year progressed, she became more confident and less self-conscious about reading aloud. Now that she is in first grade, she is able to articulate her words with confidence. It's a heartwarming sight to see my daughter sharing her love of reading to a furry friend and others around her.

“This program is truly amazing, and we are very fortunate to have access to it.”