Building confidence by reading to dogs | On the Bright Side

CAMP HILL, Pa. — During the dog days of summer, Cleve J. Fredricksen Library in Camp Hill is a fun space to cool off.

Therapy dogs Calvin and Hobbes can often be found in between the book shelves, greeting kids and listening to young readers hone their skills.

The library has been hosting “Read to Dogs” for close to a decade, welcoming in the miniature Australian Labradoodle brothers.

“It's a program to encourage shy and reluctant readers, school age children,” said Jessica Woolridge of the library. “So they get to come and read in a zone with no judgement and a really cute reading partner.”

Ten-year-old Frannie Heil is one of many kids utilizing the program.

“I like reading to the dogs because they are really nice and kind of just like cuddle up with you,” said Heil. “They really like listening.”

She's heading into 5th grade an avid reader thanks to support from Calvin and Hobbes, who are from Keystone Pet Enhanced Therapy Services.

“When I first started school, I didn't really feel that confident because I knew I didn't have the skills other kids had,” Heil said. “But once I kept growing and reading.. I just felt more confident.”

Her dad says the library has become an incredible resource for their family.

And after her positive experience, Heil is encouraging other kids to give the program a try.

The Read to Dogs program runs the first and third Tuesdays of the month.