Post by melody on Jan 27, 2008 8:07:31 GMT -5
Reading goes to the dogs at public library
By JAMI KINTON
News Journal
MANSFIELD -- Lily doesn't know her ABCs and she's never taken a reading lesson.
But for the last four years, the 100-pound, 5-year-old Newfoundland has proved she makes the perfect reading companion. She's a good listener.
"Lily just has a way of getting through to children when humans can't," Barbara Keller, the dog's owner, said. "It's truly unique. Children are just very comfortable with her."
Every Saturday, Keller and Lily go to the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library to lend an ear to young readers.
"I'm basically just there to help if a child gets stuck on a word," Keller said. "Some of the readers are a bit challenged, others are great and I don't have to do anything but sit there and listen."
Last week, Keller said a boy got up in the middle of the session and hid in another room.
"He has some anxiety disorders, and he just didn't want to read anymore," Keller said. "Lily got up and found him, laid down next to him and nudged him until he finally got up and came back to read."
Keller said Lily has had three years of obedience instruction and is trained to be a therapy dog.
"Each child spends 15 minutes with Lily," Keller said. "They can either read a whole book or a chapter of one book. When they're done, each child receives a stamp with a paw on it and a bookmark."
Keller said many children pick out dog books to read.
"It's really cute," she said. "I think kids think she'll enjoy those. They'll read to her and then show her the pictures."
Keller said Lily makes an ideal reading companion.
"She doesn't care if you can't pronounce a word or if you're not the best reader," she said. "Dogs don't judge anyone, and Lily is a great listener."
On Saturday, Sarah Boyd read "So Inn Love."
"I just like dogs, so I wanted to come read to Lily," said the sixth-grader from Lexington's Eastern Elementary School. "I've given doggy massages to my aunt's dog, and I just all-around like dogs. They can't talk to you, but I really like them."
Nathan Doup, a seventh-grader from Malabar Middle School, read "The True Story of Balto," a story about sled dogs.
"This book just looked interesting," he said, rubbing the dog's face with both hands. "Lily is a good listener."
While Doup sat Indian-style to read, the long-haired black dog rested peacefully with her paws crossed.
"Nathan, you have a couple minutes left," Keller said after 12 minutes of reading. "Do you want to read some more or play with Lily?"
Without hesitation, Doup said, "I'll just play with Lily."
www.centralohio.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/B7/20080127/NEWS01/801270321/1002
(the pics of lily are adorable)
**(i went to school with Jamie)**
By JAMI KINTON
News Journal
MANSFIELD -- Lily doesn't know her ABCs and she's never taken a reading lesson.
But for the last four years, the 100-pound, 5-year-old Newfoundland has proved she makes the perfect reading companion. She's a good listener.
"Lily just has a way of getting through to children when humans can't," Barbara Keller, the dog's owner, said. "It's truly unique. Children are just very comfortable with her."
Every Saturday, Keller and Lily go to the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library to lend an ear to young readers.
"I'm basically just there to help if a child gets stuck on a word," Keller said. "Some of the readers are a bit challenged, others are great and I don't have to do anything but sit there and listen."
Last week, Keller said a boy got up in the middle of the session and hid in another room.
"He has some anxiety disorders, and he just didn't want to read anymore," Keller said. "Lily got up and found him, laid down next to him and nudged him until he finally got up and came back to read."
Keller said Lily has had three years of obedience instruction and is trained to be a therapy dog.
"Each child spends 15 minutes with Lily," Keller said. "They can either read a whole book or a chapter of one book. When they're done, each child receives a stamp with a paw on it and a bookmark."
Keller said many children pick out dog books to read.
"It's really cute," she said. "I think kids think she'll enjoy those. They'll read to her and then show her the pictures."
Keller said Lily makes an ideal reading companion.
"She doesn't care if you can't pronounce a word or if you're not the best reader," she said. "Dogs don't judge anyone, and Lily is a great listener."
On Saturday, Sarah Boyd read "So Inn Love."
"I just like dogs, so I wanted to come read to Lily," said the sixth-grader from Lexington's Eastern Elementary School. "I've given doggy massages to my aunt's dog, and I just all-around like dogs. They can't talk to you, but I really like them."
Nathan Doup, a seventh-grader from Malabar Middle School, read "The True Story of Balto," a story about sled dogs.
"This book just looked interesting," he said, rubbing the dog's face with both hands. "Lily is a good listener."
While Doup sat Indian-style to read, the long-haired black dog rested peacefully with her paws crossed.
"Nathan, you have a couple minutes left," Keller said after 12 minutes of reading. "Do you want to read some more or play with Lily?"
Without hesitation, Doup said, "I'll just play with Lily."
www.centralohio.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/B7/20080127/NEWS01/801270321/1002
(the pics of lily are adorable)
**(i went to school with Jamie)**