Some of my friends are blessed with children who adore books. They can’t keep books in their hands because the children read so quickly. I admire those children and their parents for instilling a love of reading. And I’m a wee bit jealous.
Reading is not a skill that has come easily to our boys. They would rather ride bikes, dig holes to China, or play games on their kindles.
In effort to encourage them to pick up a book we visit our local public library once a week during the summer. This week when we stopped by, our boys were invited to participate in “PAWS to Read”. 
The program is sponsored by the library. It provides struggling readers a non-judgmental partner that patiently listens as they read aloud. It was perfect practice for my not very excited about reading boys.
My heart swelled watching Big Boy smoothing and patting Sophie’s coat as he read a Magic Treehouse book aloud to her. 
Little Boy was just as thrilled to read to his pooch, Trixie. Isn’t she the cutest thing ever?
Honestly, these were the sweetest moments. Both boys read aloud for over 15 minutes to their puppy companion. They loved spending time with the dogs and were very excited to get their names on the list for the next session.
I’m amazed the incentive of reading to a dog worked so well. Wonder if our sweet Yellow Dog would lay nicely while they read to her? It just might work as long as they don’t leave a book nearby for her to bury in the garden. 😉
I’d love to hear your ways of keeping the learning train going though out the wonderfully lazy months of summer. Please leave your suggestions or routines in the comments.
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I love this! How great is this!!!!
Seeing the boys read to those sweet days totally made my day! And I think their’s too!
~ Ashley
Awe…that is so sweet and what a clever way to get children excited and involved with reading. I love to read and always have. I have 3 grown daughters in which two loves to read and one despises it! Funny you said what you did about boys! My grandson does not like reading at all….however his mom gives him no choice! She prays daily for him to WANT to read (LOL) My oldest two grandgirls love to read and the Dr. told my daughter just recently that the best thing she could do for our youngest grandgirl would be to read to her as much as possible. She does not have a speech problem but tends to not finish her sentences. Anyway…enjoyed this post and passing it on to my daughters! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
My boys love for me to read to them. Right now we are working our way through The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. But getting them to read all on their own is so hard! We are definitely going back to see the therapy dogs again!
Thanks so much for the comment love!
~ Ashley
What a cute idea, Ashley! Out of 3 of my boys, only my oldest (23) LOVES to read and still reads on his spare time… but the other 2, could care less. I’ll have to look into our county library to see if they do this. 🙂
It was a wonderful surprise to discover the read to a therapy dog program! The boys were excited enough about it to tell their friends. 😉
~ Ashley
Too cute! You know Ansley loves to read–
She often has a couple books going at the same time–how, I don’t know! Never have to worry too much about her.
This summer I made a smart basket.
The younger two pick something out of it
(Inexpensive workbooks, flash cards, educational games) or they pick a mom approved computer/iPod /iPad game, a board game, or a book. We are shooting for 45 minutes a day for 4/7 days.
The kids also have to be in my sight –just in case! 😉
Last week Owen made a math bingo game where I gave a math problem and they had to figure out the answer.
What a great idea reading to the dogs. I’m glad your boys enjoyed it! 🙂
Thanks Marti! They loved it!
~ Ashley
Haha pup burying books! LOL This is such an amazing idea! My boy was fine with reading up until about a month ago and now we struggle to get him to read, but I think he would love reading to our pupper. Dogs are such amazing animals!
I might have to buy her some doggie treats to sit with them but I think the boys are going to start reading with her soon!
~ Ashley
Ashley- I love this!!!!! Neither of my boys are big readers, and my younger son was diagnosed with mild dyslexia in kindergarten, and is now my best speller! But, he read to our dogs because dogs don’t correct mis-pronounced words or get impatient! Love this story! Way to go to the library for this program! laura
It is wonderful for the library to host this reading program. Trust me… we need all the help we can get! 😉
And I just have to say spelling words are the devil! HATE them!
~ Ashley
Such a lovely idea. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!!
My boys loved reading to the dogs! Thanks so much for the sweet comment!
~ Ashley