When 6-year-old Momo Kitahara sat down to read “The Rainbow Zebra” in Japanese during a Reading with Rover session, Pat Gow was thrilled.
“Sadie is going to love that,” she said. “She likes picture books.”
Sadie is Gow’s 3-year-old yellow lab.
Donning a red Reading with Rover jacket and laying with her chin resting on her paws, Sadie listened as Kitahara read aloud from right to left and politely tilted the book for Sadie to see the pictures.
Kitahara’s parents and brother sat cross-legged watching their daughter overcome her apprehension to read aloud in their native tongue. Momo can read in English and Japanese really well, said her mother, Yoko, but is still nervous about entering the first grade.
“Hopefully this year she’ll get more confident,” Yoko said.
The Reading with Rover program debuted this summer at the Edmonds Library. Children’s librarian Edith Farrar heard about the program occurring in Bothell.
When Reading with Rover volunteer Pat Gow approached her offering to do the program at Edmonds, Farrar accepted.
“I think it’s just fun,” she said. “I believe dogs have a calming effect.”
There are approximately 80 Reading with Rover teams in the Seattle metro area. The dogs and their handlers visit public libraries and elementary schools.
“I think parents should bring their children to Reading with Rover, as it is just fun to watch the kids interacting and just relaxing with the dogs while reading to them,” Gow said.
Gow adopted Sadie two years ago after Sadie flunked out of the Canine Companions for Independence. The program trains dogs to become companions for people with disabilities, but her fear of wheelchairs kept her from staying in the program.
Due to Sadie’s past training and mild personality, Gow decided to enroll her into obedience class so she could participate in Reading with Rover.
“I had time on my hands and Sadie was so well-mannered and so loving, I felt the pull of volunteering our time.” Gow said.
Before qualifying for the program, Sadie had to take a test through Delta Society. She passed.
“There are big dogs like Sadie and teeny-weeny dogs,” Gow said. “If they are gentle and like people, they will make great Reading with Rover dogs.”
Farrar noticed the majority of the kids who participated this summer didn’t drastically struggle with reading. But she can see how the program would help a student who finds reading to be a challenge.
“They’re warm, friendly and they don’t criticize,” she said.
Farrar will continue booking Reading with Rover at the library. She is scheduled throughout December and hopes kids of all ages will participate.
“I’m not going to turn anyone anyway,” she said.
Sisters’ Kerry, 12, and Alison, 10, love for dogs prompted them to sit and read for Sadie. That, and reading aloud to a dog seemed like a more entertaining way to fulfill their summer reading requirements.
While Kerry read aloud an excerpt from “Redwall,” she tripped up on one or two words. Intuitively, Sadie pressed her nose into Kerry’s check and rolled over onto her back. When Kerry began petting Sadie, she sounded more relaxed.
“You’re a really good reader,” Gow said. “Reading to an audience builds confidence.”
It was the sisters first time attending Reading with Rover, but Alison had read to this type of audience before.
“I’ve read to my dog before,” she said. “They listen.”
The next Reading with Rover is from 11 a.m. till noon on Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Edmonds Library.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
