At the Saint John Free Public Library, an unusual reading club has children lining up for spots weeks in advance. The “Paws for Stories” program matches young readers aged 6-12 with certified therapy dogs for one-on-one reading sessions, and the results have educators taking notice.
Program coordinator Emily Thibodeau got the idea after noticing her nephew’s reading anxiety. “He’d freeze when reading aloud to adults, but was perfectly comfortable practicing with our golden retriever,” she explained. Two years later, the program has:
• Served over 400 children
• Expanded to three weekly sessions
• Maintained a 100% waitlist since inception
• Documented average reading level improvements of 20%
Each 30-minute session pairs a child with a therapy dog and handler in the library’s specially-designed “Reading Ruff” corner, complete with dog beds and a basket of dog-themed books. The canines – including a Bernese Mountain Dog named Tolstoy and a rescue beagle called Booker – are trained to stay attentive, occasionally “turning pages” with their noses.
Nine-year-old participant Liam Chen credits the program with changing his relationship with reading. “At school I used to get nervous and skip words,” he said. “But Maple (a Labrador retriever) doesn’t care if I make mistakes. Now I’m reading chapter books!”
The program’s success has attracted attention from educators across Canada. “We’re seeing remarkable confidence building,” said child psychologist Dr. Sarah Morrison, who’s studying the program’s effects. “The non-judgmental canine presence reduces stress hormones while increasing oxytocin – creating ideal learning conditions.”
Local businesses have rallied behind the initiative, with:
• A pet store donating dog treats for participants to reward their reading partners
• A bookstore providing discounted dog-themed titles
• A tech company funding an expansion to include a summer “Reading Buddies” camp
“This isn’t just about literacy,” Thibodeau noted as she watched a formerly reluctant reader enthusiastically explain a comic book to a tail-wagging poodle. “It’s about joy. When kids associate reading with this kind of happiness, that love of books stays with them forever.”
The library is now working with provincial literacy organizations to create a toolkit for other communities wanting to launch similar programs. “Every child deserves to experience this magic,” Thibodeau said. “And frankly, so does every dog.”
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