Paws To Read At Everett Library

For more than a decade the Everett Library’s “Paws to Read” program has helped elementary school kids (and even a few adults) learn to read in a stress-free, non-judgmental environment.

Yesterday, MyEverettNews.com stopped by the Evergreen Branch of the Everett Library to take a look.

Most every Monday for the last eight + years, Dan and Caryn Ridings have been bringing in service dogs between 3:00 and 5:00 PM for kids to practice reading aloud.

The couple volunteers with Canine Companions For Independence which trains and provides assistance dogs for people with disabilities.

Caryn works with the puppy raising program and brought 5 and a half month old Celeste while Dan watched over 8 and a half year old Olympia. The dogs lie attentively while children read aloud.

After the reading session the kids get a bookmark with the paw print of the dog as a thank you.

“It’s fun to watch the kids come in, parents come in,” said Dan. “We’re partial to the importance of reading and this helps support the parents.”

“The dogs are so non-judgmental”, said Caryn. “With so many kids in this area from so many different countries it’s a great way to build confidence in reading.”

“I like reading and I like dogs,” said Hanna Ligons who was petting Celeste. “This is great fun.”

In addition to the Monday program at the south Everett Library there is also another group of “Paws to Read” volunteers who come to the main branch of the library on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30 to 5:00 PM.

There is no cost to the public to bring in kids to read to the dogs.