In November we sent some dollies and colorful teddy bears with our neighbor Joan Sather, who is a volunteer for  “Beach Animals Reading with Kids” otherwise known as BARK.  This wonderful all-volunteer program encourages children to increase their reading skills and self-confidence by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs.  Their website states, “Students find it intimidating to read in front of classmates, but love to read to the nonjudgmental, calming dogs.  BARK now has 150 teams listening to kis in more than 95 schools and libraries in California.”  Should you want to learn more about this program, whose home office operates out of Long Beach, check out their website: barkdogs.org
SO, Joan brought some of our dollies and colorful teddy bears to hand out as “rewards” to a few of her  students who, through reading to her gorgeous dog Cooper, became better readers.
