As library media coordinator at the Alderman Elementary School in Wilmington, NC, I've created a program to help kids improve their reading skills that combines my love of books with my affection for animals. Last year, I contacted Carolina Canines for Service, a nonprofit organization that provides specially trained dogs for people with disabilities, to see if its dogs could serve as listening partners for students who need extra reading help. Research shows that children with low self-esteem are often more willing to interact with therapy animals than with people because it gives them a nonjudgmental environment in which to read. Rick Hairston, the director of Carolina Canines, was happy to oblige. Fifteen students in second grade who tested below grade level in fluency and reading tests were chosen for the program. Once a week, a team consisting of a dog and a trainer (there were four teams in all) was paired with a student. Individual students read age-appropriate titles with animal themes to their four-legged partners for 20 minutes. Students began the year reading the Clifford (Scholastic) books by Norman Bridwell before progressing to Three Stories You Can Read to Your Dog (Houghton, 1997) by Sara Swan Miller and Brave Norman (S & S, 2001) by Andrew Clements. Once a month, each student received a new book that was paw-printed by the dog. To participate in the program, students must bring a signed release form and a medical history. In the beginning, some students were a little hesitant to approach a new dog, and we never forced them. I typically sat with a new student and a dog until the child felt comfortable. Since these dogs have been extensively trained, they were very calm. Kresean, a second grader reading at a kindergarten level, used to drag himself into the library and slump down on the floor. He didn't like to read, and he had behavioral problems in the classroom. After a month, Kresean became very comfortable with one of the dogs and would pet Bunker while he read. In just six months, Kresean was reading at a third-grade level. He's already read the entire Henry and Mudge series (S & S) by Cynthia Rylant. When students finish reading a book, the dog handlers complete a checklist compiled by our reading specialist, tracking progress and noting any difficult words. The reading specialist trains the dog handlers to teach reading and pronunciation skills and to ask questions to check for understanding. We use Accelerated Reader tests to measure students' reading comprehension, and our reading specialist evaluates students' reading scores each month to evaluate their growth. Children must correctly answer at least 85 percent of the test questions to move ahead to the next book. Most participants improve their reading skills by at least two grade levels over the course of an entire school year. Several have done so well that they become mentors, helping other children by bringing them to the library, introducing them to the canines, and helping them choose books. Due to the enthusiasm for the program, we also provide an opportunity for all interested students to participate, even those who read at grade level or above. Classroom teachers are asked to select one student from their class each week to come in and read to a dog. We have seen improvement in students' reading skills and watched them gain self-confidence in their new abilities. Second-grader Kimberly Walter, who began the program in September with a first-grade reading level, now reads at a third-grade level. She loves the program and her family just got a dog. She says she can't wait to read to her pet every night at bedtime. This year, we piloted the program at three schools in New Hanover County and have received requests from at least 10 other schools. Carolina Canines will also be conducting Paws for Reading at public libraries this summer.

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Robin Briggs Newlin is a school library media coordinator at Alderman Elementary School in Wilmington, NC.