How do we learn to read? Mostly by learning the different sounds of the symbols in the books. Then we put those sounds together, make an approximate match with the letters (symbols) and give voice to the word. Next we put the words together and learn to make sense of a sentence. Once we have done that, we learn to pause in the right places. This is important when we read aloud. What we need to read well, finally, is practice.

Mayra Flores De Marcotte, a Willow Glen Resident tells us of a cute way to practise reading.“Children from throughout the South Bay recently stood in line at San Jose’s Willow Glen Library waiting their turn to read to some very special guests,” she wrote. And who were those guests?

Three Labrador retriever-mix dogs who happen to be good listeners.

The dogs were part of Canine Companions for Independence, the organization that held the Reading to Dogs event at the library. This event was to give children a chance to practise their reading skills in front of an audience that doesn’t laugh or criticize.

These have been held at other places as well.

You can see how thrilled the kids would be. By practising reading to well-behaved, calm, friendly dogs, kids learn to be comfortable in reading in public. Particularly for home-schooled kids. It takes the pressure off kids, said a parent. They could read without being corrected, as parents and teachers are wont to do.

For kids who love to read and love to be with dogs, this is a double treat.

CCI breeds, raises and trains four types of dogs. There are service dogs that assist adults with physical disabilities by performing daily tasks. There are hearing dogs, which alert the deaf and hard of hearing to important sounds. There are facility dogs, which work with a professional in a visitation, education or health-care setting. And there are skilled companions, which are trained to enhance independence for children and adults with physical, cognitive and developmental disabilities.