Dogs Come to Hear A Good Story, Read by Kids, at the Holmdel Library

When it was her turn to read to the chocolate Labrador sprawled out on the floor at Holmdel Library, 9-year old Juliette Linsalata of Holmdel chose a passage from the Great Gilly Hopkins, the story of a spunky girl who keeps getting bounced from foster homes.

As two smaller children massaged the dogs soft fur, stroking by his silky ears, Juliette plowed through her page like a star. When she was done, she returned to her mother with a smile, and reflected on the experience.

"He likes it when people read to him," she said. "He probably thinks he's loved a lot, because a lot of people want to read to him."

Read to the Dogs is a new program at Holmdel Library -- sneakily designed by adults to bring out the raconteur in any new reader. Its proving to be so popular, you could say its got legs. After the last two sessions which attracted around 18 kids, Children's Librarian Alanah Mellin is looking to make "Read to the Dogs' in the former Recreation Dept. basement space a regular event. 

"The intention was for children to read, to develop their reading skills," said Mellin. "And the dogs don't judge them. They just listen." 

Lisa Ching of Holmdel brought the four specially trained dogs to the library on Monday. The "Reading with Furry Friends" dogs were trained for six weeks through the Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dog Program, and selected for calm temperament and obedience. Silky ears are just a plus. 

Holmdel Girl Scouts Katya Duong, 8, and Cassandra Escorcia, 8, were reading stories to Misty. Katya's mother, Bilge Duong, said she liked many aspects about the program. "My daughter loves dogs, and here she's learning about therapy dogs," she said. She guessed the girls believed they were giving Misty something new to think about. "It's good values," she said, with a smile.

Kara Phothimat, watching her 7 and 9-year old girls read to Tally, noticed her normally canine-fearing younger one warming up to the ultra-cool dog.

"She thought she'd be scared, but she's not, so it's like therapy for her," she said.