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Every year on or around March 2, the National Education Association's Read Across America celebrates Dr. Seuss' birthday by encouraging thousands of schools, libraries and community centers across the country to bring together kids, teens and books.
But here in New Orleans, we like to include our dogs.
Sponsored by the Visiting Pet Program, Reading to Rover is a free reading program offered by the New Orleans Public Library, where children are invited to read aloud to specially trained and certified Pet Therapy dogs.
While the program was originally designed for children who struggle with reading aloud in a group, it has evolved into a worthwhile program for pre-readers and beginning readers as well.
The Reading to Rover dogs offer a calm, accepting presence for the children to practice their reading aloud skills. They are non threatening, non judgmental listeners who sit patiently while children read, pretend to read, or recite.
This is a FREE monthly family activity and an innovative way to encourage a child's literary exploration.
Continue reading for storytimes and additional local and online reading resources.
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