Anything is paw-sible at the Brooklyn Public Library!
On Saturday, children between the ages of 5 and 12 were invited to read to Angel the therapy dog at the library’s Central Branch.
The program, which gives children an opportunity to build self-esteem while gaining confidence in their reading skills, has been offered monthly at the branch since its 2018 debut.
“A therapy dog provides a relaxing, non-judgemental audience that allows children to feel free to practice reading out loud,” said one librarian.
The event usually takes place for an hour on the first Saturday of every month, with six 10-minute time slots up for grabs. During each session, a child reads a book of their choice to Angel with the help of the dog’s owner, Elizabeth Campos.
Fritzi Bodenheimer, a library spokesperson, believes the popular program is a good way to get children interested in reading.
“The dog is sweet and cute, so it’s a nice way for children to have a positive experience with reading, which is what the library is all about,” she said.
