February 2012

Woof, woof, woof… What’s that Lilly? You love kids? You love books? You love the library? Woof, arf, arf, woof… You want kids to come to the Beloit Public Library and read books to you? Woof, woof, bark, bark, bark… Well, what if the kids don’t like reading books, or they aren’t very good readers? Bark, woof, arf, ahhh-roooo… Oh, it’s okay if they are struggling with their reading? You’ll help them with the words? And you’ll let them pet you so they don’t feel so nervous? Wow, Lilly, you are one great dog! Lilly is a Reading Education Assistance Dog (R.E.A.D.) and she and her owner Alicia are going to be at the Beloit Public Library on Saturday March 3rd and 17th, April 14th and 28th, and May 5th and 19th. R.E.A.D. dogs are registered and certified therapy animals that have been trained and tested for health and temperament. Lilly loves to have kids read to her because she knows she can help them relax and she lets them read at their own pace. And if they struggle with a word, Alicia, who is a second-grade teacher, can help them figure it out. Reading to dogs lets kids get the practice they need to build their vocabularies, get a better understanding of what they are reading and improve their communication skills. Woof, arf, bark, bark… Don’t worry, Lilly, I won’t forget to tell them to sign up to read to you by calling the Youth Services Desk at 364-2915. I also won’t forget to tell them that space is limited so they should call soon. Bark, woof, woof, arf… And you want them to know about these new dog books at the library? Okay, I’ll tell them. One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson. All Hal had ever wanted was a dog. "Never!" cries his mother. "Think of the mess, the scratch-marks, the puddles on the floor." But on the morning of Hal's 10th birthday, the unbelievable happens. He's allowed to choose a dog at Easy Pets, a rent-a-pet agency (a fact his parents keep from him). The moment he sees the odd-looking terrier, he knows he's found a friend for life. But no one tells Hal that Fleck must be returned. When Hal wakes up on Monday morning, Fleck is gone. If dog and boy are to stay together they'll have to run away. . . (Book Description) Your Dog: The Owner’s Manual: Hundreds of Secrets, Surprises, and Solutions for Raising a Happy, Healthy Dog by Marty Becker with Gina Spadafori. For anyone who owns a dog or is thinking about getting one, Dr. Marty Becker's manual is a must-have guide to anything and everything canine. In YOUR DOG: THE OWNER'S MANUAL, the "best-loved family doctor for pets" shares insider secrets on how to keep puppy problems from becoming doggy disasters and how to best bond with your dog through helpful, easily accessible tips and tricks. (Book Description) For more information on the R.E.A.D. to Lilly program or any other library program, call 364-2905 or find us on the web at www.beloitlibrary.info and on Facebook.