THE LISTENING DOG

This is Danny.

Danny is a Reading Education Assistance Dog (READ) who visits schools and libraries, curls up beside the children and listens to them read. This novel idea is intended to help children build their confidence and overcome their fears of reading out loud. Kids who lack confidence in their reading are said to find it easier to read to 'listening dogs', because they are a friendly audience, who don't criticise, laugh, or correct their pronunciation. The dogs help to create a relaxed atmosphere, where anxiety is replaced with enthusiasm and an enjoyment of reading aloud.
The scheme is in its early days here in the UK, but has proved a huge hit in America, where there are about 1,800 listening dogs. After hearing about the success of the scheme across the pond, Tony Nevett, who has a degree in Animal Assisted Therapy, trained Danny as a READ dog and has been visiting schools and libraries across the UK.

Tony asked me to produce an illustration of Danny for a 'pawtograph' card, which will be given to kids taking part in the READ sessions. My illustration will be on the front of the card and Tony will put a stamp of Danny's pawprint on the back. I loved the idea!

Here's my illustration...

Tony hopes that the scheme will continue to grow over here. He said that although pupils with special needs, such as autism, can particularly benefit from working with Danny, any child can get a great deal out of the sessions.

When Danny goes to sleep, Tony tells the children that he's dreaming about their story - and some of the kids even show Danny the pictures in the books they read to him. Aww!

You can watch a news report about Danny here.

And here's a short film about READ dogs in the U.S.