Meet Harry!
Introducing you to Harry. Harry is the newest member of the Mill Park branch, and he is our Reading Dog. Harry will be joining us every Monday afternoon at 3:30- 4:30pm during each school term.
Harry’s job will be to listen to children read to him!
Do you have a child that is reluctant to read?
A Reading Dog program provides children with an opportunity to read aloud to a ‘non-judgemental’ audience for a set amount of time each week. The program is aimed at creating a safe environment that builds confidence in reading and communication skills, while in the company of a fluffy and very cute companion.
Learn more about this precious pup:
Age: 9 years old
Favourite Food/Treat: Harry loves liver treats
Favourite Toy: Clear plastic crunchy water bottles to chew on
What does Harry love to do?
- Go for a ride out in the ute
- Go to the park
- Sit quietly with Mum and Dad
How long has he been a reading dog?
This is Harry’s first job as a Reading Dog, he has been with Mill Park for the last 8 weeks!
Interesting Fact about Harry:
Harry has something called a Pemphigus Erythematosus on his nose. He is now in remission.
A funny habit that he might have:
Every morning Harry will follow his dad all around the house until he takes him out for a walk. He is very persistent!
Why come and visit Harry?
Providing children with an alternative option for reading out loud has proven to improve the negative feelings some children can have towards reading. It can increase a child’s motivation and willingness to read, as well as their self-confidence when reading aloud.
Visiting Harry can also provide a great excuse to visit the library as an after-school activity, with the kids. While you are here you can borrow from our collection, enjoy the café as well as wander around our beautiful garden!
YPRL has Reading Dogs that visit many of our branches. Be sure to check the website to see if you can visit a Reading Dog at your local branch.
Some of Harry’s favourite books include:
Lester the Library Dog by Gina Dawson
Lester loves books, children, and his job as a library dog. Children wait eagerly for their turn to read to him, and Lester is the perfect listener. But Lester does more than listen to stories. He inspires children to read with confidence, helps them deal with emotions, sorts out squabbles, teaches responsibility, and makes everyone laugh. At a time when more and more schools have library and school's dogs, Lester the Library Dog is a perfect fit for school, preschool, and public libraries. This book shows a day in the life of one library dog and the impact he has, whilst emphasising the team effort and responsibility of having a dog in a school community.
Boo Loves Books by Kaye Baillie
Some dogs are shy and anxious and so are some children. Can Boo and Phoebe turn their fears into a positive experience?
Spot goes to the Library by Eric Hill
Spot loves reading! Join Spot in this new storybook by Eric Hill as he visits the library for the first time, listens to a story and borrows lots of fun books to read at home. Going to the library can be an exciting new first experience for young children - there's lots to learn about choosing a book, taking it to the counter to get it stamped, then taking it home to read and remembering to return it to the library on time. Libraries are the perfect place for young book lovers, and Spot is no exception.