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By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
She loves every book. She listens without ever interrupting. She's got huge paws. She wags her tail when she meets someone new. On Saturday, July 16, the children's section of library received a visit from one its most popular guests: Boo-Boo, an eleven-year-old Golden Retriever. Since earning her license when she was four years old, Boo-Boo, a licensed therapy dog, has visited nursing homes, schools, and other libraries. Once a month, she and her owner, Mandy, travel to Medfield to listen to the library's youngest patrons read books.
Boo-Boo is one of the growing number of therapy dogs visiting hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and libraries across the country. Recent studies have shown that reading to dogs can help improve students’ reading skills, both in comprehension and rate. Mandy, a former Dover-Sherborn school teacher, highlighted the reasons why: "She's non-judgemental, it's calming to read to a dog, and she's got these wonderful empathetic eyes."
The children know it, too. "She's a good listener and you could pet her," said seven-year-old Lauren when asked why she enjoyed reading to Boo-Boo. Lauren spent her fifteen-minute session reading the "Thank You Book" by Mo Willems to Boo-Boo. Boo seemed to enjoy the book, as she wagged her tail and happily accepted head rubs during the session.
Some kids brought a book from home. Others skimmed through the dozens of shelves and discovered a book they had never read before. Some picked one from a selection created laid out on a table just for the occasion. When it was their turn to meet Boo-Boo one-on-one, children would join the dog and her owner in the craft room, away from the usually lively (and distracting) children's room. Children sat beside Boo-Boo and cracked open their chosen books. Boo-Boo quietly listened, occasionally thumping her tail against the rug or looking up at the reader with her big brown eyes, as if to give her approval for the book.
Whether it's to help a child struggling with reading, or encourage a kid to challenge his or herself, or even if someone just likes dogs, a session with Boo-Boo is sure to brighten someone's day. Call the library to reserve a spot for Boo-Boo's next visit to have a chance to read with this wonderful canine.
