The Roanoke Rapids Public Library will become a place where children can read to a registered therapy dog beginning Saturday.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity,” said Leah Brewer, who took her American Pit Bull Terrier Elle to a reading program this morning to introduce her dog and tell parents about the opportunity.

For her dog, Brewer believes her Tail Wagging Tales program is, “Going to show how wonderful she is.”

For the children who participate, she says, “It’s going to give them self esteem. May be if their grades are low it will help bring them up. It’s going to teach them about being around a dog.”

Brewer and Elle’s visit to the library this morning got them two applications for the Saturday session, which begins at 1 p.m.

Adele Greene plans to bring her 5-year-old son, Dylan Blount, who has read to a dog before in Charlotte.

Dylan was nervous at first, but when he began reading he would show the dog the pictures in the book. “It’s an absolutely good idea for children who don’t have pets. I think it’s going to be a smash hit. I think it’s going to be awesome.”

Said Dylan: “I don’t know if it helps the dog but it will help me."

In promoting Tail Wagging Tales, Brewer says, “A registered therapy dog is a great reading companion for children. The program provides a relaxed, dog-friendly environment, and allows the child to practice the skill of reading.” Some children, Brewer said, have reading difficulties and others are self-conscious when reading aloud in school. “Reading to a four-legged friend is different. By sitting down next to a dog and reading to the dog, all feelings of being judged are gone. Children will relax and focus on the reading, which will improve their skills and build self-esteem. The association with reading becomes something pleasant and fun. Any child will benefit because this program builds excitement about reading.”

Parks and Recreation Director John Simeon said Head Librarian Jeff Watson ran a similar program in Warren County. “It was a very successful program. It’s a new concept for Roanoke Rapids and a concept which I think will be very effective.”

Simeon said he believes the program has great potential. “All children seem to bond with dogs. We think it’s outstanding, Leah Brewer and her effort to help the children.”

In the program the children will read several times to the dog, Simeon said. “They become very comfortable in reading to the dog as they become better acclimated to the setting.”

The next session after Saturday’s will be on December 8 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call the library at 252-533-2890 for more information or to enroll your first through fifth grade child.