The last time Dylan Blount read to Elle, a registered therapy dog, was in May.

The break away, in which he and his family visited relatives in New Jersey, seems to have helped him in overcoming his fear of dogs.

Dylan is almost home.

Elle rests as Dylan reads.

He now freely pets Elle on the head but there is still work to do.

“I want him to be enthusiastic when he pets her,” Dylan's mother, Adele Greene says at the Roanoke Rapids Library Saturday. “I want him to feel confident and comfortable. We made more progress today. We're getting there.”

Leah Brewer, the founder of the Tail Wagging Tales program at the library and Elle's owner, continues to take a session by session approach with the youngster although her plan when the weather gets cooler is to let Dylan walk Elle, explaining to him that helps build a bond. “We're just going to do the same thing for a little while.”

As Brewer continues to work with Dylan, the response to the Tail Wagging Tales program continues to grow. “Doing this helps your reading and creates a better reader.”

Brewer envisions having a group reading session at some point. “That will reach more children,” she said, adding if the program continues to grow, “We're going to need more therapy dogs.”

Dylan petting Elle.

For 6-year-old Dylan, even a busy summer hasn't stopped his reading as he has now read 729 books since he began reading at age 3.

Dylan believes the program is helping him. “I told my cousins I was reading to a dog. I'm not afraid of dogs anymore.”

Editor’s note: This is the eighth of a continuing series documenting the progress Dylan Blount makes overcoming his fear of dogs by reading to Elle, a registered therapy dog, at the Roanoke Rapids Public Library. Dylan’s next session will be Saturday at noon. For more information on Tail Wagging Tales contact the library at 252-533-2890.