Book now for free Puppy Dog Tales program

23 February 2024

Do your children need someone quiet and calm to read to? Hawkesbury Library Service has a reading program for children called Puppy Dog Tales that aims to improve a child’s early literacy skills while they have fun reading to a dog.

Animals are ideal reading companions because they promote relaxation and lower blood pressure, do not judge, laugh or criticise and allow children to go at their own pace.

Individual reading sessions are approximately 10 minutes long, where each child is one-on-one with a specially trained dog. Reading sessions take place in a quiet area of the library. In this non-judgemental environment, children's focus improves, their literacy skills increase and their confidence soars.

Children can bring a favourite story or select a book from the Library’s collection.

The accepting, loving nature of dogs helps children relax, open up, and try harder while having fun reading to a friendly, calm friend! (Image: Eddie reading]

This is a free event with weekly sessions running from 3:30pm to 4:30pm on Thursdays until 11 April 2023 at Hawkesbury Central Library, 300 George Street Windsor. Bookings are essential either via Eventbrite https://hawkesburylibrary.eventbrite.com or by calling 4560 4460. Please ensure you arrive at your session on time. If you are unable to attend a booked session, please notify the Library as soon as possible.

If you decide you need a new pet at home to read with, consider adopting a dog or cat from the Hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter rather than a pet shop.

All dogs and cats available for adoption are desexed, vaccinated, microchipped and lifetime registered before leaving the Shelter. Hawkesbury City Council receives cats and dogs from the five local government areas of Cumberland, Penrith, Hornsby, Hills and the Hawkesbury. The Shelter also offers special ‘Pet of the Week’ at super discounted prices each week – see the current adoption photo gallery for details at www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/link/adopt

The Hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter is located at 10 Mulgrave Road, Mulgrave and is open every day. For operating hours, click on the Animal Shelter tab with the paw at www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au