Children Reading To Dogs A 'Proven Way To Build Literacy Skills'

DENVER (CBS4) - Therapy dogs and young students came together for a day of reading Wednesday morning.

Approximately 120 second-graders from Holly Ridge Elementary School in Denver got a chance to read to the dogs. The Colorado Department of Education says the activity has positive effects for both the children and the dogs.

"This is a proven way to build literacy skills in kids. The dogs are non-judgmental and kids have more confidence reading to the dogs," Jacqueline Murphy with the Colorado Department of Education said. "The dogs benefit because they can do the job they were trained to do."

The event was part of Outside the Lines, a national initiative bringing communities back to their local libraries.