Photo by James Ho
Reading aloud provides reading practice and animals can make great listeners. Reading to animals also takes the pressure off for new or struggling readers who are less confident about their ability. Animals don’t care if kids read slowly, and they aren’t going to correct them if they make a mistake.
If you don’t have a pet handy, there are several Bay Area reading events that match up young readers with an animal audience.
At the 1st Annual Barnyard Book-A-Thon in Portola Valley, kids will read to farm animals including pigs, goats, chickens and ponies. In addition to reading, there will be face painting, pony rides and a petting zoo.
Details:
Sunday, August 30th
Webb Ranch Produce Stand, 2687 Alpine Road, just east of 280
Portola Valley
Free admission
They will have books available, but kids are encouraged to bring their own.
A few “barnyard” read aloud favorites include:
Click Clack Moo: Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin
Punk Farm by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy E. Shaw and Margot Apple
Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton
Local humane societies and public libraries often host Read-to-a-Dog events. The Santa Rosa Central Library offers a Read-to-a-Dog program on Thursday afternoons at 3pm in August and every other Saturday morning at 11am in September and October. Contact your local public library or Humane Society to see if there are any events in your area.
Comments
What a COOL thing for kids to do! As a Berkely student I used to read to my new baby - he loved hearing mom's voice, and my retention went up as I "performed" for my captive audience. Kids will have a great time with this, and the animals - who knows...
This was a fun event - very well organized and kids had a blast!
This was an AMAZING event! I am sad I can't remember all the names, but the people that were working there that day made it a beautiful experience for my little one. We read to chickens (the best listeners, ever!), to rabbits, to baby goats, to pigs, ducks, and ponies. All I can say is a gazillion Thank yous!
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