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Bookstore Enlists Corgis To Help Children Read Aloud

EL DORADO HILLS (CBS13) – The tail wags let the kids know they're listening intently.

"It's sweet.  You can tell they really care about the dog and it's fun for them," Theresa Buriani said.

Theresa's girls have a corgi at home and they love reading out loud to him.

"I think it's important for them to hear themselves reading. I think it helps them understand their books better," Buriani said.

After seeing how kids responded to reading to these corgis, Tina Ferguson knew she wanted them to come to her El Dorado Hills bookstore.

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"They're not going to give you any negative feedback, they're going to look at you and be cute and soft and fuzzy and that's a great safe place for kids," said Ferguson, owner of Face In A Book store.

Kids can take as much time as they need sounding out words as the corgis look on.

"Being able to be in a non-judgmental, safe environment has really helped them to open up to reading out loud, but also reading other types of books," Ferguson said.

In school, reading aloud happens frequently – and the corgis are good practice.

"It builds their confidence.  It builds their skills and it makes them want to be readers for life," Ferguson said.

The benefits go far beyond reading.

"Being able to speak out loud in public is a skill that will take them far," Ferguson said.

And it's not just the kids who look forward to seeing the dogs.

"People, kids big and little will read to the dogs and it's fun," Ferguson said.

Face In A Book hosts the reading event every couple of months. Find out when the next reading will be by going to their website: http://www.getyourfaceinabook.com/event/read-dogs

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