Bonnie the Reading Dog’s Fall Adventures
Bonnie, our Grandma Lucy’s sponsored reading dog, has had an adventurous Fall so far supporting young readers in her community of Woodland Park, Colorado. She recently hosted a reading dog event at her local bookstore, Books Above the Clouds, called “Boos and Books with Bonnie,” where she cuddled with young readers as they enjoyed reading, Halloween crafts, and other spooky fun activities.
Boos and Books with Bonnie event
Bonnie joined the children dressing up in costume – you may recognize her as the caterpillar from every child’s favorite book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar! Her owners originally thought about making Bonnie a bookworm to go with the reading theme, but then started wondering if there was a book character they could base her costume on. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a popular book that children love to read with Bonnie, so it was the perfect costume - especially since she’s always acting like she’s starving and wants more treats!
Bonnie with Meg from Books Above the Clouds
Bonnie and her owners love supporting their local bookstore and feel so thankful to be partnering with Books Above the Clouds to bring the Books with Bonnie events to the local community. When they first moved into town, they took Bonnie for a walk in the community and noticed the cute little bookstore, and were welcomed inside immediately. “Meg, a current employee, asked if Bonnie would like a special treat—and of course, Bonnie couldn’t resist. Now, every time we pass the bookstore, Bonnie pulls us toward it, no matter the time of day,” says Sierra, Bonnie’s owner. Over time, they got to know Natalie, the owner, and the idea was born to host a reading event to promote children’s literacy. This past August, they held the first event to encourage literacy just before the school year began. They hope to continue hosting the monthly Books with Bonnie events to continue to inspire and support young readers.
Bonnie with one of her fans
Many children find great joy in their time with Bonnie. At their first event at Books Above the Clouds, two brothers came in, and the younger one became completely absorbed in reading to Bonnie. He lost himself in the story, reading happily as his family listened nearby. At another event in the fall, a 4th-grade student read a chapter book about dogs to Bonnie outdoors. She loved Bonnie’s responses and the peaceful bond they shared as they looked at each other while she read. By the end, it was clear they had formed a special connection and didn’t want to part ways. Dogs truly are an incredible emotional support for young readers.
Bonnie’s owner Sierra is committed to keeping Books with Bonnie accessible for everyone. “At events, we welcome donations to help keep these activities free, but I believe every child should have access to a safe space where they can read and build confidence in their literacy skills,” says Sierra.
Sierra and Bonnie
Sierra and Bonnie not only support children reading, but they often give away books for free to the young readers who come to enjoy time canine reading buddy time with Bonnie. “I don’t have a home library, but I do have a collection of used school-age books left over from my years teaching different grades. I usually bring a box of these free books to events, and children are welcome to take one home. I let them choose from either the bookstore’s selection or my own book box. Sometimes, kids even hold up the pictures and share them with Bonnie, saying things like, “Look, Bonnie, it’s Chase!” from a Paw Patrol book,” says Sierra.
Sierra recommends books by Eric Carle for early readers
Having worked with many age groups of children learning to read, she says she’s developed a mix of favorites. Some classic authors she loves are Eric Carle (fitting with Bonnie’s Very Hungry Caterpillar costume), Dr. Seuss, and Roald Dahl. Where the Wild Things Are is also a big favorite of Sierra’s.
As Fall transitions to winter, snow has already replaced the piles of brightly covered leaves in Woodland Park. Bonnie delights in playing in the snow, and can’t wait for her next Books with Bonnie event at Books Above the Clouds. Make sure to follow Bonnie and the bookstore on Instagram for updates, and attend their next event if you are local!
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Support local: find your closest independent bookstore by searching IndyBound
Find a canine literacy program near you through Intermountain Therapy Animals