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Several children were able to spend quality time Monday reading to man’s best friend at the La Grange Public Library.

The children read to therapy trained dogs in the Read to the Dogs program which is designed to promote literacy and reading for fun, said Arcadia McCauley, marketing and public relations manager, for the Library.

The dogs are great listeners and give children an opportunity to read aloud without being critiqued, McCauley said in an email.

Colleen Cassidy, 7, reads a book to a therapy trained dog named Maya at the La Grange Public Library, Monday.
Colleen Cassidy, 7, reads a book to a therapy trained dog named Maya at the La Grange Public Library, Monday.

“And of course they are very cute and cuddly,” McCauley said.

The program happens in partnership with the Hinsdale Humane Society and is offered on a monthly basis. The program is for children in grades kindergarten through 6th. The children get 15 minutes each to read individually to a specially trained dog, McCauley said.

The next Read to Dogs nights happen on April 18 and May 16, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Here are more photos from Monday:

Colleen Cassidy, 7, pets a therapy trained dog named Maya after reading a book to Maya at the La Grange Public Library.
Colleen Cassidy, 7, pets a therapy trained dog named Maya after reading a book to Maya at the La Grange Public Library.
Christine Sink with her therapy trained dog Maya a Bernedoodle has a book read to them by Colleen Cassidy, 7, at the La Grange Public Library.
Christine Sink with her therapy trained dog Maya a Bernedoodle has a book read to them by Colleen Cassidy, 7, at the La Grange Public Library.