BOOK BUDDIES

 
 

St. Hubert’s has some of the best furry listeners around, hopping and squeaking at a chance to hear a good story read aloud to them during their own private Book Buddies session!  

The shelter environment can be very scary and stressful for our animals.  With the constant flow of new faces, smells, and noises, they could really use a break from all the commotion. Our Book Buddies program provides a much-needed quiet, contactless interaction for our adoptable ‘smallies’, giving them time to relax and enjoy a story. Animals make the best judgment-free audience to readers still mastering their skills. St. Hubert’s created the Book Buddies Reading Program to encourage children, in KDG through grade 4, to get involved with the organization’s work in a unique and mutually beneficial way. Created with the goal of enhancing literacy, Book Buddies is a safe space for both children and shelter animals to learn and grow. Reading aloud to shelter animals enables children to practice necessary reading skills, while at the same time building confidence in their abilities. The soothing sound of the human voice works to reduce stress in shelter animals, ultimately promoting their health and adoptability. 

The program is available during weekday afternoons in 60-minute sessions. Choose from 3:00pm-4:00pm or 4:00pm-5:00pm on weekday afternoons. Stay as long as you like within your pre-registered time slot. Each reader must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the visit. We cannot accommodate non-reader siblings or other non-reader youth at reading sessions. Both the reader and adult are required to watch our orientation video prior to their visit. The video covers the goals of the program, animal body language, and important safety precautions. You can watch the video at any time, and it’s a great resource to revisit if you ever need a refresher.  
 

Bring your own book from home or choose from our collection of animal-themed books. A $10 participation fee per child’s reading slot time is required. 

Please reach out with any questions to education@sthuberts.org  

Please watch the Orientation video below prior to coming in for your Book Buddies session.

Did you know? Guinea pigs are often considered good listeners due to their keen sense of hearing and their tendency to be attentive and present when interacting with human companions. Rabbits, also excellent listeners due to their exceptional hearing abilities, have large, independently movable ears allowing them to zero in on all types of sounds!