A wise man named Groucho Marx once said “Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.” This month, kids learning to read can decide for themselves during “Read To A Dog” sessions at select Montgomery County Public Library locations.

During the ten-minute one-on-one reading sessions, children will be paired with a certified therapy dog who will serve as the most supportive audience ever for their own personal storytime. The event is designed for children ages five and older; tickets will be available at the children’s information desk an hour before the event starts.

It is a good time to be a kid who goes to the D.C. area’s libraries. A little over two years ago, D.C.’s central location, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, reopened with a fully renovated children’s and teen’s area that includes a slide connected to the reading rooms.

The area’s libraries seem to have a knack for wacky and unique programming as well. In 2021, D.C.’s Southeast Library, which turns 100 this week,  held a dinosaur roaring contest (both kids and adults were encouraged to participate.) To celebrate this past Halloween, the DC Public Library system held an evil laugh contest.

A full schedule for this upcoming week’s Read To A Dog events is below:

• Monday, Dec. 5: 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. at Germantown Library
• Tuesday, Dec. 6: 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Quince Orchard Library
• Wednesday, Dec. 7: 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. at Davis Library
• Thursday, Dec. 8: 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. at Olney Library
• Saturday, Dec. 10: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 am at Kensington Park Library
• Saturday, Dec. 10: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Aspen Hill Library.