Kids reading to cats. Sounds cute, right? Well, guess what? It is.
But the “Book Buddies” program at the Animal Rescue League in Berks County, Pennsylvania, is more than just internet cute candy. The program benefits both the children who participate — and the animals.
Now, this isn’t the first such program where kids read to cats — and dogs as well. Last year, The Inquisitr told you about a program in Hamilton, Missouri , in which children came in after school to the Bitter Root Humane Association to treat homeless animals there to a little story time.
The rhythmic pace and soothing tones of the children’s reading voices appear to have a soothing effect on the often jangled nerves of the stray animals as they wait to be selected for new homes.
The Berks County program is pretty much the same idea — and a great idea it is. Children in grades one through eight — ages six to 13 — are invited to drop by and read books and stories to the kitties in the Animal rescue League’s adoption room.
Kids reading to cats at any reading level are welcome. The program provides a really fun incentive for schoolchildren to develop their reading abilities.
A few days ago, a user on the popular internet message forum Reddit posted a photo from the Berks County Animal Rescue League site of, what else, a kid reading to a cat. Whether it’s a testament to the power of Reddit, or to the combined power of cute kids and cute cats is difficult to say. But the photo immediately went viral.
Here’s that first photo:
That was followed by several more “kids reading to cats” snaps from the Berks County Animal Rescue League. So popular was the program that the shelter’s own web server went down. At lest check it was still off line. But check out the shelter’s Facebook page for more info.
More importantly, however, shelters in such metropolitan areas as Los Angeles, New York and Chicago have reached out to the Berks County shelter, looking for tips on starting their own “kids reading to cats” programs.
Okay, ready for a few more lethally cute photos of kids reading to cats? Here you go…
