K-9 Reading Buddies of the North Shore

K-9 Reading Buddies of the North Shore A Reading Buddy of a Different Breed What makes this program different
from others, is that the dog is used as a projection tool.

Founded in January 2007, we fill a void for struggling readers
locally who hail from a variety of backgrounds and span the
spectrum of income levels. For instance, if it seems the child may not understand the
meaning of a word, the handler will say something like,
"Minnie doesn't know what that word means. Maybe you can
look the word up in the dictionary and read her the definition. Now the focus is off the child and on the dog, creating a safe,
non-judgmental environment.

08/15/2026

Yesterday we received a Thank You from Ann Wildman, Director of Events at Gorton Center in Lake Forest, regarding our annual August participation in their Safety Town Camp where we teach the campers how to safely approach a dog. Here is what was said:

"Thank you so much to you, Lisa, and Lovie for helping out at Safety Town this past week! Lisa was great with the kids, and Lovie is amazing!

Lining up great presenters for my camps is one of the hardest parts of my job, and the next hardest is relying on them to actually show up! We do occasionally have no-shows, so I cannot tell you how much it means to me that your teams are always so organized (very much because of you), reliable, on time, and enthusiastic about teaching the kids.

I was thinking about how many years you’ve been helping us, and it’s been quite a few! Do you happen to know how long? I think it’s been four years, since 2022."

Note that we have been visiting the camp since 2019 except for 2020, the Covid year. Therefore, 6 years. A great partnership. Woof! Woof!

Meet our newest K-9 Reading Buddies as photographed by Karla Livney Photography in June. Click on each picture to see th...
07/22/2026

Meet our newest K-9 Reading Buddies as photographed by Karla Livney Photography in June. Click on each picture to see their name. Woof! Woof!

Great job Mary Kay Kolseth & Bruno and Nancy Cohen & Simba!
06/12/2026

Great job Mary Kay Kolseth & Bruno and Nancy Cohen & Simba!

A note after our New Trier High School Final Exams Stress Relief visits last week. Woof!Dear K9 Reading Buddies Team,On ...
06/02/2026

A note after our New Trier High School Final Exams Stress Relief visits last week. Woof!

Dear K9 Reading Buddies Team,

On behalf of the students and staff at New Trier High School, Northfield, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude for bringing your comfort dogs to our school.

The event provided a wonderful opportunity for students to relax, de-stress, and connect with the dogs. Their presence had a positive impact on our school community, and many students expressed how much they appreciated the experience. It was clear that the comfort dogs and their handlers brought warmth, kindness, and support to everyone they met.

Truffle (Denise), Simba (Nancy), Dakota (Tracy), Simba (Carole), Riley (Tom/Donna), and Bruno (MaryKay) were all wonderful guests.

Thank you for taking the time to visit our school and for the important work your organization does to promote well-being and emotional support. We are grateful for your generosity and hope to partner with you again in the future.

Sincerely,
Stephanie Moretta
New Trier High School, Northfield Academic Assistance Center Coordinator

One picture says it all . . .

This is just a sampling of some of the thank you notes written by students at Andrew Cooke Magnet School in Waukegan who...
05/08/2026

This is just a sampling of some of the thank you notes written by students at Andrew Cooke Magnet School in Waukegan who get to read to K9RB Rion and Jane.

Address

P. O Box 477
Highland Park, IL
60035

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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