Our newest release, Leo’s Dogs, is a heartwarming and beautifully illustrated story about a boy named Leo, who volunteers to read to dogs at an animal shelter shortly after he moves to a new country.
Leo’s Dogs, written by Ellen Skowronski and illustrated by Maria Russo, follows Leo as he adjusts to his new home after having to leave behind his beloved dog, Bella. The story follows Leo as he navigates homesickness and the anxiety of adapting to a new culture, language, and surroundings. Leo discovers that by volunteering to read to dogs at an animal shelter, he is improving his language skills while enjoying the company and unconditional acceptance of pets. As Leo’s language skills and confidence grow, Leo makes new friends!
“Many of my students will see themselves in this heartwarming story as they watch a little boy adjust to living in a new country and making it his home as he learns another language. The illustrations of a variety of dogs are delightful.” Mary Karen Engel, 2nd Grade Teacher
For children, reading to animals provides opportunities to practice their reading skills in a nonjudgmental setting. Animal shelter reading programs benefit readers and animals by creating a mutually beneficial environment that supports emotional well-being.
Leo’s Dogs includes a detailed lesson plan, downloadable worksheets, and English and Spanish audio of the book for parents and educators. It is available in English-only and the following bilingual editions: Dari, Haitian Creole, Pashto, Ukrainian, Russian, and Spanish, with many more languages coming soon.
Leo’s Dogs is the latest addition to our popular Living in Harmony Series, which helps explain the concepts of diversity, kindness, and friendship. Other Living in Harmony Series titles include Be Kind, Together Is Better, We Can All Be Friends, and Who Are We? This popular series is available in many languages and includes teaching resources and audio.