Is your child having difficulty reading aloud? Consider signing up for a program where children read one on one to a therapy dog and their handler in a non-threatening environment.

The BARKS Program (Books and Reading for Kids in Suffolk) was designed to utilize therapy dogs because they are non-judgmental listeners. Your child will feel confident while reading to a furry friend!

The program will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, located at 213 North Main Street, Suffolk, VA 23434. The program will last from 9am to Noon on June 12th, July 10th, and August 14th. Registration is required, and enrollment is first come, first served. To register or get more information, please contact Michele Thames at 757-538-3030 ext. 4 or through email at MicheleThames@SuffolkHumaneSociety.com.

The Suffolk Humane Society promoted "Be Kind to Animals" month, in May, by involving Suffolk City Schools in a district wide ART Contest. Students, grades Kindergarten through 12, were asked to create an original two-dimensional or three-dimensional artwork or digital photograph that illustrates how to be kind to animals. The Suffolk Humane Society wanted to provide students the opportunity to express themselves creatively, receive positive recognition for original works, and increase community awareness on the importance of caring for animals. The art contest was a huge success! To view art submitted by the students for the contest and see the winners, click here.

The Suffolk Humane Society Humane Education Department currently provides KIND News subscriptions to three Suffolk Schools. We are providing subscriptions to Kind News to the librarians at Kilby Shores, Creekside and Robertson Elementary schools. Published by the youth education division of The Humane Society of the United States, KIND News teaches K-6 children kindness and respect for animals. Focusing on a child's connection to animals and nature, the four-page newspaper inspires a love of reading through informative articles, colorful puzzles, and fun activities. KIND News is read by more than a million students nationwide, meets National Education Standards, and is published in three editions for different reading levels (K-2, 3-4, and 5-6). It serves as a valuable tool for encouraging literacy, violence prevention, good citizenship and peaceful conflict resolution.

KIND News:

• has been published since 1983 by The Humane Society of the United States.
• is read by more than a million children in thousands of classrooms nationwide.
• encourages good character in children with an emphasis on kindness to animals, respect for natural habitats, good citizenship, and peaceful conflict resolution.
• is a fun, cross-curricular teaching tool that gets kids into the reading and writing habit. Every issue includes fascinating facts about animals, tricky brainteasers, KIND Club Projects, and inspirational celebrity profiles. And KIND News gives children a forum for expressing their opinions and contributing original short stories.
• requires little or no prep or class time. KIND News can be readily incorporated into subjects like math, science, reading, and language arts or simply handed out for students to enjoy during free time or at home.
• covers many of the National Education Standards for the major subject areas.
• is published at three reading levels: Primary Edition (grades K-2); Junior Edition (grades 3-4); and Senior Edition (grades 5-6). Teachers can change editions at any time to best match students' reading skills.
• is delivered to classrooms every month, September through May, in bundles of 28 copies with a teacher's guide. A subscription also includes access to reproducible worksheets and a calendar of fun facts and tips on helping animals, people, and the environment.

KIND News is available to teachers directly or as a gift through the Adopt-a-Classroom program. The cost to subscribe or adopt a classroom is $30. Discounts are available to nonprofit animal care and control agencies. Please contact Michele Thames at michelethames@suffolkhumanesociety.com for more information on adopting a classroom!

The Humane Education Department has compiled a list of our favorite books! Check out a book that relates to compassion and kindness for you child or for yourself!

Kindergarten

	A Bed for the Winter ; Karen Wallace Dorling Kindersley Book, 2000 Ages: 4-8, Subject: Wildlife, Mouse Follow a dormouse as she searches for a winter home. She investigates other creature's cozy homes, from a squirrel's nest in a tree to a wasp's nest in an old stump.
	A Coat Full of Bubbles ; Sherry Shahan Books for Young Learners, 1998 Ages: 4-8, Subject: Sea Otter Kids will love this story about a playful sea otter. Learn how her fur forms a coat of bubbles to keep her warm while she frolics in the water.
	A Dog Like Jack ; Dyanne Disalvo-Ryan Holiday House, Inc., 1999 Ages: 4-8, Subject: Dogs A boy looks back on the life of his beloved dog, Jack.
	A Dolphin Is Not A Fish ; Betsey Chessen Scholastic Inc., 1998 Ages: 4-8, Subject: Dolphins, Marine Life Children will learn to appreciate the unique characteristics that distinguish fish from dolphins.
	A Fawn in the Grass ; Joanne Ryder Henry Holt and Company, 2001 Ages: 4-8, Subject: Environment and Ecology, All Animals A picture book about a child's discovery of the animals in his environment.
	A Home for Nathan ; Claudia M. Roll The William Snyder Foundation for Animals, 1999 Ages: 4-8, Subject: Cats, Career/Activism, Humane Heroes The true story of a cat who is dropped off at an animal shelter, cared for by the shelter, and then adopted into a loving home.
	A Home for Panda ; Ann W. Nagda Soundprints, 2003 Ages: 4-7, Subject: Pandas Panda has recently left his mother and must find his own home with plenty of tender green bamboo to eat.
	A Kid's Best Friend ; Maya Ajmera And Alex Fisher Charlesbridge Publishing, 2002 Ages: 4-8, Subject: Dogs Simple text and pictures document the bond between children and their dogs from around the world.
	The Peace Book ; Todd Parr Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2009 Describes peace as making new friends, sharing a meal, feeling good about yourself, and more.

1st and 2nd Grade

	Let's Get a Pup! Said Kate ; Bob Graham Candlewick Press, 2001 Ages: 4-8, Subject: Dogs Kate and her parents visit an animal shelter and adopt a puppy, but find it hard to leave an older charming dog behind.
	A Medal for Murphy ; Melissa Forney Pelican Publishing Co., 1987 Ages: 4-8, Subject: Dogs, Humane Heroes A stray dog is considered the town nuisance until he saves the life of a drowning child and becomes a hero.
	A Mouse's Life ; John Himmelman Children's Press, Inc., 2000 Ages: 4-8, Subject: Rodent, Mouse Describes the life cycle and daily activities of a mouse.
	A New Butterfly: My First Look at Metamorphosis ; Pamela Hickman Kids Can Press, Ltd, 1997 Ages: 4-8, Subject: Butterflies The lifecycle of the butterfly is presented in this fun and interactive book where children can lift the flap on each page to reveal more text and pictures.
	A New Duck: My First Look at the Life Cycle of a Bird ; Pamela Hickman Kids Can Press, Ltd, 1999 Ages: 4-8, Subject: Wildlife, Ducks Watch the baby ducks grow up in an urban park through the eyes of a young boy. Kids will love lifting the flaps on each page to reveal more pictures and greater scientific detail on mallard ducks.
	A New Frog: My First Look at the Life Cycle of an Amphibian ; Pamela Hickman Kids Can Press, Ltd, 1999 Ages: 4-8, Subject: Frogs Young children will love this interactive book where they get to lift the flaps on each page to reveal pictures and more text.
	A Place to Sleep ; Holly Meade Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 2001 Ages: 4-8, Subject: All Animals A lullaby-like and informative book asking the reader to think about where various animals choose to sleep.
	A Tree For Me ; Nancy Van Laan Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 2000 Ages: 4-8, Subject: Wildlife, Environment and Ecology A fun tale of a boy looking for the perfect tree to climb. He encounters a lot of animals on his way, and is careful to let them be.
	Turkey Surprise ; Peggy Archer Dial, 2005 A turkey being hunted for Thanksgiving dinner tries to hide from two brothers. When one of the brothers decides he'd rather not eat a turkey, he convinces the other that pumpkin pie would be so much tastier.
	Souperchicken ; Mary Jane Auch Holiday House, 2003 Because Henrietta can read, she discovers that her aunts are destined to become chicken soup, so she sets off to save them.
	Buddy Unchained ; Daisy Bix The Gryphon Press, 2006 Buddy tells the story of how he was mistreated by his previous guardian and how it feels to be adopted by a caring family.
	Before You Were Mine ; Maribeth Boelts Putnam Juvenile, 2007 A boy who has just adopted a dog from a shelter wonders what his life was like "before you were mine."
	The Great Pig Escape ; Eileen Christelow Clarion Books, 1994 Two farmers decide to raise pigs. When they take them to market, the pigs escape, swipe human clothes and manage to board a bus to Florida, leaving the farmers baffled.

3rd and 4th Grade

	A Dinosaur Named Sue: The Story of the Colossal Fossil ; Pat Relf Scholastic Inc., 2000 Ages: 9-12, Subject: Career/Activism, Fossils, Dinosaurs Join paleontologists for the most exciting T. rex discovery ever! From finding the fossil to interpreting and presenting it, this is a great perspective on how people work together to learn from fossils.
	A Dog's Best Friend: An Activity Book for Kids and Their Dogs ; Lisa Rosenthal Chicago Review Press, 1999 Ages: 7-14, Subject: Dogs A fun and educational book for kids who love to have fun with their dog(s). Filled with games, activities, interesting dog facts and important safety tips for your dog.
	A Dog's Gotta Do What a Dog's Gotta Do: Dog's at Work ; Marilyn Singer Henry Holt and Company, 2000 Ages: 9-12, Subject: Dogs, Humane Heroes Dog lovers will adore reading these true stories about amazing dogs who were bred and trained to perform services for people.
	A Handful of Dirt ; Raymond Bial Walker and Company, 2000 Ages: 9-12, Subject: Environment and Ecology An eye-opening, journey into of one of the earth's resources and all of the microscopic creatures that live there.
	A Perfect Friend ; Reynolds Price Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2000 Ages: 9-12, Subject: Humane Heroes, Elephants A touching story about a boy whose mother passed away. The boy creates a special friendship with an elephant that helps him cope with his grief.
	A Whale on Her Own, The True Story of Wilma the Beluga Whale ; Brian Skerry Blackbirch Press, Inc., 2000 Ages: 9-12, Subject: Environment and Ecology, Career/Activism, Humane Heroes, Whales Meet Wilma, a Beluga whale swam into Chedabucto Bay and decided to stay for a while.
	African Elephants: Giants of the Land ; Dorothy H. Patent Holiday House, Inc., 1991 Ages: 9-12, Subject: Elephants A description of the physical characteristics, behavior, and habitat of the African elephant.
	Aldo Leopold: Protector of the Wild ; Della Yannuzzi The Millbrook Press, 2002 Ages: 9-12, Subject: Humane Heroes, Aldo Leopold A chronology of the life of Aldo Leopold, from his boyhood spent exploring the land, to adulthood as a respected member of the Forest Service, and educator.
	Amazing Animal Journeys ; Michael Bright Millbrook Press, 2002 Ages: 8-12, Subject: Marine Life, Birds, Migration A simple description to the migratory habits of a variety of marine mammals, fish, and shorebirds.
	a day, a dog ; Gabrielle Vincent Front Street, 2000 Ages: All Ages, Subject: Dogs A car door opens and a dog is shoved out onto the street. The car speeds away, and the dog is left to fend for himself. A story you'll never forget.
	Lucky the Lorikeet ; Monica Engebretson 2004 Lucky is captured for the pet trade and sold as a pet to a little boy. But the Kersen realizes how much Lucky wants freedom and helps him achieve it.
	A Home for Dakota ; Jan Grover and Nancy Lane The Gryphon Press, 2008 Dog #241 lives in a dark crate on a puppy mill, until she is rescued and learns to trust humans again. When the puppy (now named Dakota) meets a young girl who has been as traumatized as she, healing begins for both of them.
	It's Raining Cats and Cats ; Jean Prevost The Gryphon Press, 2008 When Jim asks his mom "Why did we keep Molly from having kittens?" she takes Jim on an imaginary journey of what would have happened if Molly had kittens and her kittens had kittens.
	The Wolves Are Back ; Jean Craighead George Dutton Juvenile, 2008 Details the return of wolves to Yellowstone and how their presence has helped rebalance and restore its ecosystems.
	Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival ; Kirby Larson & Mary Nethery Walker Books for Young Readers, 2008 A dog and a blind cat abandoned during the Hurricane Katrina evacuations manage to find each other and stick together until they realize a happy ending.

Middle School

	Cat! ; Virginia Kroll Dawn Publications, 1999 Ages: Young Adults, Subject: Cats Cat lovers will adore this book that has stories, poems, and lots of information on furry felines.
	Crab Moon ; Ruth Horowitz Candlewick Press, 2000 Ages: All Ages, Subject: Marine Life, Horseshoe Crab A young boy and his mom go down to the beach for the first full moon in June to watch the horseshoe crabs lay their eggs.
	Earthmates ; Patricia Hubbell Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 2000 Ages: All Ages, Subject: Wildlife, Environment and Ecology A captivating book of poetry about animals with lovely illustrations.
	Fun Stuff with Your Best Friend: The Interactive Dog Book ; Nancy Furstinger Doral Publishing, Inc., 2000 Ages: 10-15, Subject: Dogs Covers basic training and obedience, games to play with dogs, pet care tips, and other fun information about dogs.
	Mammals ; Rod Theodorou Heinemann, 1999 Ages: All Ages, Subject: Farm Animals, Environment and Ecology, Mammals A careful look at a variety of mammals that explores each species and the social bonds they form within families.
	Oswald, An American Osprey ; Carol Hemingway The Kilimanjaro Company, 2001 Ages: 9-14, Subject: Birds A fictional story about the adventures of an osprey.
	Shiloh ; Phyllis R. Naylor A Yearling Book, 1991 Ages: Young Adults, Subject: Dogs, Humane Heroes Marty, an 11-year-old boy, tries to rescue a lovable beagle from an abusive neighbor.
	The Kingfisher's Tale ; Mark Delaney Peachtree Publishers, LTD, 2000 Ages: Young Adults, Subject: Career/Activism, Humane Heroes, Birds The Misfits, a group of high school friends, discover several dead kingfishers when they're visiting a national forest. They must find out what, or who, is killing the birds.
	The World According to Horses: How They Run, See, and Think ; Stephen Budiansky Henry Holt and Company, 2000 Ages: Young Adults, Subject: Horses Why do horses whinny? Do horses remember people that they've met briefly? How do they communicate with each other? The author dives into scientific journals to answer these questions and presents them in a book for young readers.
	What Makes an Amphibian? ; Lynn M. Stone The Animal Kingdom, 1997 Ages: All Ages, Subject: Other Pets, Reptiles & Amphibians A comprehensive introduction to amphibians, learn what defines this group and what makes certain species unique.
	Claude and Medea: The Hellburn Dogs ; Zoe Weil Lantern Books, 2007 A strange substitute teacher with interesting ideas sparks Medea and Claude to think about the world and the choices they make, which leads them on a mysterious hunt to rescue kidnapped dogs.

Adult

	The Power of Positive Dog Training ; Pat Miller Howell Book House, 2008 A renowned dog trainer gives you the positive training tools you need to share a lifetime of fun, companionship, and respect with your dog. Plus, youll get: information on the importance of observing, understanding, and reacting appropriately to your dog's body language; instructions on how to phase out the use of a clicker and treats to introduce more advanced training concepts; a diary to track progress; suggestions for treats your dog will respond to; and a glossary of training terms.
	Good Owners, Great Dogs ; Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson Grand Central Publishing, 1999 Instead of Going Out of Your Mind, Get into His. The only American to study and work with the renowned Barbara Woodhouse, Brian Kilcommons solves all those "bad dog" problems that drive owners crazy-and shows you how to raise a puppy into a happy, perfectly behaved dog. The trick is to understand how dogs think, read their body language, and, with the secrets Kilcommons shares in this book, be "fun, fair, and firm." A dog-training guide that gives you immediate results even with an adult dog, this manual trains you, as it gives owners everything they need and everything dogs need to become... Good Owners, Great Dogs Includes specific tips on how to: * housebreak both puppies and adult dogs * teach your dog to come to you regardless of what he's doing * end annoying habits like jumping, food stealing, and barking * prevent aggression and, in many cases, stop it after it has become a problem * use games to teach your dog to obey ...and much more.
	The Cat Bible: Everything Your Cat Expects You to Know ; Tracie Hotchner Gotham, 2007 Finally, here is a definitive book that delivers many unknown facts about every aspect of caring for and sharing your life with a cat, ranging from proper nutrition and strange behavior to medical care and multi-cat households, to grooming and geriatrics. The Cat Bible explains the mysteries of feline behavior to owners who are devoted to their cats without being able to fully understand them. It offers straightforward solutions to the problems that cause people to give up their cats, many of which are preventable, including litter box avoidance, furniture scratching, and physical ailments.
	Cat vs. Cat: Keeping Peace When You Have More Than One Cat ; Pam Johnson-Bennett Penguin, 2004 In this companion to her successful introduction to cat behavior Think Like a Cat, Pam Johnson-Bennett, the award-winning author and feline behaviorist, shows how adding another cat to your home does not have to be the start of a kitty apocalypse. Although cats are often misunderstood as natural loners, Johnson-Bennett shows how to plan, set up, and maintain a home environment that will help multiple cats-and their owners-live in peace. Cat vs. Cat will help readers understand the importance of territory; the specialized communication cats use to establish relationships and hierarchies, and how to interpret the so-called "bad behavior" that leads so many owners to needless frustration. Offering a wealth of information on how to diffuse tension, prevent squabbles and ambushes, blend two families, or help the elder kitty in your family, Cat vs. Cat is a welcome resource for both seasoned and prospective guardians of cat families large and small.
	Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times ; Zoe Weil New Society Publishers, 2003 Tools, ideas and resources for parents who want to raise humane children.
	Most Good, Least Harm: A Simple Principle for a Better World and Meaningful Life ; Zoe Weil Beyond Words, 2009 IHE President Zoe Weil outlines the MOGO principle and provides insights and strategies for living a life of inner and outer peace by making choices that do the most good and least harm for ourselves, other people, nonhuman animals and the earth.
	Field Notes on the Compassionate Life ; Marc Ian Barasch Rodale, 2005 What does it look like to do good in this world?
	Writings on an Ethical Life ; Peter Singer HarperCollins, 2000 A powerful call to ethical living covering a variety of moral issues.