Watch | How therapy dogs are helping immigrant kids to read better

For nine-year-old Aelane Vasquez, reading has gone to the dogs.Every week she hones her English skills on Havanese Izzy, whose furry disposition is a relief for the third-grader. She says, “I love reading to Izzy because he doesn't make fun of me when I make a mistake.”

Izzy is a therapy dog, part of a national literacy program called Reading Education Assistance Dogs, or READ. Currently 10 New York City schools are participating in the successful program, and more would like to follow suit. But, due to the lack therapy dogs and handlers, some have to wait.