Some programs bring an animal.
Some bring a curriculum.
henryREADS brings both.
The research is clear: animal-assisted learning reduces reading anxiety and increases engagement in children. But most programs stop there — no curriculum, no framework, no way to measure what children actually gain.
henryREADS is a curriculum-driven program that pairs a structured literacy curriculum with Henry, a trained yellow Labrador Retriever — turning engagement into lasting literacy gains. We measure every step of the way. That is the henryREADS difference.
MISSION
henryREADS uses joyful, animal-assisted literacy programming to inspire a love of reading in young children and improve their reading abilities.
henry
Because of Henry, children want to read more, and more, and more.
Henry is a yellow Labrador Retriever — calm, gentle, and professionally trained and certified for the work of henryREADS. With Henry beside them, children relax. They listen more closely, engage more freely, and leave with a little more confidence than they came in with.
Henry brings something no curriculum alone can teach: the simple joy of reading without pressure.
PROGRAM
Every session follows a three-part arc — designed for impact, not just entertainment.
Each henryREADS session runs 45–60 minutes and serves groups of 4–6 children in public libraries, elementary schools, and nursery schools. Every part of the arc is intentional.
01
STRUCTURED READ-ALOUD
A guided read-aloud with Henry at the center — Henry gives every child the confidence to feel like the best reader in the room.
02
HANDS-ON CRAFT ACTIVITY
A tactile activity rooted in the session's story — deepening comprehension and giving children a way to process and make meaning beyond the page.
03
STORYTELLING EXTENSION
An imaginative prompt that invites children to become the author — building comprehension, critical thinking, and creative confidence.
VERMONT
The need here is real — and specific.
Vermont is a state where reading proficiency is in crisis.
henryREADS launched in Ludlow, Vermont in 2025, expanding across Windsor County in 2026 — and statewide in 2027.
69%
of Vermont fourth graders read below grade-level proficiency
4×
More likely to drop out of high school if not reading proficiently by end of third grade
250+
Vermont children reached through henryREADS programming since 2025
FOUNDER
About Nora Anderson
Nora Anderson
Nora Anderson founded henryREADS to serve the Vermont community she calls home. Her career has spanned fifteen years in education and nonprofit leadership, including five years as Head of Programs for an education nonprofit in Zambia.
She holds advanced degrees from Yale, King's College London, and the University of Pennsylvania. An avid skier and hiker, Nora lives in Ludlow, Vermont with her family and Henry.
DONATE
Fund the sessions. Fund the reading.
Every dollar goes directly to programming — the curriculum and the sessions — that carry henryREADS into communities across Vermont.
$250
One session
$500
Two sessions
$1,000
One month
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