Dogs make excellent listeners, and on Saturday, July 31 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., children 6 to 15 may visit the Brentwood Library to improve their reading skills by sharing a book with a H.A.L.O. (Homeless Animals’ Lifeline Organization) Angel Ears Therapy Dogs.

The dogs are trained to promote improvement in human physical, social, emotional and cognitive functioning, and certified teams visit a variety of locations, including hospitals and rehabilitation centers. The Angel Ears initiative also fights illiteracy by encouraging the love of reading in children who experience reading difficulties or are uncomfortable reading aloud. For more information about H.A.L.O. or Angel Ears, visit www.eccchalo.org.

The free program will be hosted in the front area of the library near the entrance. As the program is first-come first-served, participants should schedule their 15-minute session in advance by calling 925-516-5290. Walk-ins are taken as space allows. A meet-and-greet with the dogs will be held afterward for children younger than 6.

A second Angel Ears program will be hosted on Saturday, Aug. 28.

The Brentwood Library, located at 104 Oak St., is open Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information about library programs, visit www.ccclib.org.