A new school library and a therapy dog are helping Harpenden primary pupils to learn to read.

%image(15525612, type="article-full", alt="Sauncey Wood Primary School pupils (L-R) Bella, six, Mikayla, nine, Morten, five and Toby, four with Lola the reading therapy dog. Picture: Danny Loo")

Lola, a fully-trained therapy dog, visits Sauncey Wood School’s new Book Wood every Tuesday so children can read to her and develop their confidence.

The Book Wood was opened on Thursday, November 2, by author and illustrator Rob Biddulph.

Headteacher Steve Lloyd said: “It really meant a lot to our pupils and the wider community, and we are hoping to do some more work with Rob in the near future as he inspired many young minds yesterday.”

Rob told a school assembly how it was always his dream to become an illustrator, and then he helped them draw one of his book characters.

%image(15525615, type="article-full", alt="Sauncey Wood Primary School pupils (L-R) Bella, six, Mikayla, nine, Morten, five and Toby, four with Lola the reading therapy dog. Picture: Danny Loo")

He then cut the tape on the Book Wood, which was built by donations from Harpenden Building Society, Harpenden Trust, Chorleywood Book Shop, and school governors and parents.

%image(15525616, type="article-full", alt="Sauncey Wood Head teacher Steve Lloyd and childrens author and illustrator Rob Biddulph cut the ribbon to officially open "The Book Wood", the new library at Sauncey Wood Primary School with pupil from the leadership team and school librarians Megan, 10, Jake, 11, Joseph, 11 and Ellie, 10. Picture: Danny Loo")

%image(15525618, type="article-full", alt=""The Book Wood", the new library at Sauncey Wood Primary School. Picture: Danny Loo")

%image(15525620, type="article-full", alt=""The Book Wood", the new library at Sauncey Wood Primary School. Picture: Danny Loo")