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An elderly man on a couch reads aloud from an open book while a red and white husky sits close and listens attentively. 23 / 32

Grandpa Kenji Started Reading Out Loud. Maple Became His Biggest Fan.

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Mid-sentence, with his mouth open in an animated reading voice, Grandpa Kenji holds the open book in both hands and leans toward his audience of one. Maple sits on the rug right beside the couch, ears up and gaze fixed on his face, as though the plot has just reached a thrilling turn. A jacket is tossed over the armrest, a cup of tea sits on the side table, and a family portrait hangs on the wall above the cluttered, comfortable living room.

Reading aloud to a dog is more popular than you might think. Libraries and schools sometimes run programs where children practice reading to calm therapy dogs, because a dog is a patient, nonjudgmental listener. For adults, especially older people who live alone, reading aloud is a pleasant way to keep the voice active and share a story, and a dog's attentive company makes it feel less like talking to an empty room. Dogs pay close attention to tone and rhythm, and many seem to enjoy the gentle, steady sound of a familiar voice. Huskies are famously talkative themselves, with all sorts of yips and 'woo' sounds, so don't be surprised if one occasionally chimes in during the exciting parts.

Whether Maple follows the storyline is anyone's guess. What she clearly understands is that Grandpa Kenji is talking to her, and that's worth paying attention to.

Every good book deserves an eager listener. Grandpa Kenji just happens to have one with blue eyes, a fluffy tail, and a habit of never wanting the chapter to end.

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An elderly man in a green sweater vest walks down a gravel country lane at sunset with a red and white husky on a leash.Every Evening Grandpa Kenji and Maple Take the Same Road. Tonight Felt Different.An elderly man scrubs a soapy, wet red and white husky sitting in a metal washtub full of bubbles in the backyard at dusk.Grandpa Kenji Filled the Old Washtub With Bubbles. Maple Had to Make a Choice.
A laughing elderly man in an argyle sweater throws a tennis ball as a red and white husky dashes across the grass after it.Grandpa Kenji Threw the Ball Once. Maple Showed Him What a Husky Can Do.An elderly man sleeps in a rope hammock strung between two trees while a red and white husky naps on the deck below him.Grandpa Kenji Fell Asleep in the Hammock. Look Where Maple Chose to Nap.An elderly man on a porch carves a piece of wood with a small knife as a red and white husky sniffs the falling shavings.Grandpa Kenji Started Carving a Block of Wood. Maple Couldn't Look Away.An elderly man in a knit sweater vest brushes the coat of a red and white husky lying on wooden back steps at dusk.Grandpa Kenji Grabbed the Brush. Maple Knew Exactly What Time It Was.