You wouldn't peg Snoopy the cocker spaniel as the literary type.

But the energetic and friendly little pooch with droopy ears and sad, empathetic eyes is making a bit of a career out of helping young children learn how to read. That is, when he's not yapping at strangers approaching his home, chasing bugs in his backyard or trying to eat crayons.

Snoopy is a certified therapy dog, and he and his master, Marty Heidner, 64, are volunteers with Therapy Dogs International of Central Wisconsin. Snoopy, Heidner and Heidner's other cocker spaniel, Freckles, 13, all work to cheer up people at places such as senior care facilities and hospitals. But they also participate in another TDI program called Children Reading To Dogs.

Snoopy, 3, especially seems to love listening to children read him stories. "Snoopy just has a blast," Heidner of Wausau said. "He loves it."

Heidner and Snoopy have worked in classrooms of Stettin and Hawthorn Hills elementary schools this school year, and they also will participate in reading programs at libraries in Wausau, Rothschild, Merrill and Marathon this summer.

Gaokonmong Her, 6, a kindergartner at Hawthorn Hills Elementary School in Wausau, said she likes reading to Snoopy because "it's always fun," Her said. "He always listens."

In the program, TDI dogs and handlers visit schools and libraries, and children read to them. It's a simple program, but teachers say it's remarkably effective. Young children just seem to feel more comfortable reading to a dog, and they are more likely to read aloud and with more confidence when a pup like Snoopy is listening to them.

"It really does help the reluctant reader, because (the dogs) are so nonjudgmental," said Hawthorn Hills kindergarten teacher Connie Dobbratz.

She's seen Snoopy help calm the most excitable of students, even those with autism. "It just changes their whole demeanor," she said. "It gives them enthusiasm for reading."

The program also is satisfying to Heidner. She signed up Snoopy and Freckles for the TDI program because she loves dogs and she wants to make a difference in people's lives.

"It's such a pleasure seeing how these kids react to the dogs," Heidner said. "And see them improve."