The Garcia family had always talked about getting a dog. They loved animals, but the timing never seemed right—until one day, their friends brought over a tiny, fluffy bichon frise puppy. As soon as the kids saw him, they were in love. His little white tail wagged with excitement, and his bright eyes seemed to sparkle as he jumped into their laps. They had been talking about getting a dog for a while, but now felt like the perfect time.

The family’s friends told them something exciting: the puppy had a brother who was still available for adoption! The Garcias decided to surprise their kids by bringing home the puppy’s brother the very next day. When the kids came home from school, they saw a new fluffy friend waiting for them in the front yard. They named him Kobe, and from the moment he entered their lives, Kobe became a beloved part of the family.

And one of the best things was that Kobe and his brother, Miles, got to play together often since their human parents were friends.

Kobe wasn’t just lovable—he was also incredibly smart. He quickly developed routines with the family, such as waiting by the door when someone was about to come home. 

The Garcias were amazed by his understanding and affection. He would bark with excitement whenever the family laughed, as though he wanted to join in on the fun. 

His playful nature was perfectly matched by his intelligence—he would lay inside your suitcase when he saw you packing because he didn't want you to leave without him. 

The family often used repeated reading with their favorite stories, which helped the children achieve automaticity in their reading. 

As the kids practiced decoding words with ease and fluency, they began recognizing words with less conscious effort, much like they could predict Kobe’s habits without thinking.  

They had mastered the skill of applying phonetic and word analysis to decode words, which, just like in reading, helped them better understand their stories. Automaticity is critical for reading comprehension, and the more they practiced, the more naturally the children read, much like Kobe instinctively knowing when it was time to eat or play.

To help everyone bond with Kobe and improve their reading skills, the Garcias turned their love of family stories into a fun fluency-building activity. They would perform Readers Theater, where each family member took on a role and read their parts with expression and emotion. 

Kobe would sit attentively, tilting his head as if he understood every word. The children worked on their prosody, learning to add emotion and natural speech patterns to their reading. Their tempo improved as they took turns reading aloud, making sure to keep the pace just right.

They also practiced choral reading, with everyone reading together, mimicking each other’s voices and improving their accuracy as a team. They often repeated Kobe's favorite story several times, which helped the kids read more fluently with each pass. The more they read, the more natural their reading became, and their comprehension of the story deepened. Even Kobe seemed to understand what was happening in the story as he barked along with the exciting parts!

Kobe’s affectionate nature became more apparent each day. He would snuggle up with anyone feeling tired, always ready to rest beside them. If a family member was sick, Kobe would lie by their bedside until they felt better. 

And if someone was sad, he would quietly sit by their side or lick the tears from their face, offering comfort with his calm presence. He was always there, knowing just when his family needed him.

In family photos, Kobe was front and center, proudly posing with his human siblings...

...and family...

...especially Grandma.

He loved being dressed in cute outfits and never complained, showing off his bright personality.