DELAND, Fla. -- If you've visited Disney on Easter over the past few years you've probably seen and possibly met Isabelle. She's a dapper, white Standard poodle. Besides working as an Easter greeter at Disney Isabelle is an award winner in agility trials and she's a champion show dog. But probably her most rewarding talent is that Isabelle is a reading dog.

Now, of course Isabelle doesn't actually do the reading. But what she does do is sit quietly and patiently as some young Freedom Elementary students read to her. Debbi Cole is Isabelle's owner and handler.

"I can see the kids wanting to come in and participate. They can't wait to get in the room. They're really trying a lot harder and they want the approval of Isabelle, actually and myself. They're relaxing," Cole said.

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VIDEO: Dogs Help Children Read
SLIDESHOW: Reading Paws

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Isabelle and her owner are members of Reading Paws. An organization dedicated to improving literacy skills of children through the use of therapy dogs and their owners. Local resident Merilee Kelley started Reading Paws and now has more than 80 teams of dogs and their owners in Georgia, Florida and Tennessee.

"They learn how to hone their reading skills, they feel more comfortable with their reading skill and sometimes they'll tell us that when they do have to read out loud in class they'll pretend that they're reading to the dog," Kelley said.

First grade teacher Sally Fogle said she was delighted to participate in the program. Fogle said that having Isabelle and Debbi come to the classroom gives the children the individual attention that is sometimes hard to come by in schools.

"They all look forward to having that private time; they look forward to that individual private time. Even though we have a small classroom, a small group they don't always get individual time with or my assistant but they do get time with her and that's a special thing," Fogle said.

Once a week Isabelle stops by and spends time listening quietly as the children work on their reading skills. As each child finishes they reward the patient poodle with a treat.

Marilee Kelley said reading dogs have been used with student of all ages, from preschool through college aged. She said studies show the dogs' presence lowers blood pressure of the readers and the dogs help improve reading skills.

"They measure the percentage rise of those children's scores from the beginning of the school year to the end of the school year as compared to those students who don't participate. The percentage rise is much greater when you introduce the dogs," Kelley said.

Sally Fogle said she's seen a difference in her young readers. And she'll always welcome Isabelle into her classroom.

"It's an A plus. I'd do it again if asked," Fogel said.