Fetch, sit too easy for this dog

Sure, your dog is talented, the way he's learned to catch a ball and fetch the Daily Herald. But get a load of Swee' Pea.

Here's a dog who's got tricks that people - at least, children - are willing to line up to see. She even holds a world record.

Trainer Alex "Popeye" Rothacker recently brought Swee' Pea to the Prisco Center in Aurora, where the duo performed to the delight of Aurora Public Library patrons. The show was part of the library system's summer reading program, which links active shows with reading incentives under the theme, "Get in the Game: READ!"

During her time in the Prisco spotlight, Swee' Pea showed appreciative children how she walks a tight rope, balances a glass of water on her head and jumps rope. She particularly excels in rope-jumping, as she holds the Guinness World Record for the activity in the dog category.

In June, the library brought BMX World Champion Matt Wilhelm to town for another reading program show. The library also is encouraging reading program participants to answer baseball-related trivia questions to be entered into a national drawing for a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. For information, visit www.aurora.lib.il.us or call (630) 264-4123.