Tue Dec 17, 3:25 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) helped read a Christmas classic to third-graders on Tuesday in a light-hearted ceremony disrupted by a "near riot" of school children frightened by his black Scottish terrier.

Reuters Photo

Bush exchanged winks and jokes with the nearly 60 school children gathered in the Roosevelt Room as first lady Laura Bush read from "The night before Christmas."

Bush, who handed off the book to his wife after reading just one page aloud, complemented the children on their "nice boots" and exclaimed, "Pretty exciting so far isn't it?"

Many of the children were startled when the dog, Barney, entered the room unexpectedly.

"He's pretty ferocious looking when you first look at him," Bush said of the overly eager little black dog, conceding the surprise "created a near riot."

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2002

Answers

being surrounded by giants all the time probably made Barney freak out a bit to see little people. little as in within his reach.

But, to have these little people around his master-carrier, well, that just won't do.

Our dogs always got weird when de-niece and de-nephew came by. they just weren't used to little people.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2002

He's a terrier, after all. Probably went after the ankles of the little, er, darlings. Good for him!

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2002