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Amazon animals visit with kids at Grissom Library

Virginia Living Museum provides a close encounter with four live animals

A tortoise, milk snake, bull frog, and millipede were the stars of a free show that brought 143 children and parents to Grissom Library on Tuesday, June 23. “Amazon Journeys,” presented by the Virginia Living Museum, gave each one the opportunity to feel the scales of a milk snake, rub the shell of a tortoise, and learn about the wonders of the Amazon rain forest.

Kirsten Holliday, age 9, touches a millipede handled by Virginia Living Museum presenter Robin Delk at Grissom Library's "Amazon Journeys" program on Tuesday, June 23.

A tortoise, milk snake, bull frog, and millipede were the stars of a free show that brought 143 children and parents to Grissom Library on Tuesday, June 23. “Amazon Journeys,” presented by the Virginia Living Museum, gave each one the opportunity to feel the scales of a milk snake, rub the shell of a tortoise, and learn about the wonders of the Amazon rain forest.

Virginia Living Museum presenter Robin Delk brought the Amazon to life in Grissom Library’s meeting room by playing a CD of bird and water sounds. She also created a rain-forest display with pictures of plants and animals -- from piranhas to bananas -- along with describing the live animal visitors.

Kirsten and Mandolyn Holliday, ages 9 and 3, said their favorite part of the program was touching the milk snake. According to Delk, milk snakes received their name from farmers who thought that because the snakes lived in barns, they drank milk from the cows.

The Summer Reading Program continues through July 31 with free opportunities for adults, children and teens to win prizes and express themselves creatively with special events and contests. For more information, visit the Library’s website at http://www.nngov.com/library/resources/srp

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