CROTHERSVILLE
Kids were up to their elbows in alligators, but rather than run, it was all about fun.
Only children think of alligators as cuddly, and the Jackson County Public Library helped them form that opinion Wednesday afternoon at Bard Street Park in Crothersville.
This was the opposite of the meaning of the common American expression of being up to one’s eyeballs in alligators. That signifies having too much work or being stressed from having too much to do. But this event was about as low-key as possible.
The combination of hearing the story "The Adventures of Abby Alligator" and building their own plush toy alligator — and naming it — to take home as a souvenir left a group of 2- to-12-year-olds favorably disposed to the real-life scaly creatures.
After about a half-hour’s worth of interaction with alligator info and naming her newly created friend Gus the Gummy Gator, alligators were moving right up the charts on 6-year-old Gabbie Boman’s list of favorite animals.
Children in Medora and Seymour also participated in the county library’s Noah’s Ark Animal Workshop that connects story reading with hands-on crafts work and take-home education.
This was part of what has proven to be a popular series funded by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. Previously, such sessions were conducted featuring dragons, a Yeti and owls, said Lola Snyder, head of youth services for the library. If anyone is wondering about the Yeti, it is not to be confused with the manufacturers of coolers but was described by Snyder as being a "cute little snow monster."
Another highlighted character deserving of some explanation was the time the program replicated aliens. That was linked to an outer space theme.
"They’re just adorable," Snyder said of the souvenir stuffed toys the kids get to keep once they finish helping make their own.
These programs are in demand. Crothersville librarian Cindy Huckleberry oversaw the show there Wednesday — two sessions. Preregistration was required. Sign-ups opened the preceding Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. and "by that night, they were filled."
That was 15 children per group. Live attendance turned out to be 10 for the first session, though, because two kids were ill and adults picked up three make-your-own sets ahead of the scheduled event because scheduling conflicts appeared.
The Crothersville events were conducted under a pagoda-like covering at picnic tables, keeping the warm sun from making direct contact.
Each youngster received a goody bag, containing the essentials. Huckleberry explained the contents. The large, soft green thing was the outside shell of an alligator. The accompanying plastic bag of soft, cotton-like fiber was filling.
Also included was a blank birth certificate to be filled out later after each child decided what to name his or her alligator, an informational National Geographic book on alligators and crocodiles and a small star.
Huckleberry introduced the children to Abby the Alligator by reading a library book written by Maria Fleming and by showing the pictures drawn by illustrator Matt Phillips. As is the pretty much universal case with books aimed at little ones, this was not a long story, no "War and Peace" in length. It ran just 16 pages in all.
In those 16 pages, however, Abby wrestled with what she wanted to be when she grew up. As it so happened, all of the choices she examined were professions that began with the letter A.
These life opportunities for Abby included being an actor, airplane pilot, animal doctor, acrobat (Abby was too afraid) and worried over confronting angry aliens if she became an astronaut. Coping with aardvarks put her off on becoming an animal doctor.
Then, appropriate given the circumstances, Abby the Alligator settled on becoming an author. After all, she wrote this book the kids were hearing. Abby concluded being an author was "Awesome."
Abby the Alligator was most certainly a personable alligator who did not seem intent on eating any of the attending children or other nearby creatures but was merely determined to make friends.
Huckleberry showed the children how to make friends out of their very own alligator. The backs of the green alligator shells opened, and the purpose of the bags of accompanying stuffing was to be loaded inside.
Some children were so young they needed parental assistance to make their alligator whole. But it didn’t take long for the white stuffing to fill up and fill out the alligator innards to make all of the green fellows plump and cushy.
The next step in the process, Huckleberry informed the youngsters, was for individuals to rub the small star against their ears so that their ‘gator would be able to hear all of the stories they told it, then rub it against their heart, insert it into the alligator and Velcro up the back of the ‘gator, sealing the star inside. This assured the personal connection between child and stuffed animal.
Since she is just 2 years old, Aubrey Boswell, did need help from mom Nikki to complete all of the steps. Aubrey did attack the assignment earnestly and seemed pleased with the resulting green guy, who was as yet unnamed when she departed the scene.
Alec Quillen, 9, could handle the work on his own, being far more grown up. When asked what his favorite animal is, Quillen sub-divided his reply.
"No, not an alligator," he said. "Wild animals, a deer. Cats."
Presumably the cats ruling the house-pet category.
Gabbie Boman focused diligently on selecting the perfect name to pen onto the birth certificate before settling on one that was symbolic of an alligator that enjoys candy. As someone who lived in a household with dogs as pets, she was not ready to concede the top spot as favorite animal to Gus just yet but admitted he might climbing in the rankings.
Another Abby present, Abigail Davis, 10, is a veteran of these library programs, having participated in several.
"I love animals," she said.
This Abby gave her newly created alligator a good, strong hug. She named him Kizer. She had a home picked out for this guy, too, before she even left the premises.
"He’s just probably going to live in my bed," Abigail said.
In real life, alligators are not viewed as cuddly creatures, but Abigail has a warm spot for cold-blooded current and former inhabitants of the earth.
"Honest, I like all reptiles," she said. "A lot of people do (think of them as yucky). I held a python once." How about liking dinosaurs? "Absolutely. Raptors are my favorite."
As the first group departed, many of the youngsters hugging their new alligator friends, Huckleberry began setting up for another go-around, lifting a new set of goody bags out from the trunk of her car.
"It’s really a neat program," Huckleberry said.