'Verdi' - Read and Rise October 2021
Reptiles can have a reputation for being creepy and cold and slimy and I get it - they just don't look as adorable and cuddly as puppies and kitties! But there are some seriously cool reptiles out there so while I realize I'm not going to turn each and every one of you into a reptile lover, I hope to at least help you see how amazing they are and deserving of our respect and protection.
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Featured story: "Verdi" by Janell Cannon - "Verdi" tells the story of a young python who is not excited to grow up and lose his bright yellow color and black stripes to become, what he thinks, is a boring old green snake. Besides giving you some insight into the life cycle of a python, this book shows children that you can remain true to yourself even as you grow older and learn new things about the world and yourself AND reminds adults that even though we are not carefree crazy youngsters anymore, it doesn't mean that all the fun has gone from our lives!
Activity: I have a few fun reptile-related activities for you guys.
1. Get out your tape measure and a ball of yarn and measure how long some of the longest snakes in the world are! Read 10 Longest Snakes in the World to find out how long snakes can get!
2. Make beaded snakes and lizards. Look up examples of real snakes and lizards and make yours similarly colored and patterned or just get creative and make your own species - you can name them too!
3. Make a reptile sensory bin. As the filler, you can use rice or beans, or grab some mulch, leaves, and grass clippings. Use the beaded snakes and lizards you made along with some other reptile toys (turtles, tortoises, crocodiles, and alligators). Add some twigs and rocks for your reptiles to climb or hide under and a bowl of water in case they want to go for a swim. You could also add some plastic eggs so babies can hatch. While kids play, you can talk about how reptiles are cold-blooded and so need to go out in the sun to warm up when they're cold and hide in the shade when they're hot. Temperature of eggs also determines whether reptile babies become male or female! (all reptiles lay eggs except for pythons and boas which give birth to live young)
4. If you really love reptiles after all this, make a reptile rockery in your backyard! Here are some other tips for creating a lizard friendly garden. And remember, if you see a reptile in your yard or a park or anywhere outside, respect it! You can watch it (from a safe distance if it's something dangerous like a snapping turtle or alligator or poisonous snake) but let it go about its business living happily in the wild!
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