“Oh Snap --That’s Real!”

“Oh Snap, That thing is real!” exclaimed a surprised student as a live Boa Constrictor was revealed before his whole first grade class.

“Real” is a great way to describe the excitement and energy that swept across first grade classrooms this past Thursday at Reid Park Elementary School.

Erma and friends preparing to meet Ms. Krumpett

This Spring, Promising Pages has been fortunate to partner and share with Reid Park Elementary School our Magic Book Party Program in which each first grader was empowered by Erma the Book Worma to read while receiving books to build their own personal libraries. This last Book Party wrapped up the semester with something of a spectacle. Students were so excited to see Erma back in their classroom because they knew it meant something special, but nothing could have prepared them for surprise about to happen...

For this final Book Party, Promising Pages had the special opportunity to team up with children’s author, Henrietta Krumpett, to deliver new copies of Henrietta’s book, Noah the Boa to each first grader which she generously donated. In each class, Erma introduced Henrietta, who then explained that she was not only a writer but a  reptile enthusiast and wanted to share that love with them today. Promisng Pages then distributed new, gift wrapped copies of Henrietta’s book Noah the Boa.

 Students squirmed in their seats until Erma gave the “OK!” to open their gifts and wrapping paper went flying as students raced to see what they had received. After the excited squeals died down, Henrietta invited students to open their books to the first page, and they began to read aloud together. In impressive unison, students read through Noah’s adventure that begins after a forgetful zookeeper forgets to lock Noah’s cage! Noah causes quite the surprise as he explores town but in the end, he gets a sweet surprise of his own by meeting a new friend name Lu.  

After reading about Noah’s funny, but sweet nature as a snake, Henrietta asked the class if they had ever met a snake before. Then, the class gathered close as she pulled out from a blanket covered cage, not one but two snakes -- one being Henrietta’s own Boa! These creatures were met with a variety of gasps, squeals, and excited exclamations as some students inched forward for a closer look and some jumped back at the surprise of being so close to live snakes!

Henrietta giving the real facts about her scaly friend

Snakes!

Henrietta then calmly explained the real facts about snakes. Snakes are surprising unique creatures that often have a bad reputation. In fact, snakes help us out by keeping the rodent population down. Students saw how snakes shed their skin and and they correctly guessed the two “E” body parts humans have that snakes lack (Ears and Eyelids... and “Elbows” according to one student!) Students then had a question and answer session about Henrietta’s scaly friends. To complete the Party, students lined up to have each of their copies of "Noah the Boa" signed by Henrietta while Erma helped to continue to show off the snakes ... safe inside their box! 

Reid Park friends showing off their new books

Overall, it was definitely a memorable end to this semester's partnership with our Reid Park friends. We congratulate them on completing the first grade as strong readers, we hope them the best in second grade, and look forward to the real excitement continuing with our new first grade friends next Fall! We owe a huge thanks to Ms. Henrietta Krumpett for her generous donation of books and her expertise on snakes that we at Promising Pages and our Reid Park friends are sure to never forget! Check out Ms. Krumpett's book and passion by reading more here: http://www.hkrumpett.com/ and stayed tuned to hear about our summer Magic Book Parties with the YMCA Readers Program!

Erma, Henrietta, Promising Pages Interns, and Reid Park friends!