Kids Give Warm Welcome to Cool Creatures

The preschool children approached the reptiles with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation.

“Yikes! I don’t like that one,” exclaimed Elizabeth Meyers of Temple Beth Emet Preschool as a South American boa constrictor was lifted out of its box.

Elizabeth, 4, decided not to touch the creature, brought to the school Wednesday by Wes Pollock of Los Angeles-based Alligator Al’s Traveling Reptile Pals as part of a program to introduce the 16 preschoolers to exotic reptiles.

While Elizabeth was apprehensive about the snake, other children gamely handled the creatures.

“I like to pet them,” said Davey Feiner, 4, as he gingerly touched a corn snake, native to the Eastern United States. “I would like to buy one for a pet.”

“We’ll have to ask your mommy about that,” interjected Gwen C. Berger, the west Anaheim preschool’s director. Berger sought to reassure the children as she matter-of-factly handled the various reptiles.

Pollock freed a 12-foot Burmese python from its sturdy “snake bag” and let it crawl on the children.

“He likes you,” Berger said to a giggling Kristin Todd, 2. “He weighs as much as you do.”

Kristin, who later admitted to being a little scared of the reptile, nevertheless seemed to enjoy the natural science lesson.

“I like big snakes,” she declared. “He gave me a kiss--it tickled.”