Aquarium expert's visit is library highlight for summer
By Kirsten Ballard
Published in News on August 10, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Alexia Mitchell, 9, excitedly holds her hands out to touch a stuffed research sea hawk during a visit from the N.C. Aquarium at Roanoke Island at the Wayne County Public Library on Thursday. She came dressed in the super hero gear she created during the library's "Every Hero Has a Story" summer reading program.
Shayne Mitchell has the power of Extreme Cosmic Poison.
And flight.
And X-ray vision.
He stood in the lobby of the Wayne County Public Library on Ash Street wearing a plastic cape and mask.
But he wasn't there to fight bad guys. He was there to save the world.
It was about being a different kind of hero -- a nature hero.
Thursday afternoon marked the end of the six-week summer reading program at the libraries. The library celebrated by hosting a North Carolina Aquarium presentation to teach the children about habitats and the endangered species act.
This was the most attended summer event at the Ash Street library.
Children's librarian Laura Rachel Barwick estimated 90 to 95 children attended the event. Most came like Shayne, wearing capes and masks and carrying paper plate shields.
"Thank you for wearing your costumes, so we can see what you've done this summer," Ms. Barwick said to them.
Roanoke Island Aquarium employee Rhana Paris taught the children about the different creatures of the North Carolina waters, including the osprey, sea turtle and alligator.
Nathan Griffin had never touched an alligator in the eight-and-a-half years of his life.
He stood in line with dozens of other children at the library to pet Bow, a 3-year-old American Alligator.
Nathan stuck one finger out and stroked the spiny back of Bow. During the presentation by Ms. Paris, he learned that the bony plates are called osteoderms. These armor the back of the gator.
"The back was hard," he said. "Like a table, or counter of tile. But the inside (belly) was squishy."
Ms. Paris taught them that the alligator's brain is the size of an adult's thumb.
"They're not smart, but they are good at being alligators," she said.
However, they're endangered.
Ms. Paris held Bow, who was barely over a foot long, so children could pet his back.
She says when he is full-grown he will be over 17 feet long.
Nathan knows a lot about animals. His favorite is a sugar glider, but he thinks reptiles are cool too.
"The difference between a crocodile and alligator is easy," he said. "Alligators have rounded mouths and crocodiles have pointy ones."
After touching Bow, Nathan walked over to sign his name to the pledge to be a nature hero.
Ms. Paris explained that this meant small things like unplugging chargers when not in use, picking up after your pet, recirculating your car's air conditioning and planting trees.
Nathan knew the most versatile type of tree, capable of living in 48 of the 50 states was an oak tree.
He is ready to save the world.