I started working with my first reptiles almost 20 years ago and a snake was the very first animal I started working with.

Reptiles and a lot of other animals like them kind of create a positive gateway to nature.

So once people learn to love them, they learn to protect them and take care of them.

And that's a big part of why I share animals with people.

So today we read “Snakes Big Mistake ” by Sarah Kurpiel.

And this story is actually kind of an emotional intelligence tale to help kids learn how to be good friends, problem solve, and do all of that with animals as the main characters to help them understand how to be good friends.

So I brought two today one is a ball python and one is a corn snake that I also got from a family.

Almost all the animals that are in my care are rescues.

And even the kids that feel the most nervous tend to kind of move their way forward to the front of the group as they learn that if you treat them with respect, the snakes arent dangerous and a lot of times they come with the best questions.

So kids are super interested in snakes.

Zenith Bookstore has been really, really a positive influence when it comes to providing space for animal encounters.

One of the things that I try to do is create emotionally intelligent kind of trauma sensitive interactions with animals.

So I want people who have a natural sense of nervousness or fear to feel comfortable, and I meet them where they're at with how they feel about these animals.

The Slice from PBS North.