Silly Safaris puts the wrap on another great LPL Summer Reading entertainment

 

[July 21, 2018] 

LINCOLN 

The Lincoln Public Library hosted the final show of the summer reading program “Reading Takes You Everywhere” on Thursday morning, and it was a huge hit. Perennial favorite Silly Safaris came from Indianapolis with Amazon John as the master of ceremonies.

Amazon John had the library rocking as a new surprise was brought out from each of the animal carriers that were stacked in front of his audience. It wasn’t just that the young readers gathered shoulder-to-shoulder on the floor in front and the adults who filled the chairs in back were enthralled by the animals, they were, but Amazon John was a ringmaster with a keen sense of humor.

As he brought out an owl from Australia, or a fennec fox from Africa, or a big boa constrictor, his explanations of how these animals live were peppered with references to 60’s and 70’s rock groups and their music. The kids missed understanding these references, as did most of the younger members of the adult audience. They were just too young. John told them to get DVD’s from the library and listen to the music, his music. “You parents have to teach your kids about the rock of that time. It was the best,” he said.

As he brought out a huge bullfrog saying, “This frog is named Jeremiah. Does anyone know the words to ‘Jeremiah was a bullfrog?’” No one knew the lyrics; in fact only one or two tentative hands were raised when he asked for the name of the group who wrote it. This elicited some serious eye rolling from Amazon John. It was hilarious.

As each animal was brought out, kids were allowed to come up and touch them. John explained how he cared for the animals.

Most of the animals Amazon John brought were predators. When the audience was a bit shocked at how and what they hunted, he gently explained that nature takes care of itself.

“Nature does not perform for man’s entertainment, and we just have to appreciate it,” he said. “An owl has twice the number of neck vertebrae as man, and can turn its head ¾ of the way around to look for prey. Man can only look at our shoulders,” he said as way of demonstrating the unique adaptations of animals.

The huge boa constrictor ‘Bobbie’ was the hit of the morning. The kids were just itching to touch him. But the young readers were not the only ones who wanted to see what a snake feels like.

When it came time to line up and touch all of the animals, adults were in line also. Some even got to sit with a very heavy Bobbie in their lap.

The second most popular member of this troupe was Amazon John’s buddy ‘Wofford,’ the Boston terrier. He was calm and relaxed during the entire performance. In fact, he slept through most of it. “Boston terriers can sleep thirty hours a day,” said John with a laugh.

That cannot be said of his young audience. The kids were bubbling with excitement from beginning to end.

The Lincoln Public Library summer reading program “Reading Takes You Everywhere” ends on July 28. Miss Jaime of the Youth Services Department reminded everyone to get their reading logs in by then to qualify for the awards for reaching their goals.

[Curtis Fox]