Creatures from Queen’s Green Meadows Farm Invade the Tuckahoe Library

With joyful smiles, 30 children and their caregivers gathered on the main floor space of the Tuckahoe Library. Feathers the Chicken had leaped from her high purple bucket.

"Look the chicken jumped out, Mommy!" one young child laughed.

"Don't worry, she can come out a little later and we'll have some fun with her!" said Jason Reilly the Animal Guy.

Feathers the Chicken was a part of the Green Meadows Farm Animal Show that stopped by the Tuckahoe Library recently. Facilitated and hosted by Reilly, the show was not only educational but also very interactive.

"On the count of three, everybody tell me what pets you have…..one, two, three," asked Reilly.

The 30 children shouted out their answers ranging from dogs and cats, to turtles and fish.

"Our goal is to educate the children about the animals, learn though touching, see some creatures, and dance with Feathers our fluffy chicken," Reilly said. "I live on the farm and was raised with cows, horses, pigs and goats.  But, I savor the smaller animals,that's why the program "frogs, bugs, and animals" suits me best. I like animals that can be put in your pocket. It's very easy to bring them indoors to the schools and libraries here.  It's a different environment to see them other than outdoors."

There were many creatures featured during the show including: bunnies, hermit crabs, hissing cockroaches, a snake, a bearded dragon, guinea pigs, frogs, toads, turtles, hedgehogs, a chicken, and the eye-catching and cute baby pig.

"This is the second time we've had Jason and his animals in the library for a children's program.  We are very excited to have him back,"  said Tuckahoe Children's Librarian Ellen Tannenbaum.  "All of the older children (age 5 and up) continue to ask about the baby pig from last year's program.  The wonderful thing about this frogs, bugs, and animal program is that it's not like traditional library programming.  Animals and the library don't normally go together but Jason makes it magical here."

Parents even got involved and followed Reilly to wear colorful feather boas and lead the audience in the classic family-friendly Chicken Dance. 

The 120-minute program alternated between education—sitting and listening to Reilly teach about the animals—and petting time.  He even handed out animal-friendly food (lettuce) for each child to feed the animals while petting. 

"If none of the other animals will eat your lettuce just give it to Twinkles, she is like a vacuum and she loves it," he told the children.

Twinkles the Pot Belly Pig ate the most.

"Oh Mom, she took the whole lettuce leaf from my hand," a girl giggled.

For more information: Green Meadows Farm.