Snakes, Spiders, and Stories, Oh My!
Storyteller mixes scary tales with creepy critters for Halloween.
By Kathleen Misovic

What's spookier than black cats and bats for Halloween? Snakes and tarantulas! These creepy crawlies made an appearance at the La Grange Public Library, 10 W. Cossitt Ave., at Haunted Halloween Happenings Friday night.

Jim Walser, a self-described "story-n-actor," donned costumes for a special story-time that combined spine-tingling tales with animal facts and environmental messages. As grave robber Barnaby P Scrapps, he extolled the virtues of recycling. Masked and caped as the Phantom of the Opera, he introduced a milk snake, a creature as misunderstood as the fictional phantom.

Milk snakes are commonly found in and around barns because they provide cool and dark environments with plenty of rodents to feed on. In the past, farmers killed these snakes because they believed an old myth that these snakes sucked cow udders to get the milk. Now they realize these snakes are invaluable in keeping down the rodent population.

To the tune of "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood," Walser put on a cardigan and comfy shoes, introducing himself as Mr. Codger.  "Instead of a beautiful day in the neighborhood, it's kind of a scary day in the neighborhood," he told the kids. "That's because there's a haunted house in the neighborhood inhabited by monsters."

Walser showed his audience a cardboard box on a high shelf in the basement of the haunted house where poison monsters hid. First he pulled out a container of pesticide, which he explained is harmful to wildlife and people. Next, he pulled out a tarantula — to the delight of his young audience and the horror of a few mothers — and explained how their hair was used in old Halloween pranks.

Tarantula hair was once an ingredient in itching power sold in gag shops, Walser explained. When tarantulas are threatened, they release some of their hair, which can cause an itchy rash. Although tarantulas have a bad rap, they are generally harmless and rarely bite.

Walser ended his story hour with an excerpt from "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Then he had the children line up for a chance to touch the snake and view the tarantula close up.

When asked her favorite part of the event, 6-year-old Hadley Rivera replied "I kind of liked the part when the tarantula came out because I've only seen a tarantula once before, at a zoo."

The snake was the highlight of the evening for 10-year-old Tajia Fiolka. "I really like snakes, I catch garter snakes all the time," she said.

Walser and his wife, Christine Buik, run their own business, Chicago Region Interpreters. They visit schools and libraries and appear at community events, entertaining and educating children and adults with their unique story-telling style.

For more information on Chicago Region Interpreters call (630) 968- 3209 or visit www.cricketshows.com.

Article and photos by Kathleen Misovic
This article originally appeared in the LaGrangePatch, on October 23, 2010. See original copy at http://lagrange.patch.com/articles/snakes-spiders-and-stories-oh-my.