Reptiles take over the library

Published 3:22 pm Wednesday, October 7, 2026

After school on Tuesday, Sept. 29, kids headed to the Fisher Whiting Memorial Library in Mapleton for a special program. Kim White, “The Natural Naturalist,” showed the crowd some amazing animals up close.
She showed the different types of reptiles including frogs, lizards, snakes and turtles.
The first reptile out of the box was an African bull frog. They bury themselves in the sand or mud to survive in the desert and can stay in this resting state for up to 10 months until heavy rains. When White got the frog, it was the size of a quarter.
Next was an American toad. Interesting fact, only the boy toads make sounds and adults typically enter the water only during the spring breeding season to lay and fertilize eggs.
Then White pulled out the salamanders. She had two types of salamanders; one that lives in cool, dark and damp places and other types lives in water. Salamanders can regrow body parts and have lots of babies.
She also showed geckos, some lizards and a crowd favorite, a axolotl.
Next up were the snakes. Interesting fact, snakes have no eyelids or no ear openings. She feeds her snakes frozen then thawed out rats.
White held up a Ball Python named “Lucille Ball.” When stretched out to full size, it measures 54 inches long.
Final type of reptile White showed was her turtles. White has 17 turtles at her home and all 17 of them are “returns” as their owners returned them after not being able to care for them.
One of the turtles she showed the kids was a box turtle and when it is all in its shell, it looks like a box.
Before kids left the library, they were able to touch one of the snakes and a couple of the turtles.
After teaching for 20 years in the education program at the Brookfield Zoo, just outside of Chicago, White decided is was time to make sure her grandchildren grew up knowing about the nature around us. While she lives in the Chicago area, White is originally from Fort Dodge.
She travels around the midwest giving educational presentations about different types of animals. Along with hosting programs at libraries, she also visits garden clubs, goes into classrooms, offers summer camp program or private events.
“I decided it was also time to teach as many children as I could to know and respect the reptiles nature around them.” White said. “Teaching children has always been a passion of mine.”
She hopes these programs spark interest in children about nature.
Learn more about The Natural Naturalist by checking out her Facebook page, Instagram and on TikTok.