CREEPY CRAWLIES COLLECTOR SHOWS UNUSUAL CREATURES TO LOCAL KIDS.Byline: Sharon Cotal Staff Writer VALENCIA - Fire Fly's Book and Toy Store A toy store, or toy shop, is a retail business specializing in the services of selling toys. No longer held to the limitations of the brick and mortar outlet, the toy store has successfully created a presence within the e-commerce industry. in Valencia was recently invaded by Madagascan cockroaches cockroaches insects which may carry Salmonella spp. in their gut and play a part in the spread of the disease. , tarantulas and emperor scorpions, much to the delight of the more than 100 children and adults who were there for ``Bug Hunting Night.'' The event was a sequel to ``Reptile reptile, name for the dry-skinned, usually scaly, cold-blooded vertebrates (see Chordata) of the order Reptilia. Reptiles are found in a variety of habitats throughout the warm and temperate regions (except on some islands), with the greatest variety in the tropics. Night,'' which was held at the store in August. Providing the creatures for both programs was Deborah Miller of Deb's Dragons and Other Misunderstood Creatures. Miller brought 15 to 20 different types of bugs, spiders and scorpions, with several vats filled with worms, beetles and crickets for the children to paw (tool) PAW - Physics Analysis Workbench. through. ``They loved it. Their little faces were all lit up,'' said Miller. ``I started this business so that children could get over their fears of these misunderstood creatures.'' Miller's dad was a zoologist who always had animals around the house, so she never developed the fears that some children have for unusual animals, particularly the creepy crawly crawl·y adj. crawl·i·er, crawl·i·est Informal 1. Creepy. 2. Feeling as if covered with moving things. variety. ``I've had animals my whole life, so I was never afraid. So when I see someone (at one of my shows) who is afraid, my goal is to get them to be a little less afraid,'' she said. ``It's exciting for kids when they're afraid of something, and they can get over that fear.'' Miller's menagerie includes lizards, snakes, bugs, arthropods, amphibians amphibians members of the animal class Amphibia. Includes frogs, toads, newts, salamanders and cecilians all capable of living on land or in water. and arachnids. In addition to the animal shows she brings to local schools, organizations and businesses, Miller offers a monthly Dragon Camp and ``Fear Factor''-style event. She also does birthday parties. ``I try to `de-myth-tify' people's perception of certain creatures,'' said Miller, who started Deb's Dragons about a year and a half ago. ``Something that is odd or weird for you and scares you can prevent you from doing really wonderful things.'' Deb's Dragons will have a booth at the Kids Expo on Sunday at Golden Valley High School and will host a ``Fear Factor''-type Halloween party on Oct. 30. For information about these events, or to find out how to schedule your own event featuring Deb's Dragons, call (661) 312-6350 or visit www.debscreatures.com. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: Deborah Miller, left, introduces Fire Fly employees Carolyn Smolsky, center, and Dehlia Corona to an emperor scorpion scorpion, any arachnid of the order Scorpionida with a hollow poisonous stinger at the tip of the tail. Scorpions vary from about 1/2 in. to about 6 in. (1–15 cm) long; most are from 1 to 3 in. (2.5–7.6 cm) long. . |
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