Woodland kindergartners awed by Frog Lady and her animals

Young students gasped Tuesday as the Frog Lady draped two snakes around her shoulders while she discussed herpetology at Woodland Primary School.

Deb Krohn, known as the Frog Lady, came to the Woodland Elementary District 50 school in Gages Lake so kindergarten students had the opportunity to see, touch and learn about snakes, lizards, turtles and frogs.

"We are learning all about the world's most amazing animals, reptiles and amphibians," Krohn of Gurnee said as two snakes crawled around her head. "They do get to touch them if they want. We don't ever force anybody. But most of them do want to touch them by the end of the day because they realize these are not scary and that it is very, very cool."

While Caesar, a giant iguana, hung out on a tree stand nearby, small classrooms of kindergartners watched as the Frog Lady pulled out a tree frog and a red frog and explained interesting facts about the amphibians. Later, she displayed a giant tortoise and sat with her three bearded dragons as she pretended to read while they lounged on her shoulders.

"It was cool. The snakes stuck their tongues out at me. (I petted the snake) because it didn't bite," kindergarten student Jade Curtis said after petting a corn snake named Curious George.