North Pole visitors read to children

Published 12:01 am Friday, December 23, 2011

ROD GUAJARDO/The Natchez Democrat — Pam Higgins, from left, Phoenix Creel, 5, and Abigail Donald, 2, listen in as Frosty the Snowman and Mrs. Claus read them a story at the Concordia Parish Library in Vidalia.

VIDALIA — Even with Christmas two days away, Mrs. Claus and her friend Frosty the Snowman traveled all the way down from the North Pole Thursday to visit children in Concordia Parish.

The two visitors were guests of Concordia Parish Library and spent the day in Ferriday and Vidalia reading stories to children eagerly awaiting Christmas.

VaNia Hollins, 6, said she asked for a Baby Alive doll and knows she’s on Santa’s nice list this year.

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“They read Frosty the Snowman,” Hollins said. “He was a happy snowman.”

While “The Polar Express” was the main story of the night, Frosty stole the show as kids helped pick out the snowman’s trusty top hat and gloves.

Marcie Nelson, librarian, said they wanted to use “The Polar Express” as the main story because of the area’s high railway traffic in the past.

“That’s definitely one of their favorites,” Nelson said.

With a small staff and work always to be done, Nelson said the story times are generally reserved for holiday times.

“If we see a time slot where we don’t have paperwork or programs we’ll try and squeeze in a story time,” Nelson said. “Easter will probably be our next one.”

Mrs. Claus and Frosty also traveled to Ridgecrest School and Ferriday Lower Elementary School earlier in the week, and Nelson said the reaction was outstanding.

“At Ridgecrest, the entire first grade stood up and sang a Christmas song that they had been preparing for their play,” Nelson said. “The more the kids interact, the better it makes it.”