The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

The Big Sandy Public Library has brought in a new temporary supervisor from Little Flock Preschool. Alfie the Alligator, who is well known to parents and kids who've been associated with the school in the last 10 years, has been staying at the library since last Christmas. He and his book of adventures will remain there for old friends to visit through the fall.

Preschool teacher, Keri Cox intruded Alfie to the school as a teaching tool to help children pay attention and get comfortable with the new school setting. "I've used different puppets in school. I find that it's a good thing in the beginning of the school year because kids think it's funny when I am talking through the puppet. They pay attention. It helps to explain rules and procedures in the classroom in a nice, comfortable way for them. It stimulates their imagination."

Not only does Alfie help the kids learn in class, students also get to take Alfie on adventures. Each kid gets a turn to take Alfie home with them for a visit. Keri explains: "They're so thrilled. They cannot wait to take Alfie home. I tell them 'He's waiting to come visit with you and have adventures at your house. They have journals that they write with their parents. They draw a picture or something so they can have some kind of writing with a picture. Then they get to come back to the classroom and tell us all about it in front of the class. They have their journal. Of course, Alfie comes with a bag, he has his stay bag. He has a toothbrush, he has a book so they can read to him at night. He has a special blanket. So we talk about how to take care of him and fun things to do with him. They are thrilled. They cannot wait to take their turn."

Recently, Cassie Bahnmiller assembled all of the Alfie stories into a book, which is kept at the library with the preschool's unofficial mascot. "That's why he's at the library now. He's got his book that Cassie helped me put together, of memories from when he started with Little Flock Preschool to the most recent. Parents and kids can go back, especially those 7th graders now that they're big kids can go and look... 'Oh wow! Look what Alfie did." He's been to the movies, he's been on trampolines, he went on an overnight trip in a hotel one time. He's been to a farm."

Last year's Covid lockdowns put Alfie's home visits on a temporary hiatus, as passing a stuffed alligator from home to home presented a potential vector for spreading the virus. This prompted a decision to move him to the library, where he has been on display for the last 5 months: "He always starts the year with me and the preschoolers. About Christmas time, he went to the library to spend the rest of the time at the library. So he left his cousin Bailey Bear in charge of the preschool while he went to the library."

According to librarian Darlene Cline, in addition to being available for kids and family to visit and reminisce about their own adventures with Alfie, the alligator will be helping supervise the children's stuffed animal slumber party as a part of this year's Summer Reading Program.

While I was visiting Alfie for this story, I took the time to find my kids' stories from preschool with Alfie. His book is full of neat stories, pictures, and a slew of familiar names and faces from the community. Keri explained Alfie's importance to the children of Little Flock: "He's been a joy to all the kids. Every year, they look forward to having him. I get to tell them 'You know those big 6th and 7th graders? Alfie stayed at their houses.' They're like 'Wow!'"