Princyclopedia presents a whole new world of fun

An interactive event sponsored by the Cotsen Children’s Library, Princyclopedia, whose theme this year was “Aladdin and the Middle East,” was free and open to the public.

Student groups, nonprofit organizations and businesses helped run 25 activities, which included hovercraft carpet rides, making your own genie in a lamp, Arabic calligraphy and building miniature minarets.

Aside from the different games and crafts, Bent Spoon ice cream was offered at the “Oasis” table. Parents enjoyed Arabic coffee from Small World Coffee, and kids satisfied their sweet tooths with various Middle Eastern desserts, including baklava, almond sugar cookies and date cookies.

Many members of the carnival staff wore traditional clothing from Middle Eastern countries.

A glimpse into the multipurpose room did not reveal an aerobics class in action, but rather a peregrine falcon, the world’s fastest animal, courtesy of the Raptor Trust. A volunteer from the Raptor Trust told the story of the first falconer, a Persian king, who saw a falcon kill a passing bird; the king, fascinated by the bird’s ability and speed, ordered his men to capture it. He then trained the falcon and kept it with him at all times, he continued.

Nearby, another presenter pulled a yellow snake from a bag and let it loose in the crowd. He explained that snakes like small spaces because they make them feel secure and that, though the reptile was a carnivore, it would not attack the children because they were too big for its small jaw.

The presenter then described how the African bullfrog survives hot and dry desert weather by not moving or eating for six months. It sits in its old skin to stay moist and molts the skin at the end of the six-month period, he noted.

The Peaceable Kingdom Petting Zoo brought goats and a camel whose legs were at least five feet long. The animals were placed outside Dillon, where many confused passers-by stared at the camel, which ate all of the goats’ hay.