By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN

dobrien@dailynews.net

Working probably never looked so fun.

Students in the elementary schools in Hays USD 489 this week were treated to presentations from David Nieves, author and photographer of two children's books about reptiles.

Sue Pallister, librarian at Washington Elementary, had seen Nieves, a herpetologist from Nebraska, at a Young Readers Conference last fall at Fort Hays State University.

She was so impressed that she got in touch with fellow school librarians, as well as the Hays Public Library, to see if all wanted to pool their resources to bring Nieves to town.

The local schools often collaborate on hosting a traveling author about once a year.

"Kids seeing the real deal is priceless for them," Pallister said.

Starting with Wilson Elementary School and the Hays Public Library on Monday, Nieves gave talks all week for four straight days, sometimes as many as five in one day.

"Four down, one to go," Nieves said with a smile to Pallister as he prepared for his fifth straight presentation at Washington on Thursday.

Nieves adapted his presentations to the different age levels, spending a little more time on the six traits of writing with the older students.

During his last talk, with kindergartners and Head Start preschoolers, Nieves began by getting down to the youngsters' level, kneeling on the floor just in front of the group.

It's a safe bet the favorite part of the presentation for all the students was when Nieves introduced them to his pals sitting around the floor in plastic travel containers.

There was an alligator snapping turtle, a Monitor lizard and a large white rat snake.

Nieves told how these animals actually are scared of humans, how the lizard smells humans with his tongue and that a snake has 300 bones -- more than humans -- in its body.

Like in all good shows, Nieves saved the best for last.

All went quiet, and eyes got big, as Nieves started lifting out of its travel container a 15-foot python from Australia.

Muscles strained on Nieves' 5-foot-8, 155-pound frame and sweat ran down his face as he carefully maneuvered the 140-pound reptile named Bart above his head.

Nieves later talked about an exercise regiment called "CrossFit" that he uses to keep in shape.

"You need a combination of flexibiltiy, strength and endurance," Nieves explained. "(The animals) are moving weight, not static."

Nieves lives in Bellevue, Neb., a suburb of Omaha and just five and a half hours from Hays.

It was in Bellevue that Nieves first was introduced to his life's work about 35 years ago.

"Explore your own surroundings," Nieves told the students, mentioning he had an interest in studying animals from the time he was 8 years old.

"I would just jump on my bike and took off," he said.

That love for studying amphibians and reptiles continued through school, all the way to adulthood.

A few years ago, Nieves, the father of three daughters, decided to put what he learned in the field down on paper for children.

"I love to share," he said, "share with talking and share with writing."

In addition to the up-close view of the animals, Washington students got another special treat.

Thanks to a grant from the Hays Rotary Club, every single student at Washington got to take home one of Nieves' books.

Students throughout the school district were given the chance to order books beforehand, and Nieves brought the signed ones with him.

The Rotary Club last spring started a project where members pledged a certain amount for a school project.

In May, the $1,200 donation went toward the purchase of a book at the school's spring book fair for each Washington student.

This year, donations from local Rotarians, along with a grant from Rotary International, was enough to buy autographed reptile books for every Washington student.

Mike Hester, vice president of the local Rotary Club and principal at Hays High School, on Thursday came to Washington to tell students a little about Rotary, which promotes literacy.

Hester was in for a treat as well as he watched one of the presentations.

"My goodness," Hester said. "(Nieves) is one of the better ones they've had. He really inspires kids to write."

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More on David Nieves' children's books about reptiles can be found at www.reptilesupclose.com.

"Reptiles Up Close" and "More Reptiles Up Close" can be purchased on the Internet.

A third book, "Amphibians Up Close," is to be published soon.

Also on the Web site is information about educational programs for schools and libraries.