Recently, my family traveled to England with my Tizzy and Grandad! I had a wonderful time. London is very different from Arizona. I loved the architecture of all the bridges and buildings. London is very old, so quite a few of the buildings look old fashioned and ornate, like the famous clock tower Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. Buildings and shops decorated with flowers around the windows and doors were especially pretty.
Would you like to talk to the author that wrote the book in your hands? Or meet the illustrator of that game you like to play? I got to meet an author and illustrator, Adam Rex, who lives in Tucson, and was lucky enough to interview him about one of his novels, “The True Meaning of Smekday. ” I was very surprised when I read the opening chapters of this book. The story was turned into the Dreamworks movie “Home.” That wasn’t the only surprising thing I learned!
When you are in the Flagstaff area, take a quick day trip to Lake Mary.
Although the water is murky, it is still a great place to go boating or fishing. The water is usually calm, so it is good for kids and pets. Bring a blanket and pick a spot to have a gorgeous picnic surrounded by pine trees and wildlife.
I had the pleasure of interviewing an amazing author and interfaith activist, Saadia Faruqi. She has written books for different age groups. I met her at the Tucson Festival of Books at the U of A campus.
She has written books for all ages, including the Yasmin series for early readers. Faruqi says she was 8 years old when she began to write stories, but she didn't get serious about writing novels until later.
This school year, Arizona Desert Elementary School had two championship teams, in basketball and volleyball. I set out to learn about our coaches and what makes for winning teams. After interviewing both coaches, a few things stood out to me. Our school has a culture of hope. We say the Kids at Hope pledge every morning. We say “all kids are capable of success, no exceptions.”
I asked what makes a good coach. Ms. Franki Diaz, who coaches our girls 6th–8th grade basketball, said “My love for the sport and willingness to teach it to others” is what makes her a good coach.
Diving into summer, for some kids, also means diving into technology. Most of the technology kids use are their phones or video games, but sometimes it is used for good. For example, texting your family in or out of state.
Saguaro National Park is a great place to visit. It has two sides, the east side and the west side.
Saguaro National Park East has a beautiful hiking loop called Desert Ecology Trail. The easy trail is . of a mile and paved. There are lots of signs to read and learn about wildlife and plants. Many different levels of trails are open for different skilled hikers.
Sedona’s famous red rocks provide a backdrop for a magical day trip. The Pink Jeep Tour is one of the most famous attractions. Hop in a Jeep to see the rocks from a new perspective while learning about Sedona’s history.
