Over the summer you can participate in the 2022 Pima County Public Library reading challenge. To participate in the Oceans of Possibilities Summer Learning Program, all you have to do is read 20 minutes a day. The program started June 1 and goes all the way until July 30, 2022.

You can read anything from chapter books to comic books or even listen to an audio book. The reading challenge is for kids ages 6–13. You can pick up the reading challenge information any time your local library is open.

 At the Pima County Library there are seed libraries! This year the library has a 2022 One Seed Pima County program with the theme “Growing together—one seed, one community.”

You are invited to the library to pick up Crackerjack marigold seeds for free. Marigolds are a type of flower that grows well in the warm weather in Arizona. They can grow up to 36 inches tall and grow into a beautiful orange-yellow flower. When you pick up seeds from the library, you can take information with you about how to plant, grow and harvest the seeds.

 The book “Front Desk” is a very memorable story written by Kelly Yang. It tells about 10-year-old Mia Tang and her struggles as she moves from China to California. Mia wants to enter an essay contest to win a motel for her family. She thinks that this will change her family’s luck in California. She uses all of her pennies and her dad’s lucky pennies to get $300 to enter.

We have participated in the SARSEF Regional Science and Engineering Fair for six years! Each year we develop a project that is of interest to us.

 Recently my family visited the Plum Creek Alpaca Farm in Prescott Valley. When we entered the farm, the farm dogs walked along with us as we visited the different pens. They housed a variety of groups of alpacas. Some areas were for the females or males and there was even an area for the nursery.

 Recently I attended a fun Bear Essential News Reporter Zoom with author/illustrator LeUyen Pham and author Shannon Hale. They shared how they met, how they became best friends and talked about the books they have worked on together.

 Recently I was able to participate in the 20th Annual Student Design & Build Contest, KIDStruction competition. KIDStruction is a competition in which sixth, seventh, and eighth graders can participate.

Using only business cards, toothpicks and hot glue, teams design a building that fits on a 12x12 inch foam based on one of five categories within the overall theme. Every year KIDStruction’s theme is different, this year’s theme was “The Path Ahead.” The Path Ahead focused on how the pandemic has changed our everyday lives and the spaces where we learn, live or work.

 Recently Matt Brode met with Bear Essential Young Reporters during a Zoom meeting. For those who don’t know, Matt Brode is the chief meteorologist for News 4 Tucson. He talked to us about how he became interested in weather and about different types of weather that we experience in Arizona.

 Have you ever had or wanted a pet chicken? During this crazy year my family and I were building a chicken coop and on Easter morning we became the owners of ten chicks. Since Easter, we have learned a great deal about raising chickens, like the fact that they try to peck at things on you when you sit with them, including your clothes, watch and face. We have also learned that each chick has a unique personality just like people, some of our chicks are shy, some are curious, and some are born leaders. Our chicks are getting bigger every day and as they get bigger, they get more active.

 Recently I read the book “30,000 Stitches” written by Amanda Davis and illustrated by Sally Wern Comport. The book is an amazing story about the American flag that flew over 90 West Street days after the Twin Towers collapsed in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. The flag quickly became tattered, so it was taken down to be retired.