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Festival Has More Than Books

by Reporter Dylan Pan, BASIS Oro Valley Primary

Are you interested in reading and doing hands-on science activities? If you are, the Tucson Festival of Books is the perfect place for you to visit! On March 4, our family went to the TFOB. I always have a lot of fun there each year! When we got to the University of Arizona Campus that morning, there were so many people and tents everywhere! We walked until we got to the Children’s lace. In the Children’s lace tent, you get to choose your own free book. This time I chose scape From ompei.

After that, I met my friend Max. Our birthdays are only three days apart! Max and I were very excited to see each other and we headed directly to Science City, where we remembered making rockets last year. This year we wanted to make rockets and launch them again! As soon as we got to the rocket station, we started our work as engineers. Max, Miles (Max’s brother) and I competed with each other. First, how far our rockets could go. Mine won that round! Next, we did accuracy. There are two targets. On my third try, I got it in by changing the angle and how hard I stepped. It was such a fun place!

After I said goodbye to Max, I went to the Space VR Simulator tent. I chose Jupiter for my planet. I had to put on a headset and headphones. The experience made me feel like I was sitting in a spaceship orbiting Jupiter. It was a self-guided tour, meaning there is someone speaking to you via the headphones. The tour took me about 10–15 mins and it was so cool!

After that, my dad bought me some churros. They were so crispy and sweet. I always love the food at the Festival of Books!

The last thing I decided to go to was the National ark Services tent. There was a very cute stuffed dinosaur Junior Ranger there. He even had a ranger shirt with a badge on it!After I finished my dot chart, I got to put my raffle ticket in the box to win that dinosaur. I would be so excited if I got that dinosaur! I quickly went through all of the stations to get my stamps. There was the one with binoculars where you had to test your eyesight and one about ewis and Clark National Historical ark. I even got a unior anger badge after I completed all the required work and did the oath!

Cool Time at Festival of Books!

by Reporter Sofia B. Vazquez, BASIS Tucson North

This year I was lucky enough to go to the Tucson Festival of Books. I had a really cool time and got a lot of cool stuff but there are some parts about the trip that will be hard to forget.

t the start of the trip we went to the children’s free book tent sponsored by Stocker Foundation. My mom and I got in line and only waited about 30 seconds to get in. There was a worker at the front who would ask, hat grade are you in I responded Fifth grade. Then he told me to go to a certain section. It turns out they have different book sections for you determined on your grade so you don’t get books that are too old or too little for you! I ended up getting ilderness of Stars. It’s an ama ing book!

Soon after we went to the CASA tent. CASA is a cool organization that helps children in foster homes. It’s such a cool thing that my mom volunteered to help children in need. They also had spin the wheel! I got hand sanitizer and a fan! uring that visit they also taught me to do C without the breathing part. So that was really helpful. Now I know what to do if someone is in danger and I’m near.

My favorite part of this trip was meeting Walter F. Ram! He was an merican soldier and a (prisoner of war). I met him and got him to sign my book. Turns out he is almost 100 years old! I have never met someone from the war before, but I will always have a picture of us and a signed copy of Helno al, his book. I do hope I can meet someone like him again!

ast but not least, it’s where I joined the oung eporter rogram with Bear Essential News!