826michigan encourages students to express themselves freely in their writing and take inspiration from their own experiences and vast imaginations. The ideas conveyed in this publication come from our brilliant authors. Not all the pieces are factual or factual in their entirety, nor do all the views expressed reflect those of 826michigan. We support all student publishing and are thrilled you found this publication.
Printed in Detroit, Michigan.
Design by CandySlice Creations
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WELCOME
TO
DETROIT
WELCOME TO DETROIT
Welcome to this city through the eyes and ears and noses of brilliant fifthgrade writers from University Preparatory Academy Elementary, Mark Murray.
We began this newspaper project with a premise: in the historical young adult novel our fifth graders were reading, EsperanzaRising written by Pam Muñoz Ryan, our beloved titular character is forced to leave her home in Mexico and migrate to California. Esperanza misses her childhood, her home, and seeks to find a new community in America. This novel is part of the core curriculum for fifth grade at UPMM, and our partner teachers hoped for a tie-in to our writing project.
So, we pitched a hypothetical scenario to our students: What if, instead of moving to Mexico in 1930, Esperanza were moving to Detroit in 2025? How might our students foster community with her? How might they make her feel at home? How could they help her navigate the city by writing an article about their favorite place or thing to do in Detroit?
What resulted is something as strange and wonderful, wide-ranging and patchwork, as this historical city itself.
Within the pages of this newspaper, Esperanza has been invited to join dance teams and football teams. To celebrate Hooper’s birthday party at Little Caesars Arena (along with Roary the Lion and Paws, of course); to rev up the engines of Corvettes at the Auto Show in the Motor City, the birthplace of that world-altering technology; to time travel to the future, even, and play at a trampoline park in the year 2067.
Esperanza has been invited to Southwest Detroit, where she might enjoy some staple dishes from her culture; she’s been invited to IHOP in an essay that states Detroit is not what you think, not what you see it portrayed to be in the media. It is home, a place of love and families and gathering.
It’s been suggested that Esperanza should get a Cavapoo, a soulful and fluffy dog, to keep her company.
She should join a championship gaming squad, something to do on those cold winter days.
Oh, she should look for salamanders . on Belle Isle! And for otters at the zoo!
She should study our city’s murals! The girl with the earring. The girl with the Old English D earring!
Should! Should! Should! Try! Love! This!
We hope you enjoy our newspaper, love it even, our newspaper which seeks to navigate joy and love throughout the city.
And we hope you, too, enjoy getting out into the city and experiencing its people and places and things anew after reading, inspired by what these young writers have had to say.
—ELIJAH SPARKMAN
Detroit Program and Volunteer Coordinator 826michigan
ARTS & CULTURE
THE GIRL WHO PAINTED A MURAL
Do you want to know my favorite thing to do? Well, I like to pass by the mural that has colorful earrings and clothes. The fact is that I really like the colors and I really like her earrings and dress. I like to drive by and look at it. It is located on a big building. It makes me feel very happy because colors make me feel comfortable. It also makes me feel excited and makes me feel happy when I’m down.
This mural is made by Sydney G. James. She is a painter from Detroit. She went to Cass Technical High School. It makes me feel great because it’s colorful. I have driven past it a few times with my mom in the car. I never really stand close to it, but if I did, I would take photos and would really imagine how it is to paint it. I love to drive by the mural.
Another mural I’ve seen up close is a big flower. It was yellow, like a sunflower.
I wouldn’t try to paint a mural because it would take too long. I think that Esperanza would paint a garden mural. If I could make a mural, I would draw a rainbow. Whoever is reading this, I hope you remember this story!
—AZA Azalikestodanceandflip, and her favorite color is blue.
PICTURED: “THE GIRL WITH THE D EARRING” BY ARTIST SYDNEY G. JAMES
“STEVIE WONDER” ARTIST: RICHARD WILSON
A TIME I PASSED BY the Girl with the
Hi, I’m Gabby. I pass “The Girl with the D Earring” a lot and I want to talk about her. I’m also here to say: Street art—like murals, art, and paintings—can be FUN.
Sydney G. James is the artist who painted the Girl with the D Earring. The mural was painted on the Chroma building in Detroit’s Milwaukee Junction neighborhood. It represents the city and that women should feel good expressing their style. How I feel about the painting is relaxed. I feel this way because it has a lot of warm colors, like yellow, red, and orange.
Too Many Art Galleries to Count!
Art is great because .
At an art gallery, Esperanza could look at all the paintings that people made. Also, she could look at one that someone made who is from where Esperanza lived, one by the painter Diego Rivera, who was from Mexico.
There are too many galleries in Detroit to count! I would guess that there are probably like a thousand!
Father & Son Painting
Art is really cool and fun, especially when you’re bored.
After my eighth birthday party, my dad and I painted with my new arts and crafts kit. My dad and I used red, yellow, and blue paintbrushes. My dad and I painted the outside blue sky and the nighttime purple sky with the moon and bright yellow stars. Together we added lots of details and what we truly saw.
Earring
One day, my dad was driving and we were picking up my mom from work. I saw the mural through my brother’s side of the window. I was amazed because I’d never seen anything like it! It made me feel like my city was beautiful. It inspired me to make art, and now I’ve already gone through three sketchbooks! I was quiet in the backseat, just taking it all in. If I’d had my phone in my hand, I would have taken a picture of it.
“The Girl with the D Earring” is colorful and inspiring and represents Black culture. You should go visit it sometime. Or even just drive by it.
—GABRIELLA
Gabriella likes to draw a lot, and her favoritefoodisspaghettibecauseit’sreally delicious. She likes to look at street art whenshe’spassingbyinthecar.
The name of the painter is on a plaque under the picture/painting in a gallery. An art gallery is good to go to because you can make a schedule to see all the paintings and stand in front of them by yourself and look at them. You can wonder: How did the artist make this painting?
I feel excited when I go to art galleries because it is fun to take pictures of the paintings. It is fun to see all the paintings that people have made. I like paintings because it is fun to look at them and see the different kinds of paint the artists used. I always ask myself: Why did the artist start making paintings? What inspired them?
We drew details like the freshly cut grass, the big trees in our front yard, the tiny bushes, the colorful leaves, and the dark gray concrete. That day, after we finished painting, we set the art outside on our front porch to dry in the cool spring breeze.
We have art all around Detroit, and there may be some that will make you like art. There are many Detroit artists who may even inspire you to do art, or maybe crafts. Crafts can also be LEGOs, puzzles, and illusion games.
I know someone like Esperanza could come to Detroit and visit galleries and wonder these same things about the painters: How and where were these paintings made, and how were they able to be in an art gallery? She would be amazed and surprised. One day a week, she could go to each different art gallery. And she could even see paintings by people who are from her own country!
Art is super cool because of all the bold, bright colors, colors that you never knew existed. Art is cool also because of the different textures. There are Detroit artists like Ellen Rutt, Gilda Snowden, Chido Johnson, Joey Mazzola, McArthur Binion, Hubert Massey, Ijania Cortez, Gil Ashby, and Asmaa Walton. These Detroit artists are very talented, and their art is very cool and has lots of color, texture, and detail. And that is why art is really cool and fun to do. Drawing is one of the best ways to get started before you paint. I like to draw a lot of things. You can draw anything!
In Detroit, you can find artists who make mosaic art. This is about my grandma and her artwork.
Here are some facts about my grandma’s art and some of the other things she also makes. I think my grandma’s artwork looks great. I also think her artwork looks even better when the light shines on the glass. Around Christmas, she makes glass ornaments by gluing pieces of glass on top of one another. When she does this, instead of leaving it alone after gluing it, she puts it in a kiln and fuses the glass together.
These are some ways I feel about my grandma and her art. I feel excited to see my grandma and her art, especially if the art is new.
I think it is cool that sometimes when I see her, I get to see her making her mosaics. I think it is cool that I know someone (my grandma) who won first place in a competition in France.
I remember making glass ornaments—trees, gingerbread houses, snow globes with snowpeople in them—for my teachers with my grandma each year. My grandma gets all the materials out. She helps me cut the glass into the right shape and helps me choose the right glass because some glass doesn’t work in the kiln. She shows me all the ones she already made for inspiration and to hang on the tree. Recently, I made a Pikachu with a Christmas hat. It took only a day.
It’s pretty easy. You just need to choose what style you want and how much detail you want to put on it. You can make mosaics or ornaments by buying certain types of glass and glue and a canvas. For a mosaic and for ornaments, you have to buy a kiln.
My grandma’s latest art show at the N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art in Michigan lasted until January 2026.
The Detroit Institute of Arts is cool because every month they make a new room for art pieces.
Some fun facts about the Detroit Institute of Arts are:
The Detroit Institute of Arts holds sixty-five thousand artifacts. The DIA’s biggest picture is 8 feet, 10 inches tall and 45 feet wide, and it was made by Diego Rivera. Two hundred and fifty people can go into the Diego Rivera room. The DIA has an arts and crafts room, and you can make different projects.
The art makes me feel calm, and it also makes me feel happy because there are a lot of different colors. I am also excited because there are different stories about different people who made the art. And it also makes me feel emotional.
When I was there, I saw the arts and crafts room where you can make different art and you can take it home. I made a pin that was a circle and I drew a beach.
They have a lot of weddings there and a lot of parties, and they have a good place for you to eat and three floors of art. You and some of your family members could take field trips there with your school. One more fun fact is that it has a gift shop and other things to do with your family besides walk around and look at the art.
I hope you can go to the Detroit institute of Arts one day and see the art and maybe see my dad who works there cleaning and telling people what to do, or see the different coworkers who work there and taste some of the food. I recommend trying some salad, some french fries, and some chicken tenders. And I recommend going to the Diego Rivera mural.
Art is my favorite thing to do. Most days, I draw in my bedroom or at my dinner table. It’s fun. You can draw whatever you want! What you see and what you want to see! All you need is a pencil.
I like to draw people because then I can show different perspectives on their faces. I show their emotions and what I’m thinking in my imagination. will draw someone mad or sad.
I am inspired because I see art pieces or murals on the road. And, at Tropical Smoothie, I see art on the walls across the street. My favorite is a painting of a guy spray-painting the wall and showing his art. It has words on it, and it’s very colorful. It makes me want to make something like that but with my feelings.
At school, you can draw with your friends in the art room. You can draw them or yourself. You won’t be lonely, and you can talk about what you’re drawing. You get to talk to them and mess around. You can make art together, like a BIG mural, or even a show, that Esperanza and all the children could watch.
Do you like art? I sure do! Did you know that Diego Rivera was a Mexican painter? He’s the guy who painted a very special room in the Detroit institute of Arts.
The DIA is a very popular place. A lot of people go there to see beautiful art, and it is for all ages. I know you traveled a long time to get here. They have a cafe with so many choices, like burgers, hot dogs, and dessert. Good luck choosing!
Diego painted workers working on engines in 1932. I feel so historical every time I step into the museum. When I look at the art, I think about how long it took them to finish. I’m interested when I go there. When I first step in, there’s this little room . I feel like it’s from a long time ago, but it looks like what fighters used to wear, all the armor, weapons, swords.
My favorite thing I’ve done when I go there is the room where you get to copy a painting. I really had fun drawing! I drew a painting where the faces were all different shapes, and then I drew an NBA player riding a horse. It was kind of confusing and weird. You can go to a painting that you want to look at, and there’s a giant frame where you can copy off it and look at how good you did and take the painting home with you.
Just a heads-up: When you go there, make sure to turn on your brain because you’re about to learn a lot.
Today we are going to learn about the DIA. It’s bigger than a school and filled with tons of art! DIA stands for the Detroit institute of Arts!
The DIA is all about arts and crafts. You will see lots of colorful designs with shapes and patterns all along the walls. I am so excited to bring my friend Esperanza to the DIA. I feel like she will like it because she likes art and is learning how to crochet from her mom, making zigzags that look like mountains! They look like the patterns in the DIA! A picture of roses could remind her of her papa. It would make her a little sad but also make her think of happy memories they have with each other. That’s the power of art.
DETROIT
The DIA makes me feel calm. Like the wave pictures and sunset pictures. When you feel anxious or mad and your brain can’t concentrate, you can’t learn new things, and when a test comes up, you might not know what to do. It’s important to stay calm and be yourself. I think you’ll have fun at the DIA. Remember, it’s even bigger than a school. There’s so much to explore!
I’m going to be talking about a trip to the DIA. I hope you like it. The DIA is a museum with paintings! The oldest artifact in the DIA is ten thousand years old: a stone tool from 8,000 BC. It is a hand axe from Asia.
Look at the people walking! There are portraits and displays of artifacts from a long time ago. I like to look at items from the start and end of wars. I walk into a room with paintings by Diego Rivera. There are no picture frames or nails in this room. He painted murals right on the wall! It looks really cool. I wanna take a picture and save it.
What’s cool is the paintings. I study art. There are many colors and styles and paint types, like brush or pencil or pastel. I feel good because I like the displays. In the gallery, you can be surrounded by art on all sides. A curator picked out which paintings should go next to each other and why. These paintings inspire me to do art myself. I’m going to do anime mostly about people who have superpowers and live in caves and houses. I can use drawing strategies to make them look good, like creating a crossway that I can draw the center of a character’s head onto. I would make a DIA anime, but you can’t fight there.
If you want to learn about art, go to dia.org.
—MARCIANO
This article is about the DIA. You should make plans to go to the DIA, where you can see art and do art! “DIA” stands for Detroit institute of Arts. The DIA collection is among the top six in the United States! The DIA was founded in 1885. That’s old to me! Fun things have been happening there for a long time!
It makes me feel happy because I like looking at art. I like noticing all the details and all the thought the artists put into their work. It is fun to go there because I like doing art at the DIA. Sometimes, I go to the arts and crafts, and they’re different every week. It makes me feel excited because I get to see some of the new exhibits.
The last time I went to the DIA was October 29, 2025, with my dad and brother, and I saw my dad’s coworkers. My dad works at the DIA! I saw some of the art on different floors. I saw the Rivera and Kahlo exhibit. There’s a mural that has people making a car.
The DIA is a fun place to go in Detroit if you visit someday. The DIA has art studios so you can do art there. The DIA has nice employees.
Feeling lonely? Get a dog. But what if you don’t know what kind to get? Get a Cavapoo. They are lovable, cozy, and energetic. This dog would be perfect for you.
You can buy this dog from Hickory Lane Paws. Cavapoos are half Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and the other half is poodle. They weigh 9–25 pounds, they are good for therapy, and their intelligence is very good.
I love how they can cheer you up when you’re sad. I like how they are very intelligent and they are easy to train. I love their cute faces. One time, I was very mad, and my dog, Bella, laid on me and it cheered me up. No matter what you feel, this dog will cheer you up.
—AUDRIANA
Audrianaisfastandshelikesdogs.
RENTING BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY
I like renting comic books from the library because I like superheroes. My favorite is Wolverine: Snikt! Superheroes are humans, but with powers. I like X-Men comics and movies and the Fantastic Four. I think The Thing is the coolest one in the group. I feel happy because I also love manga at the library. My favorite manga is JJK short for Jujutsu Kaisen, but sometimes, I have to get really long books, and I have to read them and they are so boring. I think that there should be a rule where if a book is longer than two hundred pages, it should not be put on a bookshelf!
My favorite time at the library was when I was seven years old. I found my first manga . . One Piece! After that, I loved the library! I’ve watched every season of JJK just like I’ve read every book in the series. I also got a Dog Man book from the tooth fairy. Also, the library has big wooden bookshelves, and they are tall and have books at the very top, and you have to get a librarian to get them. You can rent books for free, but you have to return them by a certain date or else you have to pay a one-dollar fee. When the holidays are near, they put up decorations for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, which makes it one of the best times of the year to visit, in my opinion.
Did you know that the person who people consider to be the rap god, Eminem, lives in Detroit? Also, you can get an award for music. It’s called a Grammy. Plus, music can help you calm down, become happy, or even fall asleep. And something Esperanza might love: You can dance to music in different ways, like ballet, jazz, or tap.
Music makes me feel safe because I can relate to the artists in many different ways, and you can too. Music makes me feel happy because I can dance to it. Music makes me feel interested because there’s a lot to explore. Every afternoon of 2024, I would get out of school, put on my headphones, turn on my favorite songs, and just dance! Sometimes I would get so lost, I would think I was filming a music video. Then I would start to sing. It was my therapy.
After all that, what type of music do you like: hip-hop, rock and roll, sad, or educational?
—TAYLOR
Taylor’s favorite color is blue. She loves fashion, and her favorite subject is math.
DANCING IN DETROIT
There are a lot of dances people can do in Detroit. There is a dance school called the Detroit Dance Center. If you like ballet or performing, then this place is for you.
I like how dance makes me feel, and you can get a job from it and go to school for dance, too. Dance is an art, just in a different way. Dance takes a lot of body strength in the arms and legs to do something without getting hurt, and dance takes a lot of time. Dance is in a lot of culture and history. The cultures I know are African, Asian, and Hispanic.
Watching dance makes me feel something I don’t know how to explain. Doing dance makes me feel like I have fun, and I feel good about myself when I do it. A specific moment is my tenth birthday, when I got into the dance school I wanted to get into. That’s why I like to dance in Detroit, and think you will too!
—CHARLIE
Charlie is getting two guinea pigs for her birthday. She is a picky eater and likes tulips.
THE FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT FROGS
You probably see frogs at the zoo in Detroit or in their natural habitats. You should learn more about them when you move to Michigan!
Did you know that some frogs can grow as big as your hand or your head? Did you know that some bullfrogs can grow to be eight inches long and can weigh up to fifteen pounds? Also, some bullfrogs can jump up to seven feet. Also, bullfrogs are bright and dark colors like green and brown, with a light belly for camouflage in ponds and lakes. Did you know that the golden poison frog can produce enough poison to kill twenty thousand mice or ten men? Their skin can produce a rare toxin called zetekitoxin. The poison zetekitoxin only comes from the Panamanian golden frog. I feel sad for the Blanchard’s cricket frog: It is the rarest frog and it’s an endangered species. I feel excited because I love telling people about stuff I like. I feel sad for the endangered species. I feel confused, because why do people kill animals?
So, one time, I was walking down the street, and a pink tongue came out. I ran, but it was just a frog! I turned around and looked at him. He was brownish green. I was excited to see a frog, not just in a book I was studying, but out in the real world. If you see a poison dart frog, don’t run. Just call animal control. Also, frogs are great pets. You could have a pet frog in Michigan, too. You could drive with him in your car because this is where cars are made.
Where Local Events are Hosted & People Play All Day?!
It’s Belle Isle!
Belle Isle is located in the middle of the Detroit River, by the MacArthur Bridge at the intersection of East Jefferson Avenue and East Grand Boulevard. The park’s address is 99 Pleasure Drive. Belle Isle has many events, like the Kite Fest, where you can fly kites. If you don’t have your own, you are allowed to make one at the fest. You can set up a picnic and eat yummy food and snacks. Every October, they have what is called “Boo” at the Nature Center, where they give out free candy for Halloween. If you are adventurous, you can go on their hiking trails. They also have an aquarium.
Belle Isle is a wonderful place to go with family members. Going there will make you feel very warm and included. Belle Isle makes me feel joyful because there is always something to keep you busy.
I always go to Belle Isle with my little sister and grandparents. We mostly go to this fun little playground at a dead end where it is never crowded. My favorite structure at this playground is the double swings, so my sister and I can swing at the same time. When we are on the swings, it looks like we’re about to fall on top of each other. We also explore by going to gardens, the beach, and the aquarium.
You can always go to Belle Isle if you’re bored. Don’t be shy, Detroit will welcome you!
Are you ready to game with the Tj*** Squad!? On a rainy or extremely hot day, you can come down and game with us!
The Tj*** Squad is the first squad I’ve ever made! This squad will only play Roblox games. (Plus Minecraft!) Any Roblox or Minecraft games you want to play, the Tj*** Squad will be ready!
It feels amazing gaming with other people who want to play! I could cry happy tears with the generosity of people who choose to play with us! Be careful, I can crash out if I lose!
One time, when I was over at my grandma’s house, I was I was sitting on my grandma’s gray couch. All of my siblings and my cousin were there. Someone stole one of my very rare brainrots. It was made
out of studs and looked like an orca whale with Nike shoes. I crashed out so bad that I bit the computer I was using, and lost my tooth in the process! Luckily, it was a loose tooth, and I was going to lose it anyway. I learned then that it’s just a game.
If you wanna play, no matter how big or small, we will play.
Just give the Tj*** Squad a call! If it’s rainy or snowy in Detroit, this is definitely something fun to do!
—TERRELL-JAY
Terrell-Jay can be stingy about sharing devices and he hates canned green beans
Did you know that Detroit used to be known as the city of trees?
But soon after, most of the trees got infected with parasites, and most of the trees sadly died. After a group of people in Detroit tried to grow back most of the trees that died, Detroit became home to many native plants, including trees like trembling aspen, and also plants and wildlife that are diverse and feature in urban ecosystems. Detroit plant life makes me feel happy. It is inspirational and exciting that someone did something so good and important. It makes me feel like I can do anything that is hard and important, like improving ourselves and our city.
Hear the Earth’s Heartbeat in Detroit My Story
A moment when I felt connected with my topic was when I was in school. We had a great opportunity where we went outside and planted a tree with soil and mulch on our playground. I loved the experience because it was the first time I planted a tree, and the person who planted the tree with us told us all about trees. I know, Esperanza, you know about plants, and you can hear the Earth’s heartbeat. I bet you loved to hear about how we planted trees here at school! You can bring the whole family to Detroit. We welcome everyone!
—ELIANA
Eliana likes reading, doing gymnastics, and animals, especially hamsters, bunnies, and dogs.
Did you know that nature collages are very popular for people who like different types of nature and for people who really love animals and wildlife, like Komodo dragons, lions, tigers, giraffes, etc.?
The word ‘’collages’’ comes from the French word coller, which means “to glue.” You can learn about collages in art classes or outside of school.
I feel confident and at peace because I make collages. I love it so much. It’s as if I’m in my own world. I feel scared sometimes because I might mess up or get a cramp in my hand, and I might make mistakes. I feel happy when I win competitions.
I was at a competition in Los Angeles, California. I won by a point, and I met a famous music artist named Kendrick Lamar. Then I got home at 10pm from arcades and restaurants.
—ELIJAH
Elijah is in the fifth grade and enjoys making collages.
Ford Field Concerts
Did you know that at Ford Field there is a lot of music? There can be six giant concerts at Ford Field in one year! These concerts are headlined by the biggest superstars in music.
One of those superstars is Kendrick Lamar. He is a famous rapper. He rapped in Ford Field on June 10, 2025, with SZA on his national tour. Ford Field can hold up to sixty-five thousand people at once! If you have a family of four, in one trip you will spend $1,898. It’s a huge amount of money!
It makes me feel happy listening to music. Some music is supposed to make you happy, but music can make you feel all types of emotions, even calm. These emotions make you feel excited to hear music at concerts.
I haven’t gone to Ford Field yet for a concert, but I can imagine how it would be: I’m most excited to see the singer on the stage in the middle of the football field. I will smell hot dogs with mustard and ketchup. There will be people rapping, and it sounds like really fast singing.
Next time you see a Ford Field concert ticket or hear people talking about going to Ford Field, you should ask them: “Are you going to see a concert? I hope you’re really excited to see it!”
—JEDIDIAH
Jedidiah’s favorite color is black. His favorite food is spaghetti.
The History of MotownEsperanza with
When Esperanza and I arrive at Motown, she gets to learn about the history of music.
They always make musicals and teach people the history of singers. One fact about Motown is that Diana Ross and the Supremes sold the most records. They had twelve consecutive number-one singles. Motown was founded in Detroit in 1959 by Berry Gordy, Jr., and it was originally called Tamla Records.
My favorite Motown artist is Michael Jackson. I always listen to “Smooth Criminal,” and my favorite is “Billie Jean.” Whenever Michael Jackson was on stage, he was wearing a sparkly red jacket. He had a soft voice. The crowd would jump up and down and dance. They’d give Michael lots of applause, and when he got to the end of his song, the audience would go crazyyyyyy. I think you should learn more about Motown and listen to Michael Jackson.
—JULIAN
Julian’s favorite color is blue. He loves drawing and loves to play this game calledFive Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach.
Do you like really yummy ice cream?
If so, Cold Stone Creamery is the place for you!
BUSINESS & All about Me ColdStone
I know you don’t know everything about it, but you can have a lot of varieties and have candy apples and other stuff mixed into your ice cream. I like mine with strawberries and KitKat pieces. My best friend, Morghan and I have a lot of fun at Cold Stone Creamery. We like to go there and have fun and do everything the same and have matching everything.
I like to go downtown with my BFF, and I’m talking about downtown Detroit, Michigan. The ice cream there is not just good—it is cold and creamy and sweet and more. Their ice cream is a good treat you can have. The small size is my favorite from back when I used to like vanilla with sprinkles.
Morghan and I went to Cold Stone, and then we went to the park on our first day of school and enjoyed the rest of our day. We like going to the beach and hanging out at each other’s houses. Cold Stone is one of our favorite places, even though my mama says I can’t have a lot of ice cream! I suggest you go and have a fine time.
—AMADEA
Amadea is eleven years old and loves spending time with her best friend. Her favorite colors are pink, blue, and purple, and she likes to cheer and to do stunts.
Expressing Yourself with Makeup
Ioni is an afFordable makeup company, and it’s worth its price! When you wear this makeup, it looks natural, and it’s not too dramatic, like other makeup.
This makeup just came out, and it’s very new. You can find it at stores like Dollar Tree. Some people might not buy it, but it’s a very good company. I buy it all the time! It makes me feel happy and excited to express myself by using makeup.
When I first bought one of their lip glosses, I felt like I was very beautiful. I looked in the mirror in my house. I was surprised because it wasn’t so dramatic. It made my lips feel very smooth and calm. I rubbed my lips together and made a pucker noise. I played some SZA and I danced. I played my music on the TV and danced around all day! It was very fun, but at the end I was exhausted.
You don’t have to wear makeup to make yourself feel beautiful. You’re pretty either way. But if you do want to wear makeup, here is a cool makeup you can buy in Detroit and wear!
—AUBREY
Aubrey likes to cheer and dance, to hang out with her friends and watch movies(Coraline is her favorite), and she loves her family.
You Don’t Have to Be Uncomfortable to Be Cute
You know when you wake up in the morning and you don't want to put on jeans? You want to wear something cozy that makes you feel good about yourself, feel confident and pretty.
My clothes are made out of cotton and fur. When you put the clothes on, they make you feel cool. They come with lots of colors like red, black, pastel, teal, violet, navy, powder pink, powder blue, blue, and more.
I love how they can be cozy and cute. I love how they can make you feel confident. I like how you can pick the colors and design.
My uncle has his own clothing business, and I love seeing stuff like that, and it is so colorful when I see it.
You don't always have to wear something cute but also uncomfortable. You can wear something cozy and cute!
—DANNIKA
Dannika loves people and pizza.
THE DOWNTOWN RIVER
In Detroit, we have a lot of different things, like the river. It’s kinda dirty, but you will still like it there. In downtown Detroit, almost everybody is walking and having a conversation with their families. People ride jet skis in the river, and it sounds like VROOOOOOM! Even though zebra mussels make the Detroit River cleaner, they don’t make it healthier.
One time when I went with my brothers and sisters, we saw a park called Valade Park. I went to play tag. And then, BOOM! I saw three Rolls-Royces driving down the street. One was red, one was black, and one was blue. It was like a reflection.
The Detroit River is a great river. It’s calm there, and it’s fun to be there with your family. There is a park there and food places and more.
—BOSTON
Boston’s favorite color is green, and he likes to run track and play football.
A TOUR OF THE CITY
Can I offer you a tour of my favorite parts of the city?
I like the downtown beach because it is fun and the sand between my toes feels good.
I like to go downtown with my friends, my baby cousin, and my mom. I see skyscrapers. I smell air. It smells like flowers.
I like to go to fun places, and I like the downtown Cold Stone. My favorite ice cream is vanilla with green gummy bears. I like to cheer for the West Seven Rams. I cheered for them for one year. I cheered for the Spartans when I was a baby, when I was like two inches tall. I had a uniform and I had a bow.
I like to go in the water on the downtown beach. I go swimming. The water is cold, but they have a jacuzzi. They have chairs, comfy chairs. The chairs are in the water, so you can sit in the water. I dive, but I am careful. I am safe. Once I did a backflip in the pool! And I did a front flip. I like to go downtown with my mom, but she does not like to go by the water.
—MORGHAN
Morghan likes waffles and her dad.
The Adventure of the Natural History Museum
Did you know that a museum in Ann Arbor, not far from Detroit, has very cool fossils from animals from a long time ago? It’s one of the coolest museums, and it’s called the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History. As part of an 826michigan field trip, we went to the museum. On the bus ride, it was bumpy, and we sang songs, like “the Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round.” I told everyone to turn off their phones! Some people fell asleep, but I woke everyone up when we got there.
There are cool artifacts and cool fossils of old animals. You can also feel the textures of some of them. Some textures were soft, like fur, and some were rough, like turtle shells, and some were rocky, like the skeleton of a whale. It felt weird. The softest animal was the squirrel. After you see the animals, you can make crochet plushies of them.
The Natural History Museum is big, and my two favorite things about it are that we got to talk to real scientists about fossils and sap, and that there is a big woolly mammoth. I like those! They are like elephants, but they are different because they have hair.
The museum makes me feel adventurous. It also makes me feel dreamy. Lastly, it makes me feel brave. When I was at the National History Museum, I was with my bestie forever, SOPHIA! We took a picture of the mammoth, and it was really cool and big. We also got to talk to scientists and look at fossils. They made me feel braver and made me want to do more research on some of them. And that is why I chose this topic. You should go to the Natural History Museum, too. You can do anything you put your mind to!
—BROOKE
Brooke is a great swimmer and can swim on her back. She recently won her first first-place medal!
The Day at the Henry Ford Historical Museum
Do you want to go to a place that has all of the history about the first cars? I have a place for you. It’s the historical museum in Detroit that I went to.
One of the first cars was invented in Detroit by Henry Ford. It was called the Model T. It was invented in 1908
It makes me feel fascinated to learn about all the historical facts. It also makes me feel curious about what it was like in those times. It also makes me feel excited about learning more about the history of our city.
The museum is a big building with a bunch of windows. It felt unreal when I went there last year because I saw a bunch of old cars and a big photo of the Model T. It was taller than me! I was so excited and fascinated to see more of the pictures and facts like the ones I already mentioned. I was there with my parents, and I took a couple pictures where I stood with my mom in front of the big picture of the Model T. It felt crazy. I thought about how much we’ve evolved from the Model T. And then we explored some more. I saw a picture of Henry Ford. He looked old. When we drove home, I sat in the backseat and looked at our pictures and thought about the memories of when we were there.
If you ever come here one day, just remember that this was one of the first places to make cars, and you can always see it.
—JAYLEN
Jaylen is ten years old. His favorite thing to do is play video games, and his favorite color is gold. He loves to read, and he loves history. His favorite book isDiary of a Wimpy Kid.
Come to Ford Field and See All the Action!
Have you ever been to Ford Field, Esperanza? If you like the Lions, good food, and loud crowds, Ford Field is for you!
My first time there, I ate a hot dog. I watched a football game. The Lions played against another team. I watched a good football game. It was a close score and the Lions won.
I was nervous before I went in. The crowd noise was really loud. The dogs we ate were very good! I put mustard and ketchup on mine.
When I sat in my seat, I saw a lot of people. I heard the crowd roaring! I saw the football players on the field. I was happy and excited. I was with my mom and dad and had lots of fun!
Finally, Esperanza, if you go to Ford Field and watch the Lions play football, make sure you watch all the action. It’s really fun.
Wait, one last thing: If you get home and you’re still hungry, you can eat candy!
—MARCUS
Marcus is ten years old, and his favorite thing is candy.
The Famous Little Caesars Arena
What I do at Little Caesars Arena is go to Pistons games and a lot of other stuff!
A fact about Little Caesars Arena is that it is famous. Another fact is that it has a lot of food stations. The last fact is: For hockey, there can be 19,500 people in attendance; for basketball, there can be 20,332; and for concerts, there can be 21,000 people there at one time.
When I’m there, I feel excited because the place is big and holds lots of people. Another feeling is happiness because you can have lots of food. the last feeling is loud.
When WWE Monday Night Raw was there, I saw all the wrestlers (including my favorites: Jacob Fatu, because we have the same name, and Jey Uso), a Lions player, and one UFC fighter that trained with my dad before. My dad does MMA, works at a hospital, and also does ju-jitsu.
This is why Little Caesars Arena is great and famous, and you should go so you can have as much fun there as I do.
—JA’COB
Ja’cob’s favorite sport is soccer. He has three sisters and two brothers.
WHAT I WOULD DO ON A &
Hey, Esperanza, looking for something to do on a Saturday in Detroit? Saturday is a time to play and a time to sleep and a time to do your own thing. On Saturdays, I feel happy, excited, and I sometimes feel a little sleepy. Saturday is the best day.
If I wanted to go somewhere on a Saturday, I would go to a football field because I have never been to a game before. I would experience how loud the crowd would be and how many people were there. I would cheer and have fun. You can cheer at soccer, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, and softball games.
After the game, in the next part of my Saturday, I would go to a place to draw realistic drawings, a place like a museum. I would draw with a realistic perspective, so it would be an illusion and it would look like you were seeing really far, but you’re really
looking at a flat painting. You can draw sketches on your Saturday. Drawing can make you feel calm. Just know you don’t have to draw the whole free Saturday.
It wasn’t a free Saturday, but it was on a free Sunday when I saw a golden retriever. The dog had energy, and it had explosive speed. I was in Troy, Michigan, at the Dream Cruise. All on a Sunday, the second best day.
On Saturdays and Sundays, you can chill and rest. Make sure you chase your dreams and succeed!
—KARTER
Karter loves to play football and other sports. His favorite color is cyan (which is a type of blue), and his favorite food is pizza.
Why Mark Murray Is the Best School Ever The Journey of
Today I am going to talk about a special guest going to Detroit’s University Prep, Mark Murray. And that special guest is . .
Esperanza! So, Esperanza should go to this elementary school (because she is so young) to get smarter. Because what if she doesn’t go to school? She can also make new friends and play and learn. I have a lot of best friends (possibly a hundred). We also have recess, which is why we have a playground! And there’s AMP (Art, Music and Physical Education), which is why we have an art room, a music room and a gym.
I hope a friend like Esperanza will actually come to our school! I feel worried, because there is a lot of writing for her to do here. We write so much! Also I feel determined, because I need to write this and I can’t give up, but I also feel happy.
of friends. Then, I met Sophia and we became best friends. I remember when we had fun talking at lunch. This is one of my favorite moments at UPMM. And I would want Esperanza to have a moment like this, too.
There are three reasons why I think Esperanza would like to come here: Because there are twenty-four classrooms in total, and you will be sent to a random classroom out of four in your grade level. But they are all fun, smart teachers. And because there are some movie days here too, like for a reward, or a full movie day for full attendance. And also there is Field Day. (You wanna know what that is? I will tell you.) On Field Day, you can take a break from learning. It’s just full of fun! Obstacle courses, tug of war, and even hot dogs. Oh, and also, you get to eat lunch on the first floor! You get to sit wherever you want (but not on the floor!).
826 is a writing program where you can fulfill your writing dreams. The first location was at 826 Valencia Street in California. The founders are Dave Eggers and Nínive Calegari. There are nine chapters. Emmett is my favorite helper. Jesse and Eli, too!
I feel happy because I can write stories about myself and how I feel. I feel challenged because I don’t know everything. I feel happy to have met 826michigan, and you will too!
When I was seven and in second grade, 826 came to my school. I wrote a story about a candy land. There was a problem with a haunted house. They were scared to go, but we found a solution by having someone go into the house and fix it.
Thank you for reading! I hope you come to Detroit and see how you feel, and I hope you meet 826michigan while you’re here.
—AYDEN
Ayden doesn’t know how to sit down and loves to draw.
WHY WILL MAKE THE MOST MONEY
WHY WILL MAKE THE MOST MONEY
Detroit NEEDS a manga restaurant.
WHY WILL MAKE THE MOST MONEY IN
It will make the children feel amazing. On the walls you would see anime pictures. You would hear anime music, which sounds like the wind through the grass. There would be ramen, and it would be spicy and chickenflavored, like an anime explosion! You’ll want more after, and then you can go to the anime restaurant again, which will be near the manga store, near Mackinac Street. They would play anime on a TV at the restaurant. They would start with One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach. Michigan does not have an anime restaurant, and I do not know why, but they do have toys of anime characters like Naruto, Luffy, and others. You can also make food from anime.
IN 2067
IN 2067
2067
Do you think Urban Air will make the most money in 2067? Why? A lot of people go there because Urban Air has more than just trampolines—they have arcades, food, and more! More than 385 million people go there a day! A witness (my sis) said, “Urban Air is the best. I love it!”
This is how I feel about it: First, I feel free because I get to jump, eat, and never get tired! I also feel happy because I get to spend time with my family and friends. Lastly, I feel surprised because I get to see new things. How do you feel about Urban Air?
Now I’ll tell you about the time I almost lost my headband. One day, I got home from school and Mom said, “We are going to Urban Air.” I got so happy and so did my sister. A few hours later we were about to leave until, “OH NOOOOOOO!” I had lost my headband! I searched all day until, “YAYYYY!” I found it! After I found it, my family and I left for Urban Air.
So, a question for you: Do you think Urban Air will make the most money in 2067?
—LEAH
Leah’s favorite color is black, and her favorite desserts are Cinnabons.
From Japan, they made an awesome, climactic style called anime, and anime restaurants can interest everyone. There are many different types of anime to try, if you’re new. Like the Big Three: One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach. They are called the Big Three because they were the most popular at the time. All were created around the same time. If you like One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach, there is also The Seven Deadly Sins, Demon Slayer and others. One Piece is an anime with powers called Devil Fruits. If you are just starting to watch anime, I think you should watch Naruto, Bleach, or One Piece.
When I watch Demon Slayer, I get sad at parts. When I get home, I watch anime in my living room, like The Seven Deadly Sins. These are all the sins: 1) Meliodas, sin of wrath; 2) Ban, sin of greed; 3) Diane, sin of envy; 4) Escanor, sin of pride; 5) Merlin, sin of gluttony; 6) King, sin of sloth; 7) Gowther, sin of lust. If you start watching The Seven Deadly Sins, take your time, because in season three you will get very confused.
Did you know that anime has books called manga? No matter where you are, you can always watch anime. Some anime have cool animation like MHA, JJK, Mob Psycho Attack on Titan, and Dandadan. Some romantic anime are Horimiya, Toradora!, Your Lie in April, Komi Can’t Communicate, and Fruits Basket A good anime needs good characters and good animations. One Piece didn’t have good animations, but then after the timeskip, things turned around.
—MELAKI
Melaki has a lot of friends. His favorite color is blue, and he loves to watch anime.
SALAMANDERS IN DETROIT
Did you know that there are so many salamanders in Detroit that Google doesn’t even know how many there are? Also, the eastern red-backed salamander is the least dangerous. Probably the Japanese giant salamander is the most dangerous, mostly because they’re not that friendly. Did you know salamanders live in the Detroit Zoo? Salamanders can grow as small as four inches or to over six feet.
The rarest salamander in Detroit is the small-mouthed salamander; they are endangered and have an underground lifestyle. They live and get their food underground. Some people are trying to help them and collect them.
The most colorful salamander is the spotted salamander. Salamanders are very good at hiding. Seven smallmouths were found in the wild on Belle Isle. Salamanders are a mix between snakes and lizards.
I feel happy because I want Esperanza to know about salamanders. I think everyone would also like salamanders. The most popular place that you can find a salamander is on Belle Isle or in wet places. Go in the summer.
I love salamanders, but I don’t like the Texas blind salamander. It scares me sometimes. My favorite salamander is the blue-spotted salamander because it has beautiful spots.
—NATALIE
Natalie’s favorite thing to do is science, and she believes that if you try your best, you will always get the opportunity to do new things.
You should get out of town and go to Disney World! I’ve gone three times. I got on a ride and screamed as I shot toward the sky. I wondered if I would live. This was my fear as I visited Disney World.
I visited Disney World with my cousins, my sister, and my mother. One time, I went with my uncle, my mom, and seven brothers.
We all waited in line for a long time to get on the rides. I felt annoyed because it took more than an hour to get on one of the rides, the SlingShot. After the ride, I felt dizzy, confused, and scared. I felt as if I were knocked out by a pro boxer.
One last animal I want to tell you about is the otter. The otters here are especially cute because how they eat is: They grab food, right? Then they do this thing where they can levitate themselves on the water. They put the food on their necks and float on the water on their backs while eating. They eat cod and salmon.
You should really go to the Detroit Zoo. They have really cool stuff. You can bet I’ll be there, too!
—WILLIE
Willie likes eating sushi. His second favorite color is lime green. He also likes winter.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THE ? Do You Need a Vacation from Detroit? FUN ON THE BEACH WITH FAMILY
I felt terrified when I was quickly shot up and down on the SlingShot, even though we were all strapped in.
I felt scared when I got off the SlingShot ride. I waited impatiently for an hour waiting to get on the tall, intimidating monster of a ride. Once I strapped in and the ride happened, I shot up into the sky like a slingshot or like a spaceship. It stopped at the top, and my hands flew up uncontrollably. It dropped quickly, like I was dropped from the sky. This happened five times. I felt dizzy.
In conclusion, if you plan on going on the SlingShot, I can tell you to get ready because it’s fast, scary, and you might think you are going to die. But I’d go on it again because it was really fast and quick and fun! What a great way to spend time away from Detroit.
—PARKER
Parker’s favorite color is blue, and he likes to play football and basketball.
On a hot summer day, let me walk you through it:
In the Detroit Zoo, they have more than two thousand animals and two hundred different species. The penguins live at an air temperature of 35 degrees Fahrenheit and a water temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The train at the Detroit Zoo is very fun. It feels good to be in nature and with the animals. It’s so fun to watch them play! I feel so cool when I’m on the train. It’s the second thing you do after passing a few exhibits. By the time you get to the Detroit Zoo train, you have already explored maybe five or six exhibits.
I remember I was looking at the polar bears swimming. It’s really cool because they kind of swim with the doggy paddle. And, not a lot of people know this, but they are actually bigger than grizzly bears when they stand on their hind legs and want to scare other bears or other animals away. Then I went to the monkeys and saw a gorilla and wondered if they’d eat corn! Now, in 2025, I know they do... I just wanted to put that out there... You can move on. .
You can do many things downtown, like play in the water or play in the sand. I think more than two thousand people go to the downtown beach. Can you imagine being one of them? It was two days after the last day of school, and I went downtown and I went to the beach. My two cousins and I went and ate chicken, fries, cookies, and ice cream. I could see birds flying. We had a sand fight and we did flips. One of my cousins is only four, so he can only do a bridge or a cartwheel. We went to pick up seashells and played in the lake. When we were done, I put on my shorts and we went home. At home, we played games like Twister and Uno. My four-year-old cousin calls Uno “Rainbow.”
Another of my favorite things to do is go to dance class. I do my dance routine, and if we do it right, we get to do our other dance routine. We also get a fifteen-minute break if we do it right! My favorite part is doing stunts with my friends. Tylour is a part of my stunt group too! After dance class, you can watch a movie like Smile.
There are many things you can do in Detroit!
—SADE
Sade’s favorite color is green. She loves playing with her family. And she loves doing flips!
FO O D
My Favorite Detroit Restaurants
Did you know there are a lot of different fast food places and restaurants in Detroit and Downtown Detroit!?
Detroit has really good soul food, and they have really good BBQ. I get BBQ ribs. They taste really good, and they make me feel happy. I also sometimes get BBQ chicken wings. They have a lot of flavor. Detroit has good Coney Islands too. I also like Popeyes and Dave’s Hot Chicken. I feel happy when I eat Dave’s Hot Chicken because it’s really good and spicy. I feel great when I eat Coney Island. When I’m at Coney, I get breakfast and lunch sometimes. For breakfast, I get waffles, bacon, and eggs. I enjoy eating at these restaurants because it puts me in a good mood.
One time, I went to Chili’s with my two friends. Their names are Ava and Carson. I ate mozzarella sticks, and I had a Diet Coke.
My friends and I were laughing and talking about how good the food was and talking about how we wanted to go again. We had a good rest of the day. I think you should try Chili’s and see how you like it. Detroit has a lot of good and different foods. I think you should try them!
—DAILIYA
DaiLiya is in fifth grade, and food is one of her favorite things.
Taco Tuesday & Fruit
Hey, we have a lot of different fruits in Detroit. In Detroit we also have a lot of Mexican food. The Mexican food is very good. I love tacos. You can get cheese, meat, sour cream, and mild sauce. The fruit is good too, and it is good for you.
I feel happy because the food is good. Esperanza, you might like it. It is nice. When I was at my aunt’s house, I saw apples growing from a tree. I was scared to try them because I heard a story that worms eat apples. It would be gross to bite into an apple with a worm in it. It was so cool at my aunt’s house. You could hear birds chirping outside. It was big and fun. I loved the food and the fruit.
Did you know that tacos are an ancient cuisine? Hard-shell tacos were popularized by Glen Bell, the founder of Taco Bell. I love tacos and always eat fruit!
Esperanza, be healthy always.
—AVA
Ava is ten years old. On Taco Tuesday, she makes nachos and also tacos. She likes fruit, and her favorite is sweet cantaloupe.
Restaurants in Detroit
There are a lot of different restaurants in Detroit, like Chipotle. It is a Mexican grill, so it might be a nice place to go if you are from Mexico.
Chipotle has a lot of Mexican food, like guacamole and beans. You can put them in a wrap or a bowl. There is also a pizza place called Grandma Bob’s Pizza. They have a lot of toppings you can put on, like mushrooms and vegetables. There is also a bakery called Bakehouse 46. It has cupcakes, ice cream, cake, and donuts. Grandma Bob’s Pizza makes me happy. I get the pizza and it tastes really creamy. I like going to Bakehouse 46 and getting cupcakes when there are special events.
A fun time is when I went to Bakehouse 46 and we got my birthday cake. I got a vanilla-flavored cake, and the frosting tasted so good, I didn’t want to finish it. I want you to know that you can find all these places in Detroit!
—AZARIA
Azaria’s favorite color is violet. She loves Christmastime, and she loves playing with her cat.
Eating
CRISPY DRAGON SHRIMP
with My Dad
GimmeNACHOS
Did you know that you can put anything on nachos? They can have beef or chicken. It’s never weird to put what you like on nachos, like hot sauce, pizza sauce, ketchup, mustard, or even jalapenos. Be creative.
By the way, did you know that nachos were invented in 1943 by Ignacio Nacho Anaya in Piedras Negras, Mexico? Also, did you know that in the 1970s, ballpark nachos came to fame in America? National Nacho Day is November 6. When I smell my mom’s nachos, I get so happy. They are so delicious. The cheese is so stretchy.
Last time I had nachos, I ate them with my mom. The perfect plate of nachos have blue Doritos, beef, lettuce, and sour cream with some melted cheese. Yummy!
I remember that you used to have a doll that you gave away, Esperanza. We can play with my dolls. My favorites are my American Girl dolls, I can’t give those away. If my mom said, “You have to sell these dolls,” I’d say, “Don’t touch them!” We could do their hair. My go-to hairstyle is a back ponytail. My hair is in a ponytail all the time!
My mom and I listen to music. We can listen to the music you like, like Mexican music with maracas. Sometimes we listen to church music or Beyoncé. I listen to Beyoncé all the time. Did you know Beyoncé has a daughter around your age? Come over some time. Isabel can come too.
—CYNTHIA
Cynthia is ten years old. Her favorite sport is tennis. Her favorite color is red. Her favorite food is . . . nachos.
Welcome to Red Lobster! I like it because on the outside they decorate for the holidays. If you like lobsters, you’re in luck: Head on inside, and you can see a ton in the tank.
Facts! Did you know there are no Red Lobsters in Detroit, only in Dearborn? OMG.
remember I went there on one of my brother’s birthdays. At first, I knew nothing about it. At first, I only got burgers and fries because that was my usual, but I mixed it up with the wrong menu, and so I tried dragon shrimp for the first time. My dad was like, “What!? Is that the grownup menu?”
looked down and it was, but when it came to the table, my dad and I turned it into the dream meal. Oh, and it’s pretty spicy. So come on down, and see ya there.
—BRANDON
Brandon is in fifth grade and loves trying new foods now.
The Downfall of the Homemade Taco
Did you know that I think my mom has the best tacos? My mom makes the best tacos! Like literally. Sometimes, I think my mom is a great chef! But sometimes my mom makes the cheese good and tasty, but I can’t touch it because it’s “nacho cheese.” Get it?
Once, my mom was making tacos (mmm, yum!), And when she was done making the tacos, she gave one to me. I ate the taco, and then . Oh shoot! My taco fell apart! All the taco meat was all over my plate! I tried to save my taco’s life, but the taco didn’t make it! I was happy that I had one more taco left!
The lesson for today is: “Maybe be careful with your taco.” RIP taco. 2023–2023. A tragic and unexpected death. The taco’s name was Bill. Bill died due to getting ripped apart and falling apart tragically at the same time. Bill will be missed. Bill had a wife and kids and cousins and aunties and great aunties and uncles and great-great-great-great uncles and grandmas and grandpas and a mom and a dad.
The reason why my mom makes the best tacos is because sometimes she puts hot sauce in my taco, since I’m a spice lover, and sour cream and taco meat (I don’t know which type of taco meat) and some good finger-licking-good cheese and a hard shell! Just something about it is really good, you know?
The lesson for today is also that in Detroit you can always stay home and make food with your family. You want to be careful while eating your food. It feels good to hang out with your family while you’re making just a little . mess!
—JAHZARA
Jahzara is ten years old, and she loves cooking with her family, especially her mom.
THE FIVE-STAR RESTAURANT for Tacos!
Hey you! Yeah, you— do you miss eating tacos in Mexico? Wait, do you smell that? It’s the tacos in Detroit at Loco’s TexMex restaurant. Have you tried them out? Detroit has good food, but the tacos are the best, so you should try them. They will explode your taste buds.
And then, the sauce. You can’t just hate on it. It’s just too good. The sauce comes in second place for Loco’s Tex-Mex’s best food, and it goes perfectly with the tacos
Why should you go? Well, it makes me feel happy when I go on birthdays. And it’s the best Mexican food I’ve tasted. It’s a five-star place!
A good time to go is when someone you know has a birthday. The staff comes over to you and hands you a big cake. It has any color frosting that you want. Your parents secretly go over to them to tell them to make you a special cake. They distract you with the game tic-tac-toe with your little brother or paper menus with crossword puzzles, tracing games, or a freestyle box where you can draw whatever you want.
Come on over and check it out. I hope you taste it and it’s good.
—LOROME
Lorome, the creator of the article, is only ten. That’s pretty surprising, right? One or two more things about him are that he loves to write—well, not always . . . but he sometimes loves to, just not at home, where he just loves to be on games with his friends. One more thing: Do not mess him up when he’s playing a game like a Roblox game, Call of Duty, or Sonic Frontiers. Also, he likes to see others happy on their birthdays.
Why Food Is Important to Me & People!
The first fact about food is that you should go and visit these restaurants:
1. At Chili’s, I think you should get the Chili’s Triple Dipper. It comes with mozzarella sticks, chicken strips, and two sliders. It also comes with cheesy sauce and spicy BBQ sauce.
2. At McDonald’s, I think you should get a ten-piece chicken nugget, a medium fry, and a small Dr. Pepper.
3. At Wendy’s, I think you should get a ten-piece chicken nugget, a medium fry, and a small Dr. Pepper.
4. At Chipotle, I think you should get white rice, steak, cheese, sour cream, queso, lettuce, and chips.
I never used to like Dr. Pepper because I thought that it tasted like mint, but my stepmom was drinking it, so I started to drink it. The reason I wrote about these places to get food is because I went to McDonald’s with my FC (first cousin) and my dad. And we had the best time. And it made me think about how one of the best things about Detroit is eating yummy food with your family!
—MALAYSHA Malaysha is ten and likes to dress herself. And she likes to play Roblox games.
No Place like DETROIT
There is no place like Detroit. Detroit is one of the best places to be in. If anybody says Detroit is dangerous or you think we are dangerous, then you got us all wrong. Detroit might be the coolest city or place ever.
Detroit has the best parks, with awesome playthings such as slides and swings. And also, one park I went to had a really cool big swing.
The food is great here! Let me tell you, my favorite place to go is IHOP. IHOP has one of the best breakfasts around. IHOP made me full when I ate it before. I love the place. IHOP is the best of the best. Their food makes me feel good. The employees are nice, and the place is clean, the tables are nice, and the food is good. By the way, IHOP stands for International House of Pancakes. And guess what you can get there . pancakes! And waffles! Their pancakes and waffles are awesome They also have . the best apple juice. If you’ve never had apple juice, it is awesome, especially IHOP’s apple juice.
Let me tell you why I feel this way about IHOP. I like IHOP because the staff/ employees are professional. Also let me tell you how I ended up going to IHOP. It was a random day, and my mother and I were going places, and then we went to IHOP. I had fun there because they have a kids’ menu with really good stuff.
Is that enough evidence for you about Detroit not being so bad? Detroit is a great place to be and live and have fun. Detroit is the right place for you and me. And your family.
—SAINE
Saine’s favorite color is purple. He loves playing with his family. And he loves gaming and playing with some of his best friends.
DON’T EAT & DANCE
One of my favorite places to get donuts is Dunkin’ Donuts! I love to get Dunkin’ after my dance camp. One thing to remember about eating donuts is that you should always eat them after dance and never before! Or even during! As tasty as donuts are, you should wait.
My favorite Dunkin’ is by Alger Street. They always know my order. At Dunkin’, you can get all types of donuts! You can get ninety-two to a hundred donuts for $100.
Sometimes I feel upset when Dunkin’ is closed. Dance sometimes makes me feel angry, too, when I can’t do my left grand jeté. It’s OK in life to feel a lot of different emotions, even about your favorite things.
One time, I was at dance camp eating a donut, and I got yelled at. I started to cry, but then my friends helped me feel better. So then I walked in and didn’t cry. My dance teacher said “sorry” to me. And I said “sorry” to her. I love dancing and it makes me happy. And I understand why my teacher was upset: She was just trying to help me do my best!
—SHILAH
Shilah is an author. She loves to dance and practices every day. And she loves food and sweets, especially donuts.
SPORTS
My Life in the PAL Championship
Football is a fun sport, and you can win games, go to playoffs, and, if you’re lucky, go to the championship. It’s a long season, but it’s worth it.
Football can be played in different ways, like two-hand touch or tackle. You can be on defense, offense, kickoff, and kick return. On defense, I play safety and corner. I love safety because I get to see the whole field. On offense, I play running back, tight end, and wide receiver. It’s hard to score a touchdown as a kick returner, but I did it twice. If you win the championship, then you can get trophies and rings. To get stronger, you do hitting drills, bear crawls, sprints, and push-ups. Bear crawls are the most difficult because you have to get on all fours, and you have pads on, so that makes it harder.
Football is a very popular sport. I feel confident talking about it. I feel happy because I love football and it is a great sport. I feel OK with my topic because football can help you become stronger. If you’re stronger, then you can be healthy, and if you’re healthy, then you can live longer and do more things in life.
One time, I went to the second-round playoffs and we won. Then we went to the championship, but we lost. When I went home, I was very sad because I worked so hard to get to that point, and I was also feeling mad, sad, angry, and other emotions. It was a lot, but that next year I was going to try again. I would work on my footwork. I would work on catching the ball. I would stay healthy, so I would be ready.
This is why football is a fun sport and why you can play it in Detroit. And if you make it to the championship game, then good luck.
—AADEN
Aaden is ten years old and he likes to play football, play games on his phone, and play with his friends outside. Another sport he likes to play is basketball.
My Favorite Detroit Lions Player
Jahmyr Gibbs is the best running back on the team right now because he has the most rushing yards on the team and his speed cannot be matched.
Jahmyr Gibbs was one of the best running backs to ever be on the Crimson Tide. The Lions have had some of the best players on their team, like Matthew StafFord, Calvin Johnson, and more. Some players have nicknames, like Sonic for Jahmyr Gibbs and Knuckles for David Montgomery. These are for Jahmyr’s speed and David’s strength.
Sometimes I get emotional because I have been waiting to see them win it all. I feel mostly happy because every time they win I get hyped. Sometimes I get frustrated because when we are down by a lot, I feel like we will lose.
One day, I went to a Lions game and witnessed my favorite play. I went with my grandma, my grandpa, both of my uncles, my auntie, and my mom. They were playing the Bills. Even though they lost, we still had fun. I was a little emotional after the game. We had great seats, and they had a lot of snacks. All that matters is I had fun.
—AIDEN
Aiden plays football and he wants to be fast like Jahmyr Gibbs.
GETTING STRONGER THROUGH FOOTBALL
Hey, Esperanza, do you wanna know how to play sports? This is how you play football. First, you have to know how to throw. You hold the ball in your hand, and you launch it in a spiral. Second, you have to know all the positions in football, like quarterback, kicker, rusher, etc. You can play for a school team or for the Detroit Lions if you practice enough.
I think you should play football because you can be very active, healthy, and your body can get stronger. You can also get tougher playing football if you practice a lot. If you’re strong, you can defend yourself and other people and make people feel safe! It feels good to be healthy and strong.
When you play football, remember you can run fast and hold the ball in your arms, or you can knock someone over when you’re running with the ball. Football can be a little dangerous. You might get hurt when people tackle you. Just like how one time I got hurt by hitting my head on the grass! But I was OK.
One day, I played football in my grandad’s backyard with my sisters, but not on the same team. When I looked around, there was weird stuff on the ground like little helicopter seeds from one tree. After that, we went into his house and ate some White Castle. Then we went back to my house to take a shower and chill.
—DAVID
David is ten years old. His favorite foods are burgers and fries, and his favorite place to go is the park where he plays basketball with his sisters.
Football Is a Good Sport to Play
FOOTBALL & REST
I’ll tell you about football so you know about different positions in the game. You can play QB, running back, lineman, safety, and receiver too. You can play football all day, but there are some rules: You always have to drink water before practice and eat all the time, so you won’t be hungry. When you don’t eat, you can get sick!
How I feel about football is that you can be happy and play with your friends after practice. You can rest for a while after you’re done. While resting, you can get some food or a snack. After you’re done with your food, you can play video games, like Madden 25 or Roblox games. Then, when you’re done with gaming, you can go to bed for the night and get a full rest.
In my last football game, we were playing the Cobras. We kicked the ball off to the outside to get the ball in. It worked so well. We played good defense and they had to punt. Then, we were on offense. It was a throwing play. My QB threw the ball to me. Then I caught it. After that, we ran the next play, and my QB threw it to me again. I was playing so well! Then I caught the ball again for the first down. There were forty seconds on the clock. We were on defense. Their QB called it, and then he took a knee and they won the game. It was 31 to 32. It was sad because we were supposed to play in the playoffs. But after the game, we all got to hang out together at the park and it was OK.
The last thing I can tell Esperanza is to always drink water. You don’t want to pass out and go to the hospital. Have fun, play football, be safe!
—DOMINIQUE
Dominique knows how to do a flip. He is smart at math.
It was a fly high play. The QB passed to me. I juked to the left, then turned outside. I caught the ball and ran for a touchdown. It felt great.
There are a lot of plays to do and learn, so that’s why we have practice and coaches to help us know our plays and win games. I like football because when I started watching football, I saw a lot of pros like Tom Brady, Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill, and Jared Goff. That’s why started to play football, just to be like them. I like to go to Ford Field and see the Lions against the Ravens and other teams like the Eagles.
What makes me feel good about this topic is that when we go to football games we have free food, such as popcorn and nachos, and that’s my favorite. My second favorite is when we get front-row passes to see them better. One Saturday night, the Lions won and
everybody cheered them on. It was a good moment. I want people to play football because it’s a good sport, in my opinion. Football is a good sport because, if you want a hobby, but don’t know what to choose, football is good for you to play, because it makes you energized and pumps your heart out more.
You can bring any drink if you get tired, like Gatorade, water, and other drinks you like. And people will see you play and cheer for you to win. It feels good!
—GIOVANNI
Giovanni is intelligent. His favorite color is blue.
THE PRIDE!
Do you hear that noise? It’s the crowd! They scored! The Lions won! Ford Field is open two hours before the Lions play. The games cost $80–$700 per ticket, depending on where you sit. They use twenty-four footballs a game. The Lions also haven’t lost two games in a row in three
Every time they win, I feel hyped up I’m interested in football because anything can happen on any play. The play of my life was when Jared Goff handed the ball off to Jahmyr Gibbs. Gibbs got set and he took the ball . and he looked for the hole . he found the hole and he read the defense like bo bo bo Two Buccaneers came and said, “We’re going to get you,” but he said, “NO NO NO.” He broke their ankles like crik crik crak crak then scored a seventy-yard touchdown and he did a Spider-Man pose, with Amon-Ra St. Brown flying over him. Football is a wonderful sport. They learn as players, and we learn as fans. I hope you stay in touch with the Lions’ pride.
—HASANI
Hasani is a ten-year-old writer. He plays football for Garden City. He plays Madden NFL and NBA 2K with his older brothers and sisters.
WHY JARED GOFF IS THE BEST FOOTBALL PLAYER EVER
So, let me tell you about football. First, football is a fun game, and the reason I love Jared Goff.
Facts:
Marin Catholic is where Jared Goff went to school.
Christen Harper is Jared Goff’s wife. Jared Goff’s mom is Nancy Goff. Lauren Goff is his sister. Jared Goff played in Michigan and California. Jared Goff is a quarterback who plays for the Detroit Lions. He is accurate.
I feel good about Jared Goff. I think he is cool. He plays for the Lions now but used to play for the Rams. I went Monday night to watch football with my family at 9pm. I had nacho chips. The Lions vs. the Ravens. I love watching football with my family because Jared Goff is an awesome football player. In Detroit, the cheerleaders hype up the players. The colors everyone wears are blue and white. Jared Goff is the best player in the world, and he has the best game ever. He will never give up.
That’s why I love Jared Goff so much.
—QUINTEN
Quinten loves having fun and loves playingUno Flip! with his family.
THE DAY THE LIONS BEAT THE RAVENS ON
MONDAY NIGHT
When the Lions played the Ravens, at first I thought the Ravens would win, but the Lions were strong and brave, and they won the game. When Jahmyr Gibbs did a touchdown dance, I laughed. The Lions made history and beat the Ravens. They had not beaten the Ravens since 2005.
It made me feel like the Lions had made the best history in football. The Ravens lost by eight points in the game. The Ravens are 6–2 all-time against the Lions.
I went to a Lions game when the Lions played against the Vikings. I ate popcorn, snow cones, and pizza. I saw a lot of things that were interesting, and the score was 30–24. I felt so excited and crazy.
So, you plan to go to a Lions game? What will you get there, or have a plan for, and what is your favorite activity there?
—JEREMIAH
Jeremiah’s favorite activity is playing football, and his favorite color is blue.
The NFL has all the best football players, and only the best can compete.
Did you know that the Detroit Lions have never won the Super Bowl? Did you know they are one of the most athletic and put-together teams? The Lions have won a lot of games and made the other teams embarrassed. They won a lot of battles, but they lost the war, and did not win the Super Bowl last year.
Maybe it’s because they have lost before, and when they lose, they lose confidence. That’s what I think. Maybe because they’ve never won before, that gets in their heads and makes it hard for them to win it all.
Ford Field, where the Lions play, is one of my favorite places to go. My favorite part was when the Lions won 46–38. The quarterback threw the ball to the wide receiver. You can say they were in sync.
When your team doesn’t win the Super Bowl, you have to remember your favorite memories! Sometimes, they’ll get angry when they’re losing. You can see it on the field. Maybe in the future they can manage their emotions and stay focused.
In conclusion, they are still a fun team to watch, even though they’ve never won the Lombardi. Here’s one last reason to go to the stadium. The last time I was there, it was fun and there was a lot of screaming. I love the sugar soft pretzels. And the pizza is like $5 for one big piece, but it was worth it because when I ate it, it was fresh and hot. The Lions won. I won’t complain. Also, somehow, they have a car on the top of Ford Field.
It was so . cool!!! That’s a reason to go to Ford Field. Try going, just beg your mom and dad to go— it works.
—KADEN-PAUL
Kaden-Paul’s favorite color is red, and he is good at games. He loves sports, all sports, and he likes spending time with his family.
I MADE A FLAG FOOTBALL TOUCHDOWN!
Flag football is great because we can play flag football and it will give you great exercise, and it will make you a good team player. They let twelve players on the field at one time. If you tackle in flag football, you will get a bad flag! Flag football was invented in the early 1940s during World War ll for boys, and in early 2002 they let girls play!
To play flag football, you need a flag and a football. I feel great about playing flag football. I feel good because I’m a great team player. Esperanza, if you want to play flag football, you need to be a great team player, and you have to try your best and never give up.
I was able to go to my practice outside in the grass, and we had so much fun. One time, I fell when catching the ball. It was on my fingertips. Another time, in a game, I had a fumble. felt bad because my coach was a little mad at me. I didn’t quit.
WHY THE DETROIT LIONS HAVE NEVER WON THE SUPER BOWL THE LIONS’ GREATEST players
Hi! My name is Mario, and I’m going to talk about Jameson Williams and his football team, the Detroit Lions.
I got back up. I held the ball under my elbow and I squeezed it so I wouldn’t drop it. I was very chilly. It rained. We had our flags on and they got really soaked. Maybe that was part of the reason I fumbled! But they could not pull my flag because their hands kept on slipping. I scored a touchdown!
We can get good exercise and be good team players at all times, even when the coach is not looking at all. Still, be a good human, and have fun and be a team player at all times. I can tell you, Esperanza, you will have a good time in flag football and it is safe. You will never get hurt.
—KODY
Kody likes to play flag football and never gives up. She is ten years old and her birthday is January 14. She has three brothers and two sisters and loves all of them!
JOIN THE DREAM TEAM TO HELP US WIN!
Have you ever heard of this team called the Southeast Ferndale Eagles. It is the best team in the MYFCC (Michigan Youth Football and Cheer Conference) league. The Eagles are 8–0, never lost a game, and are also a new team now heading into the playoffs as the numberone seed.
I play on the Eagles. My number is six. The Eagles also have ranked players, like the number-one ranked wide receiver in the country, and a lot of talent. I feel happy about my team, the Eagles, because kids might want to come play for us. I also feel excited because people are going to read this and learn about how talented we are. I feel juiced because there are going to be new kids next year playing with us.
Before they were called the Detroit Lions, they were known as the Portsmouth Spartans. They started in 1930 for their Super Bowl era and AFC vs. NFC. The Lions won four World Championships between the 1930s and the 1950s. Later, in the new era of football, they got new and better players. Now, Jameson Williams is one of the fastest players in the NFL. He plays wide receiver and Jamo runs over twenty-one miles per hour! THAT’S INSANE!
Other famous Lions include the team mascot, Roary, who was named Bubbles in 1934. Barry Sanders is the all-time leading rusher for the team. And his friend “Megatron” (Calvin Johnson) was a dominant receiver, catching a ball over two people at one time in a game. Calvin Johnson was a very, very good player, and Barry Sanders, he ran for a lot of yards. Also, he retired, sadly. I wish he’d stayed, but he got old. But Jameson Williams came and made the team a lot better, and Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph are very hard hitters. And Jahmyr Gibbs has 693 yards so far through nine games in 2025.
Try out football. It’s very fun! Jameson Williams had six receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown against the Washington Commanders. He did a flip when he scored a touchdown. Maybe you can, too!
—MARIO
Mario is in fifth grade, and he loves to play quarterback.
We had a football game against the Ravens Black, and I scored ten touchdowns; seven extra points and three regular touchdowns. I play quarterback, wide receiver, running back, and safety. Also, in the game where I scored my first touchdown, we blew a team out 40–0. Then we won 55–27 in another game against our rivals. In the first round of the playoffs, we won 51–0. We did 7v7 and we won every time. Our 7v7 name is Dream Team. We had a couple of scrimmages with the older age groups and other teams. We also go to high school games to support the high school representing us. We played other teams that were older than us, like the Spartans, and still won because we’re the Dream Team and we never lose. We can put up sixty points, but our coach is happy when we blow out teams. Also, if we lose, we will run a lot,
so that’s why we never lose and don’t want to. We went to the Super Bowl, and the other team had on the same jerseys as us, so we had to switch to our green jerseys from the beginning of the season. It was a good fight between each of the teams. Sadly, we didn’t win against the Grosse Pointe Red Barons, but we put up a good fight. All we need to do is train in the offseason and beat them in the Super Bowl next year. You should join the team and help us!
—MARC
Marc had a strong arm at a young age and could throw almost forty yards. He plays basketball. His dad was a football star in college, and he wants to be like him one day.
YOUR FAVORITE TEAM DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A DETROIT TEAM
Just because you live in Detroit, doesn’t mean your favorite team has to be from here, too! There is a star player on every team, so no matter what team you pick, there will still be a really good player to root for.
My favorite team is the Boston Celtics because they have everything: they have good players and there’s one really good player on their team, Jayson Tatum, who is a small forward. Some people might think he is the star. I don’t think he carries the team, but he’s good to have. My second favorite team is the football team the Baltimore Ravens, because they have Lamar Jackson as their quarterback, and he can run. He is smart with the ball, like he always knows who to pass to, and if there’s no one open, he can run it. He’s a smart player, and I admire that. I want to be a smart player, too. In football, I play the same position that he does. Like him, I always want to have a backup plan.
I watch my favorite teams with my brother and my uncle. We watch in the front room on a big TV. We get excited when the Ravens, in purple, black, and white, score a touchdown! Sometimes, when they score, we get loud to show that we are happy. Sometimes, before the game starts, we get popcorn and chips to eat while we watch the game. A lot of the players played college football first, where they had to prove themselves to get to the NFL. So when I watch the NFL, I know all these players are trying their hardest, and that inspires me to try hard, too.
ME & MY DAD
Do you know a great person to watch the Lions with? My dad! Jahmyr Gibbs ran seventy-six yards for the touchdown. My dad said, “Let’s go!”
He can always tell me the quarter every time we watch the game together, and we make sandwiches. It feels good spending time with him. We are able to have a bond. We asked my mom if she could join, and she said yes.
Last year, it was Thanksgiving and the Lions played the Bears, and they won because they were together. When it hit one minute, we had started saying we won because it was 59 to 23. My dad gave me a hug because we love the Lions. He said, “Next time, we will win too!”
The Origin of HOOPEr:
Detroit Pistons’ Mascot
Did you know that the Detroit Pistons have a mascot? He’s the best mascot in Detroit. His name is Hooper.
Hooper has been the horse mascot for the Pistons since 1996. He skydives into the arena and jumps off trampolines to slam-dunk and hype the crowd. Hooper celebrates his birthday with Roary the Lion and Paws the Tiger. He’s on my favorite basketball team. And he’s a really great mascot. He is never mean to his team members. I feel happy that I’m writing about Hooper. I feel good that I’m writing about the mascot G.O.A.T.
One time, when the Pistons came to my school, I was seven and Hooper came with them. He was knocking on the door until he saw a door that was open. And there was a game of keepaway with a basketball, where they picked people to play. If they beat their opponent, they would be able to go against Hooper because Hooper was the champion at that game, until a kindergartner, first grader, and second grader beat him.
Maybe one day your great-great-great-great-greatgrandchildren might go and see Hooper at the arena. Because he’s that great, and he’ll be around a long time for you and your family to see!
P.S. People visiting Detroit might like that he’s kind to the crowd.
—JAYLA
Jayla is ten years old. Her favorite color is pink, and she plays games with her three older brothers.
Other people might not agree that you can root for whatever team you want, but you can, because it’s your own choice. And your team might end up beating that person’s team!
—DION
Dion likes to play the sports that he talked about. Another thing about him is that he has been playing basketball since he was six years old.
Spend more time with your dad!
Detroit is cool because we have a lot of teams like the Pistons, the Tigers and the Red Wings.
—CHARLES
Charles likes running, playing games, and helping people. His favorite colors are red and blue.
Do you want to be inspired next time you’re playing basketball at the park in Detroit? Well, I can say that Steph Curry is one of the best players in the NBA and he is a star. He can inspire you! Steph Curry, when he was a kid, played football and soccer, and he grew up playing basketball his whole life.
His favorite food is chicken parmesan, his favorite snack is popcorn, and his favorite movie is Love & Basketball. Steph Curry makes me feel happy because I love basketball and he likes it, too. I like popcorn and watching sports, and he is cool like me. When I hear his name, it makes me want chicken curry. One time, when went to his game, I was so happy when his
Growing Up like Steph Curry
team won the game. I took pictures with him and he signed my shirt. He wrote his name in cursive, and put it in a case with his favorite color, blue, and then I put it in my room.
chose Steph Curry because he is the best player and we have the same favorite color. His favorite place to go is the golf course at Pebble Beach.
He inspires me to be a great basketball player in Detroit. Next time I’m at the park next to my house, I’ll think: Be like Steph Curry.
—KHLOE
Khloe’s favorite sport is basketball, and her favorite food is spaghetti. Her favorite color is blue
Jalen Duren: the Best Dunker in the NBA
How are the Pistons SO GOOD?!
One of the best dunkers on the pistons is... Jalen Duren! And the best mascot is...Hooper! And they can come to your school!
They can even give you shirts from the Pistons, and they can show you the best dunks, like a Jalen Duren alleyoop dunk!
This topic makes me feel excited because I get to see a famous player do amazing dunks. This topic makes me feel surprised because he always does something I didn’t know he could do! If I want to be specific, I would say I went outside to play on my basketball court, and I kept on trying to dunk, but my jumps were not high enough. But something reminded me of the Pistons . . I jumped so high that I jumped over the basketball hoop.
—ROYAL
Royal is ten. He loves watching the Pistons and other basketball games. And he loves playing online. And he loves playing 2K26.
The Invention of Basketball
Today, I have a basketball game, and I’m not gonna talk or play around. I’m very serious about this game because last time we lost, and we’re not losing again.
Today, whenever I’m on the court, I will either guard the rim, block people’s shots, or steal the ball.
Whenever we lose in a basketball game, I’m very calm, but know how to control my emotions. But if we get some points, I will be happy about it. I love to dribble, do jump shots and layups, and practice my dribbling skills.
On December 21, 1891, James Naismith was in school as a teacher. He was teaching how to play basketball.
He wanted to entertain his students in school during indoor recess because it was snowing or raining outside. One day, he invented basketball! That sure did entertain his students, but dribbling was not allowed until he invented basketball hoops.
In the gym, the hoops had holes so the ball could jump through it. James thought it was cool to dunk the basketball to teach the whole class how to play properly. Everyone in the class was athletic. Sadly, he passed away on November 28, 1939, of a stroke.
You should learn about James Naismith because he is an educator who tried something new and invented a fun game for students. More teachers in Detroit should invent cool new games for their students, too! Maybe they could invent something that becomes as popular as basketball is in 2025!
—LOLA
Lola is ten years old. She likes burgers and fries. Her fears are spiders and the dark. Her favorite color is pink, and she likes to write and draw.
MY LOVE FOR BASKETBALL
Esperanza should come to Detroit instead of going to California. She should come here because, in Detroit, you can work anywhere you would like to work, there is barely racism in Detroit now, and nobody would judge you for your looks.
If Esperanza asked me why she needs to see basketball and what is fun about it, I would tell her that you can watch other basketball players play, or you can play on the basketball court yourself, and basketball is a very fun sport. You can pass the ball to your teammates, you can dribble it between your legs, and you can do jump shots or layups. I’m a basketball player.
One time, my basketball coach told my teammates and me that if did not make a jump shot, we would all have to run. But focused and my team chanted me on, and I made two jump shots in a row.
I know how to shoot and dribble very well. I never play around about basketball. I put all my hope and confidence on my back. Today, I’m gonna make my parents proud.
I was able to go on an NBA basketball court and do jump shots and layups. I met some of the Lakers’ basketball players, and I had a very, very great time. I went with my aunties, cousins, and siblings.
I love basketball a lot. It makes me very happy, and my most favorite thing to do is jump shots and layups. If Esperanza came to Detroit, would teach her how to do layups and jump shots.
—AALIYAH
Aaliyah is from Detroit. She is cheerful, kind, and fun to be with.
DETROIT’S NBA STADIUM
Welcome to an NBA basketball stadium! There is going to be a lot of fun at the Little Caesars Arena. The Little Caesars Arena is a fun place where you can eat and relax and also watch basketball players play matches.
Facts about the NBA Little Caesars Arena basketball stadium!
1. This NBA stadium has lots of food stations, like pizza, chicken, fries, and also Auntie Anne’s pretzels.
2. The stadium gives you prizes, like T-shirts and towels with the Pistons logo on the front, and sometimes they give out bobbleheads.
3. Also at the NBA stadium, the Pistons won the NBA finals on three occasions: in 1989, 1990, and 2004.
Watching the basketball players play makes me feel happy! Also, I like to eat the food there. It makes me feel joyful when they hand out T-shirts, Pistons towels and bobbleheads.
Last time I went to Little Caesars Arena, I went with my mom, dad, and siblings. The first thing we did was find our seats, and then we sat there and waited until the game started. It was so exciting to see them win. Also, for the first half we got some pizza, nachos, and slushies. For the second half, we got some chicken, fries and another slushie. And, also, when the match was over, we took pictures with the basketball players when it was time to go home.
—MARQUIEZ
Marquiez is in the fifth grade, and his favorite sport is basketball.
The Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a good team and they never give up! They almost made it to the World Series in 2025, and at the all-star break they had the best record in the league. They faced some challenges in the second half, but they never gave up and made the playoffs as a wildcard team!
They have good food at the stadium. I feel happy when they win, and I scream. I see the mascot, Paws, bring the flag out and dance on top of the dugout. If I was on top of the dugout, I would do the floss.
About the Little Caesars Arena
This is about Little Caesars Arena and all the fun things you can do there. You can take pictures and take in all the beautiful things this arena has to offer. Going to Little Caesars Arena can also take people’s worries off their minds.
Little Caesars Arena is a multi-purpose venue in Detroit that is home to the NHL’s Red Wings and the NBA’s Pistons. The arena incorporates state-of-the-art technology.
If you’re going to the arena, you should feel very excited because it’s a great feeling when your team wins the game. Sometimes, you might feel sad because your team might not win. And you might be happy and sometimes shy because you might get picked to do something at halftime (like taking a shot at half-court).
One time, got to go to a Pistons game and took many pictures, ate hot dogs, and watched the game, but, sadly, the Detroit Pistons lost. Because of the loss, felt sad and frustrated, but still happy went.
Going to the Little Caesars Arena to watch the Pistons game is a great experience for everybody who loves basketball.
—DENZALL
Denzall is ten years old and likes many sports, like basketball and football. His favorite color is red, and he likes the Pistons and the Lions.
They came back and won! They were hitting the ball and not trying to hit homeruns. They got the bases loaded, and then they hit a walkoff home run. They are a good team and they never give up!
You should come watch Riley Greene. He is number 31, and he has a lot of home runs. Every time I go, he hits the ball. When he hits the ball, it looks like a rocket ship blasting in the sky out of the park I have seen him play three times.
I feel worried when the Tigers are losing. I get mad and throw my hat on the ground. I feel sad when they lose! One time, I went to a Detroit Tigers game, and they were losing by three runs and then
Watching the Tigers could inspire you to never give up, too, no matter how many runs you’re losing by. You can do it! You don’t need to hit it out of the park. Sometimes you just need to get on base first.
—CHASE
Chase’s favorite colors are red and blue, and the baseball positions that he plays are shortstop and pitcher.
SOCCER IS A SPORT WITH VERY RISKY BUT FUN
MOVES AND PLAYS
Greetings! My name is Michael. I’m ten years old, and I want to tell you about a sport called soccer that you can watch from around the world. Soccer is a team sport with eleven players. Each teammate either needs to have a strong leg for shots or good accuracy for passes like crosses, which is when you kick the ball with the big-toe side of your foot, making it curve around defenders.
Soccer is also a high-class sport that causes some risks if you want to go pro.
You need good teamwork, and soon enough you’ll get some type of telepathic wave to be able to automatically be able to know where your teammates are going. You also need a team of people who can score besides just your strikers (people who can kick the soccer ball into the goal well enough to score). Your midfielders need to be able to score along with the defenders and goalkeeper.
One of the best players, Cristiano Ronaldo, did a header only he could do when his teammate passed the ball with a cross pass so high that no one could reach it with a regular soccer player’s jump. Ronaldo reached it like it was nothing.
When you make a play with your team, it feels like you know them so well, to the point that you know where they’re going and when they’re doing it.
It is a very risky sport. also feel kinda scared about the players because the things they do could break their necks on the ground or any bone in their body by fouling.
There was a time when I had to protect the goal by myself on my championship day. The ball was rolling toward me. When I kicked it, the ball went over everyone’s head into the goal. The final score was 4–2.
Now that I am in my older league, am able to shoot full-power with both my legs and be a very aggressive defender. I’m about to join a travel league.
Michael is in fifth grade, and his favorite soccer player is Cristiano Ronaldo.
MY FAVORITE SOCCER MOVE
I can kick a soccer ball so far that it can go past the goal. Soccer is the best sport or game, in my opinion. I love kicking a soccer ball and exercising my legs because my legs have great durability and speed. I can also be creative and make up moves. If you want to be creative and play sports, too, you should play soccer in Detroit.
THE VIRTUES OF CHEERLEADING
Ever been on a cheer team? Come check this newspaper out to learn more!
Here are three fun facts out of a million facts about cheer:
1) Cheerleading came out in the nineteenth century.
2) You can learn different flips and dances, and you can go to competitions.
3) More than five hundred people try out for cheer a year! Maybe you can be a part of that five hundred!
Now let’s jump into the adjectives I would say about cheer:
1) Happy!
2) Satisfied with the techniques!
3) Flexible!
Now we’re gonna be talking about specific and unforgettable moments at cheer! I went to my very first cheer competition! I was so nervous! We wore the colors red and black! It was insane and cool! After we performed, we won first place! I was so happy! Before we finish this newspaper, want to add something: If you try out for cheer, whether you’re a girl or boy, you are capable, strong, and you can do anything you put your mind to! Bye, besties!
—JORDYN
Jordyn is ten. Her favorite color is blue. Her favorite food is chicken-fried rice from Benihana, and she is really good at playing the keyboard.
THE WEST SEVEN RAMS REGIONAL COMPETITION OF 2025
Come to the Rams regional cheer competition right now! Get your tickets now! The Rams just won first place against the Westside Cubs! Did you know that you can come to the West Seven Rams competition? Get your tickets right now. The Rams are having a cheer competition. The West Seven Rams are the national champions of 2024. This year, they won first place for cheer and hip-hop. This year, nobody can beat them, #bigsteppers10u.
My brother and invented a move together. We named it the Haduken. Haduken is a fun and crazy character in a show who wears a blue hat. Haduken is the name I made up for my big moment. I made it up in a game against the Marines. I played for the Pirates. The sweeper passed the ball when was open. Then I passed it to another defender, and he passed it back to me in a give-andgo. I was open again! And I did the Haduken. I spun the ball three times with my right foot. I did a spin move in the air. kicked it in and scored It sounded like brrrrr when it hit the net!
It made me so calm to write this essay because did my best and I put a lot of effort into this. It took me the past three weeks to edit this and to write it on a piece of paper. Have a wonderful evening, everyone. You can be creative, too: You just have to find a thing you like and write about it.
—JORDAN
Jordan’s favorite breakfast is Lucky Charms. He has fun with his family and friends every day. When he has a stressful day, he tells his mom, dad, and grandma. They have fun and make multiverse series on YouTube. He has a good life with his brothers. He wishes for world peace. He wants you to have a blessed evening.
Fun at Cheer Competitions
Have you ever heard the sound of the people in the stands at cheer competitions? Well, you will hear people screaming names and more. As a cheerleader, you will have to attend a lot of competitions. They are very fun. You have to do difficult stunts and cheers.
Cheer is a fun activity for men and women! The sound at competitions is crazy! There are a lot of people. It can possibly be forty thousand people in one gym. You might feel sadness (you may lose), happiness (you may win), or excitement (you may be excited to be on the mat).
Our routine is two minutes and thirty seconds long. It’s got a lot of bossy words like, “Get back!” or “Get out of the way because we came to slay!” Or “When we step up in the room, you in trouble!” This music makes me feel like we are about to do well. It is loud and encouraging.
Once you get done competing, other teams will go. You’ll sit on one side of the stands, and the adults will be on the other side. You can laugh and make jokes with your friends. Many of the teams do very well by not falling in the stunts. Their movements are very tight. Then it’s hip-hop, and it’s more dancy and fun. It takes one hour at most, and then it will be awards time. Everyone will have a chance to get first place, second place, or third place. Competition is the best part of the cheer season.
I taught you about all the things you do in cheer! Would you like to try out for a team?
—TYLOUR
Tylour is ten years old. Her favorite color is blue. She goes to practice six days a week. Her favorite game is Boss of the World.
I feel great because I won first place and I’m proud of myself. I feel good because we did great on the mat. feel amazing because we hit everything. We are proud of ourselves that we won! Our coach is very proud of us. Coach Chelsea is the best coach ever in the whole wide world. I love all of my coaches. They are the best. Last year, we went to Florida, and for hip-hop we won first place and got jackets. For cheer, we won second place. After that, we went to our Airbnb and celebrated.
—AUBREY
All of Aubrey’s coaches and cheer sisters are like family to her.
—MICHAEL
Gymnastics in Detroit The Queen of Beam
Hey you—yeah, you! Imagine in your mind a beautiful beam routine on the tall, beige beam or a powerful floor routine on the big, blue floor. Nadia Comăneci was the first gymnast to score a perfect ten in the 1900s.
I’ve been doing gymnastics for one year at my new gym. Gymnastics in Detroit can be very interesting because there are four events: beam, vault, floor, and bars. Gymnastics is something I enjoy doing a lot because it is very unique.
When I walk into gymnastics, I sign in, then I wait for my class to get called in the waiting room. I arrive at gymnastics an hour before it starts, which is about 4pm on Thursdays and 5pm on Tuesdays. Once my class gets called, I walk into the gym and start stretching with my team. Then we run four laps around the gym floor. On Tuesdays, we do floor, vault, and bars. Then on Thursdays, we do floor, vault, and beam, which are once again all the different events.
My favorite event is floor because you can do lots of different powerful flips and routines! There are also different levels from 1–10, competitions, all types of great things! So, hope people all around Detroit are encouraged to do gymnastics.
—LONDON
London is interested in pets, like hamsters, dogs, or cats. Another fact about London is that she likes to do hair.
Did you know that all gymnastics coaches know one another? When you go to a gymnastics competition, you might see your coach talking to other coaches and saying their names. The reason why you might see your coach talking to other coaches at competitions is probably so they can help the coaches get their kids to be better gymnasts and also help you get better.
Detroit is a great place for kids to learn gymnastics. Gymnastics can help you get better at your skills and teach you new things.
The first gymnastics gym I went to was DSG (Detroit School of Gymnastics).
will tell you four facts about gymnastics. First, there are two types of gymnastics: You have boys’ gymnastics, and girls’ gymnastics. Second, boys’ gymnastics has six events and girls’ gymnastics has four.
Gymnastics as INSPIRATION
I’m talking about how gymnastics can inspire people to do flips and more! For example, Simone Biles did a double twist twelve feet in the air. And another fact about gymnastics is that Simone Biles is 4 feet, 7 inches tall. She has won seven gold medals.
Gymnastics makes me feel good because it inspires people. It makes me feel proud of Simone Biles because she made it so far! It makes me feel motivated to do gymnastics. It all started when my older sister Zoey taught me how to do a cartwheel, the splits and a backbend. We were in Zoey’s room with smooth carpet, a bed, Zoey’s vanity, a big closet, and a TV. I was able to do a dive and a cartwheel on my own!
Simone Biles has four skills named after her, one of which is the Yurchenko double pike on vault, named “Biles II.” She was the first woman to land it in competition.
Simone Biles was adopted by her grandparents and her sister, and she grew up in Spring, Texas. Simone inspires me because she was the first woman to land particular tricks and flips. I learned some moves by Simone and my sister Zoey as well, and this is why gymnastics makes me feel motivated and inspired.
—RAYAH
Rayah started doing flips at seven or eight years old, all with the help of her sister Zoey and Simone Biles. She can also play volleyball.
Here are some feelings gymnastics can make you feel. Gymnastics can make you feel brave. Gymnastics can make you feel amazing. Gymnastics can also make you feel confident.
I will tell you a story that happened to me when I was at a gymnastics competition. We started on the beam. I was the first person to compete. In my beam routine, I used to do a bridge kick, but now I do a back handspring. When I did my bridge-kick, my foot landed perfectly. Then, when my second foot was landing, it landed on the edge of the beam, and only my toes were on the beam. When my toes were on the beam, everyone thought I would fall, but I saved it and finished my beam routine!
Just remember that gymnastics is a fun sport. It can make you feel any type of feeling. Gymnastics also makes you feel like you can do anything that you put your mind to.
HOW FUN DANCE CAN BE
Hey, can tell you about dance? We do a lot of fun stuff. We do flips in dances, and we have tumbling every Saturday. It’s fun. If you get there early, you can do flips before everyone comes. So get to tumbling early.
Three fun facts about dance:
1. I like to dance with Cherish, and we have to dance for three hours.
2. If it’s a birthday, we get cupcakes.
3. When it’s a competition, we have to go back to the gym, so they can tell us what team won the competition. When we host a competition, we can get food, and we get free pizza after we dance.
When dance with Cherish I am happy because she is a good friend.
How do I feel when we win a competition? I feel so, so happy because I like to win.
When my team and were hosting a competition, it was fun watching other teams dance. When it was my team’s turn to dance, I felt like I was in the competition instead of hosting the competition. Then we got free pizza, juice, and candy. I am a majorette dancer, and the costumes are so uncomfortable sometimes. The costumes are itchy and they can scratch you, and we need to dance with poms. They have little strings on the side of them. They also have pretty gems.
We have to go to a lot of places for our competition, like Flint and Ohio and New York City. And, at the end of the season, we get our trophies. The trophies are in dance colors, and we also get our medals. hope you liked learning about dance. Maybe you can join a dance team too?
—KAYLEE
Kaylee is ten years old. She is in fifth grade, and her favorite candy is strawberry Sour Patch Kids.
Learning Dance Moves with Friends
When you hear, “Five, six, five, six, seven, eight!” You should go check it out, because it might be dancing, cheering, or Tiktok. The reason why I want others to dance is because, if you are bored, dance is something for you to do, and you can win trophies.
When you go to a competition, it’s really fun. There will be a lot of people. You will get cheered on as well. And the coaches will always say, “Be brave!” And other words. Some dance moves are called death drops, hitch kicks, toe touches, hand movements, bucks, and cleans.
In dance, we have names for every category, so we have a field show, stand battle, and creative trio. We have names for ourselves, and the names are minis, juniors, and seniors.
How I feel about dance is good. I feel tired. I feel hard-working and strong. One time, I made a really cool dance move with three of my friends during break at dance. There were tricks. It was a super-fast-tempo dance to a fast song. It was really important to remember because I had a competition. I won first place! My team always wins!
Don’t ever let someone tell you your dreams aren’t true. You can be like me and chase them.
—CHERISH Cherish is ten years old. Her favorite color is teal. She likes to make Tiktoks, and she plays Roblox games with her little brother. She would rather be outside than inside.
Acknowledgements
This project would be nothing more than a grandiose idea if not for the following people who turned the wishes of a few into a newspaper for the masses.
PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS
Emily Paterson
Meghan Pew
Rebecca Rice
Alaina Rundell
Abigail Samborski
COPY EDITOR
Aaron J. Stone
DESIGNER/ILLUSTRATOR
Candace Reid
TRAVELING EDITORS
Jena Brooker
Kahn S. Davison
Laura Herberg
Shelly Jarenski
Kimberly Kozlowski
Briana Rice
TEACHERS
Mr. Anthony Goreta and Ms. Rashanda Martin
OTHER SCHOOL & DISTRICT ADMIN
John Cleary, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Detroit 90/90–UPREP Schools
Ms. Mayla Spruill, School Director, University Prep Academy Elementary School, Mark Murray Campus
Ms. Carlisa Moffett, Assistant Principal, University Prep Academy Elementary School, Mark Murray Campus
Ms. Rita Garcia, School Operations Manager, University Prep Academy Elementary School, Mark Murray Campus
Ms. Pamela Williams, Receptionist, University Prep Academy Elementary School, Mark Murray Campus
All students, staff, and teachers at University Prep Academy Elementary School, Mark Murray Campus
COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS
Our friends and collaborators in the 826 National Network
To ensure that 826michigan’s work is sustained in the future, please contact Executive Director Megan Shuchman at megan.s@826michigan.org to find out how you can help.
About
Writing helps students envision the world they want to see and prepares them to use written communication for any field of work they pursue in the future. For over twenty years, 826michigan has stoked the limitless imaginations of K–12 students through free writing and literacy programs in Detroit, Ypsilanti, and Ann Arbor. At 826michigan, our programs do two things equally: They provide academic support in writing and literacy, and they develop skills related to social and emotional health. Our programs inspire students to tell their stories with confidence and develop leadership skills that can be used throughout their lives. Each year, over 4,500 students in Detroit, Ypsilanti, and Ann Arbor participate in our high-quality programs.
826michigan utilizes volunteers to provide students with one-on-one attention and small group work in every program offered. With the help of caring adults, students not only gain experience and confidence in writing, but also find a community of like-minded peers as well as experience mentorship and social and emotional support that will feed them for a lifetime. Visit 826michigan.org for more information.
