Photo by Shelby Voss Photography
EPIC KIDS Reporters Program
Introducing the Epic Kids Reporters Program, where aspiring young journalists can write for Epic Kids.
Throughout the school year, Epic Kids Reporters cover issues and topics that ma er most to them and their peers, including breaking news, current events, sports, entertainment, school clubs, and kid pro les. Their stories will appear in both print and digital edi ons of Epic Kids.
The resul ng news clips are invaluable in growing and developing a portfolio of published work that can help students get scholarships and future educa onal opportuni es.
To be considered for this FREE program, students should be between the ages of 8-14 and have a parent’s approval.
Please email hello@epickidsaz.com to get started.
Get In Touch:
2550 W. Union Hills Drive, Ste. 350-9433 Phoenix, AZ 85027
888-313-7916
Submissions and suggestions:
Press Releases:
Submit press releases via email to hello@epickidsaz.com.
Events Calendar:
Submit press releases or event listings including all details to hello@epickidsaz. com. The deadline for the October issue is October 1.
Advertising:
Contact the sales department by phone at 888-313-7916 or by email at advertising@egpublishing.com.
Where to Find Us:
Epic Kids is distributed each month directly into the backpacks of children in K-8 charter and private schools. You can also find us placed in racks where kids and their families are out and about. To see a full list of locations, visit our website.
Stay Connected: facebook.com/EpicKidsAZ @epickidsaz
Staff:
Natasha & Brian Beal / Publishers
Sondra Barr / Editor
Shannon Carrillo / Production & Design
Erica Odello / Ad Design
Notes:
Every e ort is made to avoid errors, misspellings and omissions. If, however, an error comes to your attention, please accept our sincere apologies and notify us.
Headliners
TALKING SHOP
Nicholas interviews Chris Gronkowski, NFL Player Turned CEO of Ice Shaker.
I’m Nicholas, your monthly Epic Kids columnist. I’m a third-grade CEO and I had the cool opportunity to interview Chris Gronkowski.
during a Broncos versus Patriots game. He remembers having 80 friends and family members in attendance.
Chris is one of five Gronkowski brothers: Rob, Gordie Jr., Dan, and Glenn. The only one who didn’t play in the National Football League is Gordie Jr., he played professional baseball. Chris played NFL for the Cowboys, Colts, and Broncos.
Chris’ favorite memory in
Chris’ favorite memory in the NFL was playing his brother Rob
Chris Gronkowski played for the Cowboys, Colts, and Broncos.
“I was the middle of five brothers. We were always competing and playing sports. Now, as adults, we are all best friends,” says Chris.
“Football was my dream. But unfortunately, like every sport, it came to an end, and I found a second game plan.”
and to have a good team that supports you.
At 26 years old, Chris left the NFL to start a new career.
Chris’ game plan was to start a business. “Because I love working out, I created a company called Ice Shaker,” he says.
Ice Shaker is a stainless-steel water bottle that keeps your drinks cold up to 30 hours.
At first, Chris shipped all his products out of his house. Then, Chris went on the TV show “Shark Tank” and was picked by Mark Cuban and Alex Rodriguez to get funding for his business.
Chris says “Shark Tank” really helped his business grow.
Since I am a young CEO, I asked Chris for tips on running a successful business. He says it’s important to study hard in school
“I love my Ice Shaker team. It’s like we’re going into the locker room together getting ready for a game and working to win. It’s so relatable to when I was in football.”
Chris is now a dad to three boys and a baby girl. He loves teaching his kids how to play sports. He also played football for the University of Arizona and his wife went to Arizona State University. That makes watching Wildcat-Sun Devil games extra fun in their household.
See Nicholas’ interview with Chris Gronkowski at epickidsaz.com/parentscorner/chrisgronkowski.
Join me on my epic journey via Instagram @creationsbynicholas and creationsbynicholas.com
Chris is one of five brothers.
Nicholas and his brother Zaza interviewed Chris.
Headliners
Student Earns Prestigious Honor
Hamilton High School sophomore Prisha Shro created an AI-based Wildfire Prevention, Detection, and Suppression System that won the 2022 Broadcom Coding with Commitment recognition and Lemelson Award for Invention at the 2021 Broadcom MASTERS competition, along with earning her a nod as one of this year’s “Junior Achievement of Arizona’s 18 Under 18” winners. The Chandler resident is inventing the changes she wants to see in the world. She is currently working on applying STEAM knowledge and coding to reduce the impact of climate change by designing solutions such as a water-saving shower head, solar-powered drones, designing a tool that predicts how crops will adapt to a changing climate, and working with NASA on a rover project.
Prisha Shroff created an AI-based system for wildfire prevention.
Headliners All The World’s a Stage
By Michelle Talsma Everson
Photos Courtesy of Karli Kemper of State 48 Theatre Company and Felix-Albert Desmangles
ighth grader Zack Desmangles, 13, dreams of being an actor when he grows up. But, instead of that ambition being a distant goal in the far-o future, Zack is actively honing his performing skills now as a regular in productions for State 48 Theatre Company.
Going into his second season with State 48, Zack sings, acts, and dances. Last season, he played a variety of characters, including Nicely Nicely Johnson in “Guys & Dolls,” Fernand Mondego in “The Count of Monte Cristo,” and he was in the show choir in “Thunderstruck.”
members who see him confidently perform.
“I get very nervous. I do deep breathing exercises and move around a lot before I go onto the stage,” Zack explains. “I get most nervous with the last show of the run, because the last one makes me nervous to make sure it's perfect and I don't want to mess up.”
Outside of performing, Zack, who lives in Gilbert, is busy with a schedule full of hobbies and classes.
shares. “I've always loved experimenting and learning more about how everything around us works.” Zack also makes sure to spend quality time with his younger brother Jayden.
“My parents help me a lot with keeping my schedules straight and helping me to make sure I have fun in between shows, school, and life,” he says about his busy schedule.
East Valley: evyamahamusic.com
North Phoenix: npyamahamusic.com
(480) 926-4441
CLASSES INCLUDE
Keyboard Solfege Singing Movement, Ensemble, Reading & Music Appreciation
When asked if he gets nervous before going on stage, the answer may surprise audience
“When I'm not playing guitar, keyboards, or creating digital music, I enjoy reading, playing video games, and doing fun, outdoor activities like skateboarding, riding my scooter, and riding my bike,” he says. “My favorite classes in school this year include Advanced Drama, the elite Encore Choir, and Rock Band.”
To learn more about Zack’s performances at State 48 Theatre Company, visit state48theatre.com. Give your child a brain boost. New group music lessons for kids are enrolling TODAY!
He also enjoys science, he
“I enjoy meeting new people— both fellow cast members and those who attend my performances,” Zack adds about why he loves performing. “I also just like having the opportunity to explore the di erent characters that I'm casted for; it lets me imagine myself as that character and then work with how it fits into the play or musical.”
Fit Kids Pull-Ups for Beginners
Heyeveryone, I hope the school year has been good to you so far. For me, things have been stressful with chores, homework, and football practice. Good thing I know something that can help blow o steam—working out!
I’ve been working on my pull-ups, because for the longest time I could barely do one. With practice, I can now do more than I thought possible. How many can you do in a row? If you can’t do any yet, that’s okay, here are some ways to build up to doing pull-ups:
1. Flexed Arm Hangs: To build muscles in your shoulders and arms, start with flexed arm hangs. To do flexed arm hangs, place a box near the pull-up bar that allows you to put your chin just over the bar. Place your hands on the bar with your palms facing you. Lift yourself upward and hold yourself slightly over the bar with your feet o the
box. Hang with your chin above the bar until you begin to feel uncomfortable. Rest and then repeat five times, increasing the time you hang over the bar.
2. Dead Hangs: Build your arm strength and work up to pull-ups with a dead hang. Place a stool near the pull-up bar so that your arms can just reach the bar. With your palms facing away from you, grab the bar and pull yourself up an inch, moving your elbows to the side as you pull up. Lift your feet o the stool by bending your knees and hold this position for as long as comfortable. Rest and then repeat five times.
3. Lower Your Body Slowly. Place a chair under the pull-up bar and grab the bar with your hands shoulder-width apart and your palms facing you. Tense up your muscles as you step o the chair and lower your body slowly. Rest and repeat five times. Eventually,
you should be able to control the speed of your body as you lower it.
Practice on the above exercises until you work your way up to doing regular pull-ups. Don’t forget to hydrate, eat healthful, and study hard!
Have ideas for fitness challenges and/or comments about my workouts? Email hello@epickidsaz. com and put attn: Linkan in the subject line.
Linkan Marler is a 12-year-old fitness enthusiast.
Cover story
Phoenix teen fi nds fame with her love of books. BIBLIOPHILE
By Shay Moser
Photos by Shelby Voss Photography
Hunkered down with not as much to do, local teen Avery Finley turned to TikTok during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The video-sharing platform leaped in popularity during the pandemic, with 850 million downloads in 2020. Before lockdowns, TikTok had less than 600 million monthly active users. Now it has more than 1 billion users.
That propelled Avery to her newfound level of fame. She's enjoying her status as a book influencer thanks to the app.
Avery was always an avid reader, but with more free time, she was drawn to BookTok, a strand on the video-sharing platform started by young book lovers at the height of the pandemic.
With the local volleyball league and her school's National Honor Society and book club on hold, Avery watched BookTok videos about her favorite genre, young adult (YA) fantasy, and checked out new genres.
Originally, Avery started an anonymous TikTok account to watch book reviews and post videos. Then a few of her BookToks blew up. Today, the 16-year-old has more than 86.1k followers on TikTok and over 4,200 on Instagram. She also gets paid to promote books.
Avery, who lives in Phoenix, was even recognized at her dentist's o ice by someone who works there. "She asked if I had a BookTok," she explains, adding that getting noticed was surprising.
"My parents say it's OK to do as long as it doesn't cut into school and fun," Avery says.
Book publishers, such as Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster, typically reach out via email to see if Avery would like to create content on her BookTok for one of their new releases. The book publishers send a contract if she agrees to work with them, and "my parents sometimes help review the paperwork," says Avery, a junior in high school.
from Monitoring
BookTok sponsorships, and then bed.
Aside from her busy days, Avery moderates the Sapphic Lit Book Club on Fable, the book club app for social reading.
Promoting books on TikTok brings in a little spending money for Avery and gets fellow teens back to reading. If we look at data from Monitoring the Future, an ongoing study that surveys a nationally representative sample of approximately 50,000 eighth-, 10thand 12th-grade students annually, 60% of high school students read every day in the 1980s. But unfortunately, it was only 16% in 2016.
She recently worked with Harvard Bookstore to host a live interview with an author and she's been on live Book Tok Q&A panels with other popular influencers.
If you find a genre you love, great, but try and branch out to other spaces. ” “
Despite the social media success, Avery is looking forward to half-days her senior year and getting a part-time job next summer that she can keep through her senior year. "I'm looking into undergraduate law programs," she says. "Social takes a lot of time and energy, so I may not be able to do it long term."
With the popularity of BookTok, this trend is reversing as teenagers share their experiences with books and engage with others about shared interests in books. The Teen Magazine says this was partly due to the pandemic.
Avery's book collection, organized like a horizontal rainbow, includes more than 500 books.
"I spent an hour a day on my social channels in the summer and a lot less now," says Avery, advocating time management and trying to finish her homework at school.
A typical day for Avery includes being out of the house early, going to school all day, doing any homework immediately after school, spending a half-hour on any
Still, Avery is excited to put out three book choices for the Sapphic Lit Book Club and learn what the readers vote to read in October.
For teens who want to start a BookTok or something similar, Avery's advice is, "Make stu you like to make. I tried making what I thought others wanted based on TikTok videos and their traction, but it takes the fun out of it and it's not worth sacrificing your creativity."
She also says to try new things. "If you find a genre you love, great, but try and branch out to other spaces. For example, I found that I also like mystery thrillers."
Follow Avery on her TikTok and Instagram accounts @readbyfin to find out her latest YA book recommendations.
Career Day LAUGHTER AS MEDICINE
Christine Hayes
Profession: Program Director and Licensed Professional Counselor
Certified in Laughter Therapy for Southwest Behavioral & Health Services.
Age: 46
What do you do for a living?
I make people laugh and use laughter therapy as a form of treatment to help individuals overcome mental health challenges. I am also an active member of the Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor and the World Laughter Tour.
What type of training do you need to do your job?
Offering support and care for individuals struggling with mental health is a very important job. I have had and
continue to receive a lot of training to help me do my job. Some of the classes include leadership skills training, clinical supervision, and continued laughter therapy certifications.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
I love to build teams and inspire hope. My laughter therapy skills enable me to help others increase their happiness levels and live better lives.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A cosmetologist and a counselor (both
Christine Hayes uses laughter therapy to help people lead better lives.
help people feel good about themselves and listen to people’s life stories).
What advice would you give to a kid who wants to have a similar career?
Do what you enjoy and what brings you happiness. If you do, you will feel satisfied and hopefully believe that you have the best job! Whenever our jobs are focused on helping others to feel better, we also feel good, and it increases our happiness. How great is that?
One fun fact about your job? Laughter has the opposite effect of stress on our bodies.
Christine Hayes is certified in laughter therapy.
As a counselor, Christine offers support and care to her clients.
Brain Play
There is an uninhabited island in the Bahamas known as Pig Beach, which is populated entirely by swimming pigs. What has three letters and starts with gas?
Despite common misconception, the tomato is technically a fruit because it contains seeds. They’re produced in larger quantities than any other fruit. Most tomato crops come from China, India, Turkey, and the United States.
Did you know if you sneeze too hard you could fracture a rib?
Brain Play Sari on SCIENCE
HYDROGEN
As school is back in session, let’s take a moment to explore one of my favorite at-home science experiments. Grab an adult and get ready to get messy!
The hydrogen peroxide volcano demonstrates how a catalyst works in chemistry. Hydrogen peroxide naturally wants to break down into water and oxygen (2H2O2 --› 2H2O + O2). This process usually happens too slowly to be easily perceived and this is where our catalyst comes in. A catalyst is a substance that increases how fast a chemical reaction happens without undergoing any permanent chemical change. In this case, our catalyst is the yeast, which will help to speed up the
PEROXIDE VOLCANO
decomposition process. This volcano is more reactive than a standard vinegar and baking soda volcano; proper protective gear and parental supervision are absolutely necessary!
Here’s What You Need:
• 3 tablespoons of room temperature water in a bowl
• 1 packet dry yeast
• 1 recycled water or soda bottle
• 1 tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap
• 1 funnel
• 1 stir stick (popsicle stick works fine)
• 1 safety goggles per person participating
• 1 pair of rubber gloves per person participating
• 1/2 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide
• Optional: food coloring
Directions:
• Rinse bottle thoroughly, and place it upright in the sink
• Use the funnel to add hydrogen peroxide to the bottle
• If you would like, you can add five to eight drops of food coloring to the bottle
• Add dishwashing liquid and gently agitate mixture by swirling and not forming bubbles
• Add yeast to the bowl of room temperature water, mix with the stir stick for 30 seconds (it should become the consistency of melted ice cream)
What Do You Observe?
This reaction is exothermic, which means it produces heat. Do you see steam? How big was the reaction? What did the experiment sound like? Could you hear the gasses reacting? Did you smell anything? How long did the reaction last? If you added food coloring, how did the color change over the course of the experiment? Try the experiment again in a different container. Does the size of the container make a difference?
• Use the funnel to add yeast mixture to hydrogen peroxide mixture
• Remove the funnel and watch the reaction
Sari Custer is a lifelong science junkie, Chief Curiosity Officer at Arizona Science Center, and mom to daughter Carson (7). Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @ SariOnScience.
THE TIME OF FIREFLIES
AUTHOR: Kimberley
Griffiths Little
GENRE: Middle-Grade
Fiction
AGES: 9+
RATING: AAAAA
SYNOPSIS: When Larissa Renaud starts receiving eerie phone calls on a disconnected old phone in her family's antique shop, she knows she's in for a strange summer. A series of clues leads her to the muddy river banks,
where clouds of fireflies dance among the cypress trees and cattails each evening at twilight. The fireflies are beautiful and mysterious, and they take her on a magical journey through time, where Larissa learns secrets about her family's tragic past—deadly, curse-ridden secrets that could harm the future of her family as she knows it. It soon becomes clear that it is up to Larissa to prevent history from repeating itself and a fatal tragedy from striking the people she loves.
MY FAVORITE QUOTE FROM THIS BOOK: “I just received a call from a phone that wasn’t hooked up—with a cord that went absolutely nowhere”
MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS BOOK WAS: The mystery was my favorite part! I became so invested
BOOK CLUB Brain Play
in the story that I couldn’t stop reading until I found out what happened in the end.
MY FAVORITE CHARACTER IN THIS BOOK WAS: Larissa! She added so much excitement to the story with her curiosity and big heart.
FANS OF THIS BOOK MAY ALSO LIKE: “A Tangle of Knots” by Lisa Graff, “A Snicker of Magic” by Natalie Lloyd, “A Tale of Magic” by Chris Colfer Avery, 16, is an avid reader and book reviewer. When not reading, you can find her playing volleyball, hanging out with friends, or with one of her pets! Follow her on Instagram and TikTok at @readbyfin.
DINING OUT FOR A GREAT CAUSE
School fundraiser underway at Thirsty Lion Gastropub.
By Gretchen Pahia
Dining for a cause is a great reason to check out a delicious restaurant chain here in the Valley.
This September, Thirsty Lion Gastropub is partnering with local schools to raise money for their Parent Teacher Organizations (PTA/PTO) with a Dine-to-Give fundraising program. Diners can just tell their server they are there to support any of the schools registered and 15% of each check from dine-in purchases will be donated back to those participating schools. The fundraiser runs through Sept. 29 and donation checks for schools that raise $100 or more through guest visits will be distributed in October.
Thirsty Lion is a tasty family-
friendly spot. The kid’s menu o ers diners age 10 and under an assortment of classics including chicken strips with a dipping sauce; fish and chips with tartar sauce; and spicy chicken sliders with chipotle aioli and pickles on a toasted brioche bun. These entrees are served with French fries. A hearty mac & cheese dish is a popular option too.
Thirsty Lion also o ers a weekend brunch and there are options for kids, including a kid’s breakfast with two eggs any style, grilled bacon, potatoes, and toast; French toast coated with crunchy flakes and grilled; and a Belgian wa le with powdered sugar and syrup.
Several delicious options for those older than 10 include yummy appetizers like artichoke spinach dip with cream, chopped artichokes, jalapenos, garlic and served with chips; crispy calamari served with a chili lime sauce and lemon thyme aioli; an oven baked soft pretzel with housemade beer cheese, jalapeno jam, and sweet mustard; and for those who like a
little Asian cuisine, there’s a spicy tuna roll and California roll.
Burger, sandwich, salad, and main dish options include a barbeque white cheddar burger with Black Butte barbeque sauce, white cheddar cheese, crispy onion strings, and garlic aioli; a roasted chicken Caesar salad with ciabatta croutons, parmesan crisp, and Caesar dressing; a classic Reuben sandwich with corned beef brisket, peppered sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and 1000 Island on rustic rye bread; and a Szechuan orange chicken dish made with tempura chicken in a garlic ginger orange sauce, scallions, Szechuan chilies, sticky rice, and soy glazed Thai vegetables.
Thirsty Lion has four locations in the Valley: Desert Ridge, Santan Village, Chandler, and Tempe Marketplace. Thirsty Lion is working to bring another location to the West Valley and is hoping to open a new restaurant at Westgate in fall 2023.
For details on hours, locations, and menu options, visit thirstyliongastropub.com.
CREIGHTON SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFERS FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN FOR OUR FAMILIES!
Now enrolling for the 2022-2023 School Year.
Our full-day program is filled with adventurous learning, discovery and joy as your child works and plays in an environment that is warm, safe and challenging.
Check out our website to learn about our nine schools! www.CreightonSchools.org
PARTICIPATING DINE-TO-GIVE SCHOOLS
DESERT RIDGE
Copper Canyon Elementary School
Wildfire Elementary School
Thunderbird High School
Copper Ridge School
Desert Canyon Elementary School CHANDLER
Ryan Elementary
Corona Del Sol High School SANTAN
Ryan Elementary
Higley High School
San Tan Elementary
Charlotte Patterson Elementary
Neely Elementary School
California roll
What's Happening
ARIZONA STATE FAIR
WHEN: Sept. 23 – Oct. 30
WHERE: 1826 W. McDowell Rd., Phoenix
WHAT: Cancelled last year due to budget and safety concerns, the Arizona State Fair is back with amusement park rides, food vendors, and an array of agricultural exhibitions including everything from pig races to horse festivals. INFO: azstatefair.com
ACTION & ADVENTURE FESTIVAL
WHEN: Sept. 24
WHERE: Arizona Boardwalk, 9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale WHAT: Meet your favorite action heroes, fly on a zipline, enjoy bounce houses and slides, face painting, live entertainment, actionpacked performances, ra le prizes, giveaways, and shopping. No admission or activity fees required.
INFO: azboardwalk.com/event/freeaction-adventure-festival
September 2022
MOTHER NATURE’S FARM PUMPKIN PATCH
WHEN: Sept. 24 – Oct. 31
WHERE: Mother’s Nature’s Farm, 1663 E. Baseline Rd., Gilbert
WHAT: Enjoy hayrides, a spider web crawl, feeding animals, and Alexander’s Adventure Maze. A selection of food and treats are also available to eat while visitors enjoy fall decorations and pumpkins.
INFO: mothernaturesfarm.com/ pumpkinpatch
On Deck: October
CHANDLER OKTOBERFEST
2022
WHEN: Oct. 1
WHERE: Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 3 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler WHAT: Live music all day, German fare, games, and a family zone await at this family friendly event to celebrate October.
INFO: downtownchandler.org/do/ downtown-chandler-oktoberfest
DISNEY ON ICE: INTO THE MAGIC
WHEN: Oct. 6 – Oct. 9
WHERE: Footprint Center, 201 E. Je erson St., Phoenix
WHAT: Discover why no dream is too big at Disney on Ice when your favorite Disney stories come to life
through world-class ice skating.
INFO: footprintcenter.com
PEORIA SPOOKTACULAR OUTDOOR MOVIE & HALLOWEEN PARTY
WHEN: Oct. 8
WHERE: Fletcher Heights Park, 8135 W. Lone Cactus Dr., Peoria
WHAT: Grab a blanket, chair, family, and friends for a free Halloween movie night featuring “Ghostbusters Afterlife,” food tucks, costume contest, dance party, and tasty eats available for purchase from food trucks.
INFO: https://bit.ly/3Bm9oqz
Fall Festival Fall Festival
Pumpkins
NEW Mega Slide
Corn Maze
Jump Pad
Petting Zoo
