Congrats, L.M.!
There are many ways for kids and classrooms to win fun and informative prizes through Bear Essential News--in the newspaper and online.

Readers Are Winners! Boomer Bear

Boomer Bear,
I love this blog--I won some tickets for Disney on Ice. It was so fun!

Thank you, L.M.

Dear Boomer,
My favorite part of Bear Essential are the puzzles and the articles about special events that actually keep my attention because I have the attention span of a squirrel.

Sincerely, Michael

Dear M.Z.,
I love that you and your classmates are thinking about ways to make Bear Essential News even more FUN! As you know, our fun and challenging puzzles and word games (not to mention cool contests for the family and classrooms) are scattered throughout my newspaper, even in our ads. I'll check with my fellow editors and publishers to see what they think of your idea, thank you.

Readers are winners! Boomer Bear

Dear Boomer,
Can you add a page of fun and games like crossword puzzles, codes, word searches, etc. Some students in my class have been thinking of this!

Thank you, M.Z.

Hey, A.G.!
I'm really glad that you enjoy Bear Essential News--the whole thing! If you're already signed up to be a Young Reporter, you're still an official part of this fantastic journalism program. Kids in grades 3 thru 8 who send in their sign-up form get a Young Reporters Kit, which has everything they need to get started, including their how-to booklet, called a YR Stylebook. You can click on the Young Reporter tab on the left to find and print the Sign-Up Form. I'd love to come to your school, too! Just call 1-866-NEWS KID and maybe I'll be available for an assembly or something special.

Get writing! Boomer Bear

Dear Boomer,
My favorite part in this issue is the field trips and the whole paper. I wish you could come down to our school. Last year I was a reporter, but I couldn't come (to the Young Reporters Workshop). Next year I hope I could be one again.

Sincerely, A.G.

Bomer Bear,
My favorite part of your newspaper is Teacher the Month!

Thank you, K.E.

Boomer Bear,
The Young Reporters Program should have its own site for the kids who are in it. Like it should have a chat area and games and stuff—that'd make it awesome!!! Would you do it?

Your friend, A.P.

Hey D.M.,
It sure is great being a Young Reporter! I love gathering the facts for my news story and then sharing that story with thousands of people who read Bear Essential News. Plus, you get to go on TV, too! To be a Bear reporter, print out the sign-up form from this site (click on the Young Reporters tab on the left), have your parent sign it and mail it in. Reporters in Tucson can come to Young Reporters Night at Peter Piper Pizza (the third Thursday of every month from 4 to 6 p.m.) or to Bear's office to pick up their Young Reporters Kit. Phoenix kids get theirs in the the mail in a few weeks.

Report for me!
Boomer Bear

Boomer Bear,
Young Reporters is my favorite. I like writing about new topics of information. I learn new things and pass on the information to your readers.

Your Young Reporter, D.M.

Dear Boomer,
My favorite part of Bear Essential News is that kids like me can become a (Young) Reporter for it! My teacher got them for our class, and it turned out that the whole school wanted some! I thought that was really cool.

Your friend, B.V.

Boomer,
To me you are...the coolest bear ever! ;)

Your friend, A.I.

Dear Boomer,
My fave is Letters to Boomer and your contests!

Your friend, L.V.

Hey, K.K.!
Thanks for volunteering the other day. Rachael says you were a lot of fun to work with, too!

Muchas gracias, Boomer Bear

Hi, Boomer!
My favorite part about Bear Essential News is helping Rachael with the paper so students and teachers can read it. It's a lot of fun being (at the office) and doing great things with her. I cannot wait until the next time I get to go there and help out. I love it, and it's really fun :)

Your friend, K.K.

Boomer,
My favorite part about Bear Essential News for Kids is the games!

--A.F.

Thanks for askin', I.A.!
Things around here are hoppin' as we get closer to deadline. I'm sure you're happy to be on summer break now. Hopefully, you have a computer at home, too. Otherwise, you can catch this in Bear Essential News. I love finding the hidden stuff on the front cover, too. But my favorite part of the newspaper is Letters to Boomer.

Your buddy, Boomer Bear

Hey, Boomer!
I'm at school on my laptop. I just want to ask how's Bear Essentials going? My favorite part is when you find the stuff on the front cover.

Your bud, I.A.

Hey, Hey A.C.!
While I like writing great news and getting great deals with the coupons in Bear Essential News, MY favorite part is Letters to Boomer and Boomer's Blog because I get to answer letters from great kids like YOU!

Peace, Boomer Bear

Boomer,
My favorite part of Bear Essential is the coupons and great news cuz they're really cool.

Hugs and best wishes,
A.C.

Dear Boomer,
My favorite part of Bear Essential is all the word finds and puzzles, and also the front cover seek 'n find. I love all those challenges! I'm also signing up to be a Young Reporter!

See ya, C.L.

Boomer Bear,
I like the part in the paper where you help kids when they have problems. Some kids need help--big time!

Your fan, C.K.

Dear Boomer Bear,
I was wondering what is YOUR favorite part of Bear Essentials News For Kids? I was also wondering when you will post the winners for the SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium poster contest?

Your friend, OceanSun13

Boomer,
I like to look at the insides--they have good info and fun games to play!

from L.C.

Hey Boomer!
My favorite part of Bear Essential News is "Letters to Boomer." I love hearing about what other kids are doing this summer and what you have to say about it.

Your friend, V.R.

Dear Boomer,
My favorite part of Bear Essential News is the news stories--they are very informative!

Thanks, K.U.

Boomer Bear,
My favorite is Get the Scoop.

Your friend, Y.C.

Boomer Bear,
I like this paper because there are a lot of fun games like finding stuff!

Thanks, G.A.

Dear Boomer,
The best part that I like about your newspaper is the cover, where you hafta look for words or pictures. Then when you keep looking throughout the paper, there are word puzzles and coupons. That's really cool.

Thanx, X.A.

Dear Boomer,
I like the Water Wise page because it tells you how to save water and gets kids into the newspaper. I really think you should keep it up! I'd also like to wish you a very happy summer.

Your fan, M.I.

Dear J.J.,
If you live in the Phoenix or Tucson area, you can get on TV by joining my Young Reporters Program! You need to print out the sign-up forms from this site--there's a Young Reporters button on the left. Follow the buttons till you get to the sign-up form for your area! Summer is a great time to get started.

Your friend, Boomer Bear

How do I get on TV?

from J.J.

Boomer,
My favorite part of Bear Essential News for Kids is the part where all the activities are!

Your friend, W.G.

Dear J.P.,
I guess I need to lose some weight! I am covering up the umbrella on my front cover seek 'n' find for the Phoenix Editions. Your resourcefulness in figuring out the problem is super impressive! You'd make a great investigative reporter or maybe even one of those CSI detectives.

Great work and my apologies, Boomer

Dear Boomer,
My class has been looking for the umbrella for a week, and I found it on the Web site. I think I found out there's a misprint on your Phoenix front cover picture. (Boomer) is too far to the left and he covers up the umbrella!

Your friend, J.P.

Dear Boomer Bear,
I like reading your newspapers--they are really cool. Gotta go!

Your friend, M.W.

Dear Boomer,
My favorite part of Bear Essential News for Kids is the Young Reporters (Program). It gives me lots of ideas about what to write about for my articles. By the way I'm a Young Reporter, too.

from D.L.

Boomer Bear,
My favorite parts of Bear Essential News are the contests and coupons!

Your friend, S.C.

Boomer,
I'm so excited that I have an opportunity to be a Young Reporter and to write for Bear Essential News!

Yours truly, M.W.