MEET OUR FRIENDS

Hi there! I'm Phil the Phoenix, the mayor of Ember Oaks. Come back soon to meet more of our townspeople!

Hi! My name is Bianca the Beaker.

I love all kinds of science, whether it’s biology, chemistry, or physics. When I’m not in the laboratory, I love playing video games, surfing, and baking! My love of science comes from cooking with my family. Everyone in my family loves to cook – they’re all chefs! After a few years of cooking with my parents, aunts, and uncles, I grew interested in the chemistry of cooking. Why do we add acid? What does baking powder do? Join me in the Loopy Lab to explore these questions! I’m so excited to learn with you all!

Hey there! My name is Benny the Bookworm.

In my free time, I enjoy curling up in a cozy hole and losing myself in a book. Sometimes I read a bubbly romantic comedy, other times a bone-chilling thriller. I run Ember Oak’s library from Monday to Friday, so if you’re ever looking for something to read, pop in and give us a visit! On weekends or after work, I love to exercise with my friend Frida the Frog. She might be a better basketball player (she has an excellent jump), but no one can beat me at weightlifting. You’d be surprised how much muscle it takes to shelve books everyday!

Howdy friends! I’m Frida the Frog.

Basketball is my favorite pastime! You can catch me on the basketball court with my best friend Benny any day of the week. I don’t mean to brag, but I can dunk better than anyone else I know. I also love to paint murals around the beautiful pond I call home. Shapes, colors, hand-eye coordination – I have all of that down pat. But when it comes to words, I get a little mixed up. Good thing I have you to help me with my crosswords and mad libs!

Hi! My name is Tamara the Telescope.

I’ve been stargazing for as long as I can remember. I love climbing to the tops of trees to get a good view on clear nights with my friend Rami the Robin. I can look at nebulae, galaxies, and planets. But that’s not all I do! I love all kinds of music – punk, R&B, classical, and pop. My personal favorite is jazz music. I dream of traveling the world as a jazz singer! Rami and I are planning to start a jazz band with the rest of Ember Oaks. If you have any music recommendations, let me know!

Hi, my name is Rami the Robin!

I love to travel to new countries and make new friends! I just got back from Xian in China, where I saw the terra-cotta warriors. They were so intimidating!

Tamara is my best bud. We stargaze from different treetops and mountain peaks every Friday night. Machu Picchu, Mt. Fuji, and Denali are on our bucket list. I’m also pretty handy with a hammer! When I’m at home, I enjoy working on carpentry projects. Right now I’m refinishing a birdhouse!

Hi! My name is Sung-hoon the Scroll!

I'm the curator of Ember Oak's museum. Even though I look pretty young, I was born centuries ago. I've even met the most famous figures in history!

In my free time, I love to code and cook with my friend Bianca the Beaker. Last week, Bianca and I learned how to cook a turkey! We had to be super careful of the stove since my pages are thin and flammable.

If you'd like to learn more about some of the people I've met in my life, come join me at the museum!

First Flight is a non-profit, educational children's magazine created by students at the University of Chicago.