Smokey Bear, the iconic figure of wildfire prevention, is celebrating his 80th birthday on Aug. 9. A central element of the celebration is the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge that runs through Nov. 28.

In celebration of Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday, the U.S. Forest Service has put out a “Smokey Bear Reading Challenge” to help children learn how to prevent wildfires and help the environment. Libraries ...

Celebration events for the Bettendorf Public Library Foundation’s Booker Bear Reading Challenge honor young readers from Pleasant Valley and Bettendorf schools who completed the challenge. The first ...