School may be (almost) out for summer, but that doesn’t mean that your little ones should stop practicing their reading. Last week I chatted with Carol Ann Luby, the vice president of membership for the University Park Library, and she shared an interesting fact with me: children can lose two to three brain levels in reading during the summer time if they don’t do it regularly. As a child I spent my summers enrolled in Hyer’s book club, and I credit it as one of the reasons I love reading so much (shout out to Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Shuford). Are you looking for something similar to enroll your little ones in? Here are the details on Mayor Rawlings’ summer reading camp.

The Mayor’s Summer Reading Club will last for eight weeks (June 15 – August 10) and aims to get the whole family involved (that’s right, there’s a section for adults too).  You can register online or at any Dallas Library location. Instead of selecting a specific book for kiddos to enjoy, this reading club wants participant to log their hours spent reading – and receive prizes as a reward (free Pizza Hut, perhaps?). Click here to find out more information.

As you may know, the City Council will vote on real estate firm PSW’s request to rezone an area off Kings Highway for single-family developments. After many community meetings to discuss issues like setback limits and garage styles, the developers and the neighbors seem to have found a happy place.

“The new changes are good,” said Jenni Stolarski, who’s property borders the development area. “Kings Highway, since the beginning, has been most interested in how we integrate these new neighbors.”

Look for more in the May 31 issue of Oak Cliff People, following the City Council vote.

If you’ve got a green thumb and a dirty car, there’s two Oak Cliff fundraisers that could use you help on Saturday.

From 8:30 a.m. to noon, the Friends of Oak Cliff Parks will be completing the restoration of the butterfly garden at Founders Park, which already has some visible progress thanks to the efforts of 38 athletes from Adamson and Sunset High Schools. Volunteers will get snacks and a mountain of gratitude. The group will meet at Memorial Plaza. If you have spading forks, shovels, clippers, loppers, or wheelbarrows, bring them. If you don’t, contact Barbara Barbee at brbrb303@aol.com or Steve Williams at swilliams51@ymail.com, and they’ll find some use for your elbow grease.

Also, Sunset High School‘s Purple Marching Machine has organized a car wash from 8 a.m. until noon at the parking lot of CVS, 2427 W. Jefferson Blvd. The group notes it takes 14 cases of water to keep the band hydrated at events, so donations in the form of bottled water will gladly be accepted in lieu of cash.

Be they four legged, finned, feathery, or scaly, pets are part of the family. Pose with your pet or send us your favorite snapshot by May 24 for the chance to be featured in our Pet People section, which premieres on May 31. This section will cover news and information for all pet lovers, including community pet-friendly establishments, local animal organizations and services, and your cutest pet pics. Email your pet family portraits to pets@peoplenewspapers.com.

If you think you have what it takes to give a TEDxSMU talk, auditions are open through May 31 here. Submit your best story, song poem, or whatever else fits in a 3-to-6-minute window.

The top 8-to-10 performances will be chosen to speak at the Kessler Theater on June 20. Judges will determine who moves on to present at TEDxSMU on Oct. 19. Finalists for the Kessler Theater round will be announced June 6.

If you just want to check out the talent and not compete yourself, you can come to the Kessler to watch the performances at 6 p.m. on June 20. Auditions start at 7 p.m., and tickets are $12 here.

This morning, the Dallas Zoo became the first zoo in the country (and just the second in the world!) to mix elephants with hoofed animals. If you’re there, you can catch the elephants commingling with giraffes, zebras, ostriches, and guinea fowl — just like in the wild.

If you can’t make it by today, the gates will be opened for the animals to interact again on Saturday.

In other animal news, we’re working on the premiere of our “Pet People” special section, which debuts on the 31st of this month. Have you sent us a snapshot of your pet yet? You’ve still got time — we’re accepting applications through May 24. Email your pet family portraits to pets@peoplenewspapers.com, for a chance to see your “baby” in our pages.

Oil and Cotton will kick off their “Course Over Ground” annual student exhibition on May 10. The opening reception takes place from 3 – 6 p.m. and features art created by weekly students, ranging from toddlers to adults. Come check out some local talent, and maybe get inspired to take a class yourself.

As of today, Bolsa will no longer serve lunch. Instead, the West Davis Street favorite will only be open for dinner and weekend brunch. But fear not, lunch can still be found a few steps away at sister restaurant Bolsa Mercado.

I’ll let Nancy give you the full scoop.

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey will host “Congressman on Your Corner” tomorrow. Come out to the El Rio Grande on Jefferson Boulevard anytime from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity!

Lucky Dog Books is hosting a three-day celebration to mark the first anniversary of the Oak Cliff location. The festivities are set for this weekend, Friday-Sunday, and will include bookmark hunts, story time for children, and extra discounts for trade-in account holders.

Additionally, the store is calling for authors, performers, and philosophers with the desire to host an activity. Click here for more information.

But hurry, the deadline to sign up for a performance, reading, or discussion is today.