Innehållsförteckning för Issue 118 från The Week Junior US

President Joe Biden awarded a prestigious honor called the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 17 people on July 7. Recipients included athletes, educators, leaders in technology and business, elected officials, and civil rights champions. What is the medal? The medal is the nation’s highest civilian (non-military) honor, given to people who have made important contributions to American society, culture, and security or to world peace. In 1945, President Harry S. Truman created the Medal of Freedom to honor important service by civilians during World War Two (1939–1945). In 1963, President John F. Kennedy added the word “Presidential” and broadened it to include cultural achievements. In announcing this year’s recipients, a White House statement said, “These 17 Americans demonstrate the power of possibilities and embody the soul of the nation—hard work,…

FROZEN FUN It’s game on for Cold Stone Creamery, which is celebrating summer with new ice cream flavors it created with Nintendo. The sweet treats include Superstar Sprinkle Blast for Mario Party Superstars and Island Getaway for Animal Crossing. COMMUNITY SERVICE The town of Olivia, Minnesota, has a new veterans memorial, thanks to a local teen’s Eagle Scout project. Dominique Claseman, age 17, raised more than $77,000 to build the tribute, which was unveiled on Memorial Day. “He’s got a good heart,” said a visitor. A DUCK-SITTING DOG Fred, a 15-year-old Labrador retriever who lives at Mountfitchet Castle in the UK, has stepped in to care for a group of orphaned ducklings. The protective pooch cuddles with the baby ducks and carries them on his back. This isn’t Fred’s first…

Henry Winkler became the face of “cool” in his world-famous role as Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on the classic TV series Happy Days, which aired in the 1970s and 1980s. But to become an actor, writer, and producer, he had to believe in his own power when almost everyone else doubted it. Winkler has dyslexia, a learning disability that makes it more challenging to read and spell. Kids in school made fun of his struggles, and adults said he was just being lazy. But a teacher named Mr. Rock supported him. “He said, ‘Winkler, when you get out of here, you’re going to be great,’” Winkler told The Week Junior. “And I held on to that one sentence.” Winkler went on to win several awards for acting. But he says that…

Humans and chickens have lived alongside each other for far less time than historians thought, according to new research from the Universities of Exeter, Oxford, and Cardiff in the UK. What’s more, people didn’t see the birds as a source of food. Early chickens were respected and possibly worshipped. For a long time, it was assumed that humans began farming chickens about 10,000 years ago. This was based on bones found with signs of human activity in Asia and Europe. However, it has been found that some of the “chicken” bones actually belonged to pheasants. Others were mixed up with human remains at a later date. To settle the question of when the relationship between humans and chickens really began, a new study used carbon dating. A type of carbon…

How to Speak Animal (Bushel & Peck Books) Have you ever wondered what your pet is trying to say? Think of this book as a translator for the language of dogs, cats, and other pets. Learn how to tell if your bunny is scared, your dog is relaxed, or your cat wants to give you a kiss. Ages 8–12 Built by Animals By Christiane Dorion, illustrated by Yeji Yun (Wide Eyed Editions) The topic of this book is how humans can learn from nature, a concept called biomimicry. Ants are underground architects, for example, and builders were inspired by their techniques when developing cities. Ages 8–12 Atlas of Endangered Animals By Radek Maly, illustrated by Pavel Dvorsky and Pavla Dvorska (Albatros Media) This oversize book highlights rare animals, such as…

2022 THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD OCEANS DAY PHOTO COMPETITION FINALISTS…

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) All-Star Weekend took place in Chicago, Illinois, on July 9 and July 10. The events included a game and skill-based competitions. The All-Star game was held on July 10 at Wintrust Arena. The starters were players who had been selected through voting by fans, players, and the media. Reserve players were chosen by coaches. A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces and Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm received the most fan votes, so they were the team captains. Retiring WNBA stars Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm and Sylvia Fowles of the Minnesota Lynx were co-captains. Team Wilson won the game, 134–112. Fowles, who played on Team Wilson, had a memorable day. She scored the first points in the game with a three-pointer.…

North America is one of the most diverse continents on Earth, and the new National Geographic documentary series America the Beautiful is delivering a unique look at its impressive landscapes and wildlife. The show is produced by Vanessa Berlowitz and Mark Linfield, who made the hit series Planet Earth. Their goal was to create something viewers had not seen before. All six episodes of the series are now streaming on Disney+. Part of what makes America the Beautiful so special is that the overhead footage in the series was captured by camera systems attached to the noses of fighter jets. The aircrafts were capable of flying more than 350 miles per hour at an altitude of more than 41,000 feet. Greg Wilson, the show’s aerial cinematographer (person in charge of…

A Wrinkle in Time (2018) Disney+ Based on Madeleine L’Engle’s award-winning 1962 sci-fi novel of the same name, this film follows Meg, a bright 13-year-old with a natural talent for physics. She lives with her mother and adopted brother, Charles Wallace. Meg is struggling with the absence of her father, a scientist who disappeared four years ago. She is bullied at school but has found a friend in a boy named Calvin. One day, Meg meets supernatural beings Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which, who reveal that her father is still alive. The three take Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin on a trip through space and time to find him. They discover he’s being held on a planet that is spreading an evil energy through the universe. Can the…

(Random House Books for Young Readers) This story, a prequel to the Mr. Lemoncello’s Library series, takes place when the main character, Luigi, is 13 years old. One of 10 kids in his family, Luigi makes up games to play with his siblings and friends on summer break. When bullies rip up one of his games, Luigi’s friends try to cheer him up by taking him to a carnival. They give him coins to play a game in which a puzzle is hidden behind balloons. Although Luigi pops only a few balloons, he solves the puzzle. The owner, Professor Marvelmous, is impressed with Luigi’s puzzle-solving skills and hires him to work at the carnival. Luigi gives most of his earnings to his family. When the carnival ends, Professor Marvelmous leaves…

The Magic Misfits By Neil Patrick Harris, illustrated by Lissy Marlin and Kyle Hilton (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) A group of teenage magicians try to save a town from an evil carnival owner. Ages 8–12 Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls By Kaela Rivera (HarperCollins) When her sister is kidnapped, Cece jumps into action to get her back. Ages 8–12 Sisters By Raina Telgemeier (Graphix) This graphic novel recounts the ups and downs of life with the author and her little sister. Ages 8–12 The Vanderbeekers By Karina Yan Glaser (Clarion Books) Five siblings try to change the mind of a landlord who doesn’t want to renew their apartment’s lease. Ages 8–12 All the Answers By Kate Messner (Bloomsbury USA Children’s) Ava discovers a pencil that has…

If your family has a pet, you can take steps to care for it in a way that helps the environment. Each time you pick up your dog’s waste when out on a walk, for example, you are helping the Earth. That’s because waste left behind can pollute streams or lakes if it gets washed away during a rainstorm. When choosing waste bags, reuse bags you have at home or ask an adult if you can purchase biodegradable ones. When buying cat litter, shop for a biodegradable type, which is more eco-friendly than litter made of clay. If you are bringing a pet home soon, ask friends if they have items they no longer need (such as a leash, a fish tank, or a dog bed) so you won’t have…

There is something very special about reading during the summer. The days are long, the weather in many parts of the country is perfect for reading outdoors, and it’s so enjoyable to get lost in a good story during a vacation. Have you read any amazing books so far this summer? Maybe you’ve found some great suggestions on our Summer of Reading list of “50 Books Kids Love Most,” available at theweekjunior.com/summerofreading. If you’re looking for more ideas, turn to pages 11, 15, 19, 21, and 23 in this issue. And check out our tips for starting a book club with friends (p24). If you haven’t entered our Summer of Reading sweepstakes yet, we hope you will! You could win autographed books plus a video call with a children’s author.…

“I made a model of an eco-friendly house design! I made it out of recycled materials too!”Josephine, 9, New York “l always bring a few copies of The Week Junior when I fly to see Grandma and Grandpa!”Ethan, 9, Maryland “I love reading The Week Junior. Inspired by the How To section, I made this Father’s Day card for my dad. I always eagerly wait for the magazine every week.”Anushka, 10, Ohio…

Sign up and follow @theweekjuniorus on PopJam, a social media platform for kids 7–12. Ask an adult to download the app from iTunes or Google Play. We asked: What is your favorite food at a summer barbecue and why? “Hamburgers and hot dogs because they taste good” “I don’t enjoy meat, so I like the veggies! Corn and potatoes!” “I have to say that ribs are amazing! My dad grills them himself!” In the big debate, we asked which ice cream flavor is better: chocolate or vanilla? “Chocolate because you can add in other yummy flavors, like peanut butter.” “Vanilla. It’s so simple and you can have it with any topping.” “Chocolate! If you don’t want any toppings, you still get a good flavor!” “Chocolate is good, but vanilla is…

On July 7, one million Muslims from around the world gathered in Mecca, a city in Saudi Arabia, to begin an annual pilgrimage of five to six days known as hajj. Muslims are followers of the religion of Islam. This was the largest hajj since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Muslims consider Mecca the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam. Every Muslim who can make the journey is expected to complete hajj once in their lifetime. Men wear plain white clothes, while women wear plain clothes and hijab (a type of head covering). Attendees perform rituals, including praying and walking seven times around the Kaaba, a cube-shaped shrine in the middle of the city’s Grand Mosque (place of worship). Before Covid-19, more than 2 million people…

On July 7, the 11th edition of the World Games opened in Birmingham, Alabama. The event features a series of Olympic-style competitions showcasing the abilities of about 3,600 athletes from more than 100 countries. What are the World Games? Created to highlight new and fast-growing sports, the World Games is organized with the support of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It is held every four years during the summer that follows the Summer Olympic Games. Athletes compete in 223 medal events across 34 sports. As with the Olympics, a different host city is chosen for each of the Games. This is the second time a US city has hosted. Santa Clara, California, hosted the first World Games in 1981. What are some of the sports? Some of the sports are…

Arles, France Photo festival opens The international photography festival Les Rencontres d’Arles has begun in the South of France and will run until September. It features an exhibition about the celebrated Ghanaian photographer James Barnor. The show focuses on 93-year-old Barnor’s six-decade career in Ghana and London and includes images that have never been shown. The festival, held once a year, has taken place since 1970. Seville, Spain City to name heat waves Seville, in southwestern Spain, is set to become the first city in the world to name and classify different types of heat waves. They will be ranked by how they affect human health, for the purpose of helping communities plan emergency response measures, such as cooling centers. Heat waves have been linked to climate change (long-term changes…

Nelson Mandela, a former president of South Africa, was one of the most important people of the 20th century. He faced many difficulties in his lifetime, including spending 28 years in prison, yet never stopped his struggle for equality and democracy. A leader is born Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, in Mvezo, South Africa. His parents named him Rolihlahla, which means “troublemaker” in the isiXhosa language. He was the first in his family to attend school, and on his first day, his teacher gave him the name Nelson. Calling African students by English names was common at that time. Even though most of the population of South Africa was Black, the country was ruled by white people, and some of them wouldn’t pronounce African names. As Mandela grew…

A recent study revealed that large flying reptiles that lived during the age of the dinosaurs may have had brightly colored feathers. Pterosaurs were the world’s first flying vertebrates (animals with a backbone) and lived between 230 million and 66 million years ago. The finding could also settle a long-standing debate among scientists about whether pterosaurs had feathers at all. The discovery was made by an international team of scientists looking at the fossil (trace of an ancient plant or animal preserved in rock) of a pterosaur that lived in Brazil 115 million years ago. Researchers spotted feathers on the animal’s head. “We didn’t expect to see this at all,” said Aude Cincotta of University College Cork, in Ireland, lead author of the study. The research team found two different…

On July 10, the Wimbledon Championships concluded in London, England. It is one of the four most important international tennis tournaments, known as Grand Slams. Each year, it is held at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club. In the women’s singles final on July 9, Elena Rybakina, who was seeded (ranked) number 17, defeated number two seed Ons Jabeur, 3–6, 6–2, 6–2. One reason the matchup was significant was because neither player had ever made it to a Grand Slam final before. On top of that, Jabeur, who is from Tunisia, was the first Arab and first African woman to play in a Grand Slam final. Rybakina became the first player from Kazakhstan to win a Grand Slam singles title. At age 23, she is also the youngest…

Coach’s Name: Reed Tennyson Team: Dillingham Cubs (wrestling) “Coach Reed is awesome, nice, and really good at wrestling. During practice he teaches us wrestling moves and teaches them in a way so we remember them easily. He is funny and fun and jokes around a lot but also teaches us to have a good attitude, push ourselves, and work hard. He teaches our team that it’s important to be good people.”Jens and Gus, 13, Alaska To nominate a Coach of the Week, send your coach’s name, photo, sport, and team to hello@theweekjunior.com. Include your name, age, state, and a few reasons why your coach is great.…

Alligator They live in swamps in the southeastern US. Research shows the animals have existed for at least 8 million years and may be among the oldest living species in the world. Dolphin There are more dolphins per square mile in the US than anywhere else in the world. Southern California alone is home to about 450,000 common dolphins. There are two species: short-beaked and long-beaked. Grizzly bear These giants, a subspecies of the North American brown bear, can weigh up to 800 pounds. They once made the western half of the US their home but now live mostly in Canada and Alaska.…

The magic of reading can be different for everyone. I notice this with my own children. My oldest uses his imagination to put himself into the story. My toddler loves to ask questions about the books I read to him, and my baby flails his arms when I read to him. He is excited but doesn’t quite know why! They all love the comfort and familiarity of reading. When I was growing up, my favorite books were The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, and The Chronicles of Narnia series. I read A Secret Garden when my friend and I loved to create hideaways. We would make secret areas where we’d have our club—it was our thing and no one else knew about it. The Secret Garden captured that essence. I…

What kind of puzzles do you enjoy doing the most? Just like Luigi in Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game, I prefer rebus puzzles, a type that combines letters and pictures. What’s your favorite carnival food? Funnel cake, but I wouldn’t eat one before going on my favorite carnival ride, which is the Tilt-a-Whirl. Do you have any starting words for Wordle? “Audio” and “stern” are always my first and second words, so I get all five vowels and some of the most common consonants. Was middle school hard for you? I had a tough time because bullies picked on me. But I did develop a sense of humor to defend myself. Do you have any pets? Yes, we have two cats: Luigi and Phoebe Squeak. We used to have a…

1. Get set up. Gather a group of eight or more players, then split into two equal teams. Give each team a brightly colored flag. Choose an area to play in, such as a backyard or a field in a park, with each team getting half of the area. Each team should also specify a “time-out” area on their side for players who have been tagged. 2. Start playing. Give each team five minutes to hide their flag on their side of the field. Once the game starts, some players can try to find the other team’s flag, while others can be in charge of guarding your team’s flag. If you get tagged while on the other team’s side, you have to go to “time-out” until another member of your…

Keyword crossword Once you have completed the crossword, transfer the letters in the yellow boxes, in order, into the boxes below to get the answer to the Keyword question. ACROSS 1 Beanstalk-growing boy in a fairy tale 3 Necessities in table settings 8 In a depiction of an atom, this is what the dot in the center represents 9 Bird that hunts at night 10 Rudely butts in 13 Like a watch you can wear while scuba diving 17 It’s often the vocal part of hip-hop music 19 Dense ice sheet (which is constantly, though slowly, moving) 20 Part of the US Congress, along with the House 21 Word called out by a clerk when finishing with one customer DOWN 1 Broken appliances, rusted cars, and other stuff nobody wants…

Teacher’s Name: Ms. Burton School: Charter Oak International Academy “Third grade has been very challenging with Covid and other stressors, but Ms. Burton has always kept the classroom calm. She helps me feel relaxed and ready for anything. I didn’t really like writing in the beginning of the year, but now I find it fun. She has helped me improve my growth mindset. In conclusion, Ms. Burton is the best third grade teacher ever.”Leo, 9, Connecticut Nominate your teacher for Teacher of the Week! Send your reason for the nomination, a photo of your teacher, and your school’s name and address to hello@theweekjunior.com. We want to hear from you! To have your letters, photos, nominations, recommendations, or ideas considered for inclusion in the magazine, please include your full name, age,…

July 17, 1955 Disneyland opens in California On July 17, 1955, Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California. The theme park was designed and built under the direction of animator Walt Disney, who told visitors, “Disneyland is your land.” Within a few weeks, more than one million people had visited the park. Disneyland now attracts about 18 million guests a year. In 1971, Disney World, a larger version of the park, opened in Orlando, Florida.…

In recent years, more people have been choosing fake grass to replace their lawns and cover other outdoor spaces like balconies and patios. It’s also a very popular surface for sports practices and games. Fans of artificial turf say it always looks clean and tidy, and athletes can play on it in any weather. It also requires less work than caring for a real lawn, which many people are not willing or able to do. On the other hand, some people say fake lawns are bad for the environment because they’re made of plastic and take away natural wildlife habitats. What do you think? Is artificial grass better than a real lawn? Yes—fake grass makes gardening easy Anyone who has played soccer or chased their dog across a lawn in…

The largest zoo in Florida opened a new hospital on July 6. The Zoo Miami Sea Turtle Hospital will accept and treat sick and injured sea turtles. The hospital’s goal is to help sea turtles get well enough to return to their natural habitat or home. The clinic has special tanks where the turtles receive treatment and rehabilitation (help with recovery) before being released back into the wild. The hospital welcomed its first patient a few weeks early. In May, a 388-pound female loggerhead turtle, which the staff named Baymax, was brought to the zoo with a wounded front left flipper. Doctors believe the injury was caused by a shark bite. They also discovered that Baymax was pregnant. She received medicine and food, including crab and squid, before having surgery.…

The mysteries of the deep ocean are being revealed, bit by bit, with the help of some unconventional research assistants: large sea animals. Scientists are attaching high-tech tags and sensors to the fins, flippers, and tails of whale sharks, seals, tuna, swordfish, rays, and other creatures. The animals are gathering useful data. It’s difficult for researchers to study waters deeper than about 1,600 feet below the surface, in the mesopelagic, or twilight, zone. (This zone ranges from about 650 to 3,300 feet below the surface.) The water pressure is so intense there that it isn’t safe for people, and sunlight barely reaches it. Deeper than that, in the bathypelagic, or midnight, zone (about 3,300 to 13,100 feet down), there is no sunlight at all. Scientists have known for many years…

The How and Wow of the Human Body By Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, illustrated by Jack Teagle (Clarion Books) From the creators of the Wow in the World podcast, this book is filled with quizzes, jokes, and comics about the human body. Ages 8–12 Black Women in Science By Kimberly Brown Pellum, Ph.D. (Rockridge Press) This collection includes biographies of 15 Black women who have been trailblazers in science. You’ll read about a doctor who helped restore people’s vision and an engineer who helped create navigation systems. Ages 9–12 Brains On! Presents: Road Trip Earth By Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez, and Sanden Totten (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) The hosts of the Brains On! podcast take readers on a journey to the Earth’s core, across bodies of water, and…

The World of Adventure Sports By Emma Carlson Berne, illustrated by Ian Jepson (Lonely Planet Kids) Find out about snowboarding, surfing, rock climbing, and more. The glossary of terms, history facts, and athlete interviews help bring each sport to life. Ages 9–12 The Everything Kids’ Soccer Book By Carlos Folgar and Deborah W. Crisfield (Everything) The dribbling tips and passing strategies in this book may help you improve your own soccer skills. A word search, crossword, and other puzzles are also included. Ages 8–12 The Story of the Olympic Games By the Olympic Museum (Welbeck Books) This book dives into the history, top wins, and amazing facts about the summer and winter Olympic Games that have been held around the world since 1896. Ages 10 and up Baseball Around the…

Baymax—the lovable healthcare companion robot from the 2014 hit animated film Big Hero 6—is starring in a new series of animated shorts. Baymax! is about the importance of caring for others. It is now streaming on Disney+. Big Hero 6 was about teen genius Hiro Hamada, whose brother created Baymax to treat people’s medical needs. He can detect vital signs, diagnose conditions, assess pain, and treat nearly any illness or injury. Just like the film and its TV spin-off, Big Hero 6: The Series, the shorts are set mainly in the futuristic city of San Fransokyo. Baymax was a traditional superhero in Big Hero 6, but his character in Baymax! is more grounded in real life. Series creator Don Hall was inspired by shows about kind doctors healing their patients.…

New downloadable content (DLC) for the hit platform game Cuphead has been released. Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course is now available on the Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC. The original Cuphead game was released in 2017. It revolves around brothers Cuphead and Mugman, who live on Inkwell Isle. The pair lose a bet with the Devil, so they have to work for him, but the game is funny, not scary. It is designed in the style of a cartoon from the 1930s and even inspired an animated series on Netflix. As the game progresses, the brothers are reminded to do the right thing by their guardian, Elder Kettle. He gives them good advice so they are able to defeat their scheming boss, which frees them from his…

Whether you enjoy fantasies, mysteries, fiction, or nonfiction, reading is fun and entertaining. You can enjoy the books you read even more if you start or join a book club. In a book club, a group of people choose to read the same book and then get together to discuss what they thought of it. Being part of a book club is a great way to discover new types of stories and meet others who enjoy reading, said Judy Gelman, author of The Kid’s Book Club Book. Here’s how to get started. Create the basics To start a book club, you will first want to think about how often you’ll meet and where you’ll get together. Many book clubs meet about once a month so people have time to read…

Jailbreak at the bird rescue On June 29, residents of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, were astounded to see a kangaroo hopping around town. The marsupial, named Baxter, belonged to former zoo owners who now run a rescue center for wild birds. A clever parrot named Thor had figured out how to open the door to Baxter’s enclosure and set him free. Authorities lured the kangaroo with peanut butter and brought him safely home to rejoin his feathered friends. Real OR fake? Ketchup pop is summer sensation Oh, Canada! A new kind of frozen popsicle has arrived, and the nation to the north can’t get enough of it. The ketchup-flavored “Frenchsicle”—produced by French’s, the condiment company—became an instant hit, flying off shelves and causing its limited release to be extended. And…

People around the world are continuing to call for an end to the war in Ukraine. If you would like to express a wish for peace, go to theweekjunior.com/ukraine with an adult to print out our poster template. Add a drawing or a message and display it in your window or on your front door. To share your poster with us, ask an adult to take a photo of it and send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. An adult can also share it on social media using #StandWithUkraine and tag us at @theweekjuniorus. IT’S YOUR TURN Email your news, views, and photos to hello@theweekjunior.com.…