Innehållsförteckning för Issue 129 från The Week Junior US

Over a period of more than 10 days, a massive storm devastated several islands in the Caribbean Sea before marching north to pound eastern Canada. At its strongest, Hurricane Fiona was a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds up to 130 miles per hour. What happened? Fiona formed over the Atlantic Ocean and entered the Caribbean on September 16, strengthening into a hurricane before slamming Puerto Rico on September 18. Fiona struck the Dominican Republic the next day, then hit the islands of Turks and Caicos on September 20, after which it reached its maximum strength as a Category 4 hurricane. (Category 5 is the strongest.) Fiona churned north, brushing against Bermuda before slamming into the Canadian Maritime region as a post-tropical cyclone on September 23. What happened in Puerto…

A FRESH COAT OF PAINT California’s famous Hollywood sign is getting a makeover. Workers will cover the giant letters with 400 gallons of white paint for the 100th anniversary of what one organizer called “the pride of Los Angeles,” to be celebrated in 2023. RECORD-SETTING FUN Students at the University of California, Irvine, won a Guinness World Records title by playing a huge game of red light/green light. As part of a Welcome Week tradition, 1,415 students played the classic game to beat the previous record of 1,203 participants at Willamette University. A PERFECT MATCH Dog lover Johanna Carrington, age 100, adopted an 11-year-old Chihuahua mix named Gucci. Carrington wanted a new pet but wasn’t sure an animal shelter would let someone her age adopt. A facility for elderly dogs…

Every two years, Americans go to the polls on Election Day to vote for members of the US Congress. Every four years, they also vote for the next President. Compared to other countries, US voter turnout is low. Only about 67% of eligible people voted in 2020, for example, and 53% in 2018. Although mail-in and early voting are available in some places, voting in many towns requires going to a school or library—which is difficult for some people because of work or other commitments. To solve that, some lawmakers want to make the day a federal holiday. Others say there are better solutions. What do you think? Should Election Day be a national holiday? Yes—it would improve our democracy In four recent US elections, schedules were the top reason…

Jason Faessler Hoofstock keeper, Nashville Zoo Rhinos charge to defend their territory from other rhinos, but they also charge when they feel threatened or scared. Rhinos don’t like to be surprised. They have poor eyesight and startle easily. But rhinos are, in fact, very gentle and usually charge just to scare another animal away. Do you have a question for a zookeeper? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the Nashville Zoo at nashvillezoo.org.…

The James Webb Space Telescope, the world’s largest and most powerful space telescope, has captured clear views of the planets Jupiter, Mars, and Neptune. Webb, which became fully operational in July, is run by NASA, the US space agency. NASA’s partners are the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. Webb is equipped with a near-infrared camera and a spectrometer. Infrared light is invisible to the human eye, so it is converted into colors that we can see. The spectrometer examines wavelengths of color to determine what objects and materials are made of. With this equipment, Webb doesn’t take pictures in the traditional sense. Instead, it sends data back to Earth, which scientists analyze and turn into pictures. Webb’s images of Jupiter were released by NASA on August 22…

The new Disney+ documentary series Growing Up aims to help young people realize they are not alone when it comes to their feelings and experiences. The show features people ages 18 to 22 talking about their lives when they were younger. It covers topics such as body image, living with a disability, and mental health. The idea for the series came from Captain Marvel star Brie Larson, who is an executive producer. Larson realized she felt “unlovable,” and discussions with friends and family helped her feel better. “She wanted to have a show that talked about things that we feel shame about,” executive producer Nicole Galovski told The Week Junior. The 11 individuals on the show are called Heroes. As with typical documentaries, the series uses photos and re-enactments to…

Splatoon 3 is a new arcade-style paintball battle game. It was made exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. The first Splatoon was released in 2015 for the Nintendo Wii U, and the sequel came out in 2017 on the Switch. The series is set in a distant future where different aquatic creatures rule the world. Gamers play as Inklings (kids that can morph into squid) or Octolings (kids that can turn into octopuses). Both can transform on the battlefield to either swim or run through the ink. The biggest part of Splatoon 3 is the wild multiplayer ink wars. The main hub is the city of Splatsville, which has plenty of spaces for epic battles. Locations include Hagglefish Market and Wahoo World theme park. They are filled with obstacles that add…

What inspired this book? I got the idea while watching the launch of Perseverance, NASA’s Mars rover. My daughter asked, “Do you think the robot is scared?” What interests you most about Mars? Trying to figure out what Mars was like in the past. The clues scientists have discovered make it seem like Mars used to have water. And if it used to have water, was it previously home to life? Did you love outer space as a child? Yes, I remember making papier-mâché planets in school and hanging them from the classroom ceiling. Why write about science? Our world is an amazing place, and I love to use fiction to explore real-world concepts. What are three words to describe this book? Daring, touching, and imaginative.…

Mike Shenk Q: How did you get your start? A: I made puzzles for my family when I was a child. When I got to college, I made daily crosswords for my student newspaper, and that’s when I thought it would be cool to become a puzzle writer for a living. Robert Leighton Q: What do you like most about your job? A: I really like writing puzzles, but I also like the part of my job that involves solving the puzzles that my partners write. We do this to make sure there are no mistakes in each other’s puzzles and that the clues are just right. I also love hearing from people who enjoy our puzzles. That’s a great feeling. Amy Goldstein Q: What’s your favorite type of puzzle?…

Crisscross Each of these things associated with money fits into this grid. Can you find where each one goes to complete the grid? 4 letters DIME LOOT SAVE 5 letters CENTS SPEND 6 letters CHANGE COPPER MOOLAH NICKEL US MINT WEALTH 7 letters NEST EGG 8 letters CURRENCY PURCHASE 9 letters ALLOWANCE 11 letters COUNTERFEIT LEGAL TENDER ALL THE SAME Each answer contains the letters A-R-M. Those letters have been placed for you. Can you figure out the words? (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) 1. Prince for Cinderella 2. Hard-shelled animal that can roll into a ball 3. Winter outerwear that fits like headphones 4. Place to get your prescription filled 5. Refreshing flavor used in gum and toothpaste Take five Five 5-letter car parts are…

“I love reading The Week Junior and wanted to send in something cool I made for this school year. I created a free-to-use site called Ejenda that lets students manage all their schoolwork on one page. It supports adding, tagging, and completing assignments. Students can import assignments directly from Google Classroom and view all their assignments in a list, calendar, and to-do format.” Have you done something interesting or raised money for a cause you care about? Whatever you’re up to, we want to hear about it at hello@theweekjunior.com. JOKE OF THE WEEK What do dentists call the x-rays they take? Tooth pics…

Teacher’s Name: Mr. Herriott School: Lincoln Trail Elementary School “Mr. Herriott has taught us why and how to love school and learning. He is always encouraging his students to do their best in and outside the classroom. He has a great sense of humor and makes everyone laugh! Keep being awesome, Mr. Herriott!” Grant, 11, Illinois 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.…

For more than 20 years, actress Lauren Graham has been a familiar face on TV for her roles playing dynamic single mothers. In the new season of the Disney+ series Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, she also plays a single mother, one who coaches her son’s junior hockey team. Mighty Ducks: Game Changers is a reboot of the hit Mighty Ducks films of the 1990s. It follows a 12-year-old boy named Evan, whose mom, Alex (played by Graham), encourages him to form a team of underdogs after he is cut from his powerhouse hockey team. Season two premiered on Disney+ on September 28, with Alex as the team’s new coach. Graham, age 55, was born in Hawaii but grew up in Virginia. She is most famous for her role in the…

Dogs are often thought of as loyal and loving creatures, but a recent study has revealed just how much dogs love their owners. Researchers from Azabu University and Jichi Medical University in Japan have discovered that dogs can cry tears of joy when they are reunited with their owners. In the experiment, the researchers first measured how many tears were produced by 18 dogs when they were just spending time at home with their owners. They did this by conducting a “tear test.” They put a thin strip of special paper in the dogs’ lower eyelids and then measured how much moisture from tears soaked into the paper. The team then repeated the experiment, this time with dogs that were reunited with their owners after being apart for five or…

Large blue butterflies Large blue butterflies are breeding at the highest recorded levels in 150 years in parts of southwest England. The species went extinct in England in 1979, but caterpillars brought over from Sweden four years later helped reintroduce them. Dugongs Researchers say that dugongs have gone functionally extinct in China, where there have been no confirmed sightings since 2000. Hunting and habitat loss are two reasons for their disappearance. Globally, they are vulnerable to extinction.…

October, when fall leaves turn gold and red, is the most popular time of year to travel a famous road in Virginia called Skyline Drive. What is Skyline Drive? It’s the only public road through Shenandoah National Park, which occupies 2,000 acres and is home to black bears, deer, songbirds, and other wildlife. The road runs 105 miles across the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are part of the Appalachian mountain range. Along the drive, there are trailheads, visitor centers, and 75 overlooks with campgrounds. In good weather, it takes about three hours to drive the entire length. How it was created In 1924, the US government appointed a committee to study sites for a new national park in the eastern US. After settling on the location, committee member William C.…

On September 23, Roger Federer, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, hit the court for the final professional match of his career. At age 41, he is retiring after 24 years as a pro. Federer played at the Laver Cup, an annual men’s tournament at the O2 Arena in London, England, that was held from September 23 to September 25. At the Laver Cup, a team of top players from Europe competes against a team made up of top players from the rest of the world. Federer, who is from Switzerland, was on Team Europe with players that included Rafael Nadal from Spain and Novak Djokovic from Serbia. Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic dominated men’s tennis for more than a decade. Federer chose to commit only to a…

Using cutting-edge technology and scientific innovation, the new National Geographic documentary series Super/Natural reveals the hidden powers of some of the world’s most extraordinary animals. All six episodes are now streaming on Disney+. James Cameron, the award-winning director behind the hit sci-fi film Avatar and its upcoming sequel, was an executive producer of the series. He motivated the team to use visuals, music, and other elements that would set it apart from other wildlife shows. “We tried to have fun with the storytelling to see the human side in these animals,” executive producer Tom Hugh-Jones told The Week Junior. The series is narrated by actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Doctor Strange in Marvel films. Each episode centers around a theme, such as alliances, rivals, or journeys in search of food.…

Spirited Away (2001) HBO Max This award-winning animated film is by legendary Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli. It follows Chihiro, a 10-year-old girl who is upset with her parents because her family is moving. On the drive to their new town, they get lost and stumble upon a seemingly abandoned amusement park. After her parents eat food on display, the pair morph into pigs. Scared and confused, Chihiro discovers she is stuck in a spirit-filled world where humans become animals. It is ruled by the powerful and evil witch Yubaba, who changes Chihiro’s name to Sen and puts her to work. Chihiro makes a friend who warns that she and her parents must get out before she forgets her former identity. Will they be able to escape before…

(Balzer + Bray) Resilience is a rover, a robot vehicle being built to explore Mars. Even though robots aren’t supposed to have feelings, Resilience (nicknamed Res) has lots of them. He worries he won’t be good enough to find signs of water on Mars. He’s sad to leave Rania and Xander, the scientists who have built him. While the launch goes off as planned, it takes seven months for Res to land on Mars. There are many tense moments along the way, and the whole time Res wonders whether he’ll be able to return to Earth one day. While this book is told mainly from the perspective of Res, letters from Rania’s daughter are mixed in. She used to be jealous of the time her mom spent with Res, but…

Slappy, Beware! By R.L. Stine (Scholastic) To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the popular Goosebumps series, author R.L. Stine has created a new origin story for the villain Slappy. It involves an evil magician and a ruined cake. This special-edition hardcover features jokes and original artwork. Ages 8–12 Treasure Island: Deluxe Edition By Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by N.C. Wyeth (Union Square Kids) Published in 1881, Treasure Island is about a captain who is searching for a buried chest of valuables on a deserted island. The captain also fights a band of pirates led by Long John Silver. This new version includes drawings and a ribbon bookmark. Ages 8–12 How to Draw the Cutest Stuff! Deluxe Edition By Angela Nguyen (Union Square Kids) This book helps you practice drawing lions,…

Ingredients • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar• 2 teaspoons cinnamon, divided• 2 tablespoons old-fashioned rolled oats• Pinch of salt• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided• 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract• One 16-ounce can refrigerated biscuit dough (such as Pillsbury Flaky Layers)• Store-bought caramel sauce for topping (optional) Instructions 1. In a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, oats, and salt. Using your fingers, pinch 2 tablespoons of cold, cubed butter into the flour mixture until incorporated, then set crumble aside. 2. Butter a 9” x 5” loaf pan and line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the 2 long sides. Heat oven to 350? F. 3. In a medium bowl, grate the apples…

A gourd way to travel downstream Duane Hansen carved a massive pumpkin—not for Halloween decor, but for a journey down the Missouri River. The Nebraskan paddled 38 miles in his 846-pound pumpkin, which he named the SS Berta. Hansen dodged rocks and sand bars for 12 hours as friends and family cheered him on from the riverbanks. “You’ve got to be on top of it the whole time,” he said. Guinness World Records officials are now reviewing Hansen’s application for the title of longest journey by pumpkin boat. The previous record holder, Rick Swenson, traveled 25.5 miles. Real OR fake? Gulls learn how to steal fries A group of scientists was trying to see how seagulls become so good at swooping in to grab snacks. The team trained the birds…

A founding principle of the United States is that it’s a democracy—meaning that citizens hold the power to elect the people who govern them. This year, Election Day will be on November 8. As a reader of The Week Junior, you may have opinions about America’s democratic process. We want to hear them! Ask a parent or guardian to download a form at theweekjunior.com/activities. Fill it out, then have an adult email it to us at hello@theweekjunior.com. We’ll feature some of the submissions on this page in future issues. IT’S YOUR TURN Email your news, views, and photos 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, and state with…

We asked: What extinct animal would you bring back and why? “The T. rex, because it would be so cool to see an animal that big.” “I would bring back the baiji dolphin because they are so cute and graceful.” “I would bring back a triceratops because it would charge at bullies.” “Dodo birds, so scientists can research them.” In the big debate, we asked: Are school lunch periods too short? “Yes. Having so little time makes you feel rushed.” “No, but if you don’t finish you should be allowed to eat in class.” “I always have extra minutes after I am done eating.” “Yes. My class always gets to lunch late. So we don’t get much time.” Now tell us: What is your favorite fall activity and why?…

When you give a gift of The Week Junior, you inspire a child in your life to explore interests, read about the world around them, and learn something new every week. Smart, fun, educational. Written for kids ages 8-14. Perfect for birthdays, holidays, or anytime you want to delight a child you love. They'll thank you every week. Give 25 weekly issues, save 66% off the cover price, and get a FREE GIFT. ORDER ONLINE AT THEWEEKJUNIOR.COM/SPACE or scan to subscribe…

Perfect World Series game is pitched On October 8, 1956, New York Yankee Don Larsen pitched the first and only perfect game in a World Series (Major League Baseball championship) against the Brooklyn Dodgers. A perfect baseball game is when a pitcher doesn’t let any players on base, and there have been only 23 in MLB history. Larsen threw 97 pitches, and after he struck out the last batter, players leaped into his arms to celebrate.…

Pacific Coast Highway Pacific Coast Highway runs for 656 miles along the coast of California. Travelers can enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean while keeping an eye out for dolphins swimming or elephant seals sunning on beaches. Route 66 Route 66 stretches more than 2,000 miles—from Santa Monica, California, to Chicago, Illinois. Nicknamed the Mother Road and celebrated in movies and music, the famous route is lined with historical stops like the Grand Canyon and St. Louis Gateway Arch. Overseas Highway Overseas Highway extends 113 miles between the Florida mainland and Key West. Travelers pass over 42 bridges along the way. In 2009, it was designated Florida’s only All-American Road by the US Federal Highway Administration.…

A garden in Portugal might hold the remains of Europe’s largest dinosaur. Paleontologists (scientists who study fossils) found fossils of a creature more than 82 feet long and about 39 feet tall that weighed about 48 tons. In 2017, a landowner in central Portugal saw pieces of bone while digging up his garden for a construction project. Experts who investigated found parts of a spine and ribs. Then, in August, a team of Portuguese and Spanish paleontologists dug up an entire rib cage that was well preserved and nearly 10 feet long. The bones appear to belong to a brachiosaurid, a subgroup of the longnecked dinosaurs known as sauropods. Brachiosaurids had long front legs and necks shaped like noodles, which helped them eat leaves from treetops. The Brachiosaur species that…

Major League Baseball (MLB) player Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals made history in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 23. That night, in his team’s 11–0 victory, the first baseman hit the 699th and 700th home runs of his career. Pujols, age 42, is the fourth player in MLB history to reach that home run milestone. He joins former players Babe Ruth (714 career homers), Henry “Hank” Aaron (755), and Barry Bonds (762) in the exclusive club. This is Pujols’s 22nd MLB season, and he has announced plans to retire once it ends. He hit only six home runs during the first half of the year but smashed 15 round-trippers after the All-Star break in July. On September 11, he surpassed former New York Yankees…

Coach’s Name: Erin Allen Team: The Blue Devils (soccer) “Coach Erin is nice, great at soccer, and gets us motivated. Every time I see her, she feels like family. She’s funny and says it’s OK when we mess up. She pushes us to be great and makes sure we have a good time. She always has a good attitude. What I like most are her genuine smile and excitement for her players. Because of her, I am a better soccer player today!” Gabby, 10, New York 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.…

Burrowing owls They live mainly underground. Bison roam near their burrows, so the owls mimic the sound of rattlesnakes to keep the bison from pushing dirt into their homes. Devil rays To attract partners, the sea creatures leap more than six feet into the air, creating sonic waves through the water. During filming, Super/Natural caught orca whales fishing for the rays. It was the first time this was caught on camera. African elephants These are the largest animals walking on Earth, and they travel in herds. The show features a herd protecting a newborn calf by covering it in dirt so nearby predators can’t detect its smell.…

Monster High: The Movie (Paramount+, Nickelodeon) Based on the animated series Monster High, this live-action movie musical follows Clawdeen, a half-human, half-werewolf teen. At school, her classmates are children of famous monsters. Just as she starts fitting in, an evil plot that could expose her half-human side emerges. Nailed It! Halloween (Netflix) This hit competition series, where amateur bakers hilariously fumble in the kitchen as they re-create fancy desserts, is back with new Halloween-themed episodes. The trick is that they will have to make spooky creations. The treat for the winner is a $10,000 cash prize. Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles (Netflix) In this animated special, Ash, Pikachu, Goh, and Dawn receive a mysterious message from the Mythical Pokémon Arceus and uncover a plot by Team Galactic that threatens the world.…

Starfish By Lisa Fipps “Starfish is a book about bullies, self-care, and self-acceptance. At her middle school, Ellie realizes after a friend moved away that she no longer has a ‘fat friend.’ Everyone calls her Splash after a birthday party at a pool. Ellie needs to figure out a way to tell everyone she doesn’t mind being fat, but the way people treat her stings. Ellie wants to be able to just be her true starfish self.” Sehee, 11, Virginia Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Crossword puzzles are a type of word game in which a list of clues corresponds to a pattern of numbered squares going across and down. They are one of the world’s most popular word games, and besides being a fun challenge, completing them can improve a person’s vocabulary and spelling skills. We often feature crosswords on our weekly Puzzles page (p26). So who better to advise on improving crossword skills than the people who create those puzzles for us? They work at a company called Puzzability, and here are their best tips. Understand how crosswords work Crosswords are a combination of trivia and word puzzles. “Every word you fill in gives you information to correctly guess the other words,” said Robert Leighton, one of Puzzability’s writers. The more answers you…

At farmers’ markets, workers from local farms bring the food they grow and make to sell to other people. Many communities hold them weekly at the same time and place. Shopping for some of your groceries at farmers’ markets is good for the environment because most of the food is produced locally and uses fewer resources, such as fuel, to get them to you. It’s also nice to support people who work in your community. The fall season is a great time to visit a farmers’ market because all the produce grown during the summer has been harvested. Many markets also offer fruit pies, jams, and other foods made from in-season produce.…

It’s been quite a week in the world of sports (p18–19). On September 23, tennis legend Roger Federer of Switzerland played his last match, on the same team with players who had been rivals throughout his 24-year professional career. Afterward, he spoke with tears in his eyes about his love for the game and his gratitude for his family, fellow players, and fans. The same night, Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals achieved something only three other Major League Baseball (MLB) players have ever done: He joined what’s known as “The 700 Club” upon hitting his 700th career home run. Amid the excitement and standing ovations, he too experienced what the MLB described as “a calamity of emotions.” After 22 years, Pujols has said this season will be his…

“I made bookmarks, and I think they look cool. I’m going to share them with my family.” Paz, 9, New York “I am holding The Week Junior while standing on an island in Sitka, Alaska. I spent time salmon fishing!” Finn, 10, Wisconsin “I enjoy reading to Slinky, my pet Pekin duck!” James, 10, Rhode Island…

1 Albert Pujols is one of how many players to hit 700 home runs in their Major League Baseball career? 2 Lucas, an African penguin who was recently fitted with new boots, lives at the zoo in what city? a) Los Angeles b) Oakland c) San Diego a ◻ b ◻ c ◻ 3 True or false? In the book A Rover’s Story, NASA’s Resilience rover has feelings. True ◻ False ◻ 4 Election Day is a holiday in how many US states? a) 19 b) 25 c) 33 a ◻ b ◻ c ◻ 5 What is the name of the instrument blown on the Rosh Hashanah holiday? 6 True or false? The first Splatoon game came out in 2017. True ◻ False ◻ 7 In the show Mighty…