Innehållsförteckning för Issue 139 från The Week Junior US

The winners of the second annual Earthshot Prize were announced on December 3. The five recipients were organizations whose missions focus on protecting the planet. What is the Earthshot Prize? The prize was created in 2020 by William and Kate, the UK’s Prince and Princess of Wales, through their Royal Foundation. The goal is to recognize and support entrepreneurs whose start-up organizations will help the planet and stabilize the climate. The prize was inspired by former President John F. Kennedy’s Moonshot challenge, which encouraged innovation in science and technology and propelled humans to the Moon. The prize is given in five categories that represent Earthshot’s main goals: to protect and restore nature, clean our air, revive our oceans, build a waste-free world, and fix our climate. Each winner receives about…

From a young age, Allison Gilbert loved to write—and now the award-winning journalist is telling the story of a trailblazer whose ambitions were similar to hers. Gilbert’s new book, co-authored with Julia Scheeres, is Listen, World!: How the Intrepid Elsie Robinson Became America’s Most-Read Woman. It is the first biography ever written about Elsie Robinson, one of the most influential news columnists in US history. Gilbert, 52, got started in journalism by writing for her high school and college newspapers and went on to cover major stories for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and other news outlets. She told The Week Junior that she discovered Elsie Robinson while going through her mother’s belongings after she died. When she found a poem attributed to Elsie Robinson and…

More than 50 animal species previously believed to be unable to use sounds to communicate do in fact “talk” to one another, researchers have found. Gabriel Jorgewich-Cohen, a scientist at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, studied 53 species of amphibians, fish, and reptiles and discovered that they were all capable of communicating to their own species using sounds. Jorgewich-Cohen had wondered whether animals use their voices and wanted to find out for himself by studying several species—most of which live in water. He started with his own pet turtles. “I decided to record them, just to check it out,” he said. Zoos around the world joined in the research, conducting their own experiments. Before this study, researchers hadn’t paid much attention to the noises made by many sea creatures—probably…

Rhododendrons On the Hengduan mountains in China, different species of rhododendrons have adapted to blossom at different times of the season. This has allowed more than 30 species of the flower to coexist without competing for pollinators. Rhinos Rhinoceros horns have been getting smaller, according to research based on an analysis of photos of rhino horns from 1886 to 2018. Poachers hunt rhinos with big horns, leaving those with smaller horns more likely to produce offspring.…

Soetkoekies (South Africa) These buttery cookies are traditionally made in December. They are rolled very thin for extra crispiness. Krumkake (Norway) Krumkake translates into “curved cake.” A simple sweet dough is rolled and then baked with a special iron. While hot, it’s formed into a cone shape and then filled with whipped cream. Letterbankets (Holland) Flaky puff pastry is molded into alphabet letters and filled with an almond paste (marzipan). This cookie can be in the shape of any letter, but the letter S is the most common. Pfeffernüsse (Germany) These spiced cookies are appropriately named “pepper nut.” They’re made with nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, then dusted with powdered sugar.…

In a new study, crows demonstrated a complex ability called recursion, which means recognizing a pattern or pair inside a larger sequence. People do this when identifying the repeated chorus of a song or solving a math equation that includes numbers that are in parentheses. In the past, experts thought using recursion was something only humans could do. But in 2020, a study of rhesus macaque monkeys found that, with extra training, the monkeys could learn to create recursive sequences too. Knowing that crows are very smart, scientists in Germany wanted to see if the birds were also capable of recursive thinking. The team taught two crows to identify paired symbols on a screen, such as [ ], { }, and < >. The birds were trained to create sequences…

The 2022 FIFA World Cup, taking place in Qatar, is getting more competitive and exciting. The tournament’s knockout stage kicked off on December 3 with the 16 soccer teams that advanced from the group stage. Teams that lose in the round of 16 and quarterfinals are eliminated. In the first match of the round of 16, the US faced the Netherlands. In the past, the teams had met in five exhibition games, and the Netherlands won four of them. Despite a great effort, the US team lost the World Cup match, 3–1. The US had gotten off to an excellent start in the match. Forward Christian Pulisic had an opportunity to score within the first five minutes, but his shot was saved by Netherlands goalkeeper Andries Noppert. The Netherlands opened…

Coach’s Name: Slava Glazounov Team: First State Gymnastics “What makes Slava such a great coach is that he knows gymnastics and was a gymnast himself, so he understands the sport really well. But he also motivates us and is really funny! He is always making us laugh, which is really important because gymnastics is a stressful sport, and we need a coach who can coach us and also be there for us when we need support. Coach Slava is the best!” Lucy, 10, Delaware 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 grea.…

The writer Pinocchio author C. Collodi was really a journalist named Carlo Lorenzini who began his career writing political humor. He first published Pinocchio in a magazine. The setting The medieval town of Collodi, in the Tuscany region of central Italy, is said to have inspired the original setting of Pinocchio. It is the town where Lorenzini grew up, and it also gave him his pen name (a fake name taken on by a writer). On screen The first film adaption of Pinocchio was Walt Disney’s 1940 animated version. It won two Oscars (top film awards), including one for the original song “When You Wish Upon a Star.”…

Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration (ABC) December 15 at 8 pm ET This musical event honors the 30th anniversary of Disney’s animated Beauty and the Beast with a new retelling of the story. Its all-star cast includes award-winning performers H.E.R. as Belle and Josh Groban as the Beast. The Boss Baby: Christmas Bonus (Netflix) The funny talking tot is back in a new holiday special that finds him accidentally swapping places with an elf and heading to the North Pole. He tries to run Santa’s workshop like a corporation but soon finds that his business spirit conflicts with the Christmas spirit. Dr. Seuss Baking Challenge (Amazon Prime Video) (Amazon Freevee) Classically trained pastry chefs and self-taught cake artists are among the competitors in this new series that challenges…

“This book is about a boy named Trace Reynolds and his relationship with his brother, Will. Will had a tragic accident on the football field that changed his life and his family’s life. The story is about hard times, trust issues, and the power of family. Although this book might seem sad, it’s interesting to read. It is a novel in verse and a real page-turner. I highly recommend it for ages 10 to 13.” Lila, 11, Maryland Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

SNOWMOJI TREATS Ingredients • 8 ounces cookie dough• 3 tablespoons flour• 1 cup white frosting• ¼ cup chocolate frosting• 12 orange Tic Tac mints• Brown chocolate gems• Fruit slice candies• Sour candy tape Instructions 1. Heat the oven to 350° F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, knead together the cookie dough and flour. cookies are golden around the edges, about 8 minutes. Let cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack. 2. Roll the dough out to ¼-inch thickness, then cut into circles using a 2½-inch round cookie cutter. Gather and reroll the dough as needed, and arrange the cookies 2 inches apart on your pans. Place the whole cookie sheets in the freezer for 10 minutes, then…

This week I was fascinated by our story about the additions to the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list (p3). This list—overseen by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)—contains objects, events, and practices that carry great significance in different cultures. And what an incredibly varied list it is! This year’s newcomers include baguettes in France, beekeeping in Slovenia, and bear festivals in the Pyrenees Mountains. One half of my family is from Hungary, so I was also pleased to see the inclusion of Hungarian string bands. (You can see the full list of additions from this year and previous years at tinyurl.com/TWJUS-UNESCO.) What story fascinated you most in this issue? Write to me anytime at hello@theweekjunior.com. And if you try any of our holiday cookie recipes on…

“I made my family an early Thanksgiving treat: caramel apple cider! My brother, Calen, approved!”Chloe, 12, and Calen, 9, Virginia “I like looking at the Photos of the Week. I like how detailed they are.”Daniel, 11, Alabama “I’ve had The Week Junior for a year now and I love it. I also do gymnastics, and when I see a story about gymnastics in your magazine, I love to read it.”Lucy, 10, Delaware…

1 Gregory Foster set a record by eating 10 of what kind of scorching hot chili peppers? 2 Which plant have scientists genetically modified to help reduce indoor air pollution? a) Croton b) Devil’s ivy c) Spider plant a □ b □ c □ 3 True or false? The new animated movie Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is set in Spain. True □ False □ 4 Who was the most streamed artist in the world on Spotify in 2022? a) Bad Bunny b) Harry Styles c) Taylor Swift a □ b □ c □ 5 True or false? Hippopotamus calves are born underwater. True □ False □ 6 The Earthshot Prize was inspired by which US President’s Moonshot challenge? a) John F. Kennedy b) Richard Nixon c) Ronald Reagan a □…

On November 30, three astronauts with the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) arrived at the nation’s new space station, called Tiangong (“heavenly place” in Chinese). Tiangong is the third space station ever built. The International Space Station (ISS) has been in operation since 2000, and Russia’s Mir space station launched in 1986 and shut down in 2001. The taikonauts (astronauts) Fei Junlong, Deng Qingming, and Zhang Lu are part of the Shenzhou-15 mission. They will spend five to 10 days with the members of Shenzhou-14, who have been at the station since June 2022. When the Shenzhou-14 crew leaves, it will mark the first in-orbit crew transfer at the new station. The new crew will spend six months aboard Tiangong. They will oversee completion of the new station and conduct…

On December 1, President Joe Biden hosted his first state dinner since taking office in 2021. He and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and his wife, Brigitte Macron, to the formal event, which was held on the South Lawn of the White House in a heated tent. France is one of America’s oldest and most important allies. What is a state dinner? A state dinner is an expression of goodwill—a way for a President to honor a leader who is officially visiting the US from another country. At the event, the two leaders exchange toasts in a show of diplomacy and to demonstrate the strength of their alliance. US Presidents have hosted more than 200 state dinners since the tradition began in 1874, and…

Montreal, Canada Countries meet to discuss environment More than 190 countries are sending representatives to Montreal, Canada, for the COP15 conference, where they will discuss a plan to protect the Earth’s plant and animal life and natural habitats. One proposal calls for conserving 30% of the planet’s land and water by the year 2030. The populations of numerous animal species are declining, and nearly 25% of the Earth’s natural habitat could disappear by 2100. Veracruz, Mexico Migrating birds may boost tourism A team of environmental groups, universities, and farmers are attempting to boost tourism in Mexico by raising awareness of a spectacular bird migration known as Rio de Rapaces, or “river of raptors.” Between August and November each year, thousands of hawks, kites, falcons, vultures, and eagles fly across the…

Chris Easlea Biologist, Adventure Aquarium Kind of! Fish that live in salt water drink a lot of it because they need it for their health. However, they filter the excess salt from their bodies. Freshwater fish, like goldfish, don’t actively drink water. They absorb enough of it through their skin and can expel any excess water from their gills. Do you have a question for a zookeeper? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about Adventure Aquarium in New Jersey at adventureaquarium.com.…

Scientists have known for many years that houseplants benefit people’s well-being. Now researchers have found a way to make plants even better for human health. Using a method called genetic modification (GM), they raised plants that reduce indoor air pollution. GM means changing a plant or animal by altering its DNA (a natural chemical that carries the instructions for how living things grow), including adding DNA from another species. Indoor air pollution is produced by cleaning products, cooking, and dust, among other things, and it can be bad for people’s health. In 1989, research done by NASA (the US space agency) found that houseplants could clean the air in a home. Later studies, however, showed that plants actually made too small a difference to help much. Since then, scientists have…

The immersive experience Beyond King Tut is taking visitors into the world of the Egyptian pharaoh (which means “king” and is pronounced “farrow”) Tutankhamun. The installation, created in partnership with the National Geographic Society, is currently open in Los Angeles and New York and at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, DC. It will be in more cities in 2023. King Tut lived between about 1343 and 1323 BCE and became pharaoh at age 9. He ruled for 10 years before dying at age 19. Little was known about him before his tomb was found 100 years ago. Kathryn Keane, vice president of public programming and the National Geographic Museum director, told The Week Junior that Beyond King Tut “is like a time machine.” It covers the discovery of King…

Just Dance 2023 is a party game for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series XIS. It was recently released for download only. The Just Dance series launched in 2009. In the game, players follow choreography set to pop and rock music. When you dance, you hold a controller or a smartphone with the new Just Dance 2023 controller app. The moves get faster and more complicated as you go. You earn points by finishing routines. The game launched with 40 songs, and more will become available. Some of the big hits include “Dynamite” by BTS, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” by the cast of Encanto, and “As it Was” by Harry Styles. People who subscribe to Just Dance+ get access to more than 150 songs from past editions…

Do you have a favorite holiday memory? Yes, once my sister and I spent Christmas abroad with people I didn’t know that well. We felt so included by their kindness and their generosity of spirit. How did the Clarice Bean series come to be? I wanted to write a film, and a friend suggested I first write a picture book. I ended up creating a middle-grade story that became a book series. Do any of your characters share traits with you? Probably Clarice, but there is a bit of me in all of Clarice’s family members. My characters are often based on people I know, but rarely just one person. How did you first get interested in drawing? My dad taught me to draw, paint, and think as an artist.…

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 When O’s represent hugs, X’s represent these 4 “Cut it out!” 8 Drink served hot in a special cup 9 Like dinosaurs and dodos 10 Shakespeare’s occupation 13 Where a house’s basement is located 17 Sound of an approaching storm 19 Annoying insect 20 It’s used for a ship’s rigging 21 Cleans a dusty floor DOWN 1 Item that’s said to be part of Ben Franklin’s scientific experiment 2 We do this after we chew our food 3 Opponent in war 5 The lowest number with two digits 6 The starting point of every french fry 7 Five-pointed shape…

Rogers City, Michigan, didn’t get tied up when a city council election ended in a tie. To break it, candidates Timeen Adair and Brittany VanderWall, both of whom had received 616 votes, each drew a folded piece of paper from a bowl. When the pair discovered that Adair’s said “elected,” while VanderWall’s said “not elected,” they agreed that Adair would take the council seat. Joking with reporters, Adair said, “The people have spoken, and they said, ‘Eh, either one.’”…

“I saw Ukrainian children on the news who looked scared about the war in their country, and I wanted to do my part to help. I used my leftover Christmas money to put together nearly 100 toy packages that I called happy bags. They had squishies, crayons, and fidget toys. Then I started a GoFundMe page and raised more than $1,100 to buy medical supplies, such as bandages and casts. I also made slime in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, blue and yellow, which I sold for two days in front of the EverWonder Children’s Museum. I raised more than $350 to donate to a church in Poland that cares for refugees from Ukraine. Finally, I used my birthday money and bought school supplies for 19 kids who were…

Teacher’s Name: Ms. Wujek School: Riddle Elementary School “Ms. Wujek is the nicest and kindest person in the world. Even when the class is noisy, she tells everyone politely but sternly to be quiet. She always keeps us interested in learning and sometimes does funny things in the middle of the class to keep us engaged. She is the best teacher in the world.”Siya, 8, Texas 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.…

HELPING HANDS When a dolphin got stranded on a beach in the UK, marine animal rescuers leapt into action. Over the course of three to four hours, they lifted it onto a tarp and carried it back out to sea. “He swam off strongly,” said one rescue worker. A COMMEMORATIVE COIN The Rolling Stones, a legendary British rock band, are featured on a new collectible 5-pound ($6.04) coin, released as a tribute to the band’s 60 years together. The Stones, who traveled across Europe on their Sixty tour earlier this year, said in a statement, “We are delighted to be honored.” SUPERFAN SELFIES Some soccer fans collect jerseys or balls, but Sam Williams collects fans. The 29-year-old traveled from Wales, in the UK, to Qatar on a quest to take…

Democrats in the House of Representatives made history when they elected their leaders for the next session of Congress. Hakeem Jeffries of New York will be the first Black person to serve as minority leader. Peter Aguilar of California will be the party caucus chairman, becoming the top-ranking Latino in House history. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts was elected as whip. Republicans are expected to elect their House leaders in January.…

Environmental activists hold different kinds of protests to get people to take urgent action against climate change (the long-term changes to weather patterns largely caused by human activity). Though many nations, businesses, and citizens have promised to reduce the emissions of gases that cause climate change, protesters say they’re not moving quickly enough. Many protests, like those held by activist Greta Thunberg, are peaceful and calm. Others, however, are meant to shock and anger people. Critics say attacking art and blocking roads make activists and their causes look bad. What do you think? Are climate protests going too far? Yes—they don’t help the cause It’s important to motivate people to fight climate change, but these protests are getting attention for the wrong reasons. Attacking things people value, such as famous…

Just like humans, pigs sometimes don’t get along with one another. However, the presence of other pigs may help reduce fighting, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Torino in Italy studied 104 pigs. They watched and recorded pig interactions for about five months, paying special attention to signs of fighting. Some of the aggressive behaviors among pigs included pushing, biting, and head knocking. The scientists then observed the pigs’ behavior after each conflict. They found that both the “agitator” (the pig who started the fight) and “victim” pigs demonstrated signs of forgiveness. They made nose-to-nose contact, sat near each other, or rested their heads together. If a third pig had watched the conflict, the victim pig appeared to have fewer signs of anxiety, like shaking. The…

Whether they’re enjoyed at Hanukkah festivities, shared during Kwanzaa, or left on a plate for Santa, cookies play a starring role every winter season. How did holiday cookie customs begin? Special origins Holiday cookies can be traced to festivals for the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. Thousands of years ago, people around the world celebrated this day with bonfires and parties—and cookies. As Christianity spread during the Middle Ages (500–1500 CE), Christmas and Winter Solstice traditions merged. Cookie decorating can be traced to at least the 1300s, when German bakers made cookies from wood molds with religious designs. In the 1600s, the Dutch made “little cakes” named koekjes, later adopted as the English word “cookie.” As trade routes opened worldwide, more people had…

A new wearable wrist device can track the movement and posture of a person’s entire body with one tiny camera. Most motion-capture systems need to see the whole body to track it. But BodyTrak captures images of small sections of the body and uses artificial intelligence (AI, when a machine imitates human learning) to figure out the position of the rest of it. BodyTrak then builds a virtual 3D model of the full body. BodyTrak could help athletes improve their performance or alert caregivers if an elderly patient has fallen or been hurt.…

On December 3, World Cup luge races began in Igls, Austria. A luge is a small, lightweight sled raced on a track by one or two people (singles or doubles). This year, the US made history in the sport by becoming the first country to send three women’s doubles teams to a World Cup event. One reason the US has so many teams is because earlier this year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that the women’s doubles luge will be an Olympic event for the first time in 2026. Before, the double luge event was open to men and women but only men competed in it at the Olympics. Because of the change, two of the top American female singles sliders, Summer Britcher and Emily Sweeney, decided to compete…

Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro, who has made many imaginative films about monsters and produced the Trollhunters franchise, has taken on a classic children’s story. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is a new animated film that follows a boy on a journey as he learns about life, love, and the desire to be understood. It is in select theaters and on Netflix. The film is based on C. Collodi’s 1883 Italian children’s novel, The Adventures of Pinocchio: The Story of a Puppet. Del Toro’s story is set in Italy, between World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). It follows Gepetto, a woodworker who carves himself a boy to cope with his son’s death. A magical spirit gives the boy life and names him Pinocchio. He is curious and energetic,…

Disenchanted (2022) Disney+ This animated and live-action hybrid musical is a sequel to the hit film Enchanted. In the first movie, Giselle is banished from the kingdom of Andalasia and ends up in New York City, where she finds love with Robert, a lawyer with a young daughter named Morgan. It’s now 15 years later, and the married couple have moved to suburban Monroeville. It is not the fairy-tale life Giselle hoped for. The town’s unofficial queen has it out for her, and Morgan isn’t happy in their new home. Giselle makes a wish and turns the town into a magical kingdom, but her plan backfires. She starts turning into an evil stepmother, and Andalasia begins spilling into Monroeville. Can she reverse the spell before it’s too late?…

(Candlewick Press) Clarice’s parents want Christmas to be simple this year. They’re tired of the preparation they have to do. On the other hand, Clarice wishes for a big holiday. She is determined to spread as much cheer as possible. She delivers homemade cards to her neighbors and makes fudge to give as gifts. Not everything goes as planned. The dog eats the family’s turkey, special ornaments break, and her grandma receives the wrong gift. Despite these setbacks, Clarice remains positive. A few surprises could make the day the family’s best Christmas ever. Colorful illustrations bring the story to life, and the book may make you think about what’s really important during the holiday season.…

Shadows of Winterspell By Amy Wilson (Macmillan Children’s Books) In this fantasy novel, Stella is a fairy who lives at the edge of the Winterspell forest with her grandmother’s ghost. When she makes friends, she learns that not everything is what it seems. Family secrets and her bravery will keep you turning the pages. Ages 9 and up Middle School: Winter Blunderland By James Patterson and Brian Sitts, illustrated by Jomike Tejido (Jimmy Patterson) Rafe goes to Alaska to study polar bears. He’s excited until he arrives at the freezing region. But when a polar bear that his teacher is tracking goes missing, Rafe must help find the bear before poachers do. This is the 15th book in the popular Middle School series. Ages 8–12 Peril at Owl Park By…

Carmen Croxall loves the Christmas season so much that she spent weeks transforming the front of her home into a giant gingerbread house. The house is covered in treats, including cookie windowsills, a candy cane door, and lollipop trees—but none of it can be eaten. Croxall, who lives in the UK, decorated her delicious-looking house using mostly recycled materials such as old milk cartons. “I’m really happy with how it looks—but now that it’s done, I’m already thinking about what I can do next,” she said.…

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. As a reader of The Week Junior, you may have opinions about America’s democratic process. If so, we want to hear them! Go to kids.theweekjunior.com/activities to download a form, like the one at right. 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.…

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 will you do to get into the holiday spirit this year? “Be kind!” “Make gifts and drink hot chocolate.” “Put up a menorah for Hanukkah.” “Decorate the Christmas tree with my family.” “Put lights up on our house!” In the big debate, we asked: Is cold weather better than hot weather? “Yes. When you’re cold, you put on a jacket. When you’re hot, there isn’t anything you can do to fix that.” “No, where I live it’s about the same.” “I like both.” “Cold. I love snuggling up, watching movies around the fire.” Now tell us: What song did you most…