Innehållsförteckning för Issue 143 från The Week Junior US

On January 3, lawmakers gathered in Washington, DC, for the start of the 118th session of Congress (branch of government that makes laws). Congress is divided into two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives. For the next two years, Democrats will control the Senate and Republicans will control the House. What is happening in the Senate? Vice President Kamala Harris swore in new and returning senators, including the majority leader, Chuck Schumer of New York. Patty Murray of Washington was elected president pro tempore, becoming the first woman to hold the position. That is the second highest-ranking job in the Senate, after the Vice President. The job typically goes to the most senior member of the Senate, which is Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, but she declined to…

A COLD-WEATHER RESCUE Wildlife expert Mary Warwick rescued 1,500 bats who nearly died after temperatures in Houston, Texas, dropped below freezing. Warwick gathered the bats by hand and kept them warm and fed in her attic until temperatures rose. THE GIRL OF THE YEAR An American Girl doll named Kavika “Kavi” Sharma is the first South Asian doll to be named Girl of the Year. The company said Kavi lives in New Jersey, loves Broadway shows, practices the Hindu religion, and “shares her culture in meaningful ways with her friends and classmates.” SHARING A LOVE OF READING Two sets of teen sisters have sent 60,000 books to children in Nigeria and Ghana, Africa, where access to books is limited. Azzarrée and Amirrah Uwhubetine and Eline and Sedi Asase grew up…

Paris, France Food packaging law goes into effect France has a new law aimed at reducing waste from fast-food restaurants. Since January 1, restaurants that can seat 20 or more people have been banned from using disposable packaging and cutlery. The restaurants have to provide reusable cutlery, plates, and cups. The ban applies only to people eating in restaurants, not to takeout orders. The country has a goal of phasing out all single-use plastics by 2040. Switzerland Skiing competition held on fake snow After unseasonably warm weather caused real snow to melt, athletes competing in a skiing competition in Switzerland raced on slopes of artificial snow. The average daily temperature on New Year’s Day is about 37? F, but this year it was a record-breaking 68° F. This is believed…

This state park in Moab, Utah, is nestled in canyon country, and its trees and land have been shaped by years of erosion from water and wind. The gooseneck in the Colorado River, a curved bend in the river that is one of the main features of the park, can be viewed from an overlook that towers 2,000 feet above. With clear night skies for stargazing, the park is designated an International Dark Sky Park. The larger Moab area around the park teems with wildlife, including Hopi chipmunks, juniper titmice, turkey vultures, and western collared lizards.…

Bambi This touching 1942 movie about a young deer was the first animated movie with no human roles. Disney artists modeled their drawings on real animals in the wild. Toy Story This 1995 hit was the first animated feature created entirely on computers. Pixar, which was later acquired by Disney, built the software that allowed animators to design 3D characters, ushering in a new era of animation. The Princess and the Frog Disney returned to hand-drawn animation for this 2009 fairy tale, which featured the first Black Disney princess. It was co-directed by the same pair who directed The Little Mermaid (1989) and Aladdin (1992). Frozen This 2013 fan favorite was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s 1844 story, “The Snow Queen,” which features a sorceress with power over ice and…

Young girls who pretended to be a famous female scientist showed more persistence in science, according to a new study. This suggests that encouraging girls to pretend-play as scientists could make them more likely to pursue education and work in scientific fields. Previous research has found that many girls as young as 6 think boys are better at science than they are. For the new study, researchers recruited 240 children ages 4 to 7. The kids played a game in which they were shown an object (such as a basketball or a balloon) held over water and were asked to predict if it would sink or float. They learned whether their prediction was right and were asked if they wanted to try again or do something else. Some of the…

There was a familiar winner at the College Football Playoff National Championship game, played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on January 9. The University of Georgia, the number one team, successfully defended their national title by defeating third-ranked Texas Christian University (TCU), 65–7. The score was the biggest margin of victory of any national championship game in history. It is Georgia’s fourth championship title overall. Georgia was undefeated this season and favored to win. TCU, however, had an impressive season. They had a 13–1 record and finished at the top of their conference. It was a major turnaround from last season, when they had a losing record and finished in fifth place. TCU made the final by upsetting the University of Michigan, 51–45, in a semifinal game on…

Coach’s Name: Madeline Kaiser Team: Medina Titans FC “Coach Kaiser is a kind and helpful coach. She pushes each one of us to play our best, yet she’s always supportive when we make mistakes. She plans fun games for us to play, including Flying Changes. She is a fabulous coach, and I enjoy playing on her team!”Sophie, 9, Washington 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.…

Al Hirschfeld drawings An exhibition space that will periodically change has works by caricature artist Al Hirschfeld, who died in 2003. He is famous for portraits of Broadway stars. Visitors can create works in his style. Lion King masks The award-winning musical The Lion King has been on Broadway since 1997. It is known for its innovative puppets and costumes. The museum features masks for the characters of Simba and Nala. In the Heights model Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first Broadway musical was In the Heights. Visitors to the museum can see a miniature model of the set from the show.…

Kids Baking Championship (Food Network) Mondays at 8 pm ET (Discovery+) Kids with their own baking businesses are facing off in the new season of this competition series. They’ll tackle challenges such as making logos for cupcakes and re-creating viral desserts in hopes of winning a $25,000 grand prize. Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Disney+) In the new second season of this animated series set in the Star Wars universe, a group of experimental clones continue their journey around the Empire after the fall of the Republic. During their missions, they will encounter new and old friends and enemies. Craft in America (PBS Video App) This documentary series profiles artists who work with mediums including ceramics, textiles, and wood. Each episode has a theme such as “Home” or “Inspiration,” and…

How are the dragons in this book different from those in other books you’ve read? Which character do you think showed the most bravery and why? How do you think the heroes in this book learned from one another? Can differences among people be an advantage to friendships? Why or why not? What secret that was revealed surprised you the most and why? Did you feel satisfied by the ending? Why or why not?…

Flashlight tag Turn out the lights in a large room. One player gets a flashlight and tries to find all the other players while they hide. The last player to be spotted with the flashlight wins. Sleeping beauty One person snuggles up and pretends to be asleep. Start a timer, then see how long it takes for everyone else to get them to laugh with silly jokes, noises, and more. Glow bowling Fill 10 plastic water bottles halfway with water, add a glowstick to each one, and screw on the caps. Set the bottles up in a triangle. Then turn the lights out and see who can knock them down by rolling a soccer ball. Pillow fight In an open space, set a timer for one minute. At the count…

Crisscross Each of these things that are loud fits into this grid. Can you find where each one goes to complete the grid? 5 letters DRUMS SIREN STORM 6 letters CANNON SCREAM 7 letters ROOSTER 9 letters FIREWORKS SONIC BOOM 10 letters SMOKE ALARM SPORTS FANS 11 letters ACTION MOVIE ROCK CONCERT 13 letters ROLLER COASTER ALL THE SAME Each answer contains the letters W-I-N. Those letters have been placed for you. Can you figure out the words? (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 29. Spot the difference These two pictures of cherry blossoms appear to be the same, but take a closer look. There are actually five differences. Can you see them? All the same hint: Word 4 contains a…

We asked: Which is your favorite cover from 2022? “Issue 99: A Call for Peace” “Issue 101: Found!” “Issue 105: A New Justice” “Issue 107: Bobcat Surprise” “Issue 115: Fenway” “Issue 116/117: Chocolate or Vanilla?” “Issue 132: Having Your Say” “Issue 137: Protecting Penguins” “Issue 139: Goal!” Now tell us: Who is your favorite Disney character and why?…

An ancient wooden sarcophagus (coffin) displayed at the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) in Texas was returned to Egypt on January 2, after it was found to have been stolen years ago. The move was part of the Egyptian government’s efforts to stop the trafficking (illegal buying and selling) of stolen goods. Known as the Green Coffin, for its painted top, the sarcophagus (pronounced saar-KAH-fuh-guhs) dates as far back as 332 BCE and is believed to have belonged to an Egyptian priest named Ankhenmaat. Officials had determined that it was stolen from a tomb in northern Egypt and smuggled through Germany into the US in 2008. The handover took place in a ceremony in Cairo, Egypt’s capital. Egypt has been working to bring home antiquities taken from the country.…

Damar Hamlin, a player for the Buffalo Bills in the National Football League (NFL), is making a positive recovery after collapsing on the field during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on January 2. On January 9, he was stable enough to be transferred from a hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Buffalo General Medical Center in New York. What happened to Hamlin? During the first quarter of the game, Hamlin, age 24, made a tackle, got back on his feet, then fell to the ground. He experienced what doctors later said was cardiac arrest, which is when a person’s heart stops. After a medical team treated him on the field, he was taken to a hospital and put on a ventilator to receive oxygen. He spoke on January 5 and…

When the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope were released in July 2022, people around the world saw awe-inspiring views of the universe. However, those views came with a hefty price tag: It cost about $10 billion to get Webb up and running nearly a million miles from Earth. Space exploration gives scientists a deeper understanding of our universe and shows us what great things humans can accomplish. Many people, however, say the money would be better spent addressing issues right here on Earth, such as climate change, social injustice, and the rising cost of goods. So what do you think—is exploring space worth the money? Yes—the benefits outweigh the costs Exploring our universe costs a lot of money, but it still comes to less than 1% of…

Researchers used to consider marsupials (mammals with a pouch) loners with simple social lives. But according to a new study, scientists now think marsupials are more sociable and can form long-term relationships with one another. More than 250 species are classified as marsupials, including koalas, kangaroos, wombats, and squirrel gliders, and are found in Australia and New Guinea. Scientists at the National Center for Scientific Research in France examined data from 120 studies on 149 populations of 65 marsupial species. They categorized each population as solitary (living alone), living in pairs, or living in groups of three or more. Nineteen species were found to live solitary lives, while nearly half of the species preferred to live in pairs or in larger groups. In addition, 27 species belonged to multiple social…

Joan Daniels Senior curator of mammals, Brookfield Zoo This may be surprising, but rhino horns are not actually horns. These “horns” are mostly made of fibers called keratin, which is also what human hair and fingernails are made of. And like hair and nails, rhino horns will grow throughout the animal’s lifetime. Do you have a question for a zookeeper? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about Brookfield Zoo in Illinois at czs.org/BrookfieldZoo.…

Ankylosaurs were dinosaurs with armored bodies and tails that swung like clubs. Researchers thought that the herbivorous (plant-eating) creatures used these features as protection against big predators like Tyrannosaurus rex. But a new study suggests that the dinos may have also used them to show off and fight with one another. The largest ankylosaurs were between 4 and 6 feet tall and more than 20 feet long. They lived mainly during the Cretaceous period (about 145 to 66 million years ago). Most of their body was covered with bony plates—making them look similar to an armadillo but with sharp points jutting out from each plate. Some had a heavy, bony club at the end of their tail that could crack the bones of any animal unfortunate enough to come in…

Director James Cameron’s 2009 sci-fi epic Avatar has made about $3 billion worldwide, more than any film in history. Now its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, is also making a splash. It was released on December 16, and after three weeks in movie theaters, it had earned $1.7 billion worldwide. By January 9, it had become the 7th highest-grossing film of all time. The first Avatar film was set in the world of Pandora, where marine Jake Sully was sent to drive away a native civilization, the Na’Vi, so that valuable minerals could be mined. Instead, he found love with a Na’Vi named Neytiri. The Way of Water picks up years later as the same threat returns. Jake, Neytiri, and their children must leave their home and seek refuge…

Since late 2021, the streaming service Netflix has been releasing mobile games for Apple and Android devices that are free for subscribers. With the recent addition of nine new titles, there are now 40 games available. To find the games, you go into the Netflix mobile app, scroll to the Games row, then pick a title. You are then taken to an exclusive section of the App Store or Google Play where the game can be downloaded. Unlike many mobile games, Netflix’s do not contain ads or require in-app purchases to advance. Among the new offerings is Flutter Butterflies, a nature simulation game. It begins in a small section of a forest, where you will stumble upon a little egg that you need to keep safe until a caterpillar emerges.…

Why did you write about dragons? I’ve been fascinated with them for as long as I can remember! When my mom would take me to the library, I’d go to the fantasy section and check out everything I could find about dragons, magic, and wizards. Do you draw? Yes, I sketch out the worlds for my stories. When I was growing up, I used to draw comics about M&M’s and Skittles battling each other. Favorite warm drink? I would choose hot chocolate with peppermint, and ideally there would be marshmallows on top. How long did it take you to write this book? I worked on this story for two years before I got an agent (someone who helps sell a book to a publishing company), and then I spent more…

What you need Tissue paper Pencil Round items to trace in a few sizes, such as coins, a spice jar lid, or a small juice cup Scissors Dull pencil Hot glue and gun (with adult supervision) or white glue Small branches with no leaves Small recycled jars, bottles, or vases Instructions 1. Stack a few pieces of tissue paper together and, with a pencil, trace a variety of circles onto it using the round items. Cut the circles out, making sure to cut a few layers of the tissue circles at a time. 2. Take two circles of the same size and gently push the dull point of the pencil down into the center so the circle’s edges come up and the center is pushed down. 3. Remove the pencil.…

Scott Stallings is a top golfer on the Professional Golf Association (PGA) Tour. But when invitations were sent out for the prestigious Masters tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, a different Scott Stallings was shocked to find an invite in his mailbox. The other Scott Stallings lives in Georgia, and his wife shares the name of the golfer’s wife. “This is not for me,” he said. He reached out to the athlete, who invited him to attend the tournament’s practice rounds.…

We are excited to send you this week’s issue—the first we’ve produced in 2023! It’s packed with stories to keep you informed about what’s going on in the world, including the start of the 118th Congress and its unusual voting for Speaker of the House (p2), the encouraging update on the health of pro football player Damar Hamlin (p4), and the new study about a dinosaur’s powerful tail (p14). This issue also includes a roundup of some of the covers you told us you liked best from 2022 (see the next page). It’s always fun to find out your favorites! This week we also announce a new way for you to connect with us and have your opinions featured in The Week Junior. We want to know what movies and…

“Fun and amazing! The peppermint cookies were delicious!”Lilah, 9, and Ethan, 11, South Carolina “We made the snowmoji cookies and loved them!”Grace, 10, Scott, 8, and Claire, 6, California “We made the molasses cookies from your December 16 issue!”Estelle, 9, and Phoenix, 9, Hawaii…

1 True or false? The 2009 movie Avatar made more money than any film in history. True □ False □ 2 A beloved mountain lion in Los Angeles, named P-22, was also known by what name? 3 What type of dinosaurs may have used their club-like tails to fight with each other? a) Ankylosaurs b) Diplodocus c) Apatosaurus a □ b □ c □ 4 Pelé, the soccer legend who won three World Cups, was from what country? 5 True or false? Marsupials can form long-term relationships with one another. True □ False □ 6 In the book Heroes of Havensong: Dragonboy, where does the village Gerbera send its king every 25 years? a) The Land of Dragons b) The Land of Orcs c) The Land of Monsters a □…

Jaylen Smith, an 18-year-old college freshman, did not set out to make headlines when he decided to run for mayor of Earle, Arkansas. He wanted to bring positive changes to his community. But when he won the election in November 2022, he ended up making history as the youngest Black mayor ever elected in the US. “It all started in student government in high school,” Smith told The Week Junior. The differences he and his classmates made within the school system inspired Smith to enter his name in the race for mayor. He wanted to make an impact not just at school but within the larger community of Earle. Earle has a population of about 1,800 people. Smith plans to pursue his college education at Arkansas State University Mid-South while…

Nearly 200 countries have come together to pass a new rule to protect more than 50 of the world’s shark species, many of which are endangered (at risk of going extinct). One of the reasons sharks are endangered is because they are hunted for their fins, which are used in shark fin soup, a popular meal in parts of Asia. The sharks that are hunted most for their fins include blue, bull, and tiger sharks, all of which will now be protected. The agreement was made at a meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which manages how plants and animals are traded. Most of the world’s countries are members of CITES. The deal puts 60 shark species under the protection…

Union Island geckos The population of Union Island geckos has increased to about 18,000 from 10,000 in 2018. More protected areas and measures to prevent illegal hunting have helped the species, found on an island in the Caribbean, to recover. Dogs Dogs throughout the US have been getting sick from a strain of the flu virus, forcing facilities like dog day cares to close. Symptoms can include coughing, tiredness, and a lack of appetite. Most dogs recover in two to three weeks.…

The Walt Disney Company turns 100 years old this year. Let’s look back to where it all began, with a talented young artist’s vision. A man and a mouse Walter “Walt” Disney was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1901. As a child he had a passion for drawing, especially cartoons. In 1923, Disney created the short film Alice in Cartoonland. It became a hit, and Walt and his brother Roy opened the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio (later renamed Walt Disney Studios). Their first big success was the 1928 animated short film Steamboat Willie. America fell in love with its star character, Mickey Mouse. The brothers continued producing shorts but really wanted to make feature-length movies. Big-screen sensations More than 300 artists worked on Disney’s first feature film, Snow White and…

A new controller for the Sony PlayStation 5 lets players with disabilities customize it to their needs. Sony, which is working with accessibility experts to develop the unit, said it is “built to address common challenges faced by many players with limited motor control.” Players can swap out and configure buttons of different shapes and sizes. A single button can be programmed to function like multiple buttons pressed simultaneously on a more traditional controller. The unit can also rest on a flat surface or be mounted vertically.…

On January 8, American skier Mikaela Shiffrin made history by winning her 82nd World Cup race at an event in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia. World Cup events are part of a circuit of top international competitions. With the win, she tied American Lindsey Vonn for the most alpine (downhill) World Cup wins by a woman. Shiffrin, who is from Colorado, specializes in the slalom discipline, which is racing downhill through a course. She has won six world championships and two Olympic golds. She won her first alpine World Cup race in 2012 at age 17. Vonn competed in 395 races in order to obtain her 82 World Cup victories, while Shiffrin did it in 233. The pair have 20 wins more than the next best woman. Tying Vonn’s record wasn’t Shiffrin’s…

A new museum is celebrating the history of Broadway, New York City’s famous theater district, and the people who bring its shows to life. The Museum of Broadway is the first permanent establishment devoted to the subject. Theater performances in New York City started before the Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and as the city grew, the most successful theaters were on or near Broadway, a major avenue. There are currently 41 Broadway theaters in operation. The museum’s co-founders are producers and entrepreneurs Julie Boardman and Diane Nicoletti. They teamed up with people who work on Broadway to create a place that could “honor Broadway history as well as the community,” Nicoletti told The Week Junior. Boardman said the museum is immersive and interactive to represent the visual “razzle dazzle” of Broadway.…

We are starting a new column! Many readers have written to us about their favorite movies and TV series, and we always enjoy hearing from you. Your reviews of what to watch are so interesting that we have decided to put them in the magazine! Going forward, this space will feature one recommendation from a reader every week. Whether it’s classic films, new movies, animated shows, reality TV, or documentaries, we want to know what you have most enjoyed watching. In one or two paragraphs, tell us what you watched and the top reasons why you liked it. Write a few sentences about the plot and subject matter and give descriptions of the main characters. Reviews should be sent to hello@theweekjunior.com, and be sure to include your first name, age,…

(Labyrinth Road) Every 25 years, the village of Gerbera sends its king to the Land of Dragons. Legend has it that the fiery beasts eat the king and, in return, the dragons maintain peace with the village. That’s how it’s been for nearly 1,000 years. But this time, the king dies just before his journey. The knights argue about who will take his place. It is determined that Blue, a 12-year-old orphan who works in a horse stable, will be quickly crowned king and sent off to Dragon Mountain. When Blue gets there, a twist happens. Eventually, he teams up with three other children—including a runaway witch—to make lasting peace among the dragons, humans, and magical forces. The chapters switch perspectives, making you aware of different points of view, and…

If you have a sleepover at a friend’s house coming up, you may feel both excited and unsure. That’s because even though you know you’ll have fun, it can be hard to be away from your routine at home. The good news is that there are simple steps you can take to prepare yourself. Here’s how to get started. Take a bit of home with you Besides packing pajamas and a toothbrush, you may want to include an item that will make the bed or sleeping bag where you’ll be sleeping feel more like home. This might include items like your pillow, a special blanket, a stuffed animal, or a book. If you’re going to be staying away for a longer period of time, such as traveling with a club…

Being outdoors—whether playing in the snow or going to a playground—has many benefits. It can boost your mood, help you stay more active, and give you an appreciation for the natural world. This year, consider making a commitment to spend more time outdoors. You can do this on your own or with friends and family. For instance, you could try walking to school more often or asking your teacher if you can go outside for recess, even when it’s chilly out. You can also consider joining the 1,000 Hours Outside Challenge. The aim is to spend 1,000 hours outside, and people worldwide have tried it. Find out more at 1000hoursoutside.com.…

“I wanted to bring some joy to kids in need, so I started Birthday Bags! Birthday Bags are bags that I fill with fun birthday surprises, such as cake mix, frosting, candles, decorations, a gift, and so much more! I began delivering them to food banks in Georgia and Florida, and now I have sent them to 39 other US states. I also have sent them to South Africa, the UK, and Australia. I have created more than 600 bags. I sell bath bombs and soap through my business The Gift of Joy, and all the money goes to making the bags. Other people have sponsored Birthday Bags to help me pay for them. I have delivered the bags on my birthday for the past three years to approximately 200…

Teacher’s Name: Mrs. Schwartz School: Clark Mills School “Mrs. Schwartz is the best teacher ever! She’s funny and sweet and explains all the math and science work really well. I wish I could never leave fifth grade because of her! We get along super well and have lots of laughs together. All the same to my reading teacher. You guys are amazing!”Lily, 10, New Jersey 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.…