Innehållsförteckning för Issue 154 från The Week Junior US

Efforts to challenge or ban books from schools and public libraries are at an all-time high, according to a report by the American Library Association (ALA) released on March 23. When people challenge a book, they try to have it removed from libraries or schools based on its content. What happened? The ALA said there were more than 1,200 challenges to books in 2022, the most since the group began gathering data 20 years ago and almost double the previous high, set in 2021. Many complaints called for the censorship (controlling of materials available to read) of hundreds of books. More than 2,500 different books were challenged, compared to 1,858 in 2021 and 566 in 2019. The count is based on reports from libraries and the media. The ALA said…

A SPECIES HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT An orchid growing in parks, gardens, and homes in Japan has been identified as a new species. Scientists mistook Spiranthes hachijoensis for a common flower until they studied it closely. “We were thrilled” with the finding, said one. SPEEDY SOLVING Yiheng Wang, a 9-year-old speedcuber from China, set a Guinness World Record for solving a 3 x 3 Rubik’s cube. Wang had five tries, which were averaged to get his final time of 4.69 seconds. A SWIFTIE CEREMONY René Hurtado and Max Bochman got married in the front row at a Taylor Swift concert, while the singer performed feet away. Hurtado, age 30, is a huge fan, and fellow Swifties in the audience cheered them on. “We really felt the love in the moment,”…

Reid Davenport, age 32, makes documentary films that push the boundaries of how people with disabilities are seen on screen. With his recently released first feature film, I Didn’t See You There, he has gained acclaim and awards for his work. Davenport has cerebral palsy (a condition that affects movement and muscles) and uses a wheelchair. He told The Week Junior that he discovered his passion and purpose in college. When he wanted to study abroad for a semester, he was told not to come because the program would not accommodate his wheelchair. Instead, that semester, Davenport took a class on documentary filmmaking and made a film about lack of accessibility. Since then Davenport has made many short films about disability activism and the lives of people living with disabilities.…

Do you get in trouble for feeding your dog scraps from dinner under the table? A new study suggests that by sharing your family’s food, you might actually be helping to keep your pet healthy. Many dogs are fed dry “kibble,” which is highly processed (changed from its natural state). Science has shown that a diet based on processed food is not healthy for humans. Researchers from the University of Helsinki, in Finland, say this diet is not good for our canine companions either. The scientists discovered that the foods a dog might come across in an owner’s home—such as raw berries, eggs, fish, meat, and vegetables—can help keep its digestive system healthy and may be better than a diet of just dog food. This is because having a wider…

Iran’s endangered species Iran has announced a plan to increase protected areas, such as national parks, from 11% to 20% of its land. This is expected to help several endangered species, including Persian leopards, Gorgan Mountain salamanders, and saker falcons. European spruce trees The European bark beetle has been destroying spruce trees in Europe for many years. Researchers now know that the insects are attracted by a fungus that weakens the trees, making it easier for the beetles to invade.…

Pablo Picasso devoted nearly 80 years of his life to making art. In that time, he created more than 20,000 works. Here are a few notable examples. Family of Saltimbanques Created in 1905, during the Rose Period, this painting shows a group of traveling circus performers. A scientific study found that Picasso first painted the image in blue tones, then covered it in red, pink, and orange. Three Musicians The artist created this work in 1921. The flat, bright-colored shapes of the clarinet player (left), guitarist (middle), and singer (right) look like they were cut from pieces of paper, in a style known as Synthetic Cubism. Portrait of Dora Maar Picasso created several paintings of the artist Dora Maar, one of his girlfriends. In 1937, he combined a side view…

The European Space Agency (ESA) wants the Moon to have its own time zone so space agencies from around the world can cooperate on lunar missions. Several nations, including Japan, India, and Russia, are planning Moon voyages in the near future. NASA (the US space agency) is planning a Moon landing in 2025. The ESA said a lunar time zone would make it simpler for agencies and astronauts to communicate as they travel to, from, and across the Moon. Currently, the time on the Moon is based on the country planning or executing the mission. If astronauts are using different time zones, there could be communication issues that could affect their safety. Setting up a lunar time zone is a challenging task, however. Gravity affects how quickly or slowly time…

The regional finals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments have ended, and the matchups are set for the national semifinals, the Final Four. On the men’s side, for the first time since teams were seeded (ranked) in 1979, the Final Four will not have any first-, second-, or third-seeded teams. The highest seed left is fourth-seeded University of Connecticut (UConn), who beat third-seeded Gonzaga, 82–54, on March 25. UConn has won each of their tournament games by at least 15 points. UConn will play fifth-seeded University of Miami in the Final Four. On March 26, Miami came back from a 13-point deficit to beat second-seeded University of Texas, 88–81. Ninth-seeded Florida Atlantic University (FAU), beat third-seeded Kansas State, 79–76, on March 25.…

Coach’s Name: Jeff Baltruzak Team: The Falcons (flag football) “I love having my dad be my flag football coach! He makes it fun. We play games like Sharks and Minnows and Bull in the Ring. He loves screaming out, ‘Yes, sir!’ when we make a good play. He is the best because if we get a fourth down stop, he gives us candy. He calls it ‘The Candy Play.’ When we were sad that we didn’t make the championship game, he told us he was still proud of us and that there’s always next year!” Luke, 9, Pennsylvania 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.…

His life and career Besides being an author and poet, Alexander is a literacy advocate and contributes to National Public Radio. His sister, Nataki Hewling, is the photo editor of The Week Junior! Other books he’s written Alexander has written 37 books. Two are follow-ups to The Crossover. Rebound tells the story of JB and Filthy’s father, Charles, as a child. Booked is about a boy who loves playing soccer and hates books. Focus on diversity Alexander started his own book imprint, Versify, in 2018 to publish unconventional works in children’s literature. It has released more than 35 books, including Emmy in the Key of Code by Aimee Lucido.…

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. (Disney+) Inspired by a hit 1990s show, this series follows Lahela “Doogie” Kamealoha, a teen genius living in Hawaii and working as a doctor at a hospital. In season two, her personal relationships get complicated, and she’ll need her family and friends to help her juggle it all. The Nutty Boy (Netflix) This animated comedy series follows Nutty Boy, a young child who has big ideas that rarely go as planned. This new batch of episodes offers more of his misadventures, such as taking a race cart down big hills and pulling extreme pranks at school. The Sun Queen (PBS) Premieres April 4, 9 pm ET Pioneering engineer Mária Telkes spent nearly 50 years exploring how to harness the Sun’s power. In this documentary special, viewers will…

The Thief of Always By Clive Barker “Harvey Swick is a bored child. Then a man appears and takes him to a house where it’s Christmas every night and there’s always great food. Harvey is enjoying his time until he discovers a darker side to the house. He and a friend escape the house but make another horrible discovery. Will Harvey be able to take down the magic of the holiday house? I love the story and the characters.” Liam, 11, Virginia Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

An art journal is like a written journal, except it’s more than words alone. It’s a visual diary where you can express yourself through sketching, painting, or any art form you enjoy. This could mean creating a drawing of a picture that reflects your feelings, painting a special memory, or pasting together a collage of images and words that represents a goal you have. Research suggests that keeping an art journal helps reduce stress, solve problems, and connect with your creative side. Here’s some advice for getting started. Choose a journal A sketchpad is a good option for your art journal. These pads typically feature thicker paper than traditional notebooks, so you can use markers and paints without worrying about them bleeding through the paper. It’s helpful if the pad…

Benjamin Meehan is a full-time professional rollercoaster rider. He spends every weekend at theme parks around the US and earns money by filming his rides and posting them on YouTube. Meehan has visited every big park in the country, but his favorite is Universal, which is two hours from his home in Jacksonville, Florida. Back at his house, Meehan works on his YouTube content—which is mostly videos of high-speed rides to the sound of people screaming.…

Estelle, who is 8 years old and in second grade, told us that she believes her school stands out because it is bilingual. Learning two languages can be hard, she said, but her teachers make learning Spanish easy. She also enjoys her school’s fun run because kids get excited about raising money and earning prizes. If you want to share what’s great about your school, go to kids.theweekjunior.com/activities to print out a form. Fill it out, then have an adult email it to us at hello@theweekjunior.com. We’ll feature some of the submissions we receive on this page in future issues.…

Teacher’s Name: Mr. Piechowiak School: Northbrook Junior High “Mr. Piechowiak teaches social studies in an amazing way. He makes learning fun by including simulations and fun projects in his daily teaching. Sometimes he even lets his students take a shot on a basketball hoop in his classroom. He encourages students to be good people, and his students know he cares about them. Mr. Piechowiak is my favorite teacher.” Alex, 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.…

1 Kwame Alexander’s book The Crossover is written in what style of poetry? __________________________ 2 Flamingos form bonds with one another when they have what in common? a) Personality b) Size c) Age a □ b □ c □ 3 True or false? The Chicago Red Stars soccer team set an NWSL record for attendance in a home opener. True □ False □ 4 What state passed the first laws in the US to restrict young people’s access to social media apps like TikTok? a) Colorado b) Utah c) Montana a □ b □ c □ 5 Pablo Picasso’s painting The Accordionist is an example of what type of art? ___________________ 6 Which player is on the cover of the video game MLB The Show 23? a) Jackie Robinson b)…

For the first time in history, Canada’s population grew by more than one million people in a 12-month period. According to a government report, the number of people rose from 38.51 million to 39.56 million in 2022, marking Canada’s highest annual population growth rate since 1957. If growth continues at this rate, the nation’s population is expected to double by 2048. In 2022, Canada welcomed 437,180 immigrants (people who come to a country to live there), accounting for 96% of the population increase. The government has pledged to welcome 1.5 million immigrants by 2025, including people from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Syria. Conflict and natural disasters in those places have led to record numbers of people fleeing for safety in other countries. Canadian officials hope the population growth will help…

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has signed two new laws that will restrict children and teens from having access to social media apps, such as TikTok. The laws are the first in the nation created to keep young people from online platforms that are considered addictive (creating a compulsive need). What will the laws do in Utah? Social media companies would have to verify users’ ages before they could use their apps. Anyone under age 18 (minors) would need a parent’s consent to use the apps and would be barred from using them between the hours of 10:30 pm and 6:30 am. The companies would be prohibited from designing features that might cause a minor to become addicted to their app. Minors who feel social media has harmed them could have…

Ireland Government pays for schoolbooks Parents of elementary school children in Ireland will no longer have to pay for schoolbooks. Starting in September, the government will provide about $104 per student, which will enable 3,230 schools to provide textbooks and workbooks for 558,000 children. It is the first time books have been funded for every student and will save families from having to buy or rent them. Israel Judicial changes paused after outcry On March 27, during a 12th week of mass protests in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would put his controversial judicial reforms on hold. The day before, tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets after Netanyahu fired defense minister Yoav Gallant, who voiced objections to the plan. The changes would weaken the nation’s…

Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona This park’s main attraction is petrified wood—logs that have absorbed minerals over thousands of years and now look like gigantic crystals. But there is much more to see: The hills are striped with colorful rock layers, and the area’s long history is shown in more than 800 archaeological sites, fossils, and rock carvings. The park includes part of the Painted Desert, but it is actually a grassland full of plants—including prickly pear and cholla cactus, wildflowers, and juniper trees—and animals such as the kitfox, greater roadrunner, tarantula, and spadefoot toad.…

Grace, 10, Arizona Sara Morgan Senior keeper, Oregon Zoo Giant pandas eat raw bamboo, which contains a poison called cyanide. Pandas can process the cyanide and turn it into a less harmful substance, thiocyanate. Then they pee it out and start all over again! Giant pandas eat about 40 pounds of bamboo each day, which is a lot of processing. Do you have a question for a zookeeper? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the Oregon Zoo at oregonzoo.org.…

Scientists are a step closer to understanding one of history’s greatest mysteries: how the ancient pyramids of Egypt were constructed thousands of years ago. Researchers recently revealed new details about an empty corridor in the Pyramid of Khufu, the largest of the pyramids of Giza. Also known as the Great Pyramid, it was the first to be constructed and was built in honor of the pharaoh (ruler) Khufu about 4,500 years ago. The researchers are part of the ScanPyramids project, an international effort to study the pyramids without altering or damaging them. They used modern scanning technology to study the corridor, which is sealed off from the outside. The team first found evidence of the empty corridor near the pyramid’s main entrance in 2016, using technology called cosmic ray muon…

A new exhibition at the Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, focuses on the exchange of designs between the US and the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Scandinavian Design and the United States, 1890–1980, includes furniture, toys, drawings, and more. Bobbye Tigerman of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) was the exhibition’s co-curator (person who selects art). She told The Week Junior that Scandinavian design has “touched almost everyone’s lives.” Some of the common items in the exhibition that kids may recognize include Stokke’s Tripp Trapp chair, troll dolls, and Lego bricks. Scandinavian design is often gender-neutral and made to be durable as well as versatile. The Tripp Trapp, for example, transforms from a chair for infants to a seat for kids and adults. “The idea…

MLB The Show 23 is a new baseball video game. It is out now for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation systems, and Xbox consoles. This will be the 18th game in the MLB The Show series, which launched in 2006. It is the official game of Major League Baseball (MLB). This year, the game’s cover star is Jazz Chisholm of the Miami Marlins. Hall of Famer Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees covers the collector’s edition. The Show 23 brings back popular features of the previous games, but it also has some new features. This year’s biggest addition is a Storylines mode about the Negro Leagues, which were professional leagues for Black players. Because of racism (widespread discrimination or mistreatment of people because of their race or skin color) and…

What inspired this book? Big Tree is a story about nature from nature’s point of view. I asked myself questions like: “What is it like to be a seed?” Did you love nature growing up? Yes, I grew up in New Jersey. In the woods by my house, I loved how the sound of the world changed when I walked among the trees. I could hear insects, and I was never entirely sure if dinosaurs weren’t hiding somewhere. What do you do in your free time? I love seeing plays and musicals, going for walks in nature, and doing yoga too. What’s the best advice you have received? Maurice Sendak, author of Where the Wild Things Are, told me to only make the books I most want to make. I…

Dream journal Place a journal and pen by your bed to jot down your dreams after you wake up. They can be fun to reread or provide inspiration for a short story or art project. Reading journal Each time you start a new book, write the title in your journal, then add your thoughts about the book as you read. You can also rate it after you finish it so you can remember authors and genres you liked. Travel journal Bring a journal with you when you go on a trip, and fill it with notes about what you saw, where you went, and what you did. You can even tape or glue in mementos, like tickets, photos, or postcards. Nature journal The next time you spend time outdoors, write…

REUSE COFFEE GROUNDS If any of the adults in your home make coffee, you may have noticed that after brewing a pot there are leftover coffee grounds in the filter. Many people throw them away, but it’s better for the environment to reuse coffee grounds instead of sending them to a landfill. One excellent option is to help fertilize your potted plants or garden with them. Coffee grounds are high in nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium, which help plants thrive. To use as a fertilizer, mix about one part grounds with six parts soil, then add the mixture to your potted plants or use it to top off the soil around plants in your garden.…

I can’t say I was shocked to read that Finland has been named the world’s happiest country for 2023 (p3). After all, the Nordic nation held the top spot in the World Happiness Report for the previous five years as well. I was, however, pleasantly surprised to see some of the report’s other findings, such as that people’s satisfaction with their lives has remained steady through the pandemic and that, in fact, the percentage of people who are interested in doing good things for others was 25% higher than it was pre-Covid. Richard Layard, one of the co-authors of the report, said the goal is to have happier societies—and that this depends on our ability to bring joy to one another, not just ourselves. That’s a positive takeaway for those…

“We had a ton of fun making the silhouette portraits from your March 3 issue!”Tristan, 11, and Fiona, 8, Virginia “I love The Week Junior so much. Whenever it’s a lazy Sunday or I have nothing to do, my go-to thing is reading The Week Junior! Thank you!”Isra, 11, New York “It’s the first day I got my issue, and I already voted in the Big Debate!”Tilden, 9, North Carolina…

For hundreds of years, people have been taught to mind their manners, whether that means taking their elbows off the table or not talking with a mouthful of food. But manners are always changing. About 100 years ago, children weren’t supposed to speak unless an adult spoke to them first. Now young people can make their voices heard in school, at home, and in public at events like climate protests. Manners also vary. In the US, making eye contact is polite, but in parts of Africa and South America, it can be rude. Some people say manners show respect for others, but others think they’re just random rules. What do you think—is it important to have good manners? Yes—manners are a form of kindness Good manners cost nothing but really…

Flamingos in flocks tend to spend time with other flamingos who have similar personalities, according to a new study from the University of Exeter, in England, and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. The study looked at two separate flocks of Caribbean and Chilean flamingos. Previous research has shown that flamingos form friendships—in pairs or in groups of three or four friends—that can last for years. In the new study, researchers evaluated flamingos based on personality traits, such as how aggressive (forceful) or submissive (obedient) they were and how willing they were to explore. They found that birds with similar personality traits spent more time with one another. For example, submissive birds mainly spent time with other submissive birds, while aggressive birds formed groups that were more likely to get in…

April 8 is the 50th anniversary of the death of the famous artist Pablo Picasso. In his honor, approximately 50 museums worldwide are holding events and exhibitions of his work. Growing up Pablo Picasso was born on October 25, 1881, in Málaga, Spain. His father was a professor of drawing, and when Picasso was about 10, he began attending his dad’s lessons. The boy quickly showed a talent for art. At age 14, he painted a portrait of his Aunt Pepa that has been praised by art critics for dramatically capturing her intense facial expression. Picasso went on to study art in Madrid but was more inspired by visits to the Prado, Spain’s national art museum, than his classes. Two years later, he moved to Barcelona and joined a group…

Wilson, the company that makes official NBA basketballs, has designed an airless ball that feels and functions like a regulation ball. It was 3D-printed with a surface of holes in a hexagon shape. Air flows through them into the hollow interior, which lets the ball keep its shape without needing to be inflated. The airless ball has a seamed pattern, weight, and bounce like a regular leather basketball. It’s a prototype (early model) for now, Wilson said on its website, adding, “We’re thrilled by the possibilities.”…

Over the weekend of March 25, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) kicked off its 2023 season. All 12 of the league’s teams played, and there were many exciting matches. On the first day, the San Diego Wave hosted the Chicago Red Stars at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California. The match drew a crowd of 30,854, a league record for a home opener. San Diego won, 3–2, but it was a close competition until the very end. The teams were tied after the first half and during most of the second half. In the 89th minute, San Diego’s Alex Morgan scored what would be a game-winning penalty kick. In another game that day, the North Carolina Courage beat the Kansas City Current, 1–0. The next day, the NWSL’s defending…

The award-winning book The Crossover by author and poet Kwame Alexander has been adapted into a live-action TV series of the same name. The series, which follows twin brothers and their love of basketball, premieres on Disney+ on April 5. Published in 2014, The Crossover was an instant bestseller and won many awards, including the 2015 Newbery Medal (top award for children’s literature). It was highly acclaimed for its depiction of two young Black men coming of age and the way it was written entirely in a style of poetry called free verse (the lines can rhyme and not rhyme). Alexander created the new Disney+ series and served as a co-showrunner and writer on it. The story centers on Josh (known as “Filthy”) and Jordan (nicknamed “JB”) Bell. In the…

Wednesday (Netflix) “Wednesday Addams has been to eight schools in the past five years. Now the only school that will accept her is Nevermore Academy, the school of outcasts. Her parents met there, and they’ve been longing for her to go and meet the sirens (beings that live in water and on land) and werewolves who make up the student body. A series of unsolved murders have taken place nearby, and Wednesday investigates the mystery. She discovers an evil plot that threatens her classmates’ lives. I love her personality and how she becomes a super-detective and grows throughout the story.” Sylvie, 11, California Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

By Brian Selznick (Scholastic Press) Merwin and Louise are sycamore seeds who want to stay close to their Mama Tree. But when fire sweeps through the forest, Mama Tree releases them into the air. She hopes the wind will carry them to a place with good soil, water, and sunlight so they can take root. Unfortunately, they land on what they think is a rock and know they can’t stay there. Thanks to good fortune and a butterfly friend, they go on adventures to find a spot to grow. Merwin wants to go to the Beautiful Mountain, but Louise gets a warning about it in a dream. What they do will decide their fate. The story spans from the Cretaceous period (145 to 66 million years ago) to modern day.…

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler By E.L. Konigsburg (Atheneum Books for Young Readers) Siblings run away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and try to solve a mystery about a famous sculpture. This 176-page book won the Newbery Medal, a top book award, in 1968. Ages 8–12 Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure By Megan Wagner Lloyd (Candlewick) Ma Millie rescues a kitten named Haven. When she becomes ill, Haven tries to find a neighbor to help. The neighbor has gone to town, and the only way there is through an unfamiliar forest. The brave kitten finds an unlikely ally in a fox. This 144-page story has a bittersweet ending. Ages 8–12 The Summer We Found the Baby By Amy Hest (Candlewick)…

Keeping your drawers tidy will make it faster and easier to find the clothes you’re looking for when getting dressed. Here’s what to do. 1. Start with a purge. If your drawers are stuffed with clothes, it can be difficult to keep them organized. Go through your items and donate anything that no longer fits. Store clothes that are out of season in a container under your bed. 2. Group by categories. Storing similar items with one another is an easy way to keep organized. To do this, split your clothes into the same number of categories as drawers you have. For example, if you have three, you could have socks and underwear in one drawer, shirts in another, and pants and shorts in the last. 3. Roll everything. Instead…

Word ladder To change the word FISH into the word TANK, use each clue to fill in a word that is only one letter different from the word before it. If you get stuck, try solving from the bottom up. STEPPING STONES Each figure hides the name of a seven-letter thing at the movies. To find each one, start anywhere and move in an unbroken path through letters that share a border (no jumping!), using each letter once. DO NOT ENTER Draw one continuous path from START to END that goes through every box except the ones containing obstacles. Your path may not cross itself, and there is only one solution. Crossmath Fill each empty box with a number or a mathematical symbol (+, −, ×, or ÷) to complete…