Innehållsförteckning för Issue 162 från The Week Junior US

The winners of the 2023 Pulitzer Prizes, which are recognized as the nation’s top awards for journalism, were announced on May 8. The prizes, given this year for the 107th time, also honor excellence in the arts, including books, drama, and music. What are the Pulitzer Prizes? There are 23 Pulitzers given out each year, 15 in journalism and eight in the arts. The prizes were established in 1917 by Joseph Pulitzer, a Hungarian American newspaper reporter who helped reshape journalism in the late 1800s. Pulitzer, the publisher of The New York World and St. Louis Post-Dispatch, fought against dishonest government and advocated for journalists to be trained at the college level. When he died, he left money to establish the Pulitzer Prizes as an incentive for excellence, recognizing nine…

A JOYFUL BIRTH The Calgary Zoo in Canada welcomed a baby black-and-white ruffed lemur, one of the 25 most endangered primates in the world. The pup plays “an important role in the survival and well-being of its species,” said the zoo. HONORING AN AUTHOR A new stamp from the US Postal Service (USPS) honors award-winning children’s author and illustrator Tomie dePaola. The stamp features art from Strega Nona, one of his most beloved books. The USPS said one of the themes of dePaola’s work is that “love and kindness underscore all.” A MAMMOTH FIND A 9-year-old boy in Oregon found part of a mammoth’s tooth in a creek behind his grandmother’s home. At first, Jeremiah Longbrake thought the object might be a plastic container, but experts identified it as belonging…

As the owner of an art gallery in New York City, Hannah Traore focuses on celebrating artists who may have been overlooked. For a recent exhibit, she found those artists in her community. Titled Our Neighborhood: Seen Through the Eyes of the Anna Silver School, The Benjamin Altman School & The Island School, the exhibit featured the work of about 150 young people who attend elementary schools in the neighborhood where Hannah Traore Gallery is located. Traore, age 28, began by contacting the schools and inviting students to create work based on the theme of “our neighborhood.” After displaying their work, she hosted an opening party for them. “I’m hearing them explain their process and choice in color and seeing how proud they were,” Traore told The Week Junior about…

A group of researchers studying the behavior of Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers, have found that they have different personality types that help them survive and raise their cubs. Amur tigers are the largest cats in the world. They live in vast forests in wilderness areas of eastern Russia and in protected areas of northern China. There are about 400 of these tigers left in the wild, although there are probably hundreds more living in captivity. The researchers based the study on a human test called “The Big Five,” which scores people on five personality traits. They asked veterinarians and feeders working with 248 cats in two sanctuaries (including the world’s largest semi-wild tiger sanctuary) to observe the tigers and answer 70 questions about their personalities. The results…

Fatou, the world’s oldest known living gorilla, recently celebrated her 66th birthday at the Berlin Zoo. A keeper told VOA News that it was special for this critically endangered species to live past age 60, even when cared for in a zoo. ● LIFE SPAN: 30 to 40 years in the wild ● HABITAT: Tropical rainforests in Africa ● SIZE: Up to 500 pounds and 6 feet standing up ● DIET: Fruits, leaves, bark, and pulp ● FUN FACT: These gorillas make 22 different sounds, including screams, barks, and roars.…

For hundreds of years, people have been mixing flour and milk to make pancakes. How did this culinary tradition start? History of pancakes Ancient Greeks and Romans cooked flat hotcakes as early as 500 BCE. The origins of the word “pancake” in the English language came from panecake or ponkake during the Middle Ages (476–1450 CE). It was also during medieval times that the holiday Shrove Tuesday (the day before the Christian observance of Lent starts) began to be known as Pancake Day in the UK. This tradition was a way for Christians to use up perishable foods like butter and eggs before Lent, when people often give up certain foods. The UK still celebrates Pancake Day with pancake-flipping contests. Pancakes in the US Native Americans made a version of…

A smart mushroom chamber called Mella makes it easy to grow mushrooms at home. Mushrooms need just the right environment to grow properly, and the appliance creates a stable environment with the ideal temperature, humidity (moisture), and light. Mella is about the size of a countertop oven and made with clear acrylic panels. Air circulates through the chamber, and a tray with water and a filter keep the box humid. LED lighting provides the right amount of light. Users can grow different varieties of mushrooms at the same time.…

Crater, a new film about a group of kids who live on the Moon, is now streaming on Disney+. It is an emotional story about friends creating special memories and strengthening their bonds during a road trip. The film is set hundreds of years in the future, at a time when people live and work in a gritty mining colony on the Moon. The main character is Caleb, a boy who has lived his entire life in the colony, played by Isaiah Russell-Bailey, age 17. Caleb is orphaned because his father died working in the mines. As a result, Caleb is going to be sent to live on a faraway planet. Before he goes, he and his friends steal a lunar rover to find a crater that Caleb’s parents always…

The Villains of Valley View (Disney+, Disney Now) “This TV show is about a family of supervillains who are hiding from the leader of the supervillains, Onyx. While on the run in Texas, they find a house to rent. Unfortunately, their landlady, Celia, really likes to come into the house whenever she wants. The main character, Amy, has a hard time keeping her identity a secret. Her friend Hartley is always there for her and helps the family to be ‘normal.’ The characters are super sweet to each other (in a subtle way), and I love all of them. It’s a hilarious comedy and has made me laugh so much.” Juliet, 13, Virginia Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

By John David Anderson (Walden Pond Press) Zeke, who is often in trouble for pulling pranks, receives a letter saying he’s one of five finalists in the Greatest Kid in the World contest. Zeke thinks the letter is a joke, but when the contest director and a camera operator show up at Zeke’s house, he realizes it’s real. After they create videos about the finalists’ daily lives, the public will vote for the winner. Although almost everyone doubts Zeke can do it, he desperately wants to win the $10,000 grand prize for his family, who needs the money. The first day of filming doesn’t go well. To win, Zeke and his family are going to have to do something they haven’t done in a long time—work together. The ending is…

The Night Gardener By Jonathon Auxier (Harry N. Abrams) In this spooky tale set in England in the 1800s, Molly and her brother are orphans who get jobs as servants in a creepy house. There’s a twist involving the family who lives there. Molly also discovers an ancient curse and tries to stop it. The ending is incredibly exciting. Ages 10 and up Once Upon a Tim By Stuart Gibbs, illustrated by Stacy Curtis (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) This story, about a peasant boy who wants to be a knight, ends on a twist. Tim doesn’t know how to ride a horse or use a sword, but when a princess needs rescuing, he thinks he can do it. One character is not as brave as he pretends…

Word search Can you find all these words associated with ballet in the grid? They are hidden horizontally, vertically, or diagonally and can be forward or backward. When you’re done, read the remaining letters to get a bonus message. ARMS BARRE BUN CLASS DANCE GRACE JUMP LEGS LEOTARD LIFT PAS DE DEUX PIROUETTE PLIÉ POSITION SOLO STEP TIGHTS TOE SHOES TURNOUT TUTU FILL IN THE BLANKS Fill in the blanks in each sentence with two words so the second word is the same as the first word with the last letter dropped, like BATH and BAT. (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) FOUR IN A ROW Place four of the letters below to complete the first pair of words, in the same order in both words. Use…

Teacher’s Name: Mrs. Vella School: Linda Vista Elementary “Mrs. Vella is the best teacher! She is smart and kind, and she has a great sense of humor. She encourages us to have discussions and debates as part of our learning, which makes class more interesting. I honestly look forward to school with Mrs. Vella as my teacher! I am very privileged to be in her class.“ Avery, 10, California 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.…

This untouched wilderness is one of the most remote national parks in the country, lying entirely above the Arctic Circle. It has no roads or marked trails and can be accessed only by air or with a challenging hike. The preserve is home to six rivers, which people and animals have used for centuries as pathways through the wilderness. Part of the Brooks Range, the northernmost mountain range in the US, also runs through the park. This wild landscape is an important habitat for animals like caribou, Dall’s sheep, muskox, and Alaska’s state bird, the willow ptarmigan.…

Eastern tiger salamander Experts are working to save these rare creatures, which have lived in the eastern US since the ice ages. They are placing newly hatched salamander larvae from North Carolina in habitats in southeastern Virginia to regrow the population there. Long-spined sea urchins Scientists have discovered that a parasite (a living thing that feeds off other living things) called philaster has been killing many sea urchins in the US and the Caribbean. Philaster makes the urchins lose their spines and their suction skills.…

China: Jianbing Variations on pancakes are popular around the world. In China, jianbing is a crispy fried crepe filled with bold flavors and hot sauces. Ethiopia: Injera This sourdough flatbread is a staple in Ethiopia, similar to bread in the US. With a spongy texture and small holes throughout, it is held in the hand and used like a spoon to scoop up stews and sauces. India: Cheela Savory or sweet, this unleavened pancake is usually made with lentils or flour. It is then pan-fried and served crispy. Cheela (also called chilla) is commonly enjoyed plain or with chutney. Korea: Buchimgae This savory pan-fried pancake refers to ingredients dipped in egg or batter and mixed with other items. People can customize buchimgae to suit their own preferences, from vegetables to…

Home runs have been on the rise in Major League Baseball (MLB), and a new study suggests that air temperature could be a factor. Researchers attributed more than 500 home runs hit since 2010 to warmer temperatures. The warmer air gets, the less dense it becomes, meaning there will be less resistance on the ball as it flies through the air. Temperatures have been steadily rising, primarily due to climate change and the emission of greenhouse gases (gases that remain in Earth’s atmosphere and trap heat, causing the planet to warm up). Researchers looked at data from more than 100,000 MLB games and more than 220,000 hits from 1962 through 2019. They also looked at recorded game day temperatures. They concluded that higher temperatures make home runs more likely. As…

This year’s National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs are getting closer to the championship. After exciting matchups in the conference semifinals, four teams remain: the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference, and the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets in the Western one. The Nuggets were the first team to make the conference finals. On May 11, they won Game 6 of their series against the Phoenix Suns, 125–100, which allowed them to move on to the next round. The next day, the Heat secured their spot in the conference finals by beating the New York Knicks, 96–92, in Game 6 of their series. The Heat began as the eighth seeded team in the East, the lowest ranking. Only one other eighth seed has ever made it this…

Coach’s Name: Kai Sung Sport: Swimming “Coach Kai is amazing. He tries to make sure we all try hard in practice so it pays off. He has helped a lot with my butterfly by telling me how to be more efficient. He has a great sense of humor. Whenever we are being a bit crazy during stretching, he says, ‘You are not a seal!’ He is always happy with our swims even if we add a little bit of time. At my first sectionals, he calmed me down when I was really nervous.” Penelope, 9, North Carolina 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.…

Treasure Planet This 2002 animated film is based on the adventure novel Treasure Island. The original story took place at sea, but this one is set on a ship that flies through space. Apollo 13 In 1970, NASA (the US space agency) attempted its third landing on the Moon. While the astronauts were in space, an explosion in their command module put their lives at risk. The 1995 film tells the dramatic story of what happened. Mercury 13 In the 1960s, women could not be astronauts, but a group of female pilots took part in an unofficial program called First Lady Astronaut Trainees. This 2018 documentary is about them.…

Attenborough’s Wonder of Song (PBS.org) In this documentary special, world-famous naturalist Sir David Attenborough highlights songs produced by seven different animal species, including the lyrebird and the humpback whale. He also explores how songs can be essential to survival. Kitti Katz (Netflix) This new animated series follows three soccer-playing teenage girls who have the ability to transform into superheroes with cat-like powers. To save the world from an evil Egyptian goddess, they must collect magic gemstones and close a portal to the underworld. No Borders, Just Flavors! (YouTube TV) United We Dream, a youth-led organization that fights for the rights of immigrants, created this four-part cooking competition. In each episode, two young people from immigrant backgrounds face off in the kitchen using family recipes.…

How was your childhood different from Zeke’s? He has access to the wider world. My world was pretty much my neighborhood, my school, and my home. What can kids learn from Zeke? I hope kids feel a sense of empowerment and understand that anyone can be great in small measures. Favorite snack as a kid? I would come home from school and microwave bologna, like fried bologna. I thought it was the most delicious snack. Why do you write for middle-grade readers? Middle-grade readers are sophisticated enough to grapple with complex questions and still willing to go on fantastic journeys. If you could be the greatest at something, what would it be? I would be the greatest at building with Legos.…

Songwriting is an art where you write the lyrics (words) to a song and set them to music. Whether you simply enjoy music or are looking for a creative way to tell a story, it can be a great activity to try. You can use your imagination or draw from personal experiences to create a song. Here’s how to get started. Brainstorm themes Begin by jotting down ideas for a song in a notebook or a note-taking app. Start with a theme. This could be anything from a friendship to a river you like to sit by to how you feel about summer camp. Once you have a theme, you could write down different words and phrases that are related to the theme. Later, you can draw from this word…

Airport delay really stings Passengers on a Delta Air Lines flight from Houston to Atlanta couldn’t bee-lieve it when their plane was delayed by buzzing insects. As the plane waited at the gate, a swarm of bees gathered on its wing. A Delta spokesperson joked that the bees probably wanted to “share the latest about flying conditions at the airport.” One passenger documented the four-hour saga on Twitter as airport staff called a beekeeper, then tried blowing exhaust at the bees, and finally turned on the engine, at which point the bees buzzed off and the plane was free to depart. Sheep journey brings joy Why did the sheep cross the road? It wasn’t because they received baa-d directions. In fact, it was an animal crossing that occurs every year…

Arthur, who is 8 years old and in third grade, told us that third graders at his school get to paint a recycled shoe every year—and that the activity is special because it doesn’t matter how kids make it. One of his favorite school memories this year was the Halloween party. 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 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…

1 What is the name of the dog who won Best in Show at this year’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show? 2 An airplane flight was recently delayed when a swarm of which type of insects gathered on its wing? a) Bees b) Flies c) Mosquitoes a □ b □ c □ 3 True or false? Ryosuke Takashima, the youngest person to serve as a mayor in Japanese history, is 26 years old. True □ False □ 4 The animated series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai is set in which decade? a) 1890s b) 1920s c) 1980s a □ b □ c □ 5 What was the name of the first restaurant dedicated to pancakes? 6 In what year was Chinatown in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded? a) 1771 b) 1871 c)…

May 25, 1968 The Gateway Arch is dedicated On May 25, 1968, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri was dedicated by US Vice President Hubert Humphrey. The monument was appropriate, he said, because St. Louis was the “Gateway to the West.” The tallest arch in the world at a height of 630 feet, it was built to mark the nation’s western expansion. Its 1.6 million visitors a year can ride a tram to the top to view the city and surrounding areas.…

As a spectacular wildflower superbloom began in Lake Elsinore, California, this spring, the city’s mayor announced that blooming areas would be off-limits to visitors. She said that during the last superbloom in 2019, people with selfie sticks wandered off the trails to take photos and “trampled the very habitat that they…sought to enjoy.” People also seek out selfies with animals in the wild, which experts say puts the animals and humans at risk. But selfie-loving folks say there’s no problem as long as people are careful around plants and animals. What do you think? Is taking selfies bad for nature? Yes—selfies are selfish and risky When people pose with wild animals or against a gorgeous natural backdrop, they can be so focused on taking photos that they forget where they…

“Why are bald eagles called bald if they have feathers on their heads?”Jane, 11, North Carolina Sara Morgan Senior keeper, Oregon Zoo Bald eagles aren’t bald, but their white heads look different from their darker brown bodies. Their heads and bodies are covered in feathers that keep them warm and help them fly. The name “bald eagle” comes from an Old English word, “balde,” which means white. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the Oregon Zoo at oregonzoo.org.…

Horses lived in the American West by the early 1600s, well before Spanish explorers arrived in the region in the late 1600s, a new study has found. In addition, they were an important part of the culture of Indigenous peoples (the first known people to have inhabited a place) in the area at the time. The study contradicts the belief that horses spread through this part of America only after the Spanish got there. When Spanish explorers arrived in Mexico and what is now the southern US in the 1400s and 1500s, they brought horses and other animals with them. Some of the horses escaped and spread into what is now the western US. For many years, Indigenous groups have said that their ancestors encountered the horses long before they…

Every year since 2015, important electronic games have been added to the World Video Game Hall of Fame at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. On May 4, Computer Space, Barbie Fashion Designer, Wii Sports, and The Last of Us were inducted as the class of 2023. Nominees for the hall of fame are suggested by the public and voted on by a panel that includes game designers, journalists, and scholars. This year’s finalists included Angry Birds, FIFA International Soccer, and NBA 2K. Computer Space, released in 1971, was groundbreaking because it was the first coin-operated video game and was available to play in arcades. Before then, games were usually found on computers in private research labs. Barbie Fashion Designer came out in 1996, a time…

Keeper of the Lost Cities By Shannon Messenger “This is an amazing book series for those who love fantasy. It follows Sophie Foster, a 12-year-old with a secret. For reasons she can’t understand, she has telepathic abilities. But everything changes when she meets Fitz, another telepath, and learns there is a place beyond her wildest dreams. To protect her family, she has to leave them behind and start a new life there.” Elliott, 11, New York Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Taylor Swift When Taylor Swift was a freshman, she wrote “Our Song” for her high school talent show. Later, it was the number-one country song in the US for six straight weeks. Lionel Richie Writing songs for himself and others is a major part of Lionel Richie’s career. For example, he co-wrote “We Are the World,” which many artists sang together to help raise millions of dollars for famine relief in Africa. Mariah Carey After writing her first hit at age 17, Mariah Carey went on to hold the record for the most weeks in the number-one spot on the music charts as a songwriter. Her hit songs combined have spent 77 weeks in the top spot. Billie Eilish For Billie Eilish, who is famous for popular songs such as…

UPCYCLE OLD GREETING CARDS You and your family can help keep old greeting cards out of landfills by recycling them. But some cards can’t be recycled. These include cards that play music, have details like bows or glitter, or are made with glossy photo paper. You can still upcycle them, though, by finding new uses for them. For example, you can cut out letters and images of balloons, cake, or flowers and make new, personalized cards for friends by gluing the images onto recycled paper. Another way to reuse old cards is to cut them up and add them as part of a collage. You can also string favorite images from cards together and hang them up as a wall decoration.…

It’s always exciting for The Week Junior team when the Pulitzer Prize winners are announced (p2). As journalists ourselves, we are thrilled to see other journalists receive recognition for their work. This year we were especially delighted when Eli Saslow won the Feature Writing prize for a series of articles in The Washington Post about people experiencing homelessness, educational inequality, and other difficulties. Eli has been a wonderful friend to The Week Junior. In 2021, he spoke to two of our Junior Council classes about his work, demonstrating an incredible breadth of knowledge and deep compassion for the people he interviewed. One thing he said made a particularly strong impact on me: “I try to remember the true act of courage isn’t me asking questions. It’s the person I’m writing…

“As an NBA fan, I always know I can count on The Week Junior sports section to keep me updated on the NBA playoffs!”Oren, 11, Rhode Island “I wanted to share that I loved the Fruit Blast Smoothie in the April 14 issue. It’s my new favorite smoothie! Thanks so much.”Ellie, 9, New York “I made this artwork using the renewal cards from The Week Junior. I love your magazine and read it cover to cover as soon as it comes in the mail.”Benjamin, 10, North Carolina…