Innehållsförteckning för Issue 165 från The Week Junior US

Dev Shah, a 14-year-old from Florida, was crowned champion of the 95th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee on June 1. The event took place outside Washington, DC, and was broadcast on the ION TV and Bounce TV networks. What is the bee? The bee, which began in 1925, is the nation’s most prestigious spelling competition. It is open to students who have not turned 16 or finished eighth grade. During the competition, spellers take turns trying to spell a word no one else has attempted. First they must pronounce it correctly, then they have two minutes to spell it out loud. They can ask for more information, including the word’s language of origin, meaning, or how it’s used in a sentence. If they spell it correctly, they remain in the…

Now that you’ve read a bit more about this issue, visit kids.theweekjunior.com/polls so you can vote in our debate. Vote YES if you think conservation should focus on smaller animals or NO if you don’t. We’ll publish the results next week. The goal of the big debate is to present two sides of an issue fairly in order to stimulate discussion and allow our readers to make up their minds. The views on this page do not reflect those of The Week Junior, and the page is not funded by third parties.…

Scientists have been studying the feathers of the desert-dwelling sandgrouse bird, which can carry large amounts of water. Researchers hope to learn better ways to store or soak up liquids. In 1896, Edmund Meade-Waldo saw sandgrouse chicks drinking water from their father’s feathers. He believed the birds’ feathers had special sponge-like qualities, but other scientists didn’t believe him because feathers were known to repel water. Scientists now know a sandgrouse can soak up nearly an ounce of water—about one seventh of its body weight—and carry it for almost 20 miles. Jochen Mueller, from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, used a special microscope to reveal that the bird’s belly feathers have an unusual structure. Feather parts called barbules form a tube-like structure when wet, and other parts form matting that holds…

Kenton Kerns Assistant curator, Smithsonian’s National Zoo Raccoons haven’t been bred to be calm like other pets, so they can have wild personalities. Young kits raised around humans are likely to be calmer. But they can carry diseases and it is difficult to find veterinary care for them. For these reasons, raccoons are illegal to keep as a pet in most states. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about Smithsonian’s National Zoo at nationalzoo.si.edu.…

Pitcher plants are a species of plants that feed on insects that get caught in their pitcher-shaped leaves. Precisely how these plants attract and catch insects is not well understood, but a new study suggests that pitcher plants may emit special scents to catch their prey. In the study, scientists grew four species of Sarracenia pitcher plants and placed them in tight plastic bags. They drew the plants’ odors out of the bags, collecting odor samples from 39 pitchers off 16 different plants. The scientists then studied the individual chemicals making up the odors produced by the different plants. They found that pitchers that attracted more pollinating insects, like bees and butterflies, emitted the same kind of chemicals that are given off by many flowering plants, which also attract pollinating…

On June 3, two big soccer championship matches were played in Europe. In the men’s FA Cup final, Manchester City beat rival Manchester United, 2–1. In the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Women’s Champions League final, Barcelona beat Wolfsburg, 3–2, in a thrilling comeback win. The FA Cup final was held at Wembley Stadium in London, England. The FA Cup is a tournament featuring English teams of all levels, and the matches take place over many months. It is the oldest soccer tournament in the world. This was the first time in FA Cup history that the Manchester teams played each other in the final. The competition got off to an exciting start when City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan scored the first goal 12 seconds into the match. Later in…

Coach’s Name: Brad Fenichel Sport: Stratford School Athletics Flag Football “Coach Brad is my coach for school. He is my favorite because he lets us play games like Dead Fish. In the game, you listen for the words ‘dead fish’ in a story. He also encourages us to keep on pushing ourselves even if we mess up. Coach Brad is a very nice person. Sometimes he tries to beat us in games and purposely messes up. If we mess up in a game, he says that it’s OK. That’s why I think Coach Brad is the best.” Alanna, 9, California 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…

On the page The first Amazing Spider-Man comic book came out in 1963. The story, which was written by comic book legend Stan Lee, follows Peter Parker, a teen who becomes the superhero. On the screen There have been 10 Spider-Man films released in theaters. The original live-action Peter Parker was played by actor Tobey Maguire in 2002’s Spider-Man (right). It was the first film in history to earn $100 million on its opening weekend. On the stage A musical starring the superhero, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, premiered on Broadway in 2010. It had acrobatics and featured music by rock stars Bono and The Edge, but it was a flop.…

America’s National Parks (National Geographic) (Disney+) This documentary series, which highlights the landscapes and wildlife in national parks across the US, is back for a second season. Each episode covers a different location, including California’s hidden Channel Islands and Wyoming’s Grand Teton, home to grizzly bears. Hailey’s On it! (Disney Channel) June 8 at 8 pm ET Hailey Banks, the teen at the center of this new series, doesn’t like taking risks. She has a list of things she wants to do one day, like perform in a musical, but when a visitor from the future tells Hailey that completing everything on her list will save the world, she bravely takes on the tasks. Avatar: The Way of Water (Disney+) (Max) The sci-fi blockbuster, a sequel to the hit 2009…

This week we’re thrilled to kick off our fourth annual Summer of Reading campaign (p12). The highlight is our five-page list of “The 50 Books Kids Love Most”—amazing titles in different genres, plus exciting reasons to choose them. The best part is that every book on the list is recommended by kids your age across the US. After all, kids really do make the greatest book critics! I hope the list will inspire you to keep reading all summer long. The program continues for six weeks, and we’ve got lots of special content planned for you during that time—including exclusive interviews with our five Author Ambassadors (p15). Thank you to Max Brallier, Jerry Craft, Gordon Korman, Ellen Oh, and Angie Thomas for participating! You can also enter our Summer of…

Cooler, wetter weather has helped bring wildfires under control in the Eastern Canadian province of Nova Scotia. The province (similar to a state in the US) has had its worst-ever wildfire season. Nearly 200 wildfires have destroyed more than 73 square miles across 25,000 acres. More than 25,000 people have been displaced from their homes, and about 200 buildings have been destroyed near Halifax, Nova Scotia’s capital. Nova Scotia, Canada’s second smallest province, typically averages about 158 wildfires a year. This year, a dry spring and a heat wave created conditions for more fires, which experts said were accidentally started by people. The current fires are so large that the smoke has traveled into other areas, including the US, where air-quality alerts have been issued as far south as Virginia.…

On June 3, President Joe Biden signed the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. It allowed the US to raise its debt ceiling, avoiding economic disaster. What is the debt ceiling? The US government spends trillions of dollars every year. If it spends more than it takes in, it must borrow money, and the amount it borrows becomes debt. By law, Congress (the branch of government that makes laws) must approve an increase in the amount of debt the country can take on. Historically, raising the debt ceiling to accommodate an increase in debt was a routine decision. But several times in recent years, Congress has demanded cuts in spending in exchange for approving more debt. How was the agreement reached? After intense negotiations, Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican who is…

Paris, France Dictation competition breaks record On June 4, 1,397 people sat at rows of desks on the Champs-Elysées, a famous street in Paris, to take part in a record-breaking challenge in dictation (writing down what someone else reads aloud). In the competition, an excerpt was read aloud in French and contestants had to write it down correctly. Guinness World Records recognized the event as the world’s largest-ever dictation. Venice, Italy Canal color mystery solved Scientists have found out why Venice’s famous Grand Canal recently turned a bright green color. Local authorities have discovered the color change was caused by a common chemical, fluorescein, which is used in underwater building projects as well as eye tests. No one knows how the dye got into the water, but officials say the…

At age 15, Hailey Richman is the CEO of Puzzles to Remember, a nonprofit group that collects and distributes jigsaw puzzles to centers that care for people with Alzheimer’s disease (an incurable disorder that affects memory). She got involved after helping her family take care of her grandmother. When Richman, who lives in Plainview, New York, was 4 years old, her grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. “It was heartbreaking to see her struggles,” Richman told The Week Junior. In search of activities that could help her grandmother, Richman learned that jigsaw puzzles may stimulate the brain and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. She began doing puzzles with her grandmother as a way for them to connect. The experience led her to Puzzles to Remember, and in 2020 she became its…

For the first time, scientists in Brazil believe they have discovered a frog species that pollinates plants. Pollinators are animals that carry pollen from one plant to another. Bees are the best-known pollinators, but scientists are aware of several others, including birds and bats. Before now, however, no amphibians were known to be pollinators. If the finding is confirmed, these frogs could be the only amphibian pollinators. Plants make pollen in order to reproduce. The powdery grains of pollen stick to an animal’s body while it feeds. When the animal moves on, it drops some of the pollen on the next plant. Once a plant receives pollen from another plant of its species, it can create seeds to grow into new plants. Most frogs are carnivores (meat eaters). They use…

Partula snails More than 5,000 partula snails have been reintroduced in the wild in French Polynesia. These snails nearly died out after a non-native snail species was introduced in their habitat. Zoos bred them in captivity and brought them back. Asian elephant Asian elephants have lost nearly two thirds of their habitat since the year 1700 due to deforestation and other human activities, a new study showed. Of the 13 countries where they live, the most land was lost in China and India.…

FAVORITE ADVENTURES CITY SPIES By James Ponti (Aladdin) Five international kid spies—each with cool abilities—go on missions in the first book in this four-part series. "There are so many twists and turns, it will make your head spin," said Zinn, 9. Alexander, 11, added, "I love the mystery, technology, and action." Settings in the story include Scotland and Paris, France. Ages 8-12 THE LIGHTNING THIEF By Rick Riordan (Miramax Books/Hyperion) The first book in the six-part Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is "full of excitement and has great characters," said Lydia, 9. Percy learns that his true father is a Greek god. Wanting to be a hero, Percy searches for the entrance to the Underworld and tries to stop a war. Kids surveyed also said they loved the chapter…

The fur of sloths in Costa Rica contains bacteria (a group of very small living things) that appears to protect them from infections, according to new research. The scientists behind the study say this bacteria could potentially be used to create new medicines for humans. Sloths live in tropical rainforests in Central and South America. They’re known to have many living things in their fur, including insects and fungi (a group of living things that includes mold, mildew, and mushrooms). There are even some species that live only in sloth fur, like the Cryptoses choloepi moth, which lays its eggs in sloth poop. Once the eggs hatch, the moths move into the fur. “If you look at the sloth’s fur, you see movement” from the creatures living there, Max Chavarria,…

As pop star Taylor Swift travels across the US on her record-breaking Eras tour, an exhibit about her style has opened in New York City. Taylor Swift: Storyteller, at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), has clothing, props, and other items from some of the singer’s videos and tours. It will be open until September 4. Swift, who has won 12 Grammys (top music award), is known for writing very personal song lyrics. Her management team came up with the idea for the exhibit as a way to show how she expresses herself with visuals, too. “She tells stories through her music and lyrics, and uses costumes and props to build upon those stories and the characters she is creating,” Tim Rodgers, MAD’s director, told The Week Junior. It…

Crisscross Each of these words that begins with PA fits into this grid. Can you find where each one goes to complete the grid? 4 letters PACT PAIL PAPA PASS 5 letters PANDA PAPER PARKA PATIO 6 letters PAGODA PAMPER PANAMA PAPAYA 7 letters PAPRIKA PARASOL 8 letters PANORAMA PASTRAMI 11 letters PARASAILING 12 letters PALEONTOLOGY PARALLEL BARS ALL THE SAME Each answer contains the letters R-U-N. Those letters have been placed for you. Can you figure out the words? 1. Fun meal for a late Sunday morning 2. Dried fruit that started as a plum 3. Swimwear for a guy 4. Encanto uncle we don’t talk about 5. Fabric-covered ponytail holder Spot the difference These two pictures of summer reading appear to be the same, but take a closer…

A baker dabbled in fashion design with her latest creation. Debbie Wingham, also known as the Countess of Confection, created a cake in the shape of a fancy dress for the opening of a new tea shop in London, England. The life-size sweet was made with 300 eggs, 25 boxes of Rice Krispies treats, and 13,000 mini marshmallows. Wingham decorated it with more than 25,000 edible “orchid” and “hydrangea” flowers, each individually cut out of rice paper.…

“I always bring my favorite magazine to read while camping. The Week Junior is better than s’mores!”Layla, 9, Arizona “I enjoy reading The Week Junior magazine because it tells me what is going on in the world. My favorite part is the puzzles.”Rishan, 11, Illinois “I made the no-bake cheesecake bars from the May 26 issue. They were super yummy! I liked the lemon flavor.”Ellery, 10, Minnesota…

1 What does Hailey Richman’s nonprofit organization collect and give away? ______________ 2 According to our Summer of Reading survey, which book genre do kids like best? a) Mystery b) Nonfiction c) Fantasy/science fiction a ◻ b ◻ c ◻ 3 True or false? Most frogs prefer to eat meat rather than plants. True ◻ False ◻ 4 In the new film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, where does Miles Morales live? a) California b) New York c) Texas a ◻ b ◻ c ◻ 5 Which country is set to become the first smoke-free nation in Europe? ______________ 6 At what age did World Chess Champion Ding Liren begin playing chess? a) 4 b) 14 c) 30 a ◻ b ◻ c ◻ 7 A sandgrouse can carry nearly an…

HOPE FOR A SPECIES Six red wolf pups were born at the Great Plains Zoo in South Dakota. Red wolves are endangered, with about 24 living in the wild. “Every single wolf that is born is very, very valuable to their species,” said a zookeeper. A SWEET TRIBUTE On June 2, free donuts were given out across the US for National Donut Day. The Salvation Army started the day in 1938 to honor the Donut Lassies, who served sweets to soldiers during World War I. They “brought a light of hope and happiness” to the troops, the organization said. AN EPIC ADVENTURE Joy Ryan, age 93, and her grandson Brad, age 42, have succeeded in their quest to visit all 63 national parks in the US, with Joy setting a…

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs announced that new housing construction will no longer be allowed in the state’s capital, Phoenix. The decision is based on a report that warns there may not be enough groundwater to support the homes currently being built in Phoenix, which is the fastest-growing US metropolitan region. Officials said developers can still build in the area if they find alternative water sources, such as recycled water.…

Giant pandas have adorable faces. Elephants and lions are famously beautiful and majestic. These animals are the focus of major conservation efforts, but few people talk about the black-footed ferret, Eastern small-footed bat, Galápagos pink land iguana, or hellbender salamander (also known as a “snot otter”). They’re endangered too, but many wildlife experts say these animals are being left out because they’re small and considered less attractive. US lawmakers recently introduced the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act to focus efforts on less “charismatic” creatures like these. What do you think? Should conservation focus on smaller animals? Yes—protect the little guys There are many endangered animals people don’t pay any attention to, which means they get less support, money, and scientific and community efforts to save their lives. Maybe they’re quirky or…

During our Summer of Reading campaign in the next five issues, look for interviews with these award-winning creators in our Book Club column. They all have amazing new books coming out. MAX BRALLIER The best-selling author of The Last Kids on Earth books has a twist up his sleeve. Favorite characters from Max Brallier's series write their own comics in his new title. The Last Comics on Earth. The action-packed graphic novel is full of laughs. JERRY CRAFT In 2020, Jerry Craft was the first person to receive a Newbery Medal fora graphic novel. The author and illustrator just released School Trip, a companion to his award-winning graphic novel New Kid. In this book, Jordan, Drew, Liam, and other characters go to Paris, France, with their teacher. GORDON KORMAN This…

What if a torn leather jacket could repair itself? Scientists in Europe hope to make that a reality with a “mushroom leather” that regrows when it’s ripped. The material is made with mycelium, the thready roots of mushrooms. Mycelium has previously been used in leather, but the process of making it usually stops it from growing. The team created a different process that let the leather maintain its ability to grow. When they punched holes in it, the mycelium grew enough to close up the gaps in two days.…

In late May, American golfer Rose Zhang earned her second straight individual college title and announced she was going pro. On June 4, she won the Mizuho Americas Open, her first Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) event. It was held at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey. Seven of the world’s Top 10 golfers were among the 120 competitors. Zhang, age 20, is the first women’s golfer since 1951 to win her LPGA debut. She is also the first person to win a college championship and an LPGA Tour event in the same season. She has been a golf star for years. In high school, Zhang won US Junior and US Amateur tournaments. As a student at Stanford University, she played in 20 tournaments and won 12…

In 2018, the animated action-adventure film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse wowed audiences with its fresh take on the Marvel comics superhero Spider-Man and his alter ego, Miles Morales. Now, a highly anticipated sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, is in theaters. Miles Morales made his comic book debut in 2011. He is a teen from Brooklyn, New York, and the first Black Spider-Man. He developed his powers from a radioactive spider bite. In Into the Spider-Verse, which won an Oscar (top film award) for Best Animated Feature, Miles learned about other universes with their own Spider-Men. In the sequel, he meets a team of Spider-People who protect that Multiverse. When they clash over how to take on a villain, Miles must decide whether to work with them or alone. The film…

Tiny World (Apple TV+) “This series goes on an extraordinary adventure around the world, finding and filming tiny animals such as chipmunks, pygmy marmoset, and water shrew. The animals’ resilience and special skills are unbelievable, and the show’s camera work is stunning. It takes you inside tiny homes or zooms in on things like a hummingbird’s tongue getting nectar from flowers. I love this show because it delivers happiness, cuteness, and suspense. It is also a fantastic opportunity for kids and adults to learn incredible facts about things that we cannot see with the naked eye.” Ivan, 11, Florida Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Andrew Pick of Canada has made a pastime of “photobombing” tourists’ photos around the world. Pick sneaks into the background of pictures while dressed as the title character of the Where’s Waldo? book series, in a red-and-white-striped shirt, a knit hat, and glasses. He has made appearances at famous landmarks, from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, to ancient ruins in Mexico. According to Pick, when people notice him they “get a smile on their face” and exclaim, “I just found Waldo!” He said, “I can see them all cracking up.”…

Teacher’s Name: Ms. Natalia Hadjigeorgiou School: PS 110, The Monitor School “Ms. Hadjigeorgiou teaches ELA in the best way possible. She is such a fun and amazing teacher. I never get bored in her class. She is super positive and encourages you to be the best version of yourself. She cares about every single one of her students and wants us to learn while having a good time. I am looking forward to finishing the end of the school year with her.” Ines, 10, New York 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.…