Innehållsförteckning för Issue 168/169 från The Week Junior US

The US Supreme Court released several rulings at the close of its 2022–2023 term in late June. The decisions made by America’s most powerful court of law will affect millions of people. What is the Supreme Court? The Supreme Court is made up of nine judges (called justices) who listen to both sides of a legal case and make a final decision. Their job is to uphold the US Constitution (the nation’s highest law). Cases make their way to the Supreme Court after they are tried in lower state or federal courts. The Supreme Court’s annual term begins on the first Monday in October and ends in June or July of the next year, when most rulings are announced. Each case is decided by a majority vote. What were two…

A POOCH-FILLED PARTY More than 200 dogs came to Robert Moore’s 100th birthday party in California. The pups walked in a pet parade and gave Moore, a lifelong dog lover, lots of tail wags and kisses. “My dear dad deserves it,” his daughter said. MAKING A COMEBACK After a series of injuries and setbacks, US tennis icon Venus Williams, age 43, achieved a major upset in the UK, beating a player in the top 50 for the first time since 2019. Williams is a seven-time Grand Slam champion and, in 2002, became the first Black player to be number one in the world. DANCING FOR A RECORD A group of Connecticut high school students danced their way to a world record—and raised more than $10,000 for charity. The team formed…

Nestled between the cities of Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, this 33,000-acre expanse has lush forests and farmlands that follow the Cuyahoga River. Though it was designated a national park in the year 2000, humans have lived on and used the land for about 13,000 years. Today, visitors flock to the 60-foot Brandywine Falls or enjoy beautiful rock formations in an area called “The Ledges.” Despite being close to urban areas, the park is teeming with wild creatures such as red and gray foxes, bats, herons, Nashville warblers, and pearl crescent butterflies.…

Also called woylies or yalgiri, these marsupials (mammals that raise their young in a pouch) are critically endangered. Nearly two years after being reintroduced to southern Australia, the tiny, kangaroo-like creatures are thriving. ● LIFE SPAN: 4 to 6 years in the wild ● HABITAT: Forests and shrublands in Australia ● SIZE: 3 pounds; 21 to 31 inches from head to tail ● DIET: Insects, fungus, and seeds ● FUN FACT: Bettongs don’t drink water, but they are very fond of peanut butter.…

Most eaten in one minute At a 2022 competition in Tampa, Florida, Miki Sudo of the US (shown at right) gobbled six dogs in 60 seconds. World’s longest The longest dog, made in Paraguay in 2011, stretched more than 668 feet. After the record was recorded, the 264-pound frank in a giant bun was cut into 2,000 pieces for the public to enjoy. World’s largest Bigger is better, according to Gorilla Tango Novelty Meats in Chicago. They entered the record books in 2011 with a hot dog topped with ketchup and mustard that weighed more than 7 pounds. Most expensive The Tokyo Dog food truck based in Seattle, Washington, broke the world record in 2014 for priciest hot dog. The $169 “Juuni Ban” was topped with Japanese mayonnaise, maitake mushrooms,…

A scientist stumbled on the bones of a prehistoric marine reptile tucked away in a museum drawer. David Martill found part of a backbone at Abingdon County Hall Museum in the UK. The bone was one of four fossils (impressions or traces of ancient plants and animals preserved in rock) that have been identified as belonging to a pliosaur from about 150 million years ago. These huge creatures swam in the seas that covered southern England in the Jurassic period, between 201 and 145 million years ago. The fossils were originally found at a nearby farm and put in storage. A student of Martill’s, Megan Jacobs, was at the museum with him. When Martill opened the drawer, there was a backbone the size of a dinner plate, she said. They…

On June 21, the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) revealed its roster for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the most important tournament in international soccer. The team has 23 players, and 22 of them come from the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The only non-NWSL player is Lindsey Horan, an American who plays for France’s Olympique Lyon. The World Cup is run by FIFA (the Federation Internationale de Football Association, the global governing body for soccer) and takes place every four years. This year, it will be hosted by New Zealand and Australia and begins on July 20. The Americans will enter the tournament as the number one team in the world. They won the World Cup in 2015 and 2019, and they are looking to become the first…

Coach’s Name: Erik Jensen Team: YNS Sharks (swimming) “Coach Erik is very nice and funny, and he pushes us to do our best. He makes sure we are focused and not goofing off. When we practiced diving, he jumped into the pool and taught us how to do the best dive we could. He’s been helping us on different strokes by getting us out of the pool and showing us how to move our hands and arms and kick the right way. At the start of the season, I was just OK, but he has helped me improve a lot!” Oliver, 10, Massachusetts 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…

Early years Harrison Ford was born and raised around Chicago, Illinois. He started acting in college. For years, he also worked as a carpenter to earn money while he auditioned for TV and film roles. Action star Ford was not yet a well-known actor when he was cast as Han Solo in the first Star Wars film. It turned him into a big star, and he has acted in five of the nine main films. Star Wars and Indiana Jones were created by George Lucas. A hero in real life The actor is a helicopter pilot and has been flying for nearly 30 years. He has rescued hikers on mountains and helped transport doctors and supplies in Haiti after an earthquake.…

American Ninja Warrior (NBC) Mondays at 8 pm ET This hit competition series, in which athletes tackle some of the world’s most challenging obstacle courses, is back for a 15th season. New features include an 18.5-foot Mega Wall and a competition that challenges the Ninjas to complete six courses in a set amount of time. SharkFest (National Geographic, Disney+, Hulu) From July 2 to July 27, National Geographic will roll out its annual batch of new shows on sharks. Viewers can see amazing close-up footage of the animals, follow research expeditions, and hear from experts on topics such as why sharks attack and which species are under threat. (Hulu, Peacock) Season six of this How to Train Your Dragon spin-off series was recently released. It follows a group of teens who…

Ellen Oh writes and edits fantasy and horror books, and she is a founding member of We Need Diverse Books, a nonprofit group. The Week Junior spoke to her about Haru, Zombie Dog Hero, her book that is the first in a new series. Do you have a dog? I have two dogs, Tokki and Kiko. Tokki is a grouchy 9-year-old Coton de Tulear, which is a fancy term for a cottonball dog. Kiko, age 6, is a Goldendoodle, and she loves everybody. Tokki tolerates her. Were your dogs your inspiration for this book? I got the idea when I was eating popcorn on the sofa and my dogs were on my lap. They love popcorn and wanted me to share it. I looked into their eyes and thought if…

Blue Water SandFest This lakeside event in Port Huron, Michigan, includes expert sand sculpting as well as free lessons from top competitors. Siesta Key Crystal Classic This event on Florida’s Gulf Coast lasts four days and features 24 master sand sculptors who compete alone and in pairs. Spectators vote for the People’s Choice Awards. AIA Houston Sandcastle Competition Competitors at this event in Houston, Texas, have a special edge—they are professional architects (people who design buildings). Neptune’s International Sandsculpting Championship Some of the best sand sculptors from around the world come together to participate in this contest in Virginia Beach. Masterpieces on display include sand sculptures like that of author Mark Twain (above).…

Summer can be an ideal time to visit new places and learn about the world around you. But when tourists travel to their destination, their actions can sometimes be harmful to the surrounding environment. Some tourists may litter, causing pollution, or they may not be respectful of local wildlife and plants. One way to be a responsible traveler is to simply follow local rules. Look out for posted signs or park literature for guidelines, like staying off beach dunes or not feeding animals. Put garbage in its proper place. It can also help to minimize use of a car, which can cause pollution. Encourage your family to walk, bike, or use public transportation as much as possible.…

Zoey, a 3-year-old Labrador and German shepherd mix from Louisiana, has broken a record with her five-inch tongue. Zoey’s owners said they noticed the long tongue when she was a puppy but thought “surely she’d grow into it.” Now a visit to the vet and certification by Guinness World Records have confirmed that she has the world’s longest tongue on a dog. Zoey’s owner tells people who want to pet her, “She’s friendly, but she might slobber on you.”…

1 About two million muslims are traveling to Saudi Arabia for a pilgrimage called what? 2 A fossil belonging to which prehistoric sea creature was found in a museum drawer? a) Helicoprion b) Mosasaur c) Pliosaur a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 3 What is the name of author and illustrator Remy Lai’s first fantasy graphic novel? 4 True or false? Babies of four animal species, including meerkats, were recently born at the San Diego Zoo. True ☐ False ☐ 5 In the movie Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, what artifact does Indy retrieve? a) Archimedes Dial b) Aristotle Dial c) Alexander Dial a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 6 What is the name of the machine invented by students to help feed gorillas in zoos? 7 How…

A four-day search ended on June 22 when the wreckage of a missing submersible (remotely controlled underwater vehicle) was found on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, about 900 miles off the coast of Canada. The vehicle, called Titan, was carrying five people to see the shipwreck of the Titanic, nearly 13,000 feet deep. Water pressure at that depth equals the weight of the Eiffel Tower. Evidence indicates that the pressure caused Titan to implode, killing everyone aboard. The passengers included two experienced explorers, a father and his teenage son, and Stockton Rush, founder of OceanGate, the American company that built Titan. “This is a very sad time for the entire explorer community and for each of the family members of those lost at sea,” an OceanGate spokesperson said. Crews…

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, to an official state dinner at the White House on June 22. The event was attended by about 400 people and had a goal of strengthening relations between the two countries. Some people said it was wrong to host the dinner because Modi has been accused of human rights violations. What is a state dinner? A state dinner is a formal event expressing goodwill—a way for a US President to honor a leader who is visiting from another country. At the event, the two leaders exchange toasts in a show of diplomacy. US Presidents have hosted more than 200 state dinners since the tradition began in 1874, and this was the third one hosted…

On hot summer days, what’s better than cooling off with a refreshing swim? People have been swimming for fun since early humans took a dip more than 100,000 years ago. In the US, swimming pools first appeared in the late 1800s and became popular in the 1900s, thanks to better methods for keeping the water clean. People soon enjoyed the convenience of splashing around in backyards, community centers, and gyms. But people who prefer the beach say nothing comes close to squishing your toes in the sand, jumping in the waves, and feeling the sea breeze. What do you think? Are swimming pools better than the beach? Yes—they’re convenient and calm Pools are calmer and quieter than the beach. There are no waves to knock you down, and you don’t…

In the wild, gorillas are excellent foragers, searching around for fruits, vegetables, bamboo shoots, and other favorite foods. But in zoos, gorillas are usually fed on a regular schedule in a specific place. Engineering students from the Georgia Institute of Technology have now invented a machine that can help zoos create a more natural environment for the apes. The ForageFeeder automatically spreads food throughout an enclosure at random times during the day. Hanging 15 feet in the air, the feeder drops foods gorillas like, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and turnips, into a tray. The food is then launched from the feeder in a circular motion, scattering it as far as 30 feet away. Scientists have been testing the machine at Zoo Atlanta in Georgia since late 2022. It took…

Do you love taking photos of flowers, trees, and wildlife? If so, now is your chance to use your creativity, curiosity, and skills to enter The Week Junior’s Nature Photo Contest. The entry form for 8- to 10-year-olds is at tinyurl.com/TWJUS-2023PhotoContest-8-10 and for 11- to 14-year-olds at tinyurl.com/TWJUS-2023PhotoContest-11-14. Winning entries will be featured in a September 2023 issue of the magazine. See official rules at theweekjunior.com/photocontestrules.…

Twelve people are spending 60 days lying in bed at a clinic in France. But they’re not there to relax—they’re volunteers in a study that could help astronauts who spend a long time in space. The human body is adapted to the effects of gravity here on Earth. In space, where there is no gravity, astronauts’ bodies change. The study, called Bed Rest with Artificial Gravity and Cycling Exercise (BRACE), explores the effects of zero gravity on the human body and how negative effects can be counteracted. Astronauts in zero gravity lose muscle mass as well as mineral density in their bones, and their bodily fluids shift upward to their heads, adding pressure on their eyes. BRACE participants must keep at least one shoulder touching the mattress at all times,…

The new animated film Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is portraying a type of mythological sea beast in a new way. The action-comedy centers on a family of krakens, monsters that are similar to squid and feared by sailors. In the film, teen Ruby and her parents and brother are friendly creatures who live on land and try to blend in as humans. After Ruby learns new details about her identity, she has to figure out who she wants to be. The film is now in theaters. Ruby Gillman was directed by Kirk DeMicco. He told The Week Junior that even though Ruby (voiced by Lana Condor) is a sea monster, her character is very relatable. “She grapples with familiar challenges, such as insecurity and the desire to belong,” he said. She…

With just a few weeks of summer break left, Luke and his friends are hanging out in the woods near his house. When a raccoon tries to attack them, Haru, Luke’s beloved dog, scares it away. Haru is hurt and has to stay overnight at the vet. Other animals at the vet’s office tell Haru that humans will always let him down, but Haru doesn’t believe them. Soon after Luke and Haru are reunited, a fire breaks out at a nearby factory and they can’t go outside because the air is unhealthy to breathe. They nurse Penny, a stray cat who is covered in debris from the fire, back to health. Penny warns that the factory is doing something mysterious to dogs. Once it’s safe to go back outside, a…

THE SMALL TOWN of Painted Lake, Virginia, was in Manakee County and 195 miles southwest of Washington, DC. It had a population of 8,500 people per the last census and was situated just west of US Route 1, a major highway that traveled up and down the East Coast. Main Street, the biggest thoroughfare, started northeast of town from Route 1 and wound through the picturesque town center until it sharply veered west, past Lake Manakee. Painted Lake Animal Hospital was south of town, right off Main Street near the lake. Inside, Haru sat in a large cage howling softly to himself. “Aroo, aroo!” The mournful crooning conveyed the depth of his sadness. Haru didn’t understand why he was here in his least favorite place in the whole world. The…

This summertime dessert is easy to make and enjoy, whether you’re camping or in the backyard. 1. Gather the ingredients. Classics ’mores are made by sandwiching toasted marshmallow and a piece of milk chocolate between two graham crackers. If you’d like, you could also experiment with different chocolate candies, like a peanut butter cup. 2. Toast to perfection. A campfire or a firepit is a great place to roast marshmallows. Always be sure to ask an adult’s permission before approaching the fire. Push your marshmallow onto the tip of a long stick or thin wooden dowel, then hold it above the fire. Rotate the stick so the marshmallow melts evenly all the way around. 3. Sandwich it up. When nicely toasted, place the marshmallow between the graham crackers and chocolate.…

Super sand and sea crisscross Each of these words associated with the beach fits into this grid. Can you find where each one goes to complete the grid? When you’re done, transfer the letters in the yellow boxes, in order from top to bottom, into the boxes below to get the answer to the riddle. 3 letters SEA 4 letters BOAT KELP SHIP WARM 5 letters DUNES HUMID SALTY SHORE SUNNY TOWEL WAVES 6 letters COOLER PICNIC SHELLS SURFER 7 letters FLOATIE GOGGLES HORIZON TAN LINE 8 letters BARBECUE BREAKERS FLIPPERS ICE CREAM POPSICLE PORPOISE SEAGRASS SEAWATER STARFISH SUN VISOR SWIMSUIT TIDE POOL UMBRELLA VACATION 9 letters BEACH BALL BOARDWALK FLIP-FLOPS LIFEGUARD 10 letters HERMIT CRAB LIFE JACKET LIGHTHOUSE SANDCASTLE SAND DOLLAR SUNGLASSES 11 letters BOARD SHORTS BODYSURFING BOOGIE BOARD…

This week we are pleased to bring you a very special summer blockbuster issue. From our big debate on whether swimming pools are better than the beach (p8) and our report on a favorite summertime food (hot dogs, p12) to our spread of fun activity ideas (p26) and a six-page section of summer-themed puzzles (p28), it’s packed with bonus content to celebrate the season. We also continue our Summer of Reading program with an exclusive excerpt from Ellen Oh’s new middle-grade book, Haru, Zombie Dog Hero (p22). You may be the only children in America who will be able to read this chapter before the publication date of July 11! Our editorial team is about to take a short break, so we will not produce an issue next week. But…

Remy Lai’s childhood passion for writing and drawing led her to a successful career creating graphic novels. She is the author and illustrator of the best-sellers Pawcasso and Pie in the Sky. Those books, like many of her other titles, are realistic fiction. In August, Lai will release her first fantasy graphic novel. Ghost Book follows a young girl named July who can see ghosts and befriends one. Lai told The Week Junior that writing fantasy for the first time gave her a feeling of freedom. “It allowed me to imagine things like ghosts,” she said. “I wanted to do something different where I could draw cool houses and creatures.” Born in Indonesia and raised in Singapore, Lai grew up reading comics. She particularly enjoyed manga (Japanese comics), and she…

Scalloped hammerhead sharks hold their breath to keep their bodies warm while they’re diving into cold water, a study has found. Researchers from the University of Hawaii knew that scalloped hammerhead sharks do deep dives at night. They assumed that the sharks dove to hunt, since they had found deep-water squid in the stomachs of some sharks. However, hammerheads are cold-blooded, which means their temperature is controlled by their environment rather than their bodies. Getting very cold affects how well the animals’ brains and muscles can work. With temperatures in the deep ocean as low as 41° F, the scientists were puzzled as to how the sharks could do these deep dives and come back unharmed. To find out more, scientist Mark Royer and his team captured three hammerhead sharks.…

Platypus Four of these egg-laying mammals have been reintroduced to the Royal National Park near Sydney, Australia, where they were last seen more than 50 years ago. Experts will track the animals for the next two years. Yangtze giant softshell turtle The largest freshwater turtle in the world will soon be extinct (no longer exist). Only two male turtles of the species survive, and the last female has now been found dead. Hunting and habitat loss caused the species’ decline.…

Americans eat about 20 billion hot dogs every year—including 150 million on the Fourth of July. How did they get to be so popular? From Europe to Coney Island Since the late 1400s, two cities in Europe have claimed to be the birthplace of the hot dog: Frankfurt, Germany (where they got the nickname frankfurters), and Vienna, Austria (where they were called wieners). These early hot dogs were pork sausages without a bun. German immigrants brought them to the US in the 1800s and called them “dachshund sausages.” (US cartoonist T.A. Dorgan, unsure of how to spell “dachshund” in a caption with one of his drawings, was later thought to have come up with the name “hot dog.”) In the 1870s, German immigrant Charles Feltman opened a stand in Coney…

A small, sturdy concrete structure could provide safe shelter for people who have been displaced by war, natural disasters such as floods, or other emergencies. Created by a British architect and a sustainable building company, the prototype (early model) is 290 square feet and made of materials that can be recycled. Construction materials include curved concrete sheets for the walls and recycled materials for the base. The shelter has skylights for natural light, three beds, storage, a table, and a bathroom.…

On June 26, the baseball team from Louisiana State University (LSU) won the Men’s College World Series (MCWS) by defeating the University of Florida, 18–4, in the last game of a three-game series. LSU now has seven MCWS titles. The MCWS tournament began in early June with 64 teams. Games were played in Omaha, Nebraska, where the College World Series has taken place since 1950. Florida was the second-seeded (ranked) team while LSU was number five. In Game 1 on June 24, LSU won, 4–3, in 11 innings. Two of LSU’s key players were Cade Beloso, who hit a solo home run in the top of the 11th inning, and starting pitcher Ty Floyd, who struck out 17 Florida batters. Game 2 the next day was unforgettable. LSU had a…

One of the most popular film characters in history is back in a new movie. Indiana Jones, a professor and archaeologist (scientist who studies ancient objects) who hunts for supernatural artifacts, has returned in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the fifth film in a series. The movie is now in theaters and rated PG-13 for violence and action, language, and smoking. Audiences first met Indiana Jones in 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, a film set in the 1930s. Actor Harrison Ford, who plays the character, recently spoke to BBC Radio 1 about the movies and said, “The stories are so compelling and they mix adventure, humor, and heart.” In Dial of Destiny, which takes place in 1969, Indy is about to retire from his job when he…

“In this movie, the main character is Josh, a boy who moves to New York City. He doesn’t have any friends, and he is nervous about living in a new place. One day, he finds a singing crocodile living in his attic and the pair become friends. A lot of other things happen in the movie, too. For example, Josh and a magician named Hector P. Valenti break into the New York Zoo. It is a funny and very entertaining movie. I think the moral of the story is to not judge a book by its cover because Lyle is a giant reptile, but he is actually really friendly.” Nolan, 11, North Carolina Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to…

Haru, Zombie Dog Hero is a feel-good story about the close relationship between a boy and his dog that turns into a sci-fi adventure. Use these questions to get the conversation started with family and friends who have also enjoyed the book. Did humans let Haru down? And if so, how? What adjective do you think best describes Haru? How are Haru and Luke loyal to each other? Does the landlord in the story remind you of a character from another book? If so, who? Why do you think Penny left the safety of Luke’s house? Did you like that the story was told from the third-person perspective? Why or why not? How does the tone of the story change from the beginning of the book to the end?…

Making an awesome sandcastle might be on your to-do list this summer. All you need, in addition to sand, is a bucket, a shovel, and a plastic knife. Here are some tips for getting started. Pick a good spot At the beach, scope out a location to build your castle. Keep the changing tide in mind. You’ll want it to be far enough from the water that it won’t get hit by a wave while you’re working but close enough that you won’t be lugging buckets of water too far. You also may want to avoid high-traffic areas, like directly in front of a path that leads to the concession stand or the bathrooms. Prep the sand To make a castle, you’re going to need plenty of wet sand. When…

A curious red panda took the opportunity to do a bit of sightseeing in the town of Newquay, England, after she escaped from the local zoo. The animal, named Sundara, is about 1-year-old and arrived at Newquay Zoo this spring. Days later, she escaped and was spotted strolling down the road by employees at a produce market about half a mile from the zoo. They rolled a juicy apple toward her to keep her busy until help arrived from the zoo to take her back to her enclosure. “The panda very much enjoyed the apple,” the store manager said.…

Show us your favorite book! If you’re enjoying our Summer of Reading campaign, we’d love to know about it. Take a photo of yourself holding a book you recommend, and tell us why you like it. Have an adult email your submission to us at hello@theweekjunior.com. We will publish a selection of submissions in Issue 171. Our list of “The 50 Books Kids Love Most “and information about how to win prizes is at kids.theweekjunior.com/summerofreading. Finally, don’t miss our interview with Author Ambassador Ellen Oh and an excerpt of her new book starting on page 22! IT’S YOUR TURN Email your news, views, and photos to hello@theweekjunior.com.…