Innehållsförteckning för Issue 177/178 från The Week Junior US

Cleanup and recovery continues in Hawaii after the nation’s deadliest wildfire in more than 100 years swept across the island of Maui. What happened? On August 8, wildfires began on Maui, one of the state’s largest islands, burning at least 3,000 acres and destroying much of the historic town of Lahaina. Officials confirmed that 115 people died and another 388 people are listed as missing. The blazes destroyed more than 2,200 structures and caused an estimated $5.5 billion in damages. More than 2,000 people lost their homes and have been living in emergency shelters. Power, internet, and cell service went down, and water was unsafe to drink after pipes were damaged and chemicals leaked into the water supply. What caused the fires? The initial fire started after heavy winds knocked…

Susie Dent, who writes The Week Junior’s “Word of the Week” (p4), has created a career out of discovering the origin of English words and sharing what she learns with others. Known as the “Human Dictionary,” she told The Week Junior that she “always hopes to inspire a love of words in others.” Dent, who lives in the UK, is a lexicographer (person who works with or writes dictionaries) and an etymologist. She said etymologists are “detectives who hunt down clues about the origins of words and dig around for evidence of their use.” While growing up in Surrey, in southeast England, Dent was drawn to words. As a young child, she liked reading the writing on shampoo bottles in the bathtub. After studying modern languages at Somerville College in…

In films and TV shows, police investigators “dust” crime scenes for fingerprints to catch criminals. Now conservationists (people who work to protect animals and the environment) are using a similar method to tackle the illegal overfishing of sharks and rays. Overfishing is when too many of a particular type of fish are caught, putting that species in danger. Many sharks and rays are killed because of a high demand—and a high price—for their fins. In some countries, the fins are used as an ingredient in shark fin soup, which some people believe can cure certain illnesses. About 100 species of sharks and rays are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an agreement between 184 countries to limit sales of wildlife…

Scottish wildcats “Highland tigers” are being saved from the brink of extinction. Four litters, totaling 11 kittens, were born at the Highland Wildlife Park in Scotland. They may be released into the wild as part of a project to grow the species’ population. Wolves in Spain Wolves have lived in the Andalucía mountains in southern Spain for centuries, but experts have now declared them extinct in the region, mostly due to illegal hunting and habitat loss. About 2,000 wolves are left in the country overall.…

Millions of students have started a new school year, and the rest are getting ready to head back. We wanted to know: How are you feeling about it? What would you change if you could? What do you want teachers, parents, and other kids to know? We surveyed students ages 8 to 14 across the country to find out, and here’s what you had to say. What are you most excited about this school year? It can be hard to say goodbye to summer, but you told us there’s a lot you’re looking forward to. 24% of kids bring a phone to school What are your top concerns about this school year? School can be stressful at times, and academics are a worry for some of you. 54% Getting homework…

From August 16 through August 27, players from the US and other countries gathered in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to compete in the Little League Baseball World Series (LLBWS). In a thrilling championship game, a team from El Segundo, California, beat Curacao, 6–5. The last time a team from California won the title was in 2011. To qualify for the LLBWS, hundreds of teams made up of players ages 10 to 12 competed in local, state, and regional games. Eventually, 20 teams made the LLBWS, with 10 coming from the US and 10 from other countries. The US teams, which represented different regions, competed in one bracket, while the international teams played in the other. The winners from each side met in the championship. The team from California did not have…

Coach’s Name: Serwaah Fordjour Team: Pacific Northwest Soccer Club “I am so lucky to call her my coach. She is tough but makes sure we have fun and love soccer. I have ADHD, and she has patience and understands how to coach me. Not many coaches take time to learn how to work with players individually. She does! Serwaah helps me to not overthink new moves, feel good about myself, and be a better player. She also is open about what it takes for girls to be successful in soccer.” Lena, 12, Washington To nominate a Coach of the Week, send your coach’s name, photo, sport, and team to hello@theweekjunior.com. Include your name, age, state, and a few reasons why your coach is great.…

Howdy Doody This marionette starred in a hit children’s series from 1947 to 1960. The US had 48 states at the time he was made, and he was given 48 freckles to represent them. Chinese dragon Dragon rod puppets are often part of Chinese New Year festivities. People hold and move the rods to make it look like the dragon is dancing. Having a dragon with an odd number of joints is thought to be lucky. Lamb Chop Award-winning puppeteer and ventriloquist Shari Lewis (pictured) created this sweet sock puppet, who was introduced in 1957. The pair went on to star in popular TV shows for kids.…

I Am Groot (Disney+) Groot, the lovable tree-like creature from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy films, is back in five new funny shorts about his adventures growing up. Baby Groot will build a giant robot snowman and meet colorful creatures. He is voiced, as always, by actor Vin Diesel. The Little Mermaid (Disney+) The live-action remake of the animated musical begins streaming on September 6. In the film, teen mermaid Ariel (Halle Bailey) falls for a human prince. She makes a deal with evil sea witch Ursula to live on land, but the deal ends up threatening the water world and Ariel’s life. America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston (PBS.org) (PBS) September 6, 8 pm ET In this series, writer and activist Baratunde Thurston learns about how people in the US…

Do you live in Key West, Florida? No, my house is in another part of Florida. But I traveled to Key West to research this book, including visiting the city’s famous cemeteries. After reading the book, I hope kids come away with a sense of the unique vibe of Key West. Is it more fun to write about good or bad characters? Bad guys are interesting to write about, but I liked Wrecker so much that I had more fun developing his character than the bad guys. Is there a common thread in your books for young readers? Going back to Hoot, my books have strong characters who take stands to protect the environment. They don’t just sit there and do nothing when a place they care about is being…

Super “fall” crisscross Each of these things known for falling fits into this grid. Can you find where each one goes to complete the grid? When you’re done, six words will appear in the grid’s yellow boxes. Use those words to complete the bonus puzzle at the bottom of the page. 3 letters DEW 4 letters HAIL IDOL SNOW STAR TIDE TROY 5 letters ACORN CLOWN DIVER JENGA NIGHT SLEET 6 letters CRUMBS DOMINO LEAVES METEOR PETALS PRICES SHADOW STOCKS 7 letters SOUFFLE 8 letters SEA LEVEL 9 letters BAROMETER RAINDROPS WATERFALL 11 letters JACK AND JILL ROMAN EMPIRE TEMPERATURE 12 letters HOUSE OF CARDS HUMPTY DUMPTY LONDON BRIDGE NEW YEAR’S BALL 13 letters BLOOD PRESSURE INTEREST RATES BONUS: Each of the shaded words from the grid above fits in…

If you’ve started the new school year, how has it been for you so far? If you haven’t begun yet, how are you feeling about going into a new grade? On page 12, you can see what the students across the US who responded to our back-to-school survey had to say about the new year—and don’t miss their advice for other kids! This week we’re also excited to bring you a special bonus section of back-to-school recipes (p24) and six pages of puzzles to boost your brainpower (p28). We hope you enjoy them! If you would like to tell us what you think of the recipes, the puzzles, your new school year, or any other topic, please write a few sentences and have an adult email it to hello@theweekjunior.com, along…

1 True or false? A veterinary hospital for dolphins and porpoises in Massachusetts is the first of its kind. True □ False □ 2 Who recently tied the WNBA record for most points scored in a single game? a) Aliyah Boston b) A’ja Wilson c) Kelsey Plum a □ b □ c □ 3 In the book Wrecker, what is the name of the man who is keeping tabs on Wrecker? 4 Scientists plan to release how many Guam kingfisher chicks into the wild? a) Three b) Four c) Five a □ b □ c □ 5 A 12-foot-tall puppet called Little Amal symbolizes a refugee from what country? 6 A newly discovered whale that may be Earth’s heaviest animal lived about how many years ago? a) 38 million b)…

Students have begun returning to school for the 2023–24 school year. Shortages of teachers and bus drivers are among the challenges that many public schools are trying to address. When did schools open? Many public schools in the Midwest, South, and Southwest opened their doors in late July and early August. Those in the Middle Atlantic, Northeast, and West welcomed students in mid- to late August, with others set to open in early September. Start times vary because they are set by local and state governments, not the federal government. What challenges are schools facing? The need for teachers has increased by 35% in the past two years, according to researchers who reviewed data from 37 states and discovered that about 49,000 teacher positions needed to be filled. Many school…

Mount Rainier National Park is one of the oldest national parks in the US. Mount Rainier, which rises to 14,000 feet above sea level, is an active volcano that has not had a major eruption in 500 years. It has more glacier ice (snow that thickens over time) than any other mountain in the lower 48 states (all the states except Alaska and Hawaii). Visitors can find 14 species of amphibians, five species of reptiles, 182 species of birds, 14 species of native fish, and 65 species of mammal—from big black bears and elk to little moles and marmots. Find out more at nps.gov/mora.…

A whale that existed about 38 million years ago may have been the heaviest animal to ever live. An international team of scientists believes the species Perucetus colossus may have been bigger than today’s blue whale, which is thought to be the largest animal ever. Fossils (preserved impressions or traces of ancient plants and animals) of P. colossus were found in Peru more than 10 years ago. Researchers found four ribs, a piece of hipbone, and 13 vertebrae (spine bones). The vertebrae weighed about 330 pounds each—so much that scientists at first thought they were boulders. The team of scientists compared P. colossus to living whales and other extinct whales. They estimated that it weighed between 94 and 375 tons and was about 66 feet long. By comparison, modern blue…

Sea of Stars is a new turn-based role-playing game (RPG). It is out now for the Nintendo Switch, Xbox systems, PlayStation platforms, and PC. The game is a prequel to a hit game from 2018 called The Messenger, but you don’t have to know about that game to enjoy Sea of Stars. The new game revolves around two young Solstice Warriors: Valere and Zale. Together, they wield the power of the Sun and Moon, and they use what is called Eclipse Magic in a quest to defeat an evil alchemist. He creates monsters they have to fight along the way. While Valere and Zale are the big stars, there are many other characters in the game, including their buddy Garl, a warrior cook. Players can control up to six characters,…

TURNING 20 Starbucks is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Pumpkin Spice Lattes. They’re back in stores now, marking the unofficial start of fall. Through the years the popular drink has ”taken on a life of its own,” said the coffee chain. A FOUND TREASURE An original sketch of beloved children’s book characters Winnie the Pooh and Piglet was found in a drawer and is expected to sell for thousands of dollars. Drawn in 1958 by E.H. Shepard, the artist who illustrated the Pooh books, the piece “means so much,” said one art expert. BEING ONE OF A KIND A baby giraffe with no spots—the only patternless giraffe known to exist in the world—was born at Brights Zoo in Tennessee. The calf is six feet tall and doing well. As…

Between the Covid-19 pandemic and the rise of streaming services, movie theaters have lost a lot of business in recent years. They’ve had to look for new ways to attract customers. One solution, proposed by AMC Theatres, was to change the way tickets are priced. Instead of a single price for each showing, people could pay different amounts depending on the location of their chosen seat. Some people were excited about the new system, hoping to save on a discounted seat or get exclusive access to a “premium” spot. Others thought the idea was terrible and wanted seat prices to stay equal. What do you think? Should better movie seats cost more? Yes—it’s a blockbuster of an idea This plan could help movie theaters stay in business and end the…

Dr. Sarah Carotenuto Professor, University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine Croaking is an extremely common noise for frogs, more frequently heard after rain. Sometimes, depending on the frog, croaking noises can be heard up to a mile away! Frogs mainly croak because they are looking for love. They croak to find a mate with whom to start a tadpole family. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the UA College of Veterinary Medicine at vetmed.arizona.edu.…

Scientists have created a reusable glue that sticks and releases on command. Researchers at Japan’s National Institute for Material Science added an ingredient to the glue called caffeic acid, which responds to different wavelengths of light. When exposed to one type of light, the glue creates a firm, lasting hold. When exposed to a different type of light, the glue releases. It doesn’t lose its ability to adhere once the bond is broken, allowing it to be used again. The glue may even work underwater, the team said.…

A 12-foot-tall puppet who symbolizes refugees (people who have been forced to leave their homes to escape danger) is embarking on a 6,000-mile, 35-stop journey across the US. Little Amal’s trip begins in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 7, and ends in San Diego, California, on November 5. Little Amal is imagined to be a 10-year-old girl from Syria. A civil war has been going on there for 12 years, and more than 14 million people have fled the country. Amal Walks Across America is a type of play, and her character “is one of the millions of child refugees who have fled danger and are in search of safety and hope in the land of opportunity—the United States,” producer David Lan told The Week Junior. Since 2021, Little Amal has…

Ultimate Spider-Man (Disney+) “I like this series because it is a Spider-Man show made for kids. It includes characters like Nick Fury and the Beetle. In the first episode, Spider-Man starts working with the agency S.H.I.E.L.D. and a team of other heroes: Nova, Iron Fist, White Tiger, and Power Man. Throughout the seasons, Spider-Man’s team gets more and more members, including Agent Anti-Venom. The show is really fun and really funny. I watch it every Saturday morning, hoping the new episode includes Doctor Octopus. My 5-year-old brother watches it too, and we think it’s appropriate for all ages.” Jerome, 10, New York Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

By Carl Hiaasen (Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers) On his way home from fishing, Wrecker spots a group of men on a speedboat that is stuck in a sandbar off the coast of Key West, Florida. The leader, who calls himself Silver Mustache, asks Wrecker if he will use his boat to tow theirs. But the speedboat is too heavy. Silver Mustache refuses Wrecker’s offer to call the Coast Guard for help. In fact, he wants Wrecker to forget they ever met. Believing they’re smugglers, Wrecker hopes to never see Silver Mustache again either. But then Silver Mustache turns up in a graveyard where Wrecker works cleaning a tombstone. Silver Mustache is keeping tabs on Wrecker for some reason. Days later, Wrecker and his friend go fishing and…

COOKIES AND CREAM CRISPY TREATS Ingredients ● 1½ cups mini store-bought cookies such as sandwich cookies, chocolate chip, or fudge striped, halved or quartered● 4 tablespoons salted butter● 6 cups marshmallows● 6 cups crispy rice cereal● ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract Instructions 1. Place ⅓ cup of the cookies in a small bowl. Set aside. Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. Spritz with cooking spray. 2. In a large pot over low heat, melt the butter. Add the marshmallows and melt, stirring frequently, until the mixture is smooth. Add half the rice cereal and the remaining cookies. Stir, then add the remaining cereal and vanilla. 3. Stir until evenly coated, then place in the prepared dish. Press into the pan, then top the mixture with the remaining cookies.…

Colossal cat is a gentle giant Yuliya Minina of Russia said she has the “largest cat in the world.” Maine coons, a domestic cat breed, weigh 12 to 18 pounds on average. But 3-year-old Kefir weighed in at 28 pounds last year and has continued growing. Now he stands almost as tall as Minina’s 4-year-old daughter and can reach door handles. Kefir is “very smart” and “affectionate,” Minina said. There’s only one problem: “At night he likes to climb on me and sleep…it is difficult to sleep like that.” Mystery of the puzzling pole Mystery of the puzzling pole A wildlife organization is trying to find out who erected a mysterious wooden pole in the UK. It looks similar to totem poles, carved monuments traditionally made by artists native to…

BRAIN TWISTERS AND TEASERS (pages 28–33) Super “fall” crisscross Crisscross bonus Far-flung flags of the world 1 Sweden = H 2 France = F 3 Russia = E 4 Mexico = D 5 India = I 6 China = G 7 Argentina = B 8 South Africa = C 9 Australia = A Juggling act logs slow soil also sold loss Fall colors red green magenta orange brown yellow olive violet This & that Back-to-school word search Unused letters: The oldest existing American school is nearly four hundred years old Leaf cuttings Cross-fit Turn and go Details, details Spot the difference Up close 1 apple seeds 2 zebra 3 dandelion 4 cantaloupe 5 baseball 6 cat’s nose 7 poppy seed roll 8 strawberry ice cream 9 ladybug Amazing autumn word…