Innehållsförteckning för Issue 184 från The Week Junior US

Fighting continued in the Middle East for a second week. The conflict is affecting millions of people in Israel and the Gaza Strip. As thousands of people have gathered across the US and the world to stage protests, mourn victims, and hold vigils, the US and other countries have stepped in to try to prevent the war from escalating further. How did the fighting start? On October 7, a Palestinian group called Hamas waged a violent terrorist attack on Israel. Hamas and Israel have fought many times before, due to disputes over who controls certain areas of land in the region. Their most recent conflict was in 2021, though the current outbreak of violence is the worst in many years. At least 1,400 people in Israel, including 30 Americans, were…

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 all cars should have to be electric, 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 in Australia have discovered why many species of whales enjoy playing with seaweed or wearing it like a hat. It’s not just for fun, they said—these practices also have health benefits. Whales around the world have been observed rolling in clumps of seaweed and tossing the plants onto their head or rostrum (snout), sometimes for up to an hour at a time. Experts previously thought this behavior, known as “kelping,” was simply playful. They now know it serves another purpose for the whales. After studying interactions between whales and seaweed, experts concluded that kelping seems to help whales stay healthy. Sturdy brown seaweed, which has bacteria-fighting properties, can help the animals scrub their skin clean, scratch an itch, or get rid of pests such as whale lice. Scientists said…

“Why do flamingos turn pink?” Benjamin, 12, California Ryan Vittetoe Birds keeper, Phoenix Zoo Have you ever heard the phrase “You are what you eat”? Flamingos take that to a new level! They are born gray and white, then turn pink as they eat their favorite foods: shrimp and algae. The food has a lot of pink colors inside, and they eat so much that it turns them pink too! Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about Phoenix Zoo at phoenixzoo.org.…

New research shows that humans have apes to thank for their rotating shoulders and flexible elbows and wrists. Early apes developed these traits so they could safely climb down from trees. When humans evolved from apes about 6 to 7 million years ago, people got the same abilities, which lets them throw, climb, and participate in many activities. For years, researchers who study primates (mammals including humans, apes, and monkeys) have wondered why apes have a greater range of motion in their shoulders and arms than monkeys do. A team at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire used sports analysis and statistical software to study the “upclimbing” and “downclimbing” movements of two primates: wild chimpanzees and sooty mangabeys, a small monkey that’s distantly related to chimps and humans. Mangabeys split from…

A new two-part PBS documentary, The American Buffalo, explores the long and special relationship between Native American tribes and buffalo in the Great Plains region of the US. The series was directed by renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. The Great Plains covers parts of 10 states and stretches from Montana to Texas. Over thousands of years, it was home to 600 generations of Indigenous peoples (the first people to inhabit a place), such as the Cheyenne and Lakota tribes. They shared the land with buffalo, the largest land animals in the western hemisphere. Today, the animals are known as bison. Indigenous peoples relied on buffalo for food and warmth, but they also viewed the animals as sacred. The American Buffalo tells the story of the Native tribes’ fight to save…

Sonic Superstars is a new platform adventure game. It is out now for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation platforms, Xbox systems, and PC. Sonic, a wise-cracking, speedy blue hedgehog, was first introduced to gamers in 1991 through the Sega Genesis system. Since then, Sonic and his pals have starred in more than 100 games in genres that include 3D adventure, role-playing, sports, and racing. Sonic Superstars is designed to look and feel like the original side-scrolling 2D games for the Sega Genesis, with some modern twists. Like the originals, Sonic goes on an adventure through colorful islands and wild cities as he tries to stop the evil Dr. Eggman. In this game, Sonic is trying to save the gorgeous Northstar Islands. The new release has four playable characters: Sonic plus his…

Where did you get the idea for this book? After several books where the story took place outside school, I wanted to write a funny one set inside Greg’s middle school. How does this book differ from previous ones? The humor in this book is more unrealistic and exaggerated than any of the others in the series. I took big swings on humor! Did you enjoy school? I did. Mostly. There were definitely parts I didn’t like. The Square Dancing unit in gym was torture. What’s your advice if kids feel stressed? Let the adults around you know. It’s so important to reach out for help. Halloween costume? I like Halloween, but I feel uncomfortable putting on a costume! If I wear something, I may go as a gravedigger.…

Jeff Kinney The latest book in the best-selling Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is featured in this issue’s Book Club column (p23). Jeff Kinney wrote the books based on his own childhood and was one of the first author-illustrators to make books written in journal format popular. Sarah Sax This authorillustrator’s graphic novel Picture Day features her signature comic-like style with bright colors and expressive drawings. Sarah Sax is also passionate about teaching kids to harness their creativity. She has worked at a children’s museum and helped make educational video games. Betty C. Tang For her Parachute Kids graphic novel, Betty C. Tang used a format that’s similar to an animated movie, drawing on her experience working at Disney TV and Dreamworks Animation. Her comic-style drawings often break out…

A dentist has set the world record for the largest toothpaste collection. Val Kolpakov started amassing the tubes 22 years ago. He now owns 2,037 of them and has created a “mini museum” at his dental office in Georgia. The collection includes toothpaste made by the Crayola crayon company, several varieties from other countries, and uncommon flavors such as chocolate, bamboo, wasabi, and “alien blood.” Kolpakov values his collection at more than $30,000. “It’s lots of fun collecting, and I’m always looking for new toothpastes that come out,” Kolpakov said. “I will keep going.”…

“The green goddess pasta salad was awesome!” Will, 9, Minnesota “I thought it was so cool to see that one of the world’s biggest cats is a Maine coon because I have one myself!” Lyla, 12, Iowa “I brought The Week Junior to my sister’s softball game so I wouldn’t get bored. I was also practicing my gymnastics!” Shea, 9, Maryland…

A powerful space telescope has sent a “goldmine” of new information back to Earth, according to the European Space Agency (ESA), which is overseeing the mission. The Gaia telescope was launched in 2013. Its goal is to create a highly detailed three-dimensional map of almost 2 billion objects in the sky in our Milky Way galaxy and beyond. In the latest data, Gaia revealed the presence of more than 500,000 new stars. It also detected more than 380 new gravitationally lensed quasars, which are extremely distant lights created by active black holes. Gaia also tracked the positions of more than 150,000 asteroids (space rocks) within the solar system. Gaia was programmed to examine stars about 14 times per year, logging their positions, distances, movements, and changes in brightness. But the…

President Joe Biden has announced that the US will build up to 20 miles of a wall in Texas along the border with Mexico. The construction will extend sections of a wall covering about 706 miles, which are already there to stop illegal immigration (when people enter a country without permission). What happened? Alejandro Mayorkas, the secretary of homeland security, said the wall will be built along the Rio Grande Valley in Starr County, Texas. The 20-mile wall had previously been authorized by President Donald Trump, and Congress had set money aside to build it in 2019. Reviews and approvals by the US government delayed construction of the wall, and Biden issued an executive order on October 5 to bypass 26 federal laws to allow work to begin. An executive…

Paris, France Air purifiers to help Olympic athletes Organizers of the 2024 Paris Olympics are setting up machines to purify the city’s air and help athletes breathe more easily. The machines work by sucking in polluted air and removing dangerous fine particles. A test conducted on a school playground in June found that the machines removed more than a third of air pollution in the surrounding area. They will be used in the Olympic Village, which houses the athletes competing. Barcelona, Spain Cruise ships banned from city center Starting on October 22, Barcelona will officially ban cruise ships from docking at a pier near the city center to reduce overcrowding. The move affects about 340 cruise dockings a year, which had brought thousands of tourists to Barcelona at once. The…

After winning the 100-meter dash at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in August, 26-year-old sprinter Noah Lyles earned the title of “World’s Fastest Man.” Now he has his sights set on winning more medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Lyles, the son of two former runners, grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. He began competing as a sprinter as a teenager and dreamed of going to the Olympics. He tried for a spot on the US Olympic team in 2016 but did not qualify. In 2021, he made the US team for the Tokyo Games and won a bronze medal in the 200-meter race. Lyles has been compared to legendary Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who has also held the title of “World’s Fastest Man.” Bolt won the 100-meter and 200-meter races…

Every country on every continent across the world, including Antarctica, is dealing with the destructive and expensive impact of invasive species, according to a new report. An invasive species is an animal or plant that is introduced to a new environment—either accidentally or on purpose—and ends up having a negative effect on nature or people. The new report on these species was compiled by the United Nations (UN, a group of 193 countries working for peace and cooperation). Experts from 49 countries concluded that invasive species cost the world more than $423 billion every year. They said that the most affected regions were North and South America, followed by Europe and Central Asia. These species can cause many kinds of problems. Non-native plants can grow out of control, and nonnative…

Sea lions The city of San Diego, California, is closing visitor access to two seaside areas where sea lions breed. This will protect the animals from people, who have sometimes moved too close while trying to take photos or interact with sea lion pups. Big cats in Brazil Jaguars and pumas in Brazil’s Caatinga region are losing their habitat to wind farms. The Wall Street Journal reported that windmills with 150-foot blades are scaring the big cats away from water sources and toward traps in nearby villages.…

As a 21-year-old architecture student with no professional experience, Maya Lin surprised the world by winning a competition to design a war memorial in the US capital. Early life Lin was born in 1959 in Athens, Ohio, to Chinese immigrant parents. From a young age, she was exposed to art. Her mother was a poet and literature professor, and her father was a ceramics expert. In high school, Lin took university-level art classes and experimented with bronze casting. She enrolled at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1977, majoring in zoology before switching to architecture. During her senior year, in 1980, a classmate shared a poster announcing a national competition to design a memorial in Washington, DC, honoring veterans of the Vietnam War (1955–1975). Lin decided to enter. A…

Researchers from the UK and France developed a bandage that uses light to help people heal. The bandage contains a flexible coil that emits a powerful type of light called ultraviolet C. As the light flashes, it kills germs without the use of antibiotic medicines, which can be overused and become ineffective. The coil charges wirelessly. That eliminates the need for a disposable battery and makes the bandage easier to wear. When the dressing needs changing, the coil can be transferred to a new bandage.…

On October 15, the final games of the 2023 NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) regular season took place. It was called Decision Day, and the results determined four of the six teams that would make the playoffs. Before the final games were played, the San Diego Wave and the Portland Thorns, the top two teams, had clinched postseason spots. The San Diego Wave won their Decision Day game and finished with the best record, which earned them the 2023 NWSL Shield for the first time. One of the four other playoff spots went to the OL Reign, who beat the Chicago Red Stars, 3–0. Retiring OL Reign star Megan Rapinoe scored two goals. The Washington Spirit entered Decision Day positioned to make the playoffs, but a 1–0 loss to the…

Next March, The Wiz, an award-winning musical based on the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, will open on Broadway. The show is currently on a 13-city US tour, which began in Baltimore, Maryland, where the original production debuted in 1974. The original Broadway production of The Wiz won seven Tonys (a top theater award) in 1975, including one for Best Musical. A Wiz movie came out in 1978. Like the beloved film The Wizard of Oz from 1939, The Wiz is about Dorothy, a girl from Kansas who must find her way home from a magical land. However, the show is based in Black and African culture, stars Black actors, and includes soul, gospel, and funk music. The current stage production is considered an “entirely reimagined…

The Dragon Prince: Mystery of Aaravos (Netflix) “This animated fantasy series was originally just called The Dragon Prince. It is made by a creator of Avatar: The Last Airbender. In the story, a group of young humans and elves take the dragon prince, Zym, back home to a world called Xadia to see his mother and stop a long war between humans and Xadians. They are fighting an evil Startouch Elf who is trying to get all the power and rule all of Xadia. I like how funny the story is, plus I think it is cool that they have LGBTQ relationships and diverse characters. There are already five seasons to watch and more coming.” Collin, 10, California Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other…

By Jeff Kinney (Amulet Books) The 18th book in the best-selling series takes place at Greg and Rowley’s middle school. Because of budget cuts, the building is falling apart and there’s no money for learning supplies. Even most of the library books are gone because a parent requested that they be banned. A new principal hopes to get the school on track, but his plans quickly backfire. To earn money, the school rents out some of the classrooms to local businesses. As a result, Greg can see his mom attending yoga class in a nearby classroom. Unless the students perform well on a standardized test, the school will close. If that happens, half of the students will go to a prep school with a big budget and the rest, including…

Bob By Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead, illustrated by Nicholas Gannon (Square Fish) Lily hasn’t seen Bob, a friendly creature who looks like a zombie in a chicken suit, since she last visited her grandmother in Australia five years ago. They grow closer as they look for clues about where Bob came from and how to return him to where he belongs. Ages 8–12 Falling Short By Ernesto Cisneros (Quill Tree Books) In sixth grade, Marco and Isaac may finally be on the same basketball team. While Issac is a star player, Marco is not very good at sports. But he wants to make the team to impress his dad. Isaac has an idea that will give Marco a chance of earning a spot. Will it work? Ages 8–12 The…

AN EPIC LITTER A 3-year-old Dachshund in the UK gave birth to 11 puppies, which may be the largest litter of the breed ever born. Winnie’s owner called her “a natural” at taking care of her pups. “She’s the best mum ever,” she said. SPEEDY SOLVING Charlie Eggins, age 14, set a new world record for solving a 3x3x3 Rubik’s Cube while blindfolded. Eggins, who is from Australia, has been a speedcuber for four years. He finished the puzzle in 12.10 seconds, beating the previous record by .68 seconds. “I still can’t believe it,” he said. BEING A HISTORY BUFF Paul Durietz teaches history—and makes it too. Durietz, age 76, achieved a world record for the longest career as a social studies teacher after 53 years at the same Illinois…

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced that he will run for President in next year’s election as an independent (not part of a registered political party). Kennedy, a lawyer, had said previously that he would run as a Democrat, which meant he would challenge Joe Biden for that party’s nomination. Now Kennedy’s intention is to face the Democratic and Republican nominees, as well as any other independents, in the election on November 5, 2024.…

Imagine a world with only electric cars on the road. Instead of taking the nearest exit to a gas station and pumping your car full of gas, you’d pull in to an EV charging hub and plug in your car, just like you do a laptop or phone. Maybe you would even travel on an electric road that charges your car as you drive. This day might come sooner than you think, with some states banning the sale of new gas-powered cars in coming years and carmakers phasing out traditional vehicles. But some people argue that going all electric won’t help slow climate change and might, in fact, create new problems. What do you think? Should all cars have to be electric? Yes—we have to start somewhere More than 91%…

Redwood is a group of national and state parks that are home to the tallest trees on Earth. Some of them grow more than 350 feet high and can weigh 2.7 million pounds. The trees are so wide that it can take 15 people to make a circle around one. Such immense growth is possible because the trees live in an area of Northern California that has plenty of rain, rich soil, and a moderate climate (not too hot or too cold). Elk, bats, and birds are found here. The oldest Redwood tree in the national park is 2,520 years old. Find out more at nps.gov/redw.…

Maya Lin’s most famous work, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, was dedicated on Veterans Day in 1982. It is made up of two 200-foot-long black granite walls in a V shape. Visitors experience the memorial by starting at ground level, descending below it, and ascending back up to symbolize a “wound that is closed and healing.” Etched on the walls are the names of more than 58,000 US service members, listed in chronological order by the date of their death. The polished walls allow people to see their reflection as they read the names, connecting past and present. Visitors can find the name of a loved one and create a copy by pressing paper on it and rubbing it with charcoal.…

Cadmium yellow is a bright shade of paint that has been used in many famous paintings, from Vincent van Gogh’s Flowers in a Blue Vase to Edvard Munch’s The Scream. But the paint tends to fade and take on a chalky appearance over time. New research has revealed why. Cadmium yellow is mostly made with the chemicals cadmium and sulfur. Scientists and art experts knew that the color was fading from some paintings by van Gogh and Munch from the 1800s. But they were surprised it was fading in more recent paintings, including some from the 1970s by Spanish artist Joan Miró. Mar Gómez Lobón, an art expert in Spain, collected tiny specks of cadmium yellow paint from three of Miró’s 1970s paintings, as well as tiny samples of paint…

The 2023–2024 NHL (National Hockey League) season began on October 10. The Las Vegas Golden Knights are the reigning Stanley Cup champions, but the top teams are expected to include the Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, and Carolina Hurricanes. One of the most anticipated opening night games was between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was the NHL debut of Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, age 18. He was the number one pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. The Blackhawks won the game, 4–2, and Bedard recorded an assist. The next day, the Blackhawks played the Boston Bruins. Just over five minutes into the game, Bedard scored his first NHL goal, which was his team’s only goal in a 3–1 loss. In Chicago’s third game, Bedard racked up another assist…

Coach’s Name: Penny Beddow-Wolf Organization: Fort Wayne Coventry Taekwondo “Mrs. Beddow teaches students of all ages and abilities. She encourages kids to work through challenges and never give up. Her positive attitude and love of taekwondo is contagious and makes students look forward to class. She and her team teach hard work, respect, patience, consistency, and kindness, which are skills students will use forever. We’ve developed confidence because of her and are thankful for her.” Asher, 12, and Fisher, 8, Indiana 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.…

The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz In this funny TV movie from 2005, Muppets play the characters that Dorothy meets in Oz. Kermit is the Scarecrow, and Miss Piggy (right) is the Wicked Witch of the West. Oz the Great and Powerful This 2013 fantasy tells the story of a magician from Kansas who is transported to Oz in a hot air balloon. He meets three witches who live there and eventually becomes the powerful Wizard. Wicked The relationship between witches Elphaba and Glinda is explored in this story, which began as a 1995 book and became a hit Broadway show. The first part of a Wicked film will be released in 2024.…

Peter & the Wolf (Max) In Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev’s famous orchestral composition Peter and the Wolf, a children’s story is told through the sounds of various instruments. For this new short film, Irish rocker Gavin Friday provided the music and illustrations by U2’s Bono inspired the animation. Explorer: Lake of Fire (Disney+) (Hulu) Follow a team of adventurers and scientists in this new documentary as they battle extreme conditions while trying to climb an unexplored volcano. The volcano was found through satellite imagery in 2018, and their mission is to uncover the science behind its eruptions. Curses! (Apple TV+) This new spooky series features computer-generated and stop-motion animation. It follows the Vanderhouven family, who used to be typical until a curse turned their dad to stone. To reverse it,…

Endling By Katherine Applegate “Endling is the best book ever! It’s about Byx, who is a dairne, which is a species that looks like a walking, talking dog. Her pack is killed by soldiers, and later she is captured by a human named Khara, who is just trying to protect her. Byx and Khara and other friends make it their mission to find more dairnes. There are three books in the series. I love it, and I think you would too!” Sophia, 10, New Jersey Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Whether you like to doodle in a notebook or sketch on a giant pad, drawing is a great way to express yourself and share your creativity with others. Drawing is also an easy hobby to pursue because you need only simple supplies. Check out these tips to make your drawing skills stronger. And consider demonstrating your talent by entering our Winter Cover Contest! Find out more on the next page. Gather supplies One of the best parts about drawing is that you can get started right away with paper and pencils you already have. You might also enjoy drawing in a sketchbook, which is a notebook with special drawing paper. This can help you easily look back at your work and see your progress. You might also want to experiment…

Word ladder To change the word WOLF into the word HOWL, use each clue to fill in a word that is only one letter different from the word before it. If you get stuck, try solving from the bottom up. STEPPING STONES Each figure hides a seven-letter word associated with electricity. To find each one, start anywhere and move in an unbroken path through letters that share a border (no jumping!), using each letter once. (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 29. Spot the difference These two pictures of origami butterflies appear to be the same, but take a closer look. There are actually five differences. Can you see them? Stepping stones hint: The second word begins with C. DO NOT…

At The Week Junior, we love to highlight children who are making a difference in the world—kids like Inaya, shown at right. She raised money to help people after devastating wildfires in Hawaii and a severe earthquake in Morocco. Right now, the war in the Middle East is on the minds of many of our readers. The situation is serious, and it can be difficult to know how each of us as individuals can help. One thing everyone can do is reach out to others who are upset and share kind words. That simple gesture can be very powerful! Many nonprofit organizations are also accepting donations to support their humanitarian work in the region, and you could ask an adult to help you identify one that is meaningful to you…

Simon—who is 12 years old and from California—said his grandfather was important to him because they shared the same interests: languages and art. Simon’s favorite memory of his grandfather is talking to him on the phone in Czech. To celebrate your grandparent or any special older person, go to kidstheweekjunior.com/activities to print out a form (like the one at right). Fill it out, then have an adult email it to us at hello@theweekjunior.com. We’ll feature some of the responses in future issues.…

1 Which bear was the winner of this year’s Fat Bear Week contest? a) 128 “Grazer” b) 32 “Chunk” c) 806 “Spring Cub” a ◻ b ◻ c ◻ 2 In Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer, what insects invade school on the day of a big test? a) Bees b) Ants c) Mosquitoes a ◻ b ◻ c ◻ 3 Who directed the new documentary for PBS called The American Buffalo? ___________________________ 4 Scientists recently analyzed cadmium yellow in paintings from the 1970s that were created by which artist? a) Pablo Picasso b) Joan Miró c) Salvador Dalí a ◻ b ◻ c ◻ 5 True or false? San Diego, California, is closing visitor access to seaside areas to protect breeding sea turtles. True ◻ False ◻ 6…