Innehållsförteckning för Issue 188 från The Week Junior US

On Election Day, November 7, people across the US chose government officials and voted on a variety of local and statewide issues. Some of the races had historic outcomes. What happened? Because 2023 is an odd-numbered year, the President and most members of Congress (the branch of government that makes laws) were not on the ballot. But hundreds of state and local elections were held. Kentucky and Mississippi chose governors (top state leaders), and voters in 17 major cities chose mayors. Judges were elected at many levels, from municipal courts to state supreme courts. Many towns and cities held races for elected positions on city councils, school boards, fire department commissions, and other local government departments. Voter turnout was mostly low across the country, which is typical for elections that…

A NOODLE MAKEOVER For the first time in 50 years, Cup Noodles are getting a new look. In the US, the noodles have come in a foam cup since 1973, but starting in 2024, they will be in an environmentally friendly paper cup without plastic packaging. With the new cup, people can also microwave their noodles rather than pour boiling water on them. A MAJOR LEAGUE DONATION Baseball star Shohei Ohtani will donate 60,000 baseball gloves to children in Japan, where he is from. Ohtani, who has spent the last six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, said, “I’ll be looking forward to sharing the field one day with someone who grew up using this glove!” HONORING VETERANS The US observed Veterans Day in honor of the women and men…

Students in the US are regularly tested on their knowledge of class material, from pop quizzes to midterms, finals, and standardized tests. Traditionally, educators have put time limits on tests. This is because they believe it’s fair to give most students the same amount of time, and they also think students who really know the material should be able to answer all the questions during that time. Studies have shown, however, that the ability to take a test quickly doesn’t reflect a student’s intelligence or knowledge of the material. Timed tests simply favor students who can think under pressure. What do you think? Should we get rid of timed tests? Yes—a ticking clock is unfair Time limits on tests give an advantage to students who can think quickly, be decisive,…

“How often are wolf pups born?” Yuktha, 10, Texas A female wolf becomes ready to breed once a year, usually giving birth to between four and seven pups in May or early June. Adults travel as far as 20 miles to find food for the pups. The babies are moved away from the den in the summer, and by winter they can hunt with adult pack members. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the Alaska Department of Fish and Game at adfg.alaska.gov.…

A new desk chair lets users sit, stand, lean, and even “go flamingo”—half sitting, half standing, like the bird that famously stands on one leg. Movably Pro was designed to increase movement, comfort, and productivity. The chair’s inventor got the idea after he was injured in a bike accident and couldn’t find a comfortable seat to suit his needs. Movably Pro has seven positions and includes an adjustable footrest, back support, and anti-fatigue floor mat. An app reminds users to change positions every few minutes.…

On November 21, the new animated musical comedy Leo will premiere on Netflix. It is about a 74-year-old lizard who wants to escape the fifth-grade classroom where he lives. When he starts spending time in students’ homes, he ends up giving them advice based on what he’s learned about kids over the years. Leo is voiced by actor and comedian Adam Sandler, who also co-wrote and produced the film. The idea to make the movie started after he tried to watch a movie about high school with his kids and realized it wasn’t age-appropriate. “He wanted to make a movie about kids in school for kids,” one of the film’s directors, David Wachtenheim, told The Week Junior. When the school year starts, Leo and the class turtle, Squirtle, think they…

Pretty Freekin Scary (Disney+, Disney Now, and other platforms) “This show is hilarious and so good. It is about a girl named Frankie who dies and comes back to life. She must complete tasks while maintaining her two new best friends, Pretty and Scary. They face a lot of trial and error. What I really like about this show is that it really shows what friendship is and puts it in a way kids and families can understand. One of my favorite characters is Erlic. He is funny, smart, and sarcastic. My other favorite character is Frankie. She is funny, kind, and smart. I liked episode seven, when they put on a hilarious show.” Ariel, 12, Indiana Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids?…

(Clarion Books) Twins Elliot and Liza search through trash in Kawumiti Kingdom looking for items to sell so they can buy food. Since their parents died, they don’t have a place to live or a way to support themselves. One day, they see a boy from their village trap a raven that has a “magic mark” on its body. The boy tells the twins that ravens with this mark will give them a quest and, if it’s completed, pay them in coins. After learning magic spells, the twins complete a few quests. They follow the ravens to the kingdom’s capital where they discover the quests are not what they seem, and Liza gets poisoned. Elliot and a friend take Liza to a mage (magician) who may be able to cure…

The Monster’s Bones By David K. Randall (Norton Young Readers) Barnum Brown (1873–1963) uncovered the first T. Rex fossil, and this book focuses on his discovery, his life as a “fossil hunter,” and the competition among museums to display dinosaur bones. The adult book was published in 2022, and this version contains interesting photos. Ages 10 and up Once I Was You By Maria Hinojosa (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) Maria Hinojosa, an award-winning journalist, tells her life story in this memoir that was adapted from a book she wrote for adults in 2020. It begins with her joyful childhood in Mexico and the problems she and her family experienced immigrating to Chicago. Ages 10–14 Spare Parts By Joshua Davis and Reyna Grande (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) In…

This year, on November 22, our nation will mark the 60th anniversary of the day our 35th President, John F. Kennedy, was killed during his third year in office (p12). He was assassinated, which means he was killed suddenly for political purposes. This type of crime is rare, which is why it has such a tremendous and lasting impact when it happens. His death was shocking and sad for the US and the world, and many people still talk about where they were and how they felt when they heard the news. If you ask your grandparents or other adults about it, they may be able to share their memories with you. It can be very powerful to hear directly from someone who lived through a significant moment in history.…

Helen Grace, who is 8 years old and in second grade, told us she believes her school is special because there is a water slide on field day. Her school’s teachers are also very nice. If you want to share what’s great about your school, go to kids. theweekjunior.com/activities to print out a form. Fill it out, then have an adult email it to us at hello@theweekjunior.com. We’ll feature some of the submissions we receive on this page in future issues. IT’S YOUR TURN Email your news, views, and photos to hello@theweekjunior.com. We want to hear from you! To have your letters, photos, nominations, recommendations, or ideas considered for inclusion in the magazine, please include your full name, age, and state with your submission. By emailing your submission to us,…

Teacher’s Name: Mrs. Sally Henderson School: Matoaka Elementary School “I’m nominating my art teacher, Mrs. Henderson, because she pushes me and my fifth grade class to be the best artists we can be. We learned still art and did art projects using clay, and it all came out beautifully. She advises us on our drawing skills and gives us the art tools we need, like colored pencils, markers, and crayons. I look forward to art every week!” Henry, 10, Virginia 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.…

Jahari Stampley, age 24, grew up in Chicago, Illinois, surrounded by jazz music. Now he’s become a jazz star in his own right, as the first-place winner of the 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition, a contest that recognizes promising young jazz musicians each year. Although Stampley’s mother, D’Erania Stampley, is an accomplished jazz musician, he said she didn’t pressure him to pursue the piano. In fact, he didn’t start playing piano until age 14, and he learned by watching the finger movements of piano player P. Miller on YouTube. Stampley went on to graduate from the Manhattan School of Music and has since toured with the jazz icon Stanley Clarke. His first album, Still Listening, was released in September. “I’ve always been so emotionally connected to…

You might imagine that the scariest sound in the African savanna is the mighty roar of a lion. However, a new study has found that wild mammals actually find the sound of human voices scarier than any noise made by a big cat. The research was done by scientists at the Greater Kruger National Park in South Africa, where about 1,600 lions live. The team set up speakers and cameras near 21 watering holes around the park between June and August. The park becomes very dry at that time of year. Animals have a need to go to the watering holes because most other sources of fresh water have dried up. This makes the watering holes a popular hunting spot for both lions and poachers (people who hunt animals illegally).…

Beavers Beavers have been brought back to London, England, for the first time in more than 400 years. Long ago, the rodents were hunted to extinction. Now authorities hope they will benefit wetlands and create habitats for more wildlife. Mountain chicken frogs A study found that mountain chicken frogs in Dominica are in danger of extinction. Hundreds of thousands of the frogs, which reportedly taste like chicken, once lived on the island. They became a local delicacy, and now only 21 frogs remain.…

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, often referred to as JFK, was America’s 35th President, serving from January 1961 until his death in November 1963. His early life and career On May 29, 1917, Kennedy was born into an Irish Catholic family in Brookline, Massachusetts. Growing up, he was one of nine children. He attended boarding school and Harvard College, then enlisted in the Navy. For his heroic actions in World War II (1939–1945), he earned the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. After the war, JFK entered politics, winning a seat in the US House of Representatives in 1946 and the US Senate in 1952. He married Jacqueline (Jackie) Bouvier in 1953 and set his sights on the Presidency, which he called “the most powerful office in the Free World.” A historic election…

On November 11, the 2023 NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) championship game was played at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California. It featured the NY/NJ Gotham FC and the OL Reign, two teams that had never captured an NWSL title. Gotham won, 2–1, capping off a major turnaround for the team, which had ended the 2022 season in last place. Gotham and the Reign made it to the championship match after upsets in the semifinals. Gotham, who were seeded (ranked) sixth in the postseason, beat the number two team, the Portland Thorns, while the Reign, who were seeded fourth, knocked out the top-seeded San Diego Wave. The final was the last game for retiring stars Ali Krieger of Gotham and Megan Rapinoe of the Reign. Both players had won two…

Coach’s name: Zoe Sayetta Team: The Cliffs at Gowanus (rock climbing) “Coach Zoe is the best! She always inspires us and helps us achieve our goals. At every practice she has something fun for us. She is encouraging at competitions and always pushes us to the max. She has taught us that climbing doesn’t just require strength but also thinking outside the box. Zoe is more than a coach to our team. She is a role model, a mentor, and a person that everybody needs in their life.”Eva and Violet, 10, and Miles, 11, New York 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.…

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (NBC) November 23 at 8:30 am ET The world’s largest parade will be traveling through New York City for the 97th time. Watch it on TV to spot balloons and floats with popular characters such as Greg from Diary of a Wimpy Kid (above), Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Groundbreakers (PBS) November 21 at 8 pm ET This new documentary celebrates 50 years of female excellence in sports. It features eight groundbreaking athletes, including tennis icon and activist Billie Jean King (above right), flag football player Diana Flores (above left), gymnast Suni Lee, and snowboarder Chloe Kim. Incredible Animal Journeys (Disney+) (Hulu) Travel alongside birds in Alaska, zebras in Africa, polar bears in the Arctic, and other animals as…

Why did you want to write a graphic novel? I love drawing and trying to illustrate how characters interact with one another. Did you grow up with siblings? Yes, three sisters. We would argue, but we still loved one another. So it was easy for me to create realistic siblings in this book. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I love making felt toys. I make some in the shape of food, and then I let my dog play with them. What do you hope readers take away from this book? I would love for kids to be confident in themselves and who they are. I’d also like them to believe they can accomplish anything they want. Pumpkin or apple pie? Apple pie with maple ice cream…

Word ladder To change the word WISH into the word BONE, 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 Thanksgiving dinner. To find each one, start anywhere and move in an unbroken path through letters that share a border (no jumping!), using each letter once. DETOURS Draw one continuous path from START to END that goes through every single square without crossing itself. For squares with signs, you may only enter at the arrow’s base, and you may only make a turn in the direction of an arrow shown. (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) Crossmath…

“We have been subscribing to the UK edition of The Week Junior for two years. We love keeping up to date with news stories, as well as regular features, such as the Big Debate, photos from around the world, and the quiz. We even brought our latest UK edition to New York City with us to read. While we were in a coffee shop, we began chatting with someone who works at the US edition of The Week Junior. It was Paul Kramer, the production director, and he invited us to visit the magazine’s office, which was across the street. It was such an exciting surprise on top of all the cool stuff we got to do in New York, like visiting the Statue of Liberty, enjoying the awe-inspiring views…

“I made animal bookmarks for my family during a sick day. Having a fun activity made me feel better.” Alexandra, 8, Wisconsin “I made the Green Goddess Pasta Salad and it was delicious! I’ll definitely make it again.” Matilda, 10, California “Last week I was inspired by The Week Junior to read No Brainer. It was a great recommendation!” Charles, 9, Louisiana…

1 What breed is Maverick, the winner of the American Humane Hero Dog Award? a) Beagle b) Great Dane c) Goldendoodle a □ b □ c □ 2 Who was named the Most Valuable Player of the National Women’s Soccer League championship? a) AliKrieger b) Lynn Williams c) Midge Purce a □ b □ c □ 3 True or false? Roosters appear able to recognize their reflections in the mirror. True □ False □ 4 What comedian provides the voice of Leo the lizard in the new movie Leo? __________________ 5 Tracy Chapman won a Country Music Association award for a song that came out how many years ago? a) 15 b) 25 c) 35 a □ b □ c □ 6 True or false? Cup Noodles have had paper…

November 19, 1863 Lincoln delivers Gettysburg Address On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln gave a speech in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where a Civil War battle had been fought four months earlier. He described a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” Although his oration, which came to be known as the Gettysburg Address, was only 272 words long, it is considered one of the most important speeches in US history.…

Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana At nearly 140 miles long, the Atchafalaya Basin is the largest river swamp in the US. A basin is an area of land that dips like a bowl and where water collects. Towering cypress trees more than 100 years old stand in the water, creating what locals call “a river of trees.” The Atchafalaya also contains many bayous and backwater lakes, which are home to more than 65 species of reptiles, including snapping turtles, snakes, and alligators. Black bears, beavers, muskrats, raccoons, and foxes can also be found wandering the woods, and ibises wade in the water.…

Scientists discovered concealed chambers in an Egyptian pyramid using a special scanning technique that can “see” through solid rock. The majestic structure was built for Sahure, a pharaoh (king) who ruled about 4,400 years ago. Ancient Egyptians built pyramids as burial places for pharaohs. Pyramids often contained treasures because people at the time believed a pharaoh’s spirit would live on and they would need their possessions in the afterlife. In the tomb of King Tutankhamun, for example, experts found beds, chariots, musical instruments, thrones, and even a board game. In the 1800s, an expert on ancient Egypt named John Shae Perring explored the Pyramid of Sahure, which was built between 2600 and 2500 BCE. Perring found a passage blocked with fallen rocks and suspected there were hidden rooms to be…

Super Crazy Rhythm Castle is a new puzzle-adventure game. It is out now for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation platforms, Xbox systems, and PC. The game takes place in a colorful, musical kingdom that is ruled by the mad King Ferdinand. There are four playable characters: B. Box, who has a boombox (portable stereo) for a head; devil-like Trinity; Mike, who has a style like pop star Michael Jackson; and a bird named Jingle. Gamers can either play solo or co-op with three other friends. The goal for players is to make it across the musical world, arrive at King Ferdinand’s castle, and take him on in an epic rhythm competition. Reaching Ferdinand is a major challenge on its own because his castle is filled with many floors loaded with rooms…

Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution By Natalie S. Bober “This nonfiction book is about Abigail Adams and her life during the American Revolution (1775–1783). She saw the Battle of Bunker Hill from near her home, and soldiers marched past her door. She wrote many letters about her experiences, and she strongly supported women’s rights and their education. Her husband, John Adams, later became the second US president.” Natalia, 13, California Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

An especially noisy feline from the UK has won a spot in the Guinness World Records book. Bella let out a purr of 54.6 decibels (a measure of sound), making her the loudest living house cat on the planet. That’s similar to the level of noise made by a boiling kettle or the rattle of a washing machine. Bella’s owner, Nicole Spink, told Guinness she has to turn up the volume on her TV when the 14-year-old cat is in the room. “She purrs all day long,” said Spink. “If there’s food around, or cuddles, she always purrs.”…

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