Innehållsförteckning för Issue 207 från The Week Junior US

On March 26, a massive cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, causing the structure to collapse and shutting down one of the nation’s largest ports. Cleanup and an investigation into the cause of the incident are ongoing. What happened? Early in the morning of March 26, a ship named the Dali was heading through the Port of Baltimore on the Patapsco River. The ship is 984 feet long and 157 feet wide—nearly the size of the Eiffel Tower—and was carrying 4,700 shipping containers on its way to Sri Lanka. At 1:24 a.m., the ship’s power suddenly went out, causing its engines to shut down and its steering to fail. The ship was traveling at about 9 mph, and the crew was unable to stop…

GROUNDHOG BABIES Punxsutawney Phil has become a father. The famous weather-predicting groundhog and his mate, Phyllis, welcomed two pups. The family lives in a burrow at a library in their Pennsylvania town. “It’s fun and it’s such good news,” one of Phil’s keepers said about the babies. A 90-DOG SALUTE Dr. Jane Goodall, who is known for her work studying chimpanzees and protecting nature, celebrated her 90th birthday with 90 dogs. Canines of all shapes and sizes ran on the sand and sat with her on a California beach. “It was as good as I could have imagined,” Goodall said. MARSHMALLOW CREATIONS The competition was colorful (and squishy) in The Washington Post’s annual Peeps diorama contest. Top entries included scenes from the Taylor Peeps Eras Tour and the Barbie Peeps…

Since the late 1700s, the United States Mint has made the coins that circulate throughout the nation. Discover how they have evolved over time. Establishing the Mint In colonial America, before there was a national currency, goods were purchased with colonial or foreign money or with animals or plants. During the early years of American independence, states were allowed to create their own money. This caused problems because the same coins had different values from state to state. Congress created the US Mint with the passage of the Coinage Act on April 2, 1792. The first Mint, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, released its first circulating coins in March 1793. Famous faces The Mint’s first coins were made of copper, silver, and gold and ranged in value from a copper half-cent to…

For children who have severe food allergies, a drug called Xolair could be an effective therapy for reducing the severity of allergic reactions, a new study found. About one in 13 children in the US have food allergies, some of which can be life-threatening. Among the most common allergens are milk, eggs, and peanuts. There aren’t many preventive treatments for food allergies available. Xolair has been used for years to treat asthma. In this new study, it was tested on patients who had an allergic reaction to 100 milligrams or less of a peanut substance and 300 milligrams or less of at least two other foods. The patients received regular injections of Xolair for 16 to 20 weeks. After receiving the treatment, about two thirds of people in the study…

March 28 was opening day for the 2024 season of Major League Baseball (MLB). All 30 teams had been scheduled to play, but two games were rained out. The stars of opening weekend were the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates, who were unbeaten in their first four games. The Texas Rangers, who won their first World Series in 2023, are hoping to have an equally successful season and become the first back-to-back MLB champions since 2000. The Houston Astros, Yankees, Atlanta Braves, and Los Angeles Dodgers are also expected to be top teams. The Dodgers roster now includes superstar pitcher and hitter Shohei Ohtani. He played for the Los Angeles Angels for five seasons and has won two Most Valuable Player awards. The Dodgers’ regular season kicked off early…

Coach’s Name: Brian Rhodes Sport: Cross Country “I am visually impaired, and Coach Rhodes is my guide runner. He’s a selfless person and really cares about my safety during meets. He even went out of his way so he could be at my final race to serve as my guide runner one last time. By doing that, he proved, yet again, that he is the best, most selfless, and most compassionate coach. I appreciate him and everything he has done for me. He is wonderful. I’m sad I won’t run with him again.” Carter, 11, Kentucky 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 Black Stallion In this 1979 film based on a novel of the same name, a boy and a horse bond during a shipwreck in the 1940s. Back on land, the stallion is trained to become a race horse. Treasure Island A classic 1883 book of the same title inspired this 1990 film about a boy who finds a treasure map. While on his quest to locate the loot, he must outsmart the infamous pirate Long John Silver. Enola Holmes The younger sister of Sherlock Holmes, a famous fictional detective from books and films, is the main character in this 2020 film and its sequel. In both (which are rated PG-13), Enola relies on her own sleuthing skills to solve mysteries.…

Girls State (Apple TV+) In 2022, 500 teen girls from Missouri attended a weeklong program on democracy, and a documentary team filmed them discussing big issues, running for mock offices, and forming a mock Supreme Court (highest court in the US). The same team made the 2020 film Boys State. Raptors: A Fistful of Daggers (PBS App) (PBS.org) (PBS) April 10 at 8 p.m. ET Raptors are birds of prey such as falcons, owls, and caracaras. This two-part documentary goes to locations that include the African savanna and the Arctic to see how different raptors hunt and survive. The second part premieres April 17. Wish (Disney+) The Disney musical, which was nominated for best animated film at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards, is now streaming. It follows a young girl…

Ferris is a family saga brimming with quirky characters. You’ll be on the edge of your seat to find out what happens at the end. These questions can help you talk about the story with friends and family who have also read it. Do Ferris and Pinky remind you of siblings in other stories or books? If so, who? When do you believe the story takes place? What clues support your answer? How do you imagine Pinky will be as an adult? Of the many vocabulary words Ferris and Billy learned, which one did you like the most? Do you think Ferris’s grandmother is right that “every good story is a love…

Spring keyword crossword Once you have completed the crossword, transfer the letters in the yellow boxes, column by column in order from left to right, into the boxes below to get the answer to the spring keyword question. ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 37. ACROSS 1 Dent in the Moon’s surface from a meteorite’s impact 5 What Frosty’s pipe is made from 10 Relating to a king or queen 11 Enemy 12 Gave a lot of effort 13 Word that can follow blood, air, or tire 14 It belongs on your lap during dinner 17 Prefix meaning “under” 19 Starting to bloom, like fresh tulips 20 Hot drink commonly served in special cups 22 The color of dimes, forks, and wrenches 23 Attracting other metal 26 “Occupant” of a…

Every week, I make a point of looking through the mail that arrives from our readers. I love hearing what you’re up to and seeing the photos you send—especially if they were inspired by an article you read in The Week Junior. Children have sent us photos of themselves standing at the Grand Canyon and the Taj Mahal, for example, holding an issue of the magazine that spotlights those places. Kids have also gone to sports competitions and museum exhibits after reading about them in our pages. And they’ve made recipes and crafts from our How To section. Perhaps most of all, I can’t resist the photos we receive of kids reading to their pets. Whether it’s a dog, cat, lizard, or chicken, you love sharing the news of the…

Mimi, age 10, of Virginia hopes the US can be the leader in discovering cures for life-threatening diseases. She also wishes US leaders would work together more to ensure that everyone has access to a good education. As a reader of The Week Junior, you may have opinions about the US. If so, we want to hear them! Go to kids.theweekjunior.com/activities to download 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 submissions on this page in future issues. IT’S YOUR TURN Email your news, views, and photos to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

For thousands of years, humans have been writing by hand to communicate, keep records, and express their ideas and feelings. The earliest writing was symbols carved into clay tablets. Later, elegant handwriting became a status symbol, and professional scribes were hired to write out important documents like the US Declaration of Independence. Handwriting has survived the printing press, typewriter, and now computers, and some people think good penmanship is still important enough to receive a grade. Others, however, say it’s something to be admired but not assessed. What do you think? Should students’ handwriting be graded? Yes—grades make you work harder Although handwriting is a dying art, it is still part of students’ lives—from signatures to birthday cards—and kids should be prepared. Studies have shown that writing by hand is…

For pet parents, as with any parent, choosing the right name can seem like a big responsibility. The pet care company Rover recently surveyed US dog and cat owners and found the most popular pet names used in 2023. Rover used data from millions of its online users to determine which pet names are favored across the country. The most popular names for dogs were Charlie, Max, and Cooper for males and Luna, Bella, and Daisy for females. For feline friends, Oliver, Milo, and Leo were tops among males, while Luna, Bella, and Lily were the top three for females. Lucy came in fourth on the lists for both female dogs and female cats. Rover also analyzed new trends to identify which names have been growing in popularity. The top-trending…

Researchers discovered that Neanderthals, who were humans’ closest known relatives, made a type of glue they used to craft their tools. This suggests that Neanderthals were more advanced than scientists previously thought. Neanderthals first emerged more than 200,000 years ago, but they were replaced by modern humans (Homo sapiens) between 35,000 and 24,000 years ago. Experts aren’t completely sure why Neanderthals disappeared, but many scientists believe they couldn’t compete with humans for food and other resources. Recently, a selection of ancient tools was rediscovered at the Museum of Prehistory and Early History in Berlin, Germany. They had originally been found in the early 1900s in southern France, where scientists believed Neanderthals lived thousands of years ago. The artifacts had never been closely examined. A team of researchers analyzed the tools,…

Palia is a cozy new village simulation game. It was released last fall on the Nintendo Switch and is now available for the PC. Palia is a fantasy world filled with friendly villagers and mystical animals. The villages are populated by a magical, elflike species known as the Majiri, robots called Galdur, and cat people known as Grimalkin. Humans disappeared thousands of years ago, but have suddenly returned. You play as a human and are tasked with settling into Kilima Village, making friends, and living life to the fullest. At the start of the game, you can customize a character and learn about their new surroundings. After a village tour and a few tasks, you can begin gathering tools and supplies to build a house. Over time you can buy…

Which character in Ferris was the most fun to write? Pinky brings so much mayhem, possibility, and chaos to the story. There was a great wrestling match between Pinky and me about who was going to be in charge of the story. How long did it take you to write Ferris? The writing process for this book took about three years. I rewrote the story from beginning to end five times before I had friends read it. Then I did another draft and made more edits after that. Do you have pets? I have a miniature goldendoodle that I named Ramona after Beverly Cleary’s popular book series. What is your writing process like? I write as I go, instead of plotting the story out first. I also avoid talking about…

The 98-year-old grandmother of pop star Ariana Grande has become the oldest person to achieve a rank on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart. Marjorie Grande was credited as a singer and co-writer for the song “Ordinary Things” on her granddaughter’s album Eternal Sunshine. Marjorie, who Ariana calls Nonna, closes out the album with her thoughts on love and marriage. “I always record my Nonna,” Ariana said, “because you never know what she’s going to say.”…

At age 11, actress Kaylee Hottle appears as the leading hero in the film Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (rated PG-13), now in theaters. It’s the sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong, which Hottle also appeared in when she made her film debut in 2021. Both movies bring together the world’s most famous fictional monsters, Godzilla and King Kong. Hottle, who began acting in commercials at about age 4, is deaf and is fluent in American Sign Language (ASL). She was born in Georgia and currently lives near Austin, Texas, where she attends the Texas School for the Deaf. In both films, Hottle plays Jia, a deaf girl who is the last surviving member of the Iwi Tribe, which had lived peacefully with giant apes on Skull Island, Kong’s home.…

April 11 is National Pet Day, celebrating the animal companions that have brought joy to families across America. As many pet owners know, pets can brighten a person’s day and even provide comfort in tough times. Now a survey has confirmed that owning pets provides mental health benefits. The new survey was led by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). More than 2,000 American adults were polled on their attitudes toward pets. Of these adults, 72% said they had pets. Dogs were the most common type of animal, followed by cats. Among pet owners, 84% said their animal companions had a “mostly positive” effect on their mental health. About 64% of pet owners said their pets provide unconditional love and support, while 62% of…

How should a family decide which pet is right for them? Discuss your goals for having a pet. Some animals make great snuggle buddies, and others are more independent observers. Some animals can freely roam in the home, while others need specialty environments. Think about what your pet needs to live a long, happy, healthy life. How much entertainment, food, and cleaning will it need? Consider the pet’s sleep cycle—did you know hedgehogs are nocturnal (active at night)? You and your family can then decide if that pet will be a good fit for your home. Karyn Wesley, Professor University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine How can kids create better relationships with their pets? Some of the ways humans express love, like hugging and kissing, may not be as…

Scientists used milk to create a special gel that can extract valuable metals, like gold, from e-waste (discarded electronics). It’s important to reuse the metals because they come from limited resources, but existing processes for capturing them require harmful chemicals. The new gel is made from whey (a substance left over when milk is made into cheese) and turned into a spongelike material. When it’s placed in liquid with e-waste, the gel absorbs gold, copper, and iron from it. The metals can be recycled or reused.…

Outlaw characters in historical dramas are often men, but the new original Disney+ series Renegade Nell is changing that. It revolves around a rebellious yet courageous young woman on an epic adventure to prove herself. The show, which is streaming now, mixes elements of fantasy, action, and comedy. It is rated TV-14. Renegade Nell is set in England in 1705. It begins when widow Nell Jackson returns home from war. After she is framed for a murder, she goes on the run with her sisters and becomes a highway robber in order to survive. Meanwhile, a magical spirit named Billy Blind gives Nell fighting abilities and sets her on a path to clear her name and stop a threat to the queen. Nell is portrayed by Irish actress Louisa Harland.…

Bluey (Disney Now, Disney+, Hulu, or buy on other platforms) “This show for all ages is focused on a blue heeler puppy named Bluey and her little sister, Bingo. They live in Australia with their parents and go on all sorts of wacky adventures. Each episode is about seven minutes long. The series is for younger kids, but I find myself enjoying it and wanting to know what happens next. Bluey deals with real-life topics but makes sure they are kid-appropriate. Bluey and Bingo love having a good time and playing games with family and friends. I recommend this series to anyone looking for a show to enjoy with their whole family!” Chloe, 13, Georgia Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review…

The summer before fifth grade is turning out to be unforgettable for Ferris, who finds herself helping out many of her family members. Ferris’ 6-year-old sister, Pinky, ends up in police headquarters after trying to rob a bank! Her Uncle Ted moves into the basement to paint what he thinks will be a masterpiece about the history of the world. And Ferris’ beloved grandmother, who was recently diagnosed with a serious heart condition, sees a ghost who wants to be reunited with her husband. Ferris and Billy, her best friend since kindergarten, try to help the ghost. Together they gather the necessary equipment to illuminate an old chandelier in the dining room of Ferris’ house so the ghost’s husband has enough light to find his way back to her. The…

BACON PASTA SALAD Ingredients ● 10 ounces whole-wheat rotini pasta● 3 tablespoons mayonnaise● Juice of one lemon● 1 tablespoon cider vinegar● 1 clove garlic, grated● 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard● 1 small shallot, minced● 2 tablespoons chopped dill● 6 tablespoons olive oil● 1 teaspoon kosher salt● ¼ teaspoon black pepper● 4 slices cooked bacon, roughly chopped● 3½ cups baby spinach● 1 heaping cup cherry tomatoes, halved● 1 avocado, chopped Instructions 1. Boil pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse with cool water. Set aside.2. In a small bowl, make the dressing. Whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, cider vinegar, garlic, mustard, shallot, and dill. Slowly whisk in the olive oil in a steady stream, until the dressing is well combined. Season with salt and pepper.3. In a large bowl,…

“I was thrilled to meet one of my favorite authors, Kelly Yang, when she was on a book tour in California. Her new book, Finally Heard, is about kids who are learning to use social media. I most enjoyed hearing her talk about all the research she did on the science of dopamine (a chemical released by the brain) and how it relates to using social media. I also asked for Ms. Yang’s advice on how to be a writer, and she said to treat writing seriously and write all the time because practice makes your writing muscles strong.” Have you done something interesting or raised money for a cause you care about? Whatever you’re up to, we want to hear about it at hello@theweekjunior.com. JOKE OF THE WEEK Why are…