Innehållsförteckning för Issue 218 från The Week Junior US

On June 6, ceremonies marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the military invasion that led to the end of World War II (1939–1945). World leaders, military veterans, and hundreds of others gathered in Normandy, France, to remember the historic event and honor the soldiers who served and died. What was World War II? World War II was a battle between the Allied forces and the Axis powers. The Allies were led by the US, UK, and Soviet Union (group of 15 countries run by Russia from 1922 to 1991), and the Axis powers were led by Germany, Italy, and Japan. In an effort to expand their territory and power, Germany’s Nazi party, led by Adolf Hitler, stormed across Europe and seized many countries. They also carried out the Holocaust, the…

PLENTY OF PENGUINS Chester Zoo in the UK welcomed 11 Humboldt penguin babies, the most to hatch there in one season in over 10 years. The endangered bird is native to Peru and Chile. It’s been “a really good year for the penguins,” a zookeeper said. A STRONG START Soccer player Lily Yohannes, age 16, scored a goal 10 minutes into her first match with the US Women’s National Team (USWNT). Yohannes, who joined the squad this spring, is the third-youngest scorer in USWNT history. “It’s a dream come true,” she said. HELPING FAMILIES People facing food insecurity in San Francisco, California, can now shop at a free grocery store. It’s set up like a traditional market and serves people who live in parts of the city where there is…

Cape Cod National Seashore is a 40-mile stretch of land so beautiful it inspired author Henry David Thoreau to write essays about it. Maintained by the National Park Service, it runs along the eastern coast of Cape Cod, on the Atlantic Ocean. The seashore features beaches, marshes, ponds, cranberry bogs, walking and biking trails, and historic lighthouses. More than 450 species live in the area, including great white sharks, seals, spadefoot toads, and birds like the piping plover and the northern harrier hawk. Find out more at nps.gov/caco.…

Katy Roscoe Aquarist II, New England Aquarium Catfish will eat pretty much anything! They like crustaceans such as crayfish and shrimp, other fish, fish eggs, insects, plants, algae, and mollusks like clams, mussels, and snails. Catfish have even been known to eat mice and other small mammals! They use their whisker-like barbels to detect when food is near. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the New England Aquarium at neaq.org.…

A new type of medical treatment has allowed a toddler who was born deaf to hear without a hearing aid. Opal Sandy, who is 18 months old, was born with a condition called auditory neuropathy, which disrupts communication between her ears and her brain. The condition is genetic, which means it was carried in her DNA (chemical that carries all the instructions for how a living thing should grow and develop). Sound waves usually move from a person’s outer ear—the part we can see—into the ear canal. They cause vibrations that travel through the ear canal to the middle and inner ear. Part of the inner ear, the cochlea, looks like a snail’s shell. It is filled with many tiny hair cells that create a small electrical signal when they…

Scientists have solved the mystery of 3,500-year-old armor found in Greece in 1960. The armor was heavy and thick and had little damage. That made some experts think it was designed for ceremonial use rather than battle. A new study, however, proved that it was indeed made for fighting. Known as the Dendra armor, the set weighs about 60 pounds and is made of bronze plates and a helmet with inlaid boar’s tusk. It is from the Mycenaean civilization (1600–1100 BCE) and covered its wearer from the head to the knee. Experts from the University of Thessaly, in Greece, had 13 current members of the Greek military wear detailed replicas of the armor. For 11 hours, the modern soldiers engaged in a simulated battle using swords and spears that ancient…

Noelle Malkamaki AGE: 23 SPORT: PARA TRACK & FIELD (SHOTPUT) “Try something new. And if you don’t like it, you can go from there. But you never know what interest you might uncover by just trying a new event.” Ian Seidenfeld AGE: 22 SPORT: PARA TABLE TENNIS “For kids trying out sports, do it all. Figure out what you want to do. Don’t worry about doing it at a high level. Try to find what’s fun for you, and pursue it to the extent that you can.” Fiona O’Keeffe AGE: 26 SPORT: TRACK & FIELD (MARATHON) “Have fun with it. That’s the way to make it sustainable and allow yourself to have a longer career. It’s great to have goals and dreams down the road. But when you’re in high…

Paper Trail is a new puzzle adventure game. It is out now for the Nintendo Switch, Xbox systems, PlayStation platforms, the PC, and Netflix games. In Paper Trail, gamers play as Paige, a star student who desperately wants to continue her education. Her parents don’t want her to leave home, so Paige decides to run away so she can go to college. It’s Paige’s first time away from her village, and she soon learns that the outside world is filled with mysterious forests, curious characters, and all kinds of danger. Paige’s journey includes travels through a swamp, ancient ruins and temples, and even the ocean. The locations are filled with obstacles and dead ends. Luckily, Paige—whose name is a play on words—has a secret power that will help her navigate…

What research did you do for the series? Ivan is based on a gorilla who was in a cage at a shopping mall in Tacoma, Washington, for 27 years. Before I wrote the first book, I visited the mall and went to the town library, where I went through newspaper clippings about Ivan that dated back to the 1960s. How did it feel to end the series? I felt happy, sad, and relieved—all at the same time. Did you enjoy The One and Only Ivan movie? Yes, I thought the CGI animation was brilliant. When I saw Ivan on the screen, it felt like I was looking into his eyes in real life. How did you begin your writing career? I became a ghostwriter (an author who writes anonymously) for…

This frozen treat served in Massachusetts may not be for everyone. “Hadley Grass” ice cream, named for a town known as the “asparagus capital of the world,” features the taste of asparagus. A local ice cream shop has been making the flavor each spring for about 20 years. They use cooked asparagus spears, almonds, and a flavoring blend that is intended to complement the vegetable’s taste. One reviewer described the light green dessert as having a “mellow, nutty, savory-sweet flavor” with “brighter notes” from the asparagus.…

Enter to win books! This is the second issue of our Summer of Reading campaign! We hope you enjoy our interview with Author Ambassador Katherine Applegate and a review of her new book The One and Only Family (p23). Our reading challenge continues! Once you’ve finished any three books, go to tinyurl.co/TWJUS-ReadingChallenge with an adult to enter our sweepstakes. Four winners will win books, and one will win books and a video call with an Author Ambassador. For our list of “The 50 Books Kids Love Most,” go to kids.theweekjunior.com/summerofreading.…

1 What was the original name of the Ferris wheel at the 1893 World’s Fair? 2 True or false? Edward Dwight recently became the oldest person to travel into space. True ◻ False ◻ 3 Iga Swiatek has won four out of the last five titles in what major tennis tournament? a) French Open b) US Open c) Wimbledon a ◻ b ◻ c ◻ 4 In Katherine Applegate’s new novel The One and Only Family, what kind of animal is Ivan? 5 True or false? The rainbow Pride flag was created in 1978. True ◻ False ◻ 6 In what English city did the work of the street artist named Banksy first appear? a) Birmingham b) Brighton c) Bristol a ◻ b ◻ c ◻ 7 NASA astronauts recently…

Sunrises and sunsets are a perfect way to bookend your day. Toward the end of June, most of the US enjoys the earliest sunrises and latest sunsets of the year. This means waking up early to see the Sun come up and heading to bed late if you want to watch it slowly sink below the horizon. Many people see the sunrise as a fresh start to the day after a good night’s sleep, and they look forward to experiencing those first rays of light. But it also means getting up really early, which makes others say that sunset is the preferred part of the day. What do you think? Is sunrise better than sunset? Yes—start the day in quiet peace Sunrise is all about new beginnings. After a long…

The Ferris wheel is an iconic ride that has enthralled people of all ages for more than 130 years. Find out about its history. The ride’s origins In 1889, the Eiffel Tower was unveiled at the World’s Fair in Paris, France. Four years later, the city of Chicago, Illinois, was preparing to host the next World’s Fair. Planners of that event wanted to build a main attraction that would rival the Eiffel Tower. George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., a 33-year-old engineer, sketched an idea for a tall observation wheel. Small wooden wheels had existed before that, but Ferris’ ambitious new steel structure would take riders to new heights. His idea was rejected due to safety concerns, but Ferris persisted and his proposal was accepted in December 1892. A grand spectacle…

Cat owners working from home often face a furry distraction: cats walking or sleeping on their keyboard, looking for attention. The new Desk Nest Cat Bed limits interruptions by giving felines a place to rest that’s nearby but elevated and out of the way. The sturdy bed quickly attaches to a desk and can be rotated, raised, and lowered for what its designers call the “purr-fect fit.” It features a padded, washable bed to keep cats safe, cozy, and comfortable and can hold pets that weigh up to 25 pounds.…

A new animated film starring a popular Japanese superhero is now on Netflix. Ultraman: Rising follows Ken Sato, a baseball star who takes over his father’s job as Ultraman, a giant hero who battles giant monsters (called kaiju) in Tokyo, Japan. Playing baseball and saving the city is hard, but things get even tougher for Ken after he ends up with a 35-foot-tall baby kaiju named Emi. The film combines sci-fi and thrilling action with a story about family. The Ultraman character has been around since the 1960s and has been reinvented many times. While there have always been kaiju in the series, the film’s plot is entirely new. “There has never been a baseball player,” director and co-writer Shannon Tindle told The Week Junior. He grew up as a…

“This TV series is part of the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. It follows a dragon-riding Viking boy named Hiccup and his friend Toothless, a rare Night Fury dragon. In the TV series, the pair find a mysterious artifact called the Dragon Eye, which sparks them to leave Berk, their home island, and move to a volcanic island called Dragon’s Edge. There they meet new breeds of dragons and face new villains, as Hiccup, his human dragon rider friends, and Toothless work together to keep peace between the Vikings and dragons. Check it out!” Ander, 8, Massachusetts Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

(Harper) The beloved gorilla in the series that began with The One and Only Ivan is going to be a father. Ivan and his mate, Kinyani, live in a wildlife sanctuary, where keepers care for them. It takes eight and a half months for a baby gorilla to be born—and Ivan feels anxious about the birth. Ivan, who was captured in Africa and caged in a shopping mall, worries that the baby will never see a jungle. He’s concerned that because he and Kinyani are the only two gorillas in the sanctuary, Kinyani won’t be able to get advice from other gorilla moms like she would if they lived in the wild. Ivan watches his son being born and is overcome with emotion. He faints and wakes up to find…

The day with the most hours of sunlight in the northern hemisphere (the half of our planet that lies above the equator) is called the summer solstice, and it marks the official start of summer. This year, it occurs on Thursday, June 20. Many people around the world celebrate the solstice because it ushers in a season of longer days with more natural light to enjoy and to help plants grow. Here’s how to get started with your own celebration. Understand the science The Earth is constantly rotating as it orbits around the Sun in space. The summer solstice is the time of year when the Earth is tilted most toward the Sun. On this day, the northern hemisphere gets the most hours of daylight all year. (The winter solstice,…

Even the closest siblings can get on each other’s nerves at times. Disagreements are natural, but they can lead to harsh words and hurt feelings. If you want a more peaceful home life, make an effort to get along better with siblings. The next time you start squabbling, pause and take a breath. Consider your words before you speak. Try not to place blame solely on your sibling, and don’t be afraid to take responsibility for your part in a fight. Try doing at least one kind act toward them each day. For example, offer to play a game together, ask how their day went, or tell them you’re proud of something they did. Your actions may inspire them to treat you with more kindness too.…

I was fortunate to be on the video call when Katherine Applegate, this week’s Summer of Reading Author Ambassador, spoke to our Junior Council about her new book, The One and Only Family (p23). I have read all the books in this series, starting with The One and Only Ivan, so I was very excited to meet her. She spoke on a wide range of topics, and one in particular has stuck with me. She said her idea for the book about Ivan came from a newspaper article she happened to read about a real gorilla that lived in a shopping mall. If she hadn’t read that story on that particular day, a book series beloved by millions of children might never have been written. The lesson I took away…

“I watched the movie IF the day it came out, and it was amazing!”Charlie, 8, Virginia “After reading the How To article on being a friend to wild birds, I painted a birdhouse and cleaned out our bird feeder. Thank you for inspiring me!”Melia, 12, Idaho “I made the snickerdoodle blondies and ate them with my family. Pro tip: Add a scoop of ice cream!”Jackson, 11, New York…

Scientists are always on the lookout for ways to reduce climate change and stop the loss of biodiversity (variety of living things in an area), and a recent study has revealed a way to do both at the same time. A project that reintroduced bison to Romania is having a positive effect on the environment. Bison are large mammals that are in the same family of animals as cows. European bison (one of two existing species, along with American bison) disappeared from Romania more than 200 years ago, mainly due to hunting and habitat loss. They were reintroduced to the wild in Romania in 2014. Since then, more bison have been added to the herd, which lives in the Țarcu Mountains, and its population now numbers about 170 individuals. Experts…

Pacific Wheel Rising 130 feet above the Santa Monica Pier in California, the Pacific Wheel is reportedly the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel. Alem The world’s largest indoor Ferris wheel, located in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, is about 156 feet high. Called Alem (meaning “the universe”), it is enclosed in a structure made of glass and steel. Big O Named after the letter it resembles, this 197-foot-high wheel in Tokyo, Japan, lacks spokes in its middle. Riders can sing in a karaoke car or see a roller coaster whiz by on a track through the wheel’s open center. Tianjin Eye Built above the Yongle bridge in Tianjin, China, the Tianjin Eye stands 394 feet high. One rotation of the wheel takes about 30 minutes and offers riders sweeping views of the Hai…

To prepare for its Artemis 3 Moon mission, NASA (the US space agency) conducted tests in the desert near Flagstaff, Arizona. A team of astronauts, engineers, and other experts spent a week trying out “moonwalking operations” and new technology for use on the lunar surface. Artemis 3, which is expected to launch in September 2026, will be the first mission to put humans on the Moon since 1972. The crew will include the first woman and first person of color to walk on the Moon. They will spend a week performing scientific studies before returning to Earth. The test site’s location is similar to the lunar surface, which includes craters and other features formed by volcanoes. The desert team was supported by scientists at the Johnson Space Center in Houston,…

For a history-making fourth consecutive season, the University of Oklahoma softball team won the Women’s College World Series (WCWS). On June 6, they beat the University of Texas, 8–4, to complete a two-game sweep in the best-of-three championship series at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. It is the university’s eighth college softball title. The softball championship tournament began in May with 64 teams. Texas, which was vying for its first-ever WCWS title, was seeded (ranked) number one in the tournament, and Oklahoma was number two. Eight teams made it to the WCWS before it came down to the final two. Oklahoma almost didn’t make the final. In a semifinal game on June 3, they lost to the University of Florida, 9–3. Until then, Oklahoma had been on a 20-game winning…

Coach’s Name: Margaret Sweatman Team: Oakcrest Middle School Basketball “Coach Sweatman is the best thing that ever happened to our team. She is so encouraging and wants each of us to be the best player we can be. She makes us laugh at practice but also makes sure we work hard. Her drills help with our fundamentals, endurance, and most of all, team building. Her ‘boxing out’ drill was some of the best fun we had all season! She sees the potential in her players and uses it to build us into an unstoppable team.” Lizzie, 14, Virginia 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.…

Creator Ultraman was created by Eiji Tsuburaya (right). He is known as the inventor of Japanese special effects, called tokusatsu, which use miniatures on a set so monsters look gigantic. TV series The first Ultraman TV series was a live-action show that was released in 1966. Over the years, the character and other Ultra heroes starred in more live-action series as well as films and animated shows. An anime Ultraman (right) arrived on Netflix in 2019. Comic books In 2020, Marvel published the first issue of The Rise of Ultraman, a comic book miniseries. Since then, there has been an Ultraman sequel and an Ultraseven spin-off. A crossover with the Avengers is coming in August.…

Frog and Toad (Apple TV+) The adventures of best friends Frog and Toad resume in season two of this series, which is adapted from the award-winning children’s books of the same name. In new episodes, daring Frog continues to get cautious Toad to try new things, such as sledding on big hills. Star Wars: The Acolyte (Disney+) This new live-action series is the latest addition to the Star Wars saga. It is set during the final days of the High Republic era and begins when a young warrior reunites with her Jedi Master to look into a series of crimes. As they investigate, they uncover dark mysteries. It is rated TV-14. Protecting Paradise: The Story of Niue (Nat Geo) (Disney+) (Hulu) In 2016, with support from National Geographic, the Pacific island…

While The One and Only Family has a hopeful message, it still raises concerns about animals being kept in captivity. Here are questions to get a conversation going with friends and family who have also read the book. What are the pros and cons of raising baby gorillas in the sanctuary rather than the wild? Should the sanctuary have allowed visitors to name the twins? Why or why not? Why do you think Ivan is reluctant to talk about his past with the twins? How are Ivan and his mate Kinyani different from each other? In what ways did Bob and Ruby support their friend? Are you satisfied with the ending of this series? Why or why not? What was your favorite book in the series?…

Word search Can you find all these words associated with travel? They are hidden horizontally, vertically, or diagonally and can be forward or backward. When you’re done, read the remaining letters to get a bonus message. AIRPORT ATTRACTIONS BAGS BOOKING CITY CURRENCY GUEST HOLIDAY HOTEL ITINERARY MAP PASSPORT PHOTOS PICTURESQUE PLANE RUINS SIGHTSEEING SIGNS SOUVENIRS TAXI TOURISM TRAIN TRIP UNPACK VIEW YOU ARE HERE FILL IN THE BLANKS Fill in the blanks in each sentence with words that are the same except for a single letter changed, like DECODE and DECIDE. (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) 1. Last summer my camp counselor said we weren’t keeping our cabin———— enough, so when we return———— summer we will try harder. 2. While my father————— the old grandfather clock,…

“For about a year, we have had a business called Kangaroo Kare to raise money for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at a local children’s hospital where infants receive vital care. We make and sell resin necklaces, keychains, and bookmarks. We first got this idea from a little resin kit we bought to make jewelry. We were in the NICU as babies. When we decided to start a business, we did it to give back to our community. We have also started raising money through local craft fairs. All our earnings go straight to the NICU. We are excited to continue our work!” 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.…

Teacher’s Name: Ms. Skolnick School: Randolph Elementary School “Ms. Skolnick is a great teacher because she does a lot of fun projects with us, like making animal guide books. She’s also really positive and encourages us to do our best. If we make a mistake, she shows us how to do it right and learn from it. I always feel safe and comfortable in Ms. Skolnick’s classroom. She is the best teacher ever!” Harper, 9, Vermont 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.…

The Week Junior invites our readers to jump into a summer of super adventures through our Summer of Reading challenge. Reading can take kids anywhere they can think of. They can be the hero of a thousand stories, this summer and beyond. Bring along a friend, create a summer book club, or give a gift of The Week Junior and treat another child to a summer of reading adventures. To order a 25 weekly issue subscription of The Week Junior and save 66%, visit theweekjunior.com/smartfun…