Innehållsförteckning för Issue 224 från The Week Junior US

Joe Biden, the 46th US President, announced on July 21 that he is ending his re-election campaign. He had been expected to accept the Democratic party’s official nomination for a second four-year term and to run against the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, in the election on November 5. What happened? Biden announced his decision to step down in a letter posted on social media. “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” he wrote. “And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.” Shortly after, he…

AN EMOJI CELEBRATION The 11th annual World Emoji Day was marked on July 17—a date that was chosen because it appears on the emoji that depicts a calendar. The event’s organizers encouraged people to dress as their favorite emoji, bake emoji cakes, and send text messages entirely in emojis. “We all use emojis every day, so why not celebrate them?” they said. A KIND GESTURE A Texas cat sanctuary was out of money and about to shut its doors when a TikTok influencer stepped in. The facility had helped him rescue an injured stray he named Esbee. In thanks, he asked his followers to support the shelter. His fans sent $190,000 in donations and four trucks of supplies, which will save more than 700 cats. OLYMPIC STYLE Team Mongolia’s uniforms for…

From the 1950s to the early 2000s, American space exploration was overseen by NASA, the US space agency, and funded by the government. NASA trained former military pilots and scientists to be professional astronauts. In recent years, however, private companies like Blue Origin, SpaceX, and Virgin Galactic have been launching their own trips to space with private citizens aboard. Business leaders, explorers, and TV stars have paid huge sums to go into orbit. Some people say it’s an exciting new era in space exploration, but others think sending untrained people to space is a big mistake. What do you think? Should private citizens go to space? Yes—space belongs to everyone Sending private citizens into space can enhance our knowledge without requiring NASA to spend money. Government funds could pay for…

Fiona Backhouse Researcher, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Lyrebirds imitate the sounds of other animals and also sing their own songs. Imitation takes more skill, so males use mimicry to show off and attract a mate. Females mimic the sounds of predators and mobbing bird flocks. This may scare animals away from raiding the nest. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at birds.cornell.edu.…

Scientists have identified a new dinosaur with huge, blade-like horns and a spike on its head. They named it Lokiceratops rangiformis after Loki, a mythical god who wears a helmet with curved horns. The plant-eating species was about 22 feet long, weighed more than 5 tons, and lived about 78 million years ago. Lokiceratops belonged to a group of dinosaurs called ceratopsids, which includes the triceratops. Ceratopsids lived during the Cretaceous Period (146 million to 66 million years ago) and had long horns and bony head plates, called frills. The team of researchers, led by scientists from the University of Utah, identified Lokiceratops through pieces of a skull found in Montana in 2019. As they pieced the skull back together, they realized the massive creature was different from other ceratopsids.…

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a new action-adventure platform game. It was recently released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. The game stars the famous Nintendo character Luigi, brother of Nintendo star Mario. It is a remake of the 2013 Nintendo 3DS game Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon and has fresh graphics and updated character models. It also contains many small adjustments that make it feel like Luigi’s Mansion 3, the most recent game in the franchise. While Luigi’s Mansion 3 keeps the action to one giant haunted house, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD sends the nervous plumber on a mission to deal with a whole world of ghost-filled homes. Usually the ghosts are friendly and fun, but after something called the Dark Moon shatters, they become angry and hostile. Professor E. Gadd,…

Did you plot out Faker before you started writing? Yes! This story, unlike some of my others, went exactly as I’d planned. Trey’s evolution from someone who toed the line for his father to someone who pushed back against him was exactly what I wanted it to be. What do you do when you get writer’s block? I’ll talk to my mom! She wrote a humor column for a newspaper when I was growing up, and she’s a huge reader. Relying on my mom and my editor to keep me going in the right direction is one of the reasons I’ve been able to publish so many books. If you get stuck, ask for help. Should you finish reading a book if you’re not into it? No! Don’t be embarrassed…

Public transit users in Boston, Massachusetts, are keeping an eye out for some smile-inducing train cars traveling along the tracks. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has attached googly eyes to five trains in the city’s subway system, known locally as the “T.” Two college graduates proposed the idea to cheer up commuters who are dealing with delays or other frustrations. “People can at least look into the eyes of the train when it finally arrives,” they said, “and feel some love and understanding in their hearts.”…

“I attended the soccer game featured in The Week Junior and got Lily Yohannes’ first goal on video!”Zoe, 12, Minnesota “I made the mango sorbet with my mom, and it was delicious on a really hot day!”Adam, 9, North Carolina “I love The Week Junior! My favorite part is the Science and Technology section!”Mary, 8, Texas…

As an explorer, scientist, and author, Maya Wei-Haas uses storytelling and scientific insight to help people foster a deeper appreciation for the planet. Her new illustrated book, What a Rock Can Reveal, which she wrote for kids, is about the history and importance of rocks and geological formations. Growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Wei-Haas, age 37, loved exploring nature. After collecting pebbles on the playground, she and her brother would make up scientific names for them. “Science helped me understand the world in a way that nothing else really did,” she told The Week Junior. Wei-Haas earned a degree in geology (the study of rocks and minerals) from Smith College and a doctorate in Earth science at Ohio State University. She pursued a career in science journalism because she felt…

Conservationists recently received the good news that the Iberian lynx, a medium-sized wildcat, has returned from near-extinction. Found throughout the mountainous Iberian Peninsula in Europe, this lynx was once considered the world’s most endangered feline, but recent efforts have helped increase its population. The Iberian lynx was first seen in Western Europe in the early 1800s. During the 1900s, the population began to steadily decline due to loss of land, human activity, and the disappearance of the big cat’s primary food source, the European rabbit. By 2001, 62 adult Iberian lynx were living in the wild. In 2002, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified the Iberian lynx as critically endangered on its Red List, which tracks threatened species. Several conservation groups came together to save the breed…

A rocky California island in San Francisco Bay has been the site of a military fort, a prison, and a major Native American protest. Early history of Alcatraz The name Alcatraz comes from Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala, who named the island “Isla de los Alcatraces” (“Island of the Pelicans”) while exploring San Francisco Bay in 1775. Alcatraces eventually became Alcatraz. In 1850, shortly after California became part of the US, President Millard Fillmore declared the island a military reservation, and construction began on Fortress Alcatraz in 1853. The first lighthouse on the Pacific Coast opened on the island in 1854. The US Army took command of Fortress Alcatraz in 1859 and remained there for several decades. In 1907, in a sign of the island’s future purpose, Fortress Alcatraz…

Scientists in the UK created a new feature for robots that’s inspired by the suckers on octopus arms. The team studied the structure of octopus suckers to understand how they work. Using their findings, they designed a robotic sucker, which copies the same behavior. The suction cup is soft, like octopus arm muscles. It comes with artificial fluid that behaves like the natural mucus (sticky liquid) octopuses produce, which helps them hold onto things. The robotic suction cup can grasp rough, curved, and heavy rocks.…

The famous American artist Mary Cassatt is the subject of a major exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) in Pennsylvania. Mary Cassatt at Work takes a fresh look at many of her paintings, pastels, and prints and includes discoveries about how she made her art. It will close on September 8 and open at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco’s Legion of Honor on October 5. Cassatt was born in Pennsylvania in 1844 and died in 1926. She was the only American member of the French Impressionists, a group of artists known for a style that reflected an artist’s own view of a scene, as well as its colors and light. But Cassatt’s focus was unlike anyone else’s. “Unlike many male artists of her time who portrayed…

“This animated science-fiction movie would be great for kids who like robots, animation, and friendship. It is loosely based on a novel by Ted Hughes published in 1968. It is about a 50-foot-tall robot from outer space that crashes into Earth and a 9-year-old boy named Hogarth, who finds the robot in the woods of his small Maine town. The two become best friends and go on adventures together. People from the military think the giant is evil and come after him. In the end, the robot sacrifices himself to protect Hogarth’s town.” Quinn, 10, Indiana Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Trey and his younger sister are caught up in their father’s schemes to invest in fake businesses. Ever since 12-year-old Trey was in kindergarten, his dad has been swindling his wealthy classmates’ parents. When people start asking questions, the family flees to another country for a vacation. They return with new identities, and Trey and his sister start new schools. After the last scheme, they end up in Tennessee, and Trey’s dad makes him a “full partner” in his deceptive business dealings. This time, his dad creates a flashy fake prototype of an electric car and wants people to invest in his start-up company. Trey and his younger sister introduce him to friends whose parents have a lot of money. But after taking an ethics class, Trey starts to question…

Stand up paddling (also called paddleboarding or SUP) is a recreational water sport with roots in Hawaii in the 1940s. In recent years, it has soared in popularity across the country. SUP is a fun way for kids and families to get out on the water and enjoy the outdoors. You can even find competitive paddleboard racing competitions. If you’ve been curious about the sport, here’s how to get started. Know how it works Paddlers typically start out in a kneeling position on a sturdy floating board in the calm waters of a lake, pond, or ocean. They hold a single long paddle in both hands, then dip the oar’s blade into the water and pull it backward to propel the board forward. Alternating strokes on each side helps steer…

If you have plants in your home or outside, you know they need water to thrive. However, you don’t have to always turn on your tap to water your plants. Instead, you can try to collect rainwater for your watering needs. This will reduce your reliance on water from your local source, which conserves it for use during drier periods. A simple way to harvest rainwater is to set up watering cans to collect water as it rains. Use the collected water to give plants a drink, then set the cans out again to gather water from the next rain. You can also talk to your family about getting a rain barrel, which collects larger amounts of rainwater to reuse.…

As we were working on this issue of The Week Junior, President Joe Biden announced that he will not seek a second term in office during the election that will be held in November (p2). He had been campaigning for re-election since April 2023 and was expected to accept his party’s official nomination at the Democratic National Convention in a few weeks. No President in US history has ever stepped down from a campaign so close to an election. Biden immediately endorsed his Vice President, Kamala Harris, to take his place on the ticket, and more than 200 other Democratic leaders did the same soon after. I hope our coverage this week helps you understand what happened and what’s next. We also hope you will continue following the news as…

Teacher’s Name: Chad Smith School: Foothill Elementary School “Mr. Smith is an amazing teacher. He checks in with each student in our class to make sure we know the math strategies he’s taught us. He also plays his guitar as we sing along to different songs we’ve learned. With him, every day is a new experience that gives us something to talk about for days. No other teacher is like him. I’ll remember this school year forever!” Parker, 11, California 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.…

July 30, 1729 Baltimore, Maryland, is established On July 30, 1729, the Maryland General Assembly passed a bill calling for a town to be built on the north side of the Patapsco River. It was to be named after Lord Baltimore, who had established the colony of Maryland in 1632. Baltimore’s busy shipping port made it one of the largest US cities for nearly 200 years. Today, it is the 30th largest US city, with a population of more than 565,000.…

Guinness World Records has declared Nikki, a 37-year-old mandrill at Arizona’s Phoenix Zoo, the world’s oldest mandrill monkey living in captivity. To celebrate her big birthday, the zoo gave Nikki a special box filled with berry treats. ● LIFE SPAN: 20 years in the wild● HABITAT: Rainforests in west-central Africa● SIZE: Up to 3 feet; weighing 77 pounds● DIET: Seeds, roots, fruits, nuts, small animals● FUN FACT: Small groups often join together, forming hordes of as many as 1,200 mandrills.…

WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) All-Star Weekend 2024 took place in Phoenix, Arizona, on July 19 and July 20. It ended with the WNBA All-Star Game, a matchup between the USA Basketball Women’s National Team (Team USA), an Olympics-bound squad filled with many of today’s best and most experienced stars, and Team WNBA, a group of other top players including rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Team WNBA won, 117–109. The first half of the All-Star game was a close contest, and Team USA was up, 54–52, at halftime. They held Team WNBA’s Arike Ogunbowale, who plays for the Dallas Wings, scoreless for the first half, but she dominated the second half. She scored 21 points in the third quarter, including five three-pointers, to help Team WNBA build an 88–79…

Coach’s Name: Jason Mauss Team: Jersey Village Stars (swimming) “Coach Mauss has been an amazing swim coach the past three years, and I’m sure all the team would agree! He has the best drills, and he lets us play sharks and minnows. He has helped me with my breaststroke the most this year. He always tells me, ‘Pull, breathe, kick, glide.’ He’s always on the side of the pool cheering the loudest for us while we are racing, and he has the best candy to congratulate us! He is just the best coach!” Meredith, 8, Texas 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.…

European life Mary Cassatt attended art school in the US, then studied painting across Europe. She settled in Paris, France (right), in 1874. One of her close friends was the famous painter Edgar Degas. Japanese influence After seeing an exhibit of Japanese woodblock art in Paris, Cassatt began to make prints in that style. The pieces, such as Maternal Caress (right), are noteworthy for having a two-dimensional look and feature scenes of home life that were common in Japanese art. Chicago disaster Early in her career, Cassatt spent time in Chicago, Illinois. She was there during the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. Her artwork, which had been on display at a jewelry store, was destroyed.…

Barbecue Showdown (Netflix) It’s season three of this series that features barbecue cooks from across the US competing for $50,000. There are nine contestants, and in each episode, one is eliminated by the judges based on a challenge such as infusing global cuisines into a dish or smoking rare meats. Bluey Minisodes (Disney+) Seven special short episodes of the wildly popular Australian animated series about a blue heeler puppy named Bluey and his little sister, Bingo, were recently released. They include tales about their dad buying a faulty robot and storytime with their grandmother. Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom: Protecting the Wild (Peacock) (NBC.com) Follow animal experts Peter Gros and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant as they check out efforts to save endangered species. Their stops include Florida, where a sea turtle…

What consequences should Trey’s dad face for deceiving investors? Should Trey be held responsible for his role in his father’s schemes? If Trey shared his family’s secret with you, what would you have done? Would you want to be friends with Trey? Do you think stealing from people who have a lot of money is just as wrong as stealing from those who have less? Explain your answer. How did Trey’s sister affect his decision to confront his dad? How do you feel about the book’s conclusion? JOIN THE WEEK JUNIOR’S BOOK CLUB Watch a special video Gordon Korman created for The Week Junior and learn more about how our monthly book club works at kids.theweekjunior.com/bookclub.…

Crisscross Each of these kinds of fish fits into this grid. Can you find where each one goes to complete the grid? 3 letters COD KOI RAY 4 letters HAKE PIKE SOLE TUNA 5 letters PERCH SCROD SHARK TETRA 6 letters BIGEYE REMORA 7 letters HALIBUT  8 letters BLUEFISH MACKEREL STURGEON 11 letters ELECTRIC EEL STRIPED BASS ALL THE SAME Each answer contains the letters T-O-P. Those letters have been placed for you. Can you figure out the words? Take five Five 5-letter words associated with winning are hidden in this grid. For each one, the first letter is somewhere in the first column, the second is somewhere in the second column, and so on. Can you find all five? (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) SUDOKU…

“My family has fostered more than 300 dogs and cats since 2018. Through doing that, we got involved with a group called Second Chance Animal Alliance, which cares for dogs in need. Canine parvovirus is a dangerous disease that affects dogs, and I want to help them get diagnosed early. Our puppy Mustard died of the illness days after we adopted her. I have been selling pupsicles and dog treats to raise money for the nonprofit so they can help other dogs get parvo tests. I have also been talking about why it’s important to foster dogs and get dogs vaccinated. My big, audacious goal is to donate $2,000 for 100 parvo tests.” Have you done something interesting or raised money for a cause you care about? Whatever you’re up…