Innehållsförteckning för Issue 237 från The Week Junior US

On October 14, NASA (the US space agency) began an ambitious 10-year mission to explore whether life could exist on Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. It launched Europa Clipper, the largest spacecraft the agency has ever built to travel to another planet. What happened? Europa Clipper lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on top of a Falcon Heavy rocket created by the private company SpaceX. The spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket and sent signals back to NASA scientists on the ground, bringing a round of cheers and applause. Europa Clipper, which has no crew aboard, weighed about 12,500 pounds at launch, nearly half of which was made up of fuel. With its solar panels open, it is more than 100 feet across, which is slightly longer…

A HISTORIC SALE A rare copy of the US Constitution (below) sold at an auction for $9 million. Recently found in a file cabinet in North Carolina, it is one of only eight or nine known copies that were printed in 1787 and sent to the states to be approved. PANDA-MONIUM Giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao got a warm welcome after an 8,250-mile trip from China to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, DC. The pair are settling into their new home and will make their public debut in January. “We joyfully celebrate a new chapter,” the zoo said. SHARING SOCKS The annual global effort known as Socktober is underway. Every October, millions of pairs of socks are collected to donate to people who are unhoused. Started in…

A record number of people have turned up for early voting in Georgia, taking place from October 15 to November 1. More than 300,000 people cast their vote on the first day, easily surpassing the state’s previous record of about 137,000 people. By October 18, more than 907,000 voters had cast a ballot in person and more than 52,000 through absentee voting. One early voter was former President Jimmy Carter, who voted two weeks after he turned 100.…

Every two years, Americans vote for members of the US Congress on Election Day. Every four years, they also vote for the next President. Compared with other countries, US voter turnout is low. Only about 46% of eligible people voted in 2022 and 67% in 2020, which was the last Presidential election. Although mail-in and early voting are available in some places, voting often requires going to a school or library—which is hard for some people because of work or other commitments. To solve that, some lawmakers want to make the day a federal holiday. Others say there are better solutions. What do you think? Should Election Day be a national holiday? Yes—it would be good for democracy In four recent US elections, schedules were a top reason registered voters…

There’s a new four-legged superstar on the scene, and this compelling creature has captured as much attention as any celebrity on two legs. Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippopotamus in Thailand, has become a global internet sensation, racking up millions of views as zookeepers post videos of her antics. Translated from Thai, Moo Deng means “bouncy pork”—a fitting name for a spunky hippo who shines in the spotlight. Moo Deng was born on July 10 to parents Tony and Jona at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, outside Bangkok, Thailand. She has six older siblings, including a brother named Moo Toon (stewed pork) and a half-sister, Moo Waan (sweet pork). After the zoo introduced Moo Deng to the world by sharing photos and videos online, zookeeper Atthapon Nundee noticed a significant…

Scientists in Florida have been helping queen conches find mates. Warmer water caused by climate change makes it difficult for this species of sea snail to mate, so the conches are being transported to cooler waters. ● LIFE SPAN: Up to 30 years ● HABITAT: Coral reefs, seagrass beds, and sand flats ● SIZE: Up to 12 inches ● DIET: Algae and organic matter from seagrass ● FUN FACT: Their outer shell is sandy colored to blend in, but inside they are bright pink or orange.…

Alex Honnold The documentary Free Solo followed him as he became the first to climb Yosemite National Park’s 3,000-foot El Capitan wall without ropes. Janja Garnbret At age 25, Janja Garnbret is a two-time Olympic champion. The Slovenian athlete took gold at sport climbing’s Olympic debut in Tokyo, then again in the Boulder and Lead category in Paris. Maureen Beck In 2014, this one-handed climber became the first American woman to win a world championship in paraclimbing (sport climbing for people with disabilities). Veddriq Leonardo At this year’s Summer Olympic Games, Veddriq Leonardo of Indonesia won the first-ever gold medal in speed climbing, completing a 15-meter (49-foot) route in a mere 4.75 seconds.…

If you enjoy sketching and drawing, we invite you to use your skills to enter our fifth annual Winter Cover Contest! We are holding a competition to select artwork for the cover of a December issue of The Week Junior. As you prepare to draw, think about what kind of colorful winter image would delight readers when they get their copy of the magazine in the mail. Follow the steps below to enter, and best of luck! Step 1: Be creative Use the page at right to create a cover design. Each submission will be judged on creativity, originality, and how well it reflects the winter theme and the spirit of The Week Junior. Before you get started, brainstorm different designs that you think would be compelling and interesting to…

Super Mario Party Jamboree is a new minigame extravaganza. It is out now for the Nintendo Switch. It can be played solo or with multiple players. Jamboree is the 13th console game in the Mario Party franchise. Like most Mario Party games, it is built around giant board game levels filled with competitions. There are seven boards: two classics from past games and five new ones. Each board is a different environment with special features. For example, in Goomba Lagoon, the paths can get covered by the rising tide, while in Mega Wiggler’s Tree Party, the paths change when caterpillar-like Wiggler is woken up. There are 22 playable characters in Jamboree, including two new unlockable ones: Pauline and Ninji. The main gameplay mode is Mario Party Mode. Up to four…

The Inheritance Games By Jennifer Lynne Barnes ”This book series is about a girl named Avery who has been listed in the will of a multi-billionaire, Tobias Hawthorne. She has to solve puzzles and figure out the mystery of the inheritance with the four Hawthorne brothers: Jameson, Grayson, Xander, and Nash. I recommend this to anyone who loves a good mystery. The author makes you jump out of your seat.” Quinn, 11, California Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Crisscross Each of these things associated with making movies fits into this grid. Can you find where each one goes to complete the grid? 3 letters CGI SET 4 letters CREW CUTS FILM 5 letters FOCUS SCORE 6 letters CAMERA EXTRAS SCENES STUDIO 7 letters CLAPPER CUE CARD 8 letters DIRECTOR PRODUCER 12 letters SCREENWRITER SOUND EFFECTS ALL THE SAME Each answer contains the letters U-G-H. Those letters have been placed for you. Can you figure out the words? (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) 1. “No more, thanks, that’s ___” 2. Response to something funny 3. In one side and out the other 4. Opposite of nice in Santa’s list 5. Archie’s hat-wearing friend on TV and in comic books Take five Five 5-letter words associated…

1 What does the pygmy hippo Moo Deng’s name mean when translated from Thai? 2 Election Day is a holiday in how many US states? a) 14 b) 24 c) 34 a □ b □ c □ 3 True or false? Climbing made its Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris Games. True □ False □ 4 In Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess, what special food did Greg’s grandma make? 5 NASA recently launched a mission to explore which of Jupiter’s moons? a) Callisto b) Ganymede c) Europa a □ b □ c □ 6 True or false? One of this year’s Ig Nobel Prize winners found that some mammals can breathe through their butts. True □ False □ 7 Which state is the birthplace of the greatest number…

Podcast host Mindy Thomas is the co-creator of the award-winning Wow in the World; Two Whats?! And a Wow!; Who, When, Wow!; and more! She is passionate about uncovering fun facts to share with children who listen to her podcasts. The Week Junior spoke to her about why she is looking forward to the Presidential election. What makes you get excited to discover facts about US history? My fourth-grade teacher taught history in a lively way that had me hanging on her every word. It was at that point that I realized that US history is my history too. Is there a past President you find particularly interesting? I liked learning about President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. Like me, he had a love for adventure and the outdoors. He helped create…

The Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is a reef located in Honolulu, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The calm, clear waters of the bay and its plentiful fish population make it a popular area for viewing aquatic life. Snorkelers can spot sea turtles, eels, oval squids, octopuses, and sea urchins. There are more than 400 species of fish, including the Christmas wrasse, named for its green and red color pattern. The preserve has a Marine Education Center and requires all visitors to watch a short educational video encouraging them to treat the preserve like a “living museum.”…

Kerry Nicholson Wildlife biologist The mask helps a raccoon see by absorbing sunlight and reducing glare, even when it’s dark out. It also helps raccoons blend in with their surroundings so they can hide from predators and sneak up on prey. Raccoons can recognize other individuals from their facial markings, as no two masks are alike. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about raccoons at livescience.com/52655-raccoons.html.…

The 2024 Ig Nobel prizes were awarded at a ceremony at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The prizes are meant to spark people’s interest in science by recognizing studies that “make people laugh, then think.” This year, awards went to research on coin flips, an unusual breathing technique for mammals, and how scaring a cow affected its production of milk. The Ig Nobel prizes are given out by a magazine called the Annals of Improbable Research and were first awarded in 1991. Traditionally, the awards are presented by previous winners of the Nobel Prize (see box) at a festive ceremony with music, jokes, and costumes. This year, five Nobel winners attended. This year’s prize in physiology (study of living systems) was awarded to researchers who discovered that some mammals, specifically…

The Winter Cover Contest will be judged by Editor-in-Chief Andrea Barbalich and Creative Director Dean Abatemarco, as well as these three prominent illustrators, all of whom have previously been featured in The Week Junior. Johnnie Christmas is a best-selling comic book creator and illustrator who has written several graphic novels for kids, including his latest release: Gamerville. His first graphic novel, Swim Team, received the Coretta Scott King Award Illustrator Honor. Chanel Miller is a bestselling author of adult books who recently published her first novel for young people. Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All is filled with Miller’s black-and-white drawings and explores friendship, racism, and family. Brian Selznick is a best-selling and award-winning author and illustrator of middle-grade novels. He won the Caldecott Medal for his book The Invention of…

A new exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) in California is taking a creative look at the world of sports. Get in the Game: Sports, Art, Culture is filled with artwork related to competitions, athletes, and other sports-related subjects. Get in the Game has five sections: Winning and Losing; Fan’s Life; Breaking Records, Breaking Rules; Field of Play; and Mind and Body. Some pieces on display are portraits or depict scenes based on reality, while others, like Hank Willis Thomas’ Guernica, are abstract. This work (above, top left) is inspired by a Pablo Picasso painting of the same name that depicts the chaos of war. Thomas made his with basketball jerseys. The exhibition includes two pieces that are also games visitors can play. Stadium by Maurizio…

By Jeff Kinney (Amulet) The 19th book in the blockbuster Wimpy Kid series takes place at the beach house where Greg’s mom used to vacation with her family. Even though Greg’s grandma can’t go, she wants the entire family, including his cousins and aunts, to enjoy time at the house and bring her back a group photo for her 75th birthday. While Greg doesn’t like the beach, he’s looking forward to trying new restaurants. But the trip gets off to a rocky start. His family arrives late, and Greg has to sleep on the floor because all the beds are taken. His aunt and mom are fighting over something that happened a long time ago. And instead of going out to dinner, his family insists on cooking meals at the…

The Hill: Inside the Secret World of the US Capitol By Kate Andersen Brower (Quill Tree Books) This book reveals behind-the-scenes facts about the US Capitol, where Congress (the branch of government that makes laws) meets. The city’s haunted history, including ghost sightings, is fascinating to discover too. Ages 10 and up A Kids Book About Voting By Next Up (A Kids Book About, Inc) Did you know only about 50% of eligible Americans usually vote during Presidential elections? This inspiring book explains why voting for President and other state and local officials is important. A timeline that details how voting rights have changed through the years is interesting. Ages 7–10 Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts By Syl Sobel (Sourcebooks Explore) The fifth edition of this popular book provides…

An upside-down museum A new museum in Berlin, Germany, is full of optical illusions and rooms that look like they are the wrong way up. Called The Upside Down, it claims to be Europe’s largest interactive experience. Its launch follows the success of another location that opened four years ago in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. Visitors can explore 21 unusual rooms that are designed to create “mind-bending” moments and fun photos. Activities include diving into a ball pit, getting up close to a giant hair dryer, and performing circus tricks upside down. The world’s speediest puzzlers Many people enjoy taking their time to complete a jigsaw puzzle, but for competitive puzzlers, it’s all about speed. This fall, more than 3,500 top puzzlers of all ages gathered to take part in…

Arjun, age 10, of Texas, likes that a democracy allows all members of society to participate and have equal representation. Arjun believes that a democracy empowers people to have a say in their own destiny. 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. JOKE OF THE WEEK Where do penguins go to vote? The South Poll 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,…

October 27, 2014 Taylor Swift’s album 1989 is released On October 27, 2014, singer-songwriter Taylor Swift released her fifth album, 1989, which marked her move from country music to pop. It sold more than 1 million copies in the first week, becoming the best-selling album of 2014. It has since sold more than 14 million copies worldwide. Swift received three Grammys (top music award) for 1989, including Album of the Year.…

To run for President, the US Constitution (nation’s top law) requires a candidate to be at least 35 years old. The youngest President ever elected was John F. Kennedy at age 43. Virginia has had the most Presidents born there, with eight: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson. Presidents come from a variety of backgrounds. Harry S. Truman sold men’s clothing, Lyndon B. Johnson was a teacher, Jimmy Carter was a peanut farmer, and Ronald Regan (above) was an actor. Over 154 million people voted in the 2020 election between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the highest rate for any US election since 1900. That’s like filling more than 2,000 football stadiums with people! Kamala Harris, the Democratic…

Climbing up walls of rock has become a popular hobby for adults and kids alike. Buckle your harness for a trip through this sport’s rise. Getting off the ground Since the 1700s, people have ascended mountains for fun and glory. In the 1880s, rock climbing became its own pursuit as some people began taking trips only to scale tall rocks. Three areas of Europe are known as the birthplaces of modern climbing. In England, Walter Parry Haskett Smith became known as the “Father of Rock Climbing” after reaching the top of the iconic Napes Needle in 1886. The next year, 17-year-old Georg Winkler completed the first solo ascent of Vajolet Towers in Italy. Meanwhile, in Germany, climbers created new guidelines for “free climbing” without picks or ladders and “nature-friendly” climbing…

Guitar players who want to hit the road without having to carry a heavy instrument with them can take the Mogabi V3 Electric travel guitar. Although it’s the same size as a regular instrument, the Mogabi V3 folds down to fit in a bag and is small enough to carry on a plane. The guitar’s creators said it has excellent sound quality and is perfect for playing at home, in a studio, or even while out in nature. It has a built-in speaker or can be connected to an amplifier, headphones, or a recording device that captures live music.…

On October 20, the New York Liberty won the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) championship. In Game 5 of the best-of-five WNBA Finals, they defeated the Minnesota Lynx, 67–62, in overtime (OT) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The Liberty are one of the league’s original teams. They had made the finals five times since the league began in 1997, but this is their first WNBA title. The Liberty ended the regular season with the best record in the WNBA, while the Lynx finished in second. The Lynx were attempting to secure their fifth WNBA title. The finals featured close competitions—there was an average of five points between the teams at the end of each of the five games—and exciting finishes. The series opened in New York, and…

Coach’s Name: Yanique Newman Team: Unique Ballers (soccer) “Coach Yanique is amazing. She pushes us to work our hardest and always has a smile on her face, which makes drills fun. When we make a mistake, she tells us, ‘Keep going because the game doesn’t stop for you!’ She has helped me improve my defending, communication skills, spatial awareness, and confidence! She also taught us generosity because she collects soccer items to take to kids in Jamaica. I’m grateful to have a coach like her.” Meha, 10, 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.…

An Olympic torch Japanese artist Tokujin Yoshioka created this pink aluminum sakura torch (right) for the Tokyo Olympic Games, which were held in Japan in 2021. In Japan, cherry blossom trees, known as sakura, are an important part of the culture. Yoshioka used a tree blossom as inspiration for the top of the torch. A beaded NASCAR flag Sam Frésquez is an American artist who makes artwork with seed beads. She created this piece, NASCAR Nation, by laying strings of the beads on top of a flag from the racing organization. A foot made for speed Athletes who are amputees often use prosthetics (artificial limbs) when playing sports. One high-tech prosthetic design is this carbon fiber Össur Cheetah Xceed foot, which was inspired by a cheetah. On the bottom of…

Treasure Trackers (Rent on major platforms) In this new adventure film, three middle school students search for a mythical treasure. After they discover it is linked to a curse from their town’s evil founder, Silas Carter, they must race to find it before a local bully unleashes Silas’ spirit on the town. Max & The Midknights (Nickelodeon) October 30 at 7 p.m. ET Lincoln Peirce’s books of the same name are the basis for this new series set in a medieval kingdom. Follow along as Max, a 10-year-old girl who dreams of being a knight, and her friends battle zombies, fight an evil sorceress, and tame a fire-breathing dragon. Dracula’s Hidden Kingdom (PBS) October 30 at 8 p.m. ET Transylvania is a real region in central Romania that is also…

What inspired this book? I thought the phrase “hot mess” was funny. I wanted to write a plot to fit that title. Why do you think kids relate to Greg? Greg is like a comedian who shares his faults in a funny way. I think kids relate to him because they may see those faults in themselves and can laugh about them. Did you always draw? Growing up, it was very difficult for me to pay attention in class, and I’d draw. I think teachers thought I wasn’t listening to them, but drawing is what helped me concentrate on what they were saying. What do you think is more challenging—writing or illustrating? Both are difficult for me and don’t come naturally. Favorite food from your childhood? McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets…

Election Day is almost here. On November 5, the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, and the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, will face off to see who becomes President. Americans will also cast votes for senators, representatives, governors, and local politicians. It’s an important part of our nation’s democratic process, so why not celebrate with an election party? Here’s how to plan one. Get festive Break out the red, white, and blue decorations. Use craft supplies you already have to make a vote garland (see the box at top right for instructions). You can also make patriotic snacks and snack holders (see the box at bottom right for instructions). Try adding elephants (a symbol of the Republican Party) or donkeys (for the Democrats) to your decor. Cast ballots…

We’ve been looking forward to Election Day (November 5) for months, and now it’s almost here! So this week we thought it would be fun to share ideas for planning an election party (p24). We’ve made things easy and festive for you, from decorations to snacks, and we hope our suggestions will inspire you to celebrate. If you create any of the crafts or recipes from this story, we’d like to know about it! Take a photo of what you make, write a sentence or two about what’s in the picture, and have an adult email it, along with your first name, age, and state, to hello@theweekjunior.com. In fact, we’d love to see any election-related photos you’d like to send us—whether you go with your parents to vote at the…

“We love The Wild Robot! Owen read it with his class last year.”Caleb, 11, Owen, 8, and Jake, 5, Ohio “We like The Week Junior so much, we wanted our skeletons to enjoy it, too!”Maggie, 9, and Audrey, 12, New York “The Photos of the Week section inspired me to make this piece of art.”Austin, 8, Colorado…