Innehållsförteckning för Issue 239 från The Week Junior US

In the election on November 5, Donald Trump, a Republican who served as President from 2017 to 2021, won a second term in the White House. He defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat. What happened? As Election Day neared, polls showed a very tight race. Both campaigns focused on the seven “swing” states—Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—that were most likely to determine the election. More than 84 million Americans voted early, while the rest voted in person on November 5. As polling sites closed, election officials spent hours counting the votes and news outlets began reporting the winner of each state. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the White House. At 5:34 a.m. Eastern Time on November 6, news organizations determined that Trump…

CHURNING OUT THE VOTE To get people to the polls, Ben & Jerry’s released a limited-edition flavor called Churn Out the Vote (vanilla with pretzels, fudge chips, and chocolate mousse). The ice cream maker also helped people check their voter registration status. Its efforts are ”part of a larger campaign to celebrate and activate young voters,” the company said. STICKER INSPIRATION Across the country, people proudly displayed “I Voted” stickers from their polling place—many of which were designed by kids. Some show state pride, others are humorous, and all serve an important purpose. “You never know who it might inspire to vote,” one person said. SERVING THE COUNTRY The Vet the Vote campaign brought military veterans and pro sports leagues together to help election sites run smoothly. More than 163,000…

When you’re feeling under the weather, it can be hard to drag yourself out of bed, go to school, and try to concentrate in class. Maybe you have a super-stuffy nose or a cough that kept you up overnight. It would be easier to stay home, but some people think it’s better to get back to class as soon as you feel up to it. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, more kids are absent from school than ever, and educators say it’s not good for students to miss out on too much learning or time with peers. But other people say it’s not fair for other kids to be exposed to someone who is blowing their nose or coughing. What do you think? Should you go to school if you’re sick?…

For many thousands of years, dogs have been humans’ steady companions. They now rank as the most popular pet in the US. Starting from wolves Today’s household dogs belong to the species Canis lupus familiaris. They are part of the Canid family, a group that includes foxes, wolves, and jackals. Modern-day dogs evolved (changed very slowly over time) from wolves tens of thousands of years ago. The oldest known fossil coming from a domestic dog is about 14,200 years old. Dogs may have first been drawn to humans while looking for leftover food. Prehistoric dogs would have been helpful hunting partners for humans, and later, they would have been useful for herding livestock. The special traits of dogs Like their wolf ancestors, dogs are pack animals, meaning they like to…

Drummers can practice at home without disturbing others, thanks to a new, quieter electronic drum set. The V-Drums Quiet Design kit is made by the company Roland, which said it reduces “in-room noise”—the sound of strikes and thumps from drumsticks and pedals hitting the instrument—to the level of a regular conversation. V-Drums use padding, honeycomb rubber, mesh, and air vents to reduce the in-room volume by up to 75%. Drummers can listen to themselves play on headphones so the music itself remains silent to other people.…

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a new platform role-playing game. It is out now exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. While Mario has always been the face of Nintendo, he and his brother share the spotlight in the Mario & Luigi series. The first game was released in 2003, and Brothership is the sixth. In this one, Mario and Luigi are teleported to the former continent of Concordia. After the magical Uni-Tree that sat at its center was destroyed, the land fractured into islands that drifted apart. When the brothers arrive, they meet Connie, the caretaker of the Uni-Tree. A new tree has been planted, and it’s up to Mario and Luigi to help Connie connect it to every floating island. Connie has a floating island of her own, Shipshape, and…

The Tiger Rising By Kate DiCamillo ”This story is about Rob, whose mom died of cancer. He and his dad are living in a motel. He is very sad until a new student, Sistine, arrives at school and becomes his friend. He and Sistine discover a beautiful tiger in a cage in the woods. When Rob gets hired to feed the tiger, he gets the keys to the cage. Will he set the tiger free? What I loved about this book is that I couldn’t stop reading it.” Nell, 9, Massachusetts Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Keyword crossword Once you have completed the crossword, transfer the letters in the yellow boxes, in order, into the boxes below to get the answer to the Keyword question. ACROSS 1 Top diplomat to another country 8 Comfortable place for travelers to eat and stay overnight 9 Deceptive desert visions 10 Wash thoroughly 12 The first area encountered in a hotel or apartment building 14 Large flat tooth at the back of the mouth 15 Secure places to lock up jewels and valuables 17 Items stuck in the top of a birthday cake 20 Every single one 21 Large fruit with a juicy red interior and black seeds DOWN 2 Quartz or calcium, for example 3 Upper limb 4 Moves down through a website page 5 World’s most popular house…

In addition to winning the Presidency, Republicans took control of the Senate (one half of Congress, the branch of government that makes laws) in the November 5 election. Many races for the House of Representatives (the other half of Congress) had not been decided when The Week Junior went to press at 9 a.m. on November 6. What happened in the US Senate? Before the election, Democrats controlled the Senate, with 51 lawmakers voting with them and 49 voting with Republicans. The Democratic majority meant they could confirm President Joe Biden’s appointees and decide which bills to vote on. At press time, Republicans had won enough of the 34 races, including seats in West Virginia and Ohio that had previously been held by Democrats, to gain control of the Senate.…

In 2017, artist Amy Sherald rose to national fame after First Lady Michelle Obama selected her to paint her official portrait. A portrait commission by a First Lady is a major achievement for any artist, but Sherald was also the first Black artist to be selected for the honor. Next year, she will make history again as the first Black contemporary artist to be featured in a solo exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC. Amy Sherald: American Sublime will run from September 2025 to February 2026. Growing up in Columbus, Georgia, Sherald, age 51, always wanted to be an artist. She earned a degree in painting from Clark Atlanta University in Georgia. Into her late 30s, she worked as a waitress to earn money while painting…

Researchers have found that seabirds, including albatrosses and penguins, have a very sensitive part of their beak called a “bill-tip organ.” Some other birds are known to use this organ (see box at top right), but this is the first time it has been found in seabirds. Experts think it might help the birds find food. To find out if the birds had this feature in their beaks, researchers from the UK and South Africa studied 361 modern seabird species. The team examined the birds’ beaks to study their structure and find out how they were connected to the animals’ nerves (bundles of fibers that carry information to and from the brain). The scientists found that both albatrosses and penguins have bill-tip organs in their beaks. Seabirds were not known…

Fennec fox Four fennec fox cubs were born at the Niabi Zoo in Illinois as part of a breeding program. Fennec foxes are the world’s smallest fox species. They are known for their large ears, which release heat and help them find prey hidden underground. • LIFE SPAN: 10 years, or longer in human care• HABITAT: Deserts of North Africa and Arabia• SIZE: 14 to 16 inches, not including the tail• DIET: Small animals, insects, and some plants• FUN FACT: Fur on the soles of their feet protects them from the hot desert sand.…

Guide dogs Also called service dogs, these dogs are trained to help people with disabilities. For instance, seeing-eye dogs help people who are vision-impaired get around safely. Medical-alert dogs comfort people who are having a seizure. Therapy dogs People in stressful situations may get emotional support from therapy dogs. The dogs often visit hospitals to comfort both patients and workers. Therapy dogs also visit schools, helping students focus or even learn. They also help people in nursing homes and airports. Search dogs Dogs’ powerful sense of smell makes them ideal for finding survivors in search-and-rescue operations, such as after a natural disaster. These dogs, which receive extensive training, can also follow the scent of someone who may be lost.…

Earth has temporarily gained what some people are calling a “second moon,” which is expected to stay in our planet’s orbit for about two months. A moon is defined as an object that orbits a planet. In this case, Earth’s new moon is an asteroid (small, rocky object that flies around the Sun) called 2024 PT5. Compared with Earth’s main Moon, which is 2,159.2 miles across, 2024 PT5 is about 33 feet wide. It is too small and dim to be spotted with the human eye but may be visible through a professional telescope. An object like this in Earth’s orbit is known as a “mini-moon.” Scientists first spotted 2024 PT5 in the summer. They studied its path and determined that it would travel close enough to Earth to get…

Mirror image This photo of a lake in Canada was taken by Mina, 12, of New York. Fabulous fungi Martin, 9, of Missouri snapped this photo of mushrooms on a tree. Bugging out Lyvia, 11, of North Carolina captured this picture of a grasshopper. Wow factor Ananya, 12, of California took this underwater shot of jellyfish. Winging it Lilly, 14, of Colorado took this photograph of a bird in flight. Pretty in pink Louis, 9, of Washington shot this image of a flower in a garden.…

Many movie fans may have never seen John Williams, but odds are they know his work. The legendary composer and conductor has created some of the most memorable on screen music, including the theme to Star Wars and the suspenseful, two-note duh-nuh, duh-nuh from Jaws. The new documentary Music by John Williams tells his story and highlights his place in movie history. It is now on Disney+. Williams, age 92, was born and raised in New York. He played piano as a child and later attended the Juilliard School, a top performing arts school. He has received many awards, including the National Medal of Arts (the nation’s top honor for the arts) and 26 Grammys (top music award). He also has been nominated for 54 Oscars (top film award)—the most…

IF PG (Paramount+, Prime Video) “This is a very interesting movie. It is set in a world that has a dimension where everyone’s former imaginary friends live. As children grow up, they outgrow their imaginary friends and forget about them, which leaves the imaginary friends with nothing to do. A young girl in New York City named Bea is the main character, and she helps all the imaginary friends find new people to love them. Of course, there are plot twists and her plan doesn’t go as expected. The movie was a big reminder for me that I should enjoy my childhood and not be in a hurry to grow up.” Saanvi, 12, California Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review…

(Viking) This gripping work of historical fiction takes place in Britain in 1940. Jakob is a math genius who gets recruited by the secret Government Code and Cypher School, located in the village estate of Bletchley Park. Jakob is tasked with deciphering codes that contain details of Nazi Germany’s attacks on England during World War II (1939–1945). His work is temporarily sidetracked when his younger sister, Lizzie, arrives. Although the siblings had been told that their mother, who worked at an embassy, died in Poland, Lizzie refuses to believe she is gone. She wants to use the resources at Bletchley Park to prove her theory. Jakob doubts Lizzie at first, but he comes around when puzzling codes and messages begin arriving at their doorstep. The messages lead them to a…

Atlantis Complete Collection By Kate O’Hearn (Aladdin) This set contains the paperback editions of a trilogy: Escape from Atlantis, Return to Atlantis, and Secrets of Atlantis. A girl and her cousin are washed ashore on a mythical island that’s brimming with fantastical creatures and dark secrets. Ages 8–12 Hiaasen: Six-Book Paperback Set By Carl Hiaasen (Yearling) Six of the author’s bestsellers—Hoot, Flush, Scat, Chomp, Squirm, and Wrecker—are included in this set. Although the books contain different characters and plots, they have a common theme of kids solving mysteries to protect nature. They are also full of humor and adventure. Ages 10 and up The Merci Suárez Trilogy Boxed Set By Meg Medina (Candlewick) The Newbery Award–winning Merci Suárez Changes Gears is packaged with Merci Suárez Can’t Dance and Merci Suárez…

Thanks to dogged determination, Mitchell Rudy of Canada has claimed a Guinness World Records title. Rudy walked 38 rescue dogs at one time to break the record for the most dogs walked simultaneously by an individual. To qualify, Rudy had to walk for about a half mile while holding the dogs on leashes. He was inspired by a desire to increase adoptions. “We wanted to do something that made these dogs be the champions that they are,” he said. “They’re great animals, they deserve a good home, they just need a little bit of love.”…

“I love it when my dad tells me I got a new issue of the magazine!”Sam, 9, New Jersey “We are using The Big Debate to learn how to vote!”Rhys, 10, and Eli, 11, California “I had fun filling out the voting plan with my family! I learned a lot about how my parents vote.”Celia, 10, Colorado…

1 Who won the Most Valuable Player award in this year’s World Series? a) Freddie Freeman b) Mookie Betts c) Shohei Ohtani a □ b □ c □ 2 What is the name of the piglike creature in the new video game Mario and Luigi: Brothership? ____________________ 3 True or false? Scientists have said that Mount Everest is shrinking. True □ False □ 4 In the new series Carl the Collector, the main character is what kind of animal? a) Beaver b) Raccoon c) Squirrel a □ b □ c □ 5 An early polling site was recently set up in the home of what famous suffragist? a) Alice Paul b) Lucretia Mott c) Susan B. Anthony a □ b □ c □ 6 Which fox species is the smallest…

November 5, 1944 Franklin D. Roosevelt wins fourth term On November 5, 1944, Franklin D. Roosevelt won a fourth term as President, after having first been elected in 1932. Prior to Roosevelt, Presidents had followed a tradition of serving a maximum of two terms. Roosevelt is the only President to have served more than two. In 1951, an amendment (change) was made to the Constitution (highest law in the US) limiting Presidents to two terms.…

The Guadalupe Mountains rise more than 3,000 feet from the Chihuahuan desert. Guadalupe Peak, the tallest natural point in Texas, reaches 8,751 feet and has a 1,000-foot limestone cliff named El Capitan. The park also contains an incredibly well-preserved fossil of an ancient marine reef. In spite of the desert landscape, woodlands can be found in the park, which is also home to thousands of plants, including wildflowers, ferns, yuccas, oak and pine trees, and traditional desert features like cacti. Mule deer, mountain lions, and rattlesnakes also live here.…

Dr. Gabrielle Fadl Veterinarian, Bond Vet A cat’s tail is an indicator of its emotions. When the tail goes up, it generally means the cat is feeling happy, confident, and content. This posture can also indicate that the cat is greeting someone it likes. The raised tail is a friendly gesture, showing that the cat feels safe. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about Bond Vet at bondvet.com.…

With its summit (highest point) standing at an incredible 29,032 feet, Mount Everest is the world’s highest mountain above sea level. Now it’s getting even taller, thanks to a growth spurt caused by a nearby river, according to a new study. Mount Everest sits on the border of Nepal and Tibet in the Himalayan mountain range. The huge landmark is already about 800 feet taller than the other peaks in the region and continues to grow every year by about .079 inches. That’s about the width of a strand of spaghetti, according to The New York Times. It might not seem like much, but it adds up over time. A team of scientists set out to understand how Everest got so tall in the first place and what causes its…

On October 30, the Los Angeles Dodgers won Major League Baseball’s World Series for the eighth time in the franchise’s history. They beat the New York Yankees, 4–1, in a best-of-seven series. The last time the Dodgers were the champions was in 2020. During the regular season, the Dodgers were the best team in the National League (NL) and the Yankees were the best in the American League (AL). Each team also had a player who hit more than 50 home runs: the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and the Yankees’ Aaron Judge. It is rare to have a World Series between the two number one teams, but a Dodgers versus Yankees World Series is nothing new. It was the 12th time they played each other for the championship, which is more…

Coach’s Name: Amber Cherry Team: Chargers (volleyball) “Coach Cherry is the best coach I have ever worked with! She is extremely passionate and committed to teaching volleyball and never hesitates to support me or my teammates. She has helped me in so many ways with skills like passing, hitting, and serving. The drills I first thought were boring have actually improved my technique and made me a better volleyball player. The best thing about Coach, though, is her competitive spirit!” Katie, 13, 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.…

Home Alone John Williams was excited to work on this 1990 holiday comedy because he always wanted to write a Christmas song. The result was “Somewhere in My Memory,” the title theme. Jurassic Park For this 1993 science fiction film about a theme park filled with massive living dinosaurs, Williams decided not to think about the animals as scary monsters. Instead, he composed a score that reflected a sense of awe. Harry Potter movies Williams wrote the music for the first three films. In 2016, he led the LA Philharmonic as they performed some of the music at the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in California.…

Transformers: EarthSpark (Netflix) (Paramount+) This series follows young robots Twitch and Thrash, Transformers born on Earth who live with their adoptive human family, the Maltos. In the new third season, a massive dome divides their town and the robots and humans try to keep people safe and get life back to normal. Silverback (PBS.org) (PBS app) Travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo with award-winning wildlife filmmaker Vianet Djenguet as he helps a 500-pound silverback gorilla adapt to its habitat. Up-close footage reveals challenges facing endangered lowland gorillas and the efforts to ensure their survival. Young Sheldon (Max) All seven seasons of this popular sitcom are now streaming. The series, set in Texas during the late 1980s and early 1990s, centers on young genius Sheldon Cooper and his family. It…

What inspired this book? Ruta: I was intrigued by how the people who worked at Bletchley Park in the UK during World War II had to be so secretive about the codebreaking they were doing to defeat the Nazis. Did you love history when you were a child? Steve: Yes, I was given a metal detector as a gift when I was young. I used it to look for treasure, which was my way of connecting with history. Where would you go if you could time travel? Ruta: I would travel to the 1940s, when my dad and my grandparents came to the US as refugees from Lithuania. What advice do you have for aspiring writers? Steve: Write about something that excites you because that excitement will jump off the…

Autumn is a special time to enjoy the outdoors, when the weather is cool and crisp for absorbing the sights and sounds of nature. Research shows that spending time in a natural setting has many benefits—it can help reduce anxiety and stress, improve concentration and attention, and even lead to better sleep. Here are some ways to get started. Go for a walk, bike, or hike The easiest way to get closer to nature is to simply step outside. Gather family or friends and go for a walk or bike ride in your neighborhood or a local park. Besides getting exercise, you’ll be stimulating your senses, from seeing a variety of colors in autumn leaves to feeling a breeze blow through the trees. With an adult’s help, you can search…

With winter coming, it’s important that everyone has a coat to keep them warm. A coat drive is an event where people drop off winter jackets they don’t wear anymore or that they have outgrown so the coats can be distributed to people in need. A coat drive not only helps others but is also good for the environment because coats get reused instead of being thrown away. Start by asking your school, place of worship, or community center if you can set up a collection box there. Then spread the word through flyers or ask an adult to post about the drive on social media. Once you have the coats, you can go to onewarmcoat.org to find a nearby organization to donate them to.…

When The Week Junior went to press on November 6, Donald Trump had been announced as the winner of the election for US President. He served in that office from 2017 to 2021, left the White House when Joe Biden took his place, and will return to serve another four-year term in January 2025. Opinions about the election outcome are sharply divided, with many people in our nation expressing happiness and many others feeling disappointment. In the coming days, we are sure to hear repeated calls for unity, and I hope we will be able to heed those words. In the meantime, I would like to congratulate Trump on his win as well as his opponent, Kamala Harris, for running a hard-fought campaign. She deserves our respect as well. No…

Enter our Winter Cover Contest! If you would like to see your artwork on the cover of The Week Junior, here is your chance! We are accepting entries to our 2024 Winter Cover Contest. At right is the winning cover from our 2023 competition. The drawing form and consent form that are needed to enter can be found at kids.theweekjunior.com/activities. Entries will be judged on creativity, originality, and how well they reflect the winter theme and The Week Junior. Be sure your artwork is in color! When you’re finished, have a parent fill out the consent form and email it with a digital image of your artwork to covercontest@theweekjunior.com. The deadline to apply is November 13! IT’S YOUR TURN Email your news, views, and photos to hello@theweekjunior.com. We want to…

Teacher’s name: Mr. Bonn School: Mark Twain Elementary School “Mr. Bonn is an amazing teacher. He always has something fun to do. I love how he makes us try again! Whenever we need help, he’s there for us. He knows how to cheer people up and is truly the best teacher I’ve ever had. I wish I could be in Mr. Bonn’s fifth grade class forever and ever.” Lillie, 10, Texas 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.…