Innehållsförteckning för Issue 240 från The Week Junior US

Following his Election Day win, former President Donald Trump began preparing to return to the White House. When The Week Junior went to press on November 12, he had started selecting his top advisers. What was the final electoral count? To win the Presidency, a candidate needs 270 votes in the Electoral College (the system used to elect Presidents in the US). Trump, a Republican who served as the nation’s 45th president from 2017 to 2021, won 312 electoral votes. His opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, won 226. Trump won all seven “swing” states, which had been expected to decide the election: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. At press time, at least 11 states were still counting votes, but Trump already had enough to…

TRIPLE THE FUN Three red panda siblings—two males and a female—were born at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo in Nebraska. Triplets are rare for the species, which is endangered. “The cubs are healthy and thriving,” the zoo said. A SYMBOL OF HOPE This year’s White House Christmas tree will come from a county in North Carolina that was hit hard by Hurricane Helene in September. The family that grew the 20-foot-tall Fraser fir said it represents the resilience of the area’s residents and the kindness shown to them. “It’s a symbol of what is good in humanity,” they said. HONORING VETERANS On November 11, cities and towns across the US held Veterans Day parades, concerts, and family events to honor those who have served in the armed forces. Many restaurants also…

For nearly 30 years, Paul Siefken has shaped children’s television. He has worked at Cartoon Network and PBS Kids, and he is now the president of Fred Rogers Productions, the creator of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and other shows. Now he has written his debut novel, Vernon Poche & the Ghosts of New Orleans, a middle-grade historical fantasy about teens Vernon and Alisha uncovering their city’s rich history with the help of a mysterious dog. Siefken himself grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. When he was in high school, his English teacher recognized his talent and steered him toward creative writing. After graduating from Duke University, he taught high school English for a few years before moving into TV. As the leader of the organization founded by Fred Rogers, the creator…

Tropical rainforests are known for having thick layers of tree cover, called canopies, that are dense enough to block sunlight. The rainforests in the Republic of the Congo, in Africa, also feature many treeless clearings where animals of different species gather together. “Animals are extremely attracted to these giant clearings in the middle of the forest, including many endangered animals like the Western lowland gorilla and the African forest elephant,” said Evan Hockridge of Harvard University in Massachusetts. Hockridge recently led a study on these clearings, which the Indigenous (first to inhabit a place) Ba’aka people call bais. Hockridge came across a bai while doing research in Congo’s Odzala-Kokoua National Park in 2021. He and a team of researchers then spent years gathering data on them, using drone footage and…

Researchers recently found that some species of sea robin, a kind of fish that can walk, use their shovel-like legs to taste food and find prey hiding on the ocean floor. The legs have sensors called papillae, which are similar to human taste buds. ● LIFE SPAN: 8 to 11 years ● HABITAT: Salt marshes and warm ocean waters ● SIZE: Up to 28 inches ● DIET: Mollusks, crustaceans, shrimp, other fish ● FUN FACT: Unlike other walking fish, sea robins can move each leg individually.…

A trailblazing Mexican artist named Frida Kahlo created work that made people take notice during her short but influential life and long after. Early years The artist—whose full name was Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón—was born on July 6, 1907, in Coyoacán, Mexico City. As a young girl, she helped her photographer father in his studio. At age 6, she contracted polio, a disease that affects the nerves. To regain her strength, she swam and played soccer. She wanted to become a doctor and enrolled in the National Preparatory School in Mexico City in 1922. At age 18, Kahlo had a serious bus accident and suffered many injuries. Bedridden for months, she left school. To cope during her long recovery, she started painting. With the help of a lap…

A traditional compass has a needle that points north so you can always orient yourself to that direction. The Truest North compass, however, works differently: It points to a destination of your choice so you always know where you are in relation to it. A second needle tells you how far you are from your preferred spot. Once you set a destination, Truest North stores it. The device’s designer said it’s meant to help you stay connected to a special place in your life, although you can also change that destination at any time.…

In 2003, Wicked, a musical about two student witches in the land of Oz, made its premiere on Broadway and went on to become an awardwinning hit. The show has been adapted into a two-part movie, and the highly anticipated first film opens in theaters on November 22. Part two arrives next November. Wicked is based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. It features characters from the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz—which was based on L. Frank Baum’s book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz—but it takes place before the events in those stories. The stars are green-skinned Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo) and her popular Shiz University classmate, Glinda (Ariana Grande). The pair don’t get along at first, and…

One Piece TV-14 (Netflix, Hulu, or rent on other platforms) “This is a series about pirates on a hunt for treasure. I love it so much because I enjoy seeing the characters’ determination to reach their goals. My favorite character is Zoro. He is very sure of himself and powerful when facing opponents. It is also amazing to see all the hard work that goes into the show’s storyline and artwork. It is a long series, and my favorite episode is the 1,062th one. It features one of the show’s best battle scenes, and you get to see Zoro jumping into action. One Piece is a lovely, funny, and intense series. I recommend it to people who like anime.” Niko, 13, North Carolina Do you have a film or TV…

(Candlewick) Vivian’s dream of going on a camping adventure without adult supervision is finally coming true. On a family outing to Sequoia National Park in California, her mom and uncle let 11-year-old Vivian, her cousin Owen, and her younger sister Amy camp out by themselves for one night near a small lake. Owen cooks dinner for the group, and they have fun together. But while they are asleep in their tent that night, an earthquake crumbles the ridge of a nearby mountain. The destruction blocks the path back to their family, forcing them to take an “unmaintained” route out of the park that will take them across river rapids and a treacherous pass that’s 11,300 feet high. The cousins calculate that the new course will take them seven days to…

Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the US. No specific skills are required to play, and boys and girls of all ages can join. “Flag football is a sport for everyone,” Kelly Hantman, co-founder of Westfield PAL Girls Flag Football, in Westfield, New Jersey, told The Week Junior. “It’s an opportunity to participate in something just for fun and learn the values of being part of a team, like collaboration, facing a challenge, and learning success.” Here’s how to get started. Understand the game Flag football is a “no contact” sport, which means players don’t tackle one another like they do in regular football. Instead, each player wears a belt with two small flags. Players try to remove one or both of their opponent’s flags to end…

RECYCLE MATERIALS TO MAKE MINIATURE CRAFTS Professional crafter Jodi Levine and illustrator Margaret McCartney have published a new book for kids and adults who love to make crafts. Mousetown features an imaginary world of more than 30 projects for Mouse and friends to make from recycled and everyday materials. “In Mousetown, we wanted to create a storybook where kids can follow the character, Mouse, through their day while learning how to re-create the story’s tiny scenes and props to make their own miniature worlds,” said Levine, who also creates the crafts published in The Week Junior. You can turn items like milk cartons and plastic bottles into homes and shops and make pie pans, picture frames, or wagon wheels from bottle caps. Levine told The Week Junior that she and…

November and December are always big months for movie releases, and this week’s cover story highlights Wicked, the season’s first kid-friendly release that is expected to be a blockbuster (p20). You may already know that the film is based on the hit musical of the same title, which opened on Broadway in 2003, and that some of the show’s characters are from the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. But did you know that both stories began as novels? Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire, was published in 1995, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, was published in 1900. I love it when great books become great movies! In this issue we also spotlight the animated musical…

Zikora, age 12, of Maryland told us she likes democracy because it gives people the freedom to vote. Zikora hopes leaders will pass laws that benefit future generations. As a reader of The Week Junior, you may be forming opinions about your hopes for 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.…

Teacher’s Name: Job Salazar Fonseca School: WL Chenery Upper Elementary School “Job is just a magical person. He always wanted me to have fun and be happy. When I felt down, he helped me believe in myself. He is the reason I completed two music books and was successful in two school orchestra performances. He helped me find my voice and overcome my fears through my violin. I will miss him so much.” Cyrus, 10, Massachusetts 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.…

As states work to finish counting votes from this year’s election, Republicans have won control of the Senate (one half of Congress, the branch of government that makes laws) and are expected to retain a majority of seats in the House of Representatives (the other half of Congress). Historic wins for governors also took place. What happened in the Senate? The Senate, which is made up of two elected officials from each state who serve six-year terms, had 34 seats up for election. Republicans won enough to have the majority of seats, at 53, while 47 lawmakers will vote with the Democrats. The Senate was controlled by the Democrats before the election, and control will now switch parties. The current Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, will become the Minority…

This group of 19 islands, spread across 23,000 square miles of ocean, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been called a “living museum.” The Galápagos’ unique wildlife inspired British naturalist Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution (development of animals and plants slowly over time) and changed the way we think about life on Earth. The islands are a habitat for animals that can’t be found anywhere else, such as Galápagos giant tortoises, which are some of the largest tortoises in the world. Other animals found there include fur seals and the Sally lightfoot crab.…

Ridgway’s rails Seven light-footed Ridgway’s rails have been released into the wild at a naval base in California. Experts are working to restore the population of the endangered birds, which play a key role in keeping their wetland habitats healthy. Big cats in Vietnam In zoos in southern Vietnam this fall, 47 tigers, three lions, and a panther have died from H5N1, a virus that causes bird flu. The virus, which initially spread among wild birds, has also spread to cows, dolphins, and polar bears.…

Frida Kahlo was very fond of animals. In fact, she kept many pets at her Mexico City home, La Casa Azul (the Blue House), which is now Museo Frida Kahlo (the Frida Kahlo Museum). Among them were two spider monkeys named Fulang-Chang and Caimito de Guayabal. She also had Bonito, an Amazon parrot; Granizo, a fawn; Gertrudis Caca Blanca, an eagle; Señor Xólotli, a hairless dog; and tortoises and ducks. Many of these animals were featured in her paintings, such as Me and My Parrots (left) and Fulang-Chang and I (far right).…

Scientists found in a new study that snowflakes “dance” in different ways as they fall. This information can then be used to predict the weather. Snowflakes form inside clouds when water vapor changes from a gas to a solid ice crystal. Scientists from the University of Reading in the UK recently created realistic 3D-printed snowflakes of different shapes and sizes. They dropped them into a tank filled with a thick liquid mixture, which re-created real atmospheric conditions. The team used high-speed cameras to capture the snowflakes’ motion as they fell. The snowflakes had four “dances”—falling straight down, zigzagging back and forth, spinning and zigzagging, and rotating while falling. It’s that movement that could help weather experts. One of the ways experts predict the weather is with radar that bounces signals…

The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) basketball season began on November 4. At the start, the top-ranked women’s team was the University of South Carolina, the defending national champions. On the men’s side, the University of Kansas held the top spot. The defending men’s champions, the University of Connecticut (UConn), began the season ranked third and are aiming to become the first team since the 1970s to win three consecutive national championships. The women’s season began with a pair of games played in Paris, France. In the first one, the third-ranked University of Southern California (USC) narrowly beat 20th-ranked University of Mississippi, known as Ole Miss, 68–66. The game was tied in the final seconds, but USC’s Kiki Iriafen made two free throws to secure the win for her team.…

Coach’s Name: Sergii Kukharskyi Team: JBarracudas Swim Team “Coach Sergii knows everybody’s strengths and weaknesses and is passionate about our growth and development as swimmers. He laughs and cries with us about our successes and challenges. He’s seen and heard at every practice. He is also an amazing role model, competing at the world championship level! Outside the pool and practice, he is a great friend who runs around and eats sweet treats with us!” Juna, 11, and Koku, 8, California 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 Almost Christmas Story (Disney+) This animated short film follows a curious young owl named Moon who becomes trapped in the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. As she navigates the city, she meets a young girl named Luna and they embark on a magical adventure to find their way home. Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking (Max) Twins James and Oliver Phelps, who played Fred and George Weasley in the Harry Potter films, host this new competition series in which teams of pastry chefs and cake artists compete to whip up desserts inspired by the Potterverse. Expect to see special guests from the films join the judges. Our Oceans (Netflix) Former President Barack Obama narrates this new documentary series about marine life. The crew used underwater drone…

What inspired this book? I went on a long backpacking trip during the pandemic. We did a route I had been wanting to try since I was about 12. Did you hike while growing up? Yes, I loved the feeling of being up in the mountains, but I was nervous about seeing bears. Did you spend time around your cousins? I was lucky to have cousins my age in my family. Once, we hiked up a mountain to a lake together and stayed there for a week or two, and it was glorious. Are your characters based on you or your family? Bits and pieces of my characters come from people I know well, including myself. But the fictional cousins are very different from the real people who inspired them.…

Word ladder To change the word BEEF into the word TACO, use each clue to fill in a word that is only one letter different from the word before it. If you get stuck, try solving from the bottom up. DO NOT ENTER Draw one continuous path from START to END that goes through every box except the ones containing obstacles. Your path may not cross itself, and there is only one solution. STEPPING STONES Each figure hides a seven-letter word associated with firefighting. To find each one, start anywhere and move in an unbroken path through letters that share a border (no jumping!), using each letter once. (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) Crossmath Fill each empty box with a number or a mathematical symbol (+,…

“Is there a more loyal friend than a dog? Too many people feel alone, and too many dogs need a home. I volunteered with the Humane Society of Tampa Bay and saw that some dogs take longer to get adopted, usually because of age, breed, or health issues. For my Boy Scout Eagle Project, I wanted to help these dogs find their forever homes. I made Puppy Rescue Packs to make it easy for new dog owners to say yes. I gave them everything they needed to bring these dogs home, such as dog treats, toys, beds, leashes, and collars. You can help your local shelter too. We can make a difference.” Have you done something interesting or raised money for a cause you care about? Whatever you’re up to,…

“I made the recycled ghoul jar from The Week Junior.” Olivia, 11, Minnesota “I made the spider doughnuts and the bell peppers. They were ghost-tastic and spook-tacular.” Ethan, 8, Illinois “The cat and bat pumpkins were so much fun to make!” Andrea, 8, New Jersey…

1 What video game company released its own alarm clock, called Alarmo? 2 Scientists recently made a 3D map of an adult brain of which insect? a) Ant b) Bee c) Fruit fly a □ b □ c □ 3 True or false? The artist Frida Kahlo had her first solo exhibition in Mexico City. True □ False □ 4 Which country does the US play in the annual women’s hockey games known as the Rivalry Series? 5 Sirish Subash won the 2024 3M Young Scientist Challenge for creating a device that detects pesticides on what? a) Produce b) Furniture c) Clothing a □ b □ c □ 6 What is the name of the green-skinned witch in Wicked? a) Glinda b) Elphaba c) Dorothy a □ b □ c…

November 22, 1995 Toy Story arrives in theaters On November 22, 1995, Toy Story, the first fully computer-animated movie, was released. Previously, animated films had been made using hand-drawn sketches. Disney worked with Pixar, a new studio, to produce the film, which was about toys that come to life when humans aren’t around. The movie was a hit, earning nearly $400 million at the box office and leading to three successful sequels.…

When you check into a hotel room, it’s fun to find a collection of personal-size toiletries waiting for you. They’re cute and convenient—but that comes at a cost. Plastic waste is a huge problem for our planet, and every year, about 8 million tons of plastic ends up in the ocean. Some people say getting rid of small single-use toiletries would make a difference. Starting in January 2025, New York state is banning them in hotels that have more than 50 rooms, and Washington will enforce a similar rule in 2027. California has already enacted a ban. But other people say that’s not the right move. What do you think? Should hotels ban single-use toiletries? Yes—it’s time to ditch plastic Single-use toiletries are so bad for the planet. Many of…

Bradley Lawrence Animal curator, Phoenix Zoo Not all lizards are capable of growing back their tails. Those that can will “drop” their tails as a defense mechanism called tail autonomy. Certain cells then “turn on” and produce a new tail made of cartilage (flexible tissue) but no bones or nerves. The tail is regenerated, but it’s not perfect. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the Phoenix Zoo at phoenixzoo.org.…

In a major breakthrough, scientists created a high-resolution, 3D map of the complete brain of an adult fruit fly. It is the first full map of the complex brain of any creature and could lead to a better understanding of how brains work in general. The brain of any living thing functions because of its neurons (nerve cells that carry information to and from the brain) and the connections among them. Although a fruit fly’s brain is smaller than a poppy seed, it has 139,225 neurons with 50 million connections. Until now, scientists had mapped only the much simpler brains of a nematode worm (with 302 neurons) and a fruit fly larva (which has 3,016 neurons). The new map, known as a connectome, shows all the neurons and connections in…

Dragon Quest III 2D-HD Remake is a rebuild of a classic role-playing game (RPG) that is part of a franchise that launched in Japan in 1986. It is out now for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox consoles, and PC. Dragon Quest I revolutionized the RPG genre. There are now 11 main series games, plus spin-offs and remakes. This is not the first time Dragon Quest III has been remade, but this version features big changes, such as graphics that honor the 2D classic but give the game modern-looking characters, brighter colors, and a feeling of exploring the world in three dimensions. One thing that hasn’t changed in Dragon Quest III is its story. You choose to play as the male or female child of legendary warrior Ortega, who fell…

Glow: A Family Guide to the Night Sky By Noelia González, illustrated by Sara Boccaccini Meadows (Magic Cat) This book describes how to spot 15 planets, stars, and other celestial bodies in the night sky. It also contains fun facts. For example, did you know light takes eight minutes to travel from the Sun to Earth? Ages 8 and up A Kid’s Guide to the Night Sky By John A. Read (Sourcebooks Explore) This new book explains how the sky changes with each season, when to look for meteor showers, and which planet is often mistaken for a UFO. The chapter about what constellations you can view without a telescope is particularly interesting. Ages 8 and up Sky Explorer By Elizabeth Jenner, illustrated by Anja Sušanj (Nosy Crow) This beginners’…

A home that’s fit to haunt The vacation rental company Airbnb has re-created the famous Deetz residence from the recent movie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Airbnb promises that the home will be as it appears in the film, complete with creaky staircases, a model of Winter River, and a copy of the Handbook for the Recently Deceased. The stay is “hosted” by the character Delia Deetz, who welcomes “any artistic soul that wishes to make the pilgrimage.” Guests can also visit the Waiting Room and take a special art class using black canvas. Deetz warns, “Just watch out for that pesky trickster in the attic!” A slice of holiday favorites Instead of a stuffed crust pizza, how about a pizza served with stuffing? The DiGiorno frozen food brand is releasing a limited-edition…