Innehållsförteckning för Issue 242 från The Week Junior US

World leaders gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11–24 for an annual conference to address climate change. About 50,000 government officials, climate scientists, youth activists, and environmental advocates attended COP29, which ended with the announcement of a controversial proposal. What is COP29? The event is held by the United Nations (UN, a group of 193 nations). COP stands for Conference of the Parties and includes 197 countries that have signed onto three major global climate agreements: the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement. This third agreement, established in 2015, set a goal of limiting global temperature increases to no more than 1.5° C (2.7° F) higher than they were in the early 1900s. Scientists agree that any further warming would make the…

CELEBRATING A BEST FRIEND It was a big birthday for the oldest known macaroni penguin in North America, who turned 40. The bird, named Best Friend, lives at SeaWorld San Diego in California, where keepers call him the “most precious old man.” A GLAMOROUS GRANDMA A grandmother has gone viral for her high-fashion looks, which are put together by her granddaughter. Margret Chola, who is in her 80s and lives in rural Zambia, in Africa, is known as Legendary Glamma online. “I didn’t know I could make such an impact at this age,” Chola said. THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT Retired NFL star Jason Kelce and players from his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, released their third holiday album, A Philly Special Christmas Party. Proceeds will go toward children’s charities and gifts…

Chiney Ogwumike, 32, is a pioneering sports broadcaster and a former professional basketball player who works to ensure that women have opportunities in the world of sports. Recently, she launched Queens of the Continent, a foundation that focuses on empowering young women and girls across Africa. The organization’s work has included giving local schools new gym floors and providing mental health support in communities. Ogwumike, the daughter of Nigerian immigrants, grew up in Texas. She fell in love with basketball at a young age and told NBC it became “a vehicle for me to find my best self and really become super confident in who I was.” She was a star player at Stanford University and in 2014 became the number one overall pick in the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball…

New research has found that bottlenose dolphins playing in groups “smile” at each other. A team of scientists noticed that dolphins living in captivity often made facial expressions in which they opened their mouths, which looked like smiling or laughing. This usually happened when they were playing together. Bottlenose dolphins are very sociable and like to play together in groups, called pods. The scientists wanted to learn more about their behavior, so they recorded videos of 22 bottlenose dolphins at two wildlife parks. The dolphins were recorded while playing in pairs, with their human trainers, and on their own. During the 80 hours of video footage, the scientists counted 1,288 times when the dolphins used the open-mouth expression. The team said 92% of those instances happened when dolphins were playing…

African penguins After more than 10 years of research and testing, scientists have shown that some types of artificial nests can provide a boost to endangered African penguins. A new study found that the fake nests improved their breeding by about 16.5%. Ash trees The emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that damages ash trees, has now been found in every county in Iowa. Ash trees once numbered more than 50 million in the state but have declined significantly since the insect’s arrival.…

Each year in December and January, about 750,000 people visit a dazzling tree in the heart of midtown Manhattan. About the tree During the holiday season, elaborate decorations adorn Rockefeller Center, a complex of buildings in the center of New York City. The tree—usually a Norway Spruce—is the highlight. In past years, trees have come from 11 states and one Canadian province (Ontario). This year’s tree is from Massachusetts—the first tree from that state since 1959—and is 74 feet tall. The tree is lit in a special ceremony and stays up until mid-January. After the tree is taken down, its wood is used to help build a home through Habitat for Humanity. The early years The first tree was put up in 1931 by Rockefeller Center workers who were thankful…

Medical professionals often need access to a patient’s veins, whether it’s to draw blood for a routine procedure or to insert an IV in an emergency. Some patients have veins that are hard to see or access. A new device makes skin transparent and veins easy to find. Patients place their hand on the Adison Vein Locator. A high-resolution 3D image of their veins and arteries appears on a screen, guiding medical professionals to the right spot. The device works for people with any skin color and makes needle sticks up to 30% more accurate.…

A new animated action-comedy series that combines supernatural forces, high school life, light horror, and romance is coming to Netflix. Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld begins when Chinese American teen Jentry, who is about to turn 16, learns that a demon king is out to get her. She ends up having to battle monsters with help from her great-aunt Gugu and a jiangshi (a hopping vampire from Chinese folklore). The show premieres on Netflix on December 5. Jentry is an unusual hero because she would rather lead a regular life than have to fight demons. She can shoot fire from her hands, but she has been suppressing the ability for years. Gugu, a weapons expert and demon hunter, wants Jentry to follow in her footsteps in the family, and some…

Sam & Cat (Netflix or rent on major platforms) “This series is a spin-off of two Nickelodeon sitcoms. It centers on iCarly’s rebellious Sam Puckett (played by Jennette McCurdy) and Victorious’ bubbly Cat Valentine (Ariana Grande), who become best friends and start a babysitting business. They have wacky adventures, and their personalities sometimes clash. The show also has other quirky characters, such as their friends Dice and Goomer. My favorite episode is when Goomer discovers he is not good at mixed martial arts and enlists Dice to help him. I recommend this sitcom to anyone who loves friendships and comedy.” Nikita, 12, California Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

By Dav Pilkey (Graphix) The 13th book of the best-selling Dog Man graphic novel series opens with Big Jim and Grampa in cat jail. Big Jim reveals a secret about his past. When Big Jim was a baby, his father saw a UFO. Before the UFO flew away, it dropped a letter stating that the “chosen one” is supposed to use a ring to “fulfill supa-ancient prophecies and save the universe.” But Big Jim’s parents couldn’t find the ring. Back in the present time, Big Jim transforms into the superhero Commander Cupcake, Grampa turns into Sprinkles, and they escape from jail. All the heroes in town are invited to a mysterious party. But the Space Cuties, the new villains featured in the story, put sleeping potions in the cake at…

Ice skating has been a popular activity in the US for decades, and you don’t need much more than a pair of skates to participate. Whether you’re brand-new to ice skating or have skated a handful of times, you can follow a few steps to getting more comfortable on the ice and having fun. Here are some suggestions. Choose your skates The two main types of ice skates are figure skates and hockey states. They have slightly different blades at the bottom, and beginners can use either one to skate around a rink. Most skating rinks rent skates for a small fee, or you could try borrowing a pair from a friend or relative. If you think you may be skating regularly, you could talk to an adult about whether…

Using napkins made of cloth instead of paper is a simple way to help the environment and save trees. Paper products are made from trees that have been cut down and ground up. Paper factories also cause air and water pollution. And since dirty paper napkins contain grease, they can’t be recycled, which means they’ll end up in landfills. Americans use nearly 4 million tons of paper napkins, paper towels, and other kinds of tissue each year. Ask your parents about buying inexpensive cloth napkins instead. They are eco-friendly because you can wash and reuse them for many years. This saves money in the long run—and they look great on the table too!…

Congratulations to 17-year-old Nila Ibrahimi, the winner of this year’s International Children’s Peace Prize (p3). Now a resident of Canada, she grew up in Afghanistan, where the rights of females are sharply limited. Teen girls and women are not allowed to attend school or work, and they must be accompanied by a male relative when they leave their home. They are not permitted to speak in public. Yet Ibrahimi is being honored for using her voice to stand up for others. At age 13, before her family fled to Canada, she pressured education officials in her home country to repeal a ban against girls singing in public. Now she is the co-founder of HerStory, an organization that advocates for Afghan women. Previous recipients of the Children’s Peace Prize include Pakistani…

Kate, age 8, of Tennessee feels lucky that the US is a democracy. She likes that in a democracy everybody has power, and one person doesn’t have all of it. As a reader of The Week Junior, you may be forming opinions about your hopes for America. 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 we receive on this page in future issues. 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, or ideas considered for inclusion in the magazine, please include your full name,…

YOUR PHOTOS We’d love to see pictures you’ve taken or pictures with you in them! Have an adult email them to us at hello@theweekjunior.com, along with anything you would like us to know about what’s happening in the photo. “I just got my first The Week Junior. I love the articles and really enjoy learning about current events.”Julian, 14, Alaska “I loved learning about the pygmy hippo, Moo Deng!”John, 10, Missouri “I made a Lego stage to honor the cricket article that appeared in The Week Junior.”Aarav, 10, California…

Washington, DC The President and First Lady traditionally light the National Christmas Tree (right) every year on the Ellipse, near the White House, in Washington, DC. The White House In 1912, President Howard Taft’s children began the tradition of erecting a Christmas tree in the White House’s Blue Room (right). Today, tree growers enter a contest to have one of theirs chosen. The Vatican The global headquarters of the Catholic Church, located in Rome, Italy, puts up a Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square (right). After the 2023 tree was taken down, its wood was used to make toys. Mount Ingino, Italy Every year the town of Gubbio, Italy, sets up a display of hundreds of lights arranged to look like a Christmas tree on the slopes of nearby Mount…

The NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) has a new champion. In the postseason final on November 23, the Orlando Pride, the league’s top team, beat the number two team, the Washington Spirit, 1–0, and earned their first-ever title. The match was played at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, home of the NWSL’s KC Current. It opened earlier this year and is the first venue ever built specifically for a women’s professional sports team. The Pride had an incredible season. They won this year’s NWSL Shield, the award for the team with the most regular-season points. Teams earn points for wins and ties, and they finished with 60, a new NWSL record. They are the second team in the league’s history to finish a season with the Shield and the…

Coach’s Name: Trevor Deng Team: West Portal Lutheran 7B Volleyball “Coach Trevor is a very motivational coach. Every game, he always helps us on the sidelines and we become better players! We recently lost our semi-final game, and although all of us were sad, he said we did a great job and we all improved. He gave us many great tips to help us with our skills. He always says ‘Stay low, you got this!’ and ‘Shooting star!’ He is the best coach ever.” Audrey, 12, 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.…

Teen Titans Go! There have been 400 episodes of this comedy, which is the longest-running animated series in DC Comics history. It follows young Robin, Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy, and Cyborg living as roommates. Kim Possible This show was a big hit when it originally aired from 2002 to 2007. It centers on Kim, a high school student and cheerleader who fights villains around the world. She’s helped by her best friend, Ron Stoppable, his mole rat, Rufus, and webmaster Wade. Young Justice Episodes of this series are packed with action and emotion. It stars teen superhero sidekicks that include Superboy, Kid Flash, and Miss Martian. They form the Team to support the Justice League and battle supervillains.…

Is It Cake? Holiday (Netflix) The popular competition series is back with a four-episode special. Nine bakers from past seasons will craft holiday-themed cakes that look like ice skates, wreaths, nutcrackers, and other winter items. As always, judges try to guess what is real and what is made of cake. The Invincible Fight Girl (Max) This new series follows Andy, a determined young girl who dreams of becoming a great wrestler. Her parents want her to become an accountant, but instead she sets off to train with expert wrestling instructors and adopts the nickname “Fight Girl” along the way. The Simpsons Funday Football (Disney+) (ESPN+) (NFL+) December 9 at 8 p.m. ET Save the date for this live event. With the help of technology that tracks football players on the…

What’s your favorite part of your new book? I liked drawing the Space Cuties. I used a different style of drawing based on anime and manga to create them. How did you come up with Big Jim’s childhood? I thought it would be a good way to connect my Captain Underpants, Dog Man, and Cat Kid Comic Club universes together, which I’d always wanted to do. Do you write or draw your stories first? Sometimes I see a character in my head, draw it, and make up a story based on it. Other times, I see things in nature that inspire me. Where do you work? I like to go to my studio on Bainbridge Island, Washington. I have a lot of toys there, which often become models for characters…

Word search Can you find all these words associated with Japan? 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. ANIME ASIA BAMBOO BONSAI CHERRY BLOSSOMS EMOJI GODZILLA HAIKU HELLO KITTY J-POP JUDO KABUKI KARAOKE KIMONO LANTERN MANGA NINTENDO ORIGAMI POKEMON RAMEN RICE SASHIMI SHOGUN SUDOKU SUMO SUSHI TEA CEREMONY TOKYO YEN ZEN FILL IN THE BLANKS Fill in the blanks in each sentence with two words that are the same except for two letters next to each other that trade places, like EXIST and EXITS. (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) 1. My doctor told me to keep a daily food ————— of everything I eat to see if I’m…

Teacher’s Name: Kym Elder School: Community Montessori “Kym Elder is a wonderful teacher because she understands what my needs are. She gives me challenging work but also provides me with the tools and help I need to succeed. We have work assignments, but she also gives us space to do creative projects that we’re excited about. She makes me feel valued. She makes me strive to be the best student I can be.” Kate, 11, Colorado 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.…

Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi received the 2024 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, a prestigious honor in book publishing. The middle-grade novel is written in verse and tells the coming-of-age story of a seventh-grade Syrian American boy who is trying to balance school and family. When accepting the award, Safadi—a middle school teacher who immigrated to the US from Syria as a child—thanked her parents as well as Muslim authors who came before her.…

Studies have shown that lower speed limits reduce the number of vehicle accidents and the number of injuries and deaths they cause. That’s because the slower a person is driving, the more time they have to react and the faster they can slow down their car. Safety experts say that the ideal speed for vehicles on smaller city streets is 20 miles per hour, and on bigger streets it’s 25 miles per hour. Major US cities such as Seattle, Minneapolis, and New York City have all reduced speed limits, and many others want to do the same. But opponents of those plans say there are better solutions to keep people safe. What do you think? Should more cities reduce speed limits? Yes—safety comes first Slowing down just a little saves…

Eva, 9, Oregon Eli Strull Curator of education and guest experience, WNC Nature Center Skunks have a keen sense of smell, which they use to find food, but I am not sure if they are sensitive to the smell of their own spray. The spray works by temporarily blinding another animal so the skunk can get away. (It’s kind of like an invisibility cloak—I want that superpower!) Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the WNC Nature Center at wildwnc.org.…

Fungi may possess their own intelligence, including the ability to remember, make decisions, and recognize basic shapes, according to a new study. Fungi are a group of plant-like living things that includes mold, mildew, and mushrooms. The study could lead to a deeper understanding of different forms of intelligence. A team of researchers at Tohoku University and Nagaoka College in Japan set out to learn more about fungi by studying their mycelium, which is a system of thin strands that grow underground and function like roots. For the study, the team worked with a type of fungus called Phanerochaete velutina, which feeds on wood. They laid out wood blocks that would serve as food for the fungus. They arranged the blocks in two different formations—a circle and a cross—to see…

Lego Horizon Adventures is a new action adventure game. It was recently released for the PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The game is based on the popular role-playing game Horizon Zero Dawn, which came out in 2017. It was set in a post-apocalyptic future and starred a skilled archer and warrior named Aloy, an outcast with a mysterious background. Horizon Zero Dawn was followed by a sequel and a spin-off, and all the games in the series are rated T for Teen. Lego Horizon Adventures adapts Horizon Zero Dawn for players of all ages. The very long and detailed original story has been simplified, and the type of action, comedy, and cooperation elements that are typical of Lego video games have been added. Still, the overall goal remains the…

As the Seas Rise By Angela Quezada Padron (Simon & Schuster) Environmental scientist Nicole Hernández was born in Guatemala, and her family moved to Florida when she was a child. This picture book explains how her childhood influenced her passion for protecting the environment. Ages 6–10 The Leadership Journey By Doris Kearns Goodwin, illustrated by Amy June Bates (Simon & Schuster) A prominent historian describes the lives of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson before they were elected President. The book focuses on their childhoods. Ages 10–14 Star Sailor: My Life as a NASA Astronaut By Charles F. Bolden Jr. with Tonya Bolden (Candlewick) Charles F. Bolden Jr. recounts his historic career with NASA. He writes about his missions, including piloting the space shuttle that deployed…

Gigantic drawing honors diversity A Nigerian artist and doctor celebrated his country with a record-breaking work of art. After traveling around Nigeria, Fola David-Tolaram spent six days drawing a map of the country filled with images of the people, clothing, food, music, and festivals of Nigeria’s many cultures. Measuring 10,814 square feet—nearly the size of four tennis courts put together—his creation, The Unity of Diversity, is the world’s largest drawing by an individual. David-Tolaram said, “This is me showing my people the beauty that resides in our culture.” Family gets a blast from the past A 26-year-old message in a bottle has found its way back to a family in Canada. River Vandenberg, a kindergartner at an Ontario school, found the bottle on the shore of Lake St. Clair. Inside…