Innehållsförteckning för Issue 245-246 från The Week Junior US

Nation chooses leaders Millions of Americans cast ballots for President and other officials in the national election that ended on November 5. Votes for President were counted through the night, and the race was called at about 5:30 the next morning in favor of former President Donald Trump, a Republican. He defeated the Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris. In the Electoral College, the result was 312 for Trump and 226 for Harris. The popular vote came down to a difference of about 2 million ballots—77.2 million for Trump and 74.9 million for Harris. Trump and his Vice Presidential running mate, JD Vance, will be sworn into office on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2025. Besides winning the Presidency, Republicans took control of Congress (the branch of government that makes laws)…

Jupiter moon mission begins On October 14, NASA (the US space agency) launched Europa Clipper, the largest spacecraft it has ever built to travel to another planet. The uncrewed spacecraft is on an ambitious 10-year mission to search for evidence that life could exist on Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. That evidence could include water and the element carbon. Europa is covered in an icy shell 10 miles deep, and scientists believe there is a salty ocean beneath it. Equipment aboard Europa Clipper will map the surface, examine the ice and any water, and assess the moon’s elements, gases, temperature, gravity, and magnetic field. This data could also help NASA identify the best places to land in the future. Shortly after the launch, Europa Clipper deployed its solar panels, which…

Astro Bot is a platformer adventure game that came out in September exclusively for the PlayStation 5. After it was released, it was the highest-rated game of 2024, and by November, 1.5 million copies had been sold, an impressive figure for a game available on only one platform. The game stars the character Astro, a PlayStation mascot, and it is the third in a space-set series. Astro first appeared in a set of minigames released in 2013. The first standalone game, Astro’s Rescue Mission, was released for PlayStation VR in 2018. A sequel, Astro’s Playroom, was released in 2020. Astro Bot combines the best aspects of the franchise and includes exciting gameplay, creative new worlds, and tributes to 30 years of other PlayStation classics. The adventure begins with Astro and…

CREAMY ORANGE SMOOTHIE Ingredients • 1 large navel orange, peeled and sectioned• ¾ cup canned coconut milk• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract• 4 teaspoons maple syrup• Orange slices, for serving Instructions 1. Combine the orange sections, coconut milk, vanilla extract, and maple syrup with 1 cup of ice in a blender.2. Blend until smooth.3. Divide the drink evenly between 2 glasses, and garnish each with an orange slice. Drink immediately. Makes 2 servings. MISO BUTTER RAMEN NOODLES Ingredients • 2 (3.5-ounce) packages uncooked ramen noodles, seasoning discarded• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter• 1 clove garlic, grated• 1-inch knob fresh ginger, peeled and grated• 2 tablespoons miso paste• ½ cup frozen peas, thawed• ½ cup frozen corn, thawed• 1 large carrot, peeled and shredded• 2 scallions, sliced (for garnish)• Cilantro leaves (for garnish)•…

Wrapping up a sandwich debate An age-old controversy went to court: Are tacos sandwiches? Judge Craig Bobay of Allen County, Indiana, weighed in to settle a local legal dispute. The case involved a shopping center where fast-food restaurants are banned but serving “made to order” sandwiches is allowed. Bobay ruled that a Famous Taco eatery could open there because tacos and burritos are “Mexican-style sandwiches.” He said the definition of sandwich can also include “Greek gyros, Indian naan wraps, or Vietnamese bánh mì.” The chicken that walks in style This year, Nubz the chicken had the coolest kicks in town. Nubz had lost most of his toes due to a mite infestation and had trouble walking on rough dirt, so owner Meesh Davignon fitted him with miniature slippers. After she…

1 The book Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All is about a girl who returns what articles of clothing to their owners? a) Socks b) Shirts c) Pants a □ b □ c □ 2 True or false? A bear named 32 “Chunk” won Katmai National Park’s Fat Bear Week in 2024. True □ False □ 3 NASA launched a mission to look for signs of life on which of Jupiter’s moons? a) Callisto b) Europa c) Io a □ b □ c □ 4 What film became the highest-grossing animated movie of all time this year? 5 True or false? In 2024, Tatyana McFadden became the most decorated American track and field athlete ever. True □ False □ 6 Beyoncé surprised fans this year by releasing a country album called…

Bruhat Soma On May 30, Bruhat Soma, a 12-year-old from Florida, won the 96th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee, which took place in Maryland. This was Soma’s third time competing in the bee. In 2022, he tied for 163rd place, and last year he tied for 74th place. This year, he went through 14 rounds, the last of which was a tie-breaking spell-off. After correctly spelling 29 extra words, he achieved victory. He won $50,000, among other prizes. “It’s been my goal this past year to win, and I’ve been working really hard,” Soma said after the competition. “It’s like a dream come true.” “No matter if we were born as women or men, we can realize our dreams and desires, without our sex determining our destiny.” Claudia Sheinbaum It…

Team USA shines at Paris Games Over the summer, athletes gathered in Paris, France, for the Olympics (July 26 to August 11) and the Paralympics (August 28 to September 8). At the Olympics, the US won 126 medals, the most of any team. Gold medalists included the women’s gymnastics and soccer teams and the men’s and women’s basketball teams. One track star was Noah Lyles, who won gold in the 100-meter race by .005 of a second. He was the first American in 20 years to win in that event. In the pool, swimmer Katie Ledecky added two golds, a silver, and a bronze to her career collection, which made her the most-decorated US female Olympian in history. At the Paralympics, for athletes with physical, visual, or intellectual impairments, Team…

PAPER MARIO: THE THOUSAND-YEAR DOOR Nintendo Switch Mario and his pals are 2D and paper-thin in this role-playing adventure. Part of the fun as they race Bowser on a hunt for special stars is that the flat characters can fold into a paper airplane and boat, slide between cracks, and roll down pipes. THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: ECHOES OF WISDOM Nintendo Switch This action-adventure game is the first in the Zelda series to feature Princess Zelda as the main playable character. With a fairy friend and a magical rod, she sets off on a journey to figure out what is causing mysterious openings in Hyrule. LITTLE KITTY, BIG CITY Nintendo Switch, Xbox systems, and PC Learn how fun it is to be a cat in this adventure simulation game. Your…

PAINTED PAPER BOOKMARK What you need • Kraft paper or newspaper• Heavy paper, like cardstock or watercolor paper• Masking tape• Acrylic craft paint• Paint scraper, putty knife, or an old credit card• Scissors • Hole punch and ribbon (optional) Instructions 1. Cover a table with kraft paper or newspaper to protect it. Tape your cardstock or watercolor paper to the kraft paper or newspaper to keep it steady while you paint.2. Squeeze blobs of paint onto cardstock or watercolor paper.3. Hold your paint scraper at the top of the paper, with the edge of it resting on the paper. Push scraper over the paint to move it around. You can pull the scraper in straight or curvy lines, squiggles, circles, or an arc, like a rainbow.4. After your design dries,…

As we were working on this issue, our company held its annual awards ceremony. The Week Junior was nominated for Magazine of the Year, and we won! When accepting the award, I thanked all the talented people who work on the magazine. I also thanked you, our readers across the US. After all, you are the inspiration for everything we do! The award was a wonderful way to wrap up an exciting 2024. So is this issue, which is a look back at the year’s most significant, surprising, and spectacular stories in all the subject areas you love—from national and international news (p2–5) to animals and science (p8–11) to sports and arts (p14–17). This issue also includes our picks for the people (p6), photos (p12), games (p18), and books (p19)…

Lynx species is saved The Iberian lynx, a medium-sized wildcat, has made a comeback from near-extinction. Found throughout the mountainous Iberian Peninsula in Europe, this lynx was once considered the world’s most endangered feline. During the 1900s, the Iberian lynx population declined due to loss of land, human activity, and the disappearance of the cat’s primary food source, the European rabbit. By 2001, there were 62 adult lynx living in the wild. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified the Iberian lynx as critically endangered in 2002, and several conservation groups came together to save the species. Their efforts included restoring crucial habitats, breeding lynx in captivity, preventing lynx deaths, and raising the European rabbit population. Teams also reintroduced more than 400 lynx to the Iberian Peninsula. Now…

Inside Out 2 makes history A film about emotions got people very excited to go to the movies this summer. Inside Out 2, the long-awaited sequel to Pixar’s 2015 hit Inside Out, was released in June, surpassed the $1 billion mark in 19 days, and eventually became the highest-grossing film of the year—not to mention the highest-grossing animated film of all time. Inside Out 2 follows 13-year-old Riley as she navigates the emotional challenges of growing up. The sequel introduced new emotions—Anxiety, Embarrassment, Ennui, and Envy—who disrupt the balance of Riley’s core feelings: Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Fear, and Anger. The film was praised by critics, fans, and mental health professionals for its sensitive portrayal of adolescence. Interest in the world of Inside Out 2 wasn’t limited to the big screen.…

Best Adventure Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All By Chanel Miller (Philomel Books) As charming as it is insightful, this illustrated novel features a 10-year-old Chinese American girl who reunites socks that were left behind at her parents’ laundromat with their owners. As she travels around New York City working as a “sock detective,” she shows her new friend from California many landmarks and sites. The girls experience challenges, especially when racism affects both of their families. After reading this story, you’ll never look at socks the same way again! Ages 7–11 Best Mystery The Sherlock Society By James Ponti (Aladdin) This mystery, the first in a series, stands out for its real-life cases and relatable characters. A brother and sister, plus two friends, hope to continue an investigation of missing…

Winter keyword crossword Once you have completed the crossword, the letters in the blue boxes, read in order from left to right, will spell out the answer to the winter keyword question. ACROSS 1 Kind of scarf or part of a car that keeps the engine from being too noisy 5 Cozy bed covering 9 Slowly turns from ice to water 10 Item for carrying groceries 11 The jacket over the pullover over the thermal underwear, for example 12 Has dinner 13 Bottom of the foot or bottom of a shoe 14 Turned from water to ice 16 What a person practicing on a bunny slope hopes to become 18 Message that indicates a ship needs help quickly 20 Conk out for the night 22 Warm bed covering often made…

We received so many fantastic photos from our readers in 2024. Thank you for sharing them with us! You told us about the many ways you are being kind to others. You showed us the recipes and crafts you made from our How To section. You visited amazing places, often taking The Week Junior with you. And you wrote to us about your favorite books! As a fun look back, here are some of the reader photos we published this year. We can’t wait to see what you send us in 2025! Your photos and stories can be sent to hello@theweekjunior.com. YOU FOUND WAYS TO HELP OTHERS! YOU MADE FUN RECIPES AND CRAFTS! YOU VISITED EXCITING PLACES! YOU SHARED YOUR LOVE OF READING! IT’S YOUR TURN Email your news, views,…