Innehållsförteckning för Issue 253 från The Week Junior US

On February 13, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in as the US secretary of health and human services, a position in President Donald Trump’s cabinet (group of closest advisers). Kennedy will lead a massive government agency that oversees policies affecting the health and well-being of Americans. These include vaccination programs, prescription drug costs, food safety, and the US response to epidemics like Covid. Who is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.? Kennedy, age 71, is an activist, author, and lawyer who comes from one of America’s most prominent political families. His father, Robert F. Kennedy, was the US attorney general and was assassinated (killed for political reasons) while running for President in 1968. Kennedy’s uncles include the 35th President, John F. Kennedy, who took office in 1961 and was assassinated in…

A WARM WELCOME On February 13, the San Diego Zoo announced that a sloth bear named Shala had given birth to two cubs. Sloth bears carry their young around on their backs, so the zoo said, “Guests may be able to see the cubs catching a ride!” ROLLING INTO A RECORD A record-setting sushi event took place at a Japanese supermarket. Following a tradition in which people eat a long sushi roll called ehomaki just before the start of spring, 311 people gathered together and faced the same direction for 10 minutes while eating ehomaki. HELPING WITH HELMETS The NFL’s Denver Broncos are delivering high-tech helmets to every high school football team in Colorado. The Broncos plan to give out more than 15,000 of the helmets to protect young players…

Restaurants in the US have been struggling to fill positions for cooks and servers, so they have started turning to sophisticated robots to replace humans. Robots in kitchens make burgers and salads while others work out front. Some robo-servers greet customers and show them to their table while humans take people’s orders. Other robots take the orders themselves. And in many cases, humans load plates on and off a robot that moves to and from the kitchen. Some people think robots are the future of dining out, but others say taking jobs from people is a recipe for disaster. What do you think? Should robots work in restaurants? Yes—robots are efficient and fun Robots are a great solution. They are expensive to buy, but they don’t need to be paid…

Hand gestures, such as a high five, peace sign, or thumbs-up, are nonverbal ways humans can express themselves. Sometimes people also create their own hand signals to share an inside joke or secret message. According to a new study, some of our closest relatives also use private signs. Chimpanzees convey messages using hand gestures instead of spoken language. Scientists have translated about 80 of these gestures, but they recently discovered a new one while studying a mother-daughter pair of chimps living in Kibale National Park in Uganda. They noticed that Lindsay, the daughter, would put one hand over her mother’s eye when she wanted to climb on her back and go for a ride. Researchers saw other chimps doing the hand-on-eye motion on occasion, but Lindsay and her mother, Beryl,…

Dr. Gabrielle Fadl Veterinarian, Bond Vet Cats can extend their claws for hunting and climbing or retract them to silently stalk prey. This keeps the claws sharp, protecting them from wear and tear when not in use. Dogs don’t need sharp claws to catch prey. Their claws are always extended, providing traction while running or digging. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about Bond Vet at bondvet.com.…

A team of scientists at Stanford University in California developed a vaccine that is applied to the skin as a cream, rather than injected by a needle. It can reduce side effects of shots, like fever and soreness. Vaccines work by introducing pathogens (bacteria or viruses) into a person’s body. That triggers the body to produce antibodies, which fight the pathogens. Instead of injecting the pathogens, the cream uses bacteria that live on skin to carry them into the body. The scientists successfully tested it on mice and hope to try it on humans soon.…

On February 25, the exhibition Words andWonder: Rediscovering Children’s Literature will open at the Harry Ransom Center, a research library and museum at the University of Texas at Austin. In addition to looking at children’s roles as readers, writers, and performers, it showcases works by famous authors and artists. The Ransom Center has “a wide range of literature and art made for, and by, children,” Erica Nunn-Kinias, one of Words and Wonder’s curators (people who choose art), told The Week Junior. However, she said the materials aren’t displayed as often as other items, so the exhibition was a chance to engage with them, learn from them, and allow the public to see them. She said one goal of Words and Wonder is to help visitors discover or rediscover a favorite…

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 Eating utensils in a Chinese restaurant 8 Mammal often seen floating on its back 9 Power tool for making holes 10 Sport that Robin Hood was likely great at 12 Lock opener 13 Perform a part in a play 14 Place where you might find a rubber ducky 17 Need for a person who could use a shave 18 Item collected and stored by a squirrel 20 Often a good sunny spot for a potted plant DOWN 2 Word before chocolate or dog 3 Bag that might hold a wallet or lipstick 4 The current 24-hour period 5 Insect…

On its final test flight on February 10, a supersonic jet called the XB-1 broke the sound barrier three times over California’s Mojave Desert. It is the first non-military aircraft to travel faster than the speed of sound since 2003 and the first ever to do so over US land. An airplane must hit at least 761 miles per hour to reach supersonic speed. The XB-1 was built by the American aviation company Boom Supersonic, which plans to use the technology to manufacture a supersonic passenger plane called Overture. That aircraft will carry up to 80 passengers and fly twice the speed of current jets. The last supersonic passenger plane was the Concorde, which flew from 1976 to 2003 and could reach 1,354 miles per hour. Concorde used enormous amounts…

President Donald Trump has directed the Treasury Department, the US agency that manages the nation’s finances and oversees the US Mint, to stop making pennies. He called the production of the one-cent coin “wasteful.” How are pennies made? The US Mint is the federal agency that makes all US coins, including pennies. Pennies are made mostly of zinc, with an outer layer of copper that gives them their bronze color. After the Mint makes coins, it sends them to banks that are part of the Federal Reserve, the central bank of the US. The coins are then distributed to the banks people use in communities across the country. The Mint made nearly 3.2 billion pennies last year. There are currently about 240 billion pennies in circulation, equal to about 700…

Erin Entrada Kelly is a celebrated children’s author whose work often explores her Filipino American heritage and themes of identity and belonging. In January, she won her second Newbery Medal, which is awarded to the best children’s book of the previous year, for her 2024 novel The First State of Being. The story, set in 1999, follows a boy who meets a time traveler from the future. Kelly, age 48, grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana. She loved to read, especially books by Judy Blume. At age 8, she discovered her passion for writing. “I realized books are just words on paper, and I thought, I have paper and I have words,” Kelly told The Week Junior. “I got out loose-leaf paper and started writing.” After earning a bachelor’s degree…

The Constitutional Court of Ecuador has ruled that marine ecosystems on the country’s coast have legal rights. An ecosystem is a group of plants and animals that affect one another. The ruling is expected to lead to stronger protections against activities that harm underwater habitats. Ecuador borders the Pacific Ocean in western South America. The water off its coast is a habitat for manta rays, sharks, whales, dolphins, and sea turtles. The Galápagos Islands, a group of islands with many species that are found nowhere else on Earth, are also part of Ecuador. In 2008, Ecuador became the first country to declare in its constitution (nation’s principles for government) that nature has legal rights. Since then, other countries such as Bolivia and New Zealand have also passed laws granting legal…

Turn the page to find out more about every book pictured on the map! ALABAMA WONDERLAND By Barbara O’Connor  (Farrar, Straus & Giroux Books for Young Readers) When a girl’s mom gets a job in a new Alabama town, she hopes they stay long enough for her to find a best friend. ALASKA DOGSONG By Gary Paulsen (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) A teen is pushed to the limits as he goes on an epic dog-sledding journey across Alaska. ARIZONA DUST  By Dusti Bowling (Little, Brown and Company) Dust storms are wreaking havoc in an Arizona town known for its clean air. Could a new student have something to do with weather changes? ARKANSAS UNPLUGGED By Gordon Korman  (Balzer + Bray) A California boy’s family sends him to…

The mystery of how pterosaurs once ruled the skies may have been solved, scientists said. Pterosaurs were flying reptiles that went extinct around the same time as the dinosaurs. They were the first vertebrates (animals with a spine) that flapped their wings to fly. Some were as small as a sparrow, while others were as big as an F-16 fighter jet. Researchers have known for many years that pterosaurs had large, diamond-shaped structures at the ends of their tails. These structures, called “vanes,” were made from soft tissue. They prevented the pterosaurs’ tails from fluttering in the wind, like flags, which helped to keep the reptiles stable while they soared through the skies. Scientists knew that the vanes had to remain stiff in order for that to work. But they…

TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS…

A few weeks remain in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) college basketball regular season. Recently, several top teams faced off in thrilling games that included the end of two big winning streaks. A big upset took place on February 13, when sixth-ranked USC (the University of Southern California) beat undefeated UCLA (the University of California, Los Angeles), the country’s number one team, 71–60. USC star JuJu Watkins had 38 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and eight blocked shots. The rivals meet again on March 1. In another Top 10 showdown that day, the third-ranked University of Texas visited the eighth-ranked University of Kentucky and came away with a 67–49 win. Three days later, Texas faced the number five team, Louisiana State University, at home and pulled off a fourth-quarter…

Pixar Animation Studios, the company behind Inside Out and other popular films, has created a new TV series. Win or Lose centers on a coed middle school softball team as they prepare for a championship game. Each episode is told from the perspective of a different character, including a nervous player, a bubbly mom, and a lonely umpire. The first two episodes premiered on Disney+ on February 19, and new ones will be released weekly. Win or Lose is Pixar’s first long-form series that isn’t based on an existing film. It was written and directed by Carrie Hobson and Michael Yates, who are also executive producers. Hobson played softball while growing up and said one reason they chose to make the show about a sport was because “it can bring…

Transformers One PG (Paramount+ or rent or buy on major platforms) “This is the origin story for the Transformers characters from the long-running movie franchise. It follows robot miner Orion Pax, who later becomes known as Optimus Prime, and his best friend, robot D-16, who later becomes his enemy, Megatron. After they participate in a race they weren’t supposed to be in, they have a run-in with tough robot Darkwing and end up in a dangerous situation. As they try to escape, they meet other robots and uncover truths about the past. I watched this with friends, and they loved it a lot.”Peregrine, 11, Texas Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

A fearless ballet on frozen seas A French ballerina gave the performance of a lifetime at the edge of Antarctica. During a trip to the frozen continent, the captain of a cruise ship invited dancer Victoria Dauberville and photographer Mathieu Forget to film some moves on a structure at the front of the ship. Dancing amid icy waters, Dauberville created a scene so striking that when the video was posted online some people couldn’t believe it was real. “This is what Victoria always tries to do,” Forget said. ”Bring ballet to unexpected places.” Tourism that couldn’t be topped A dad in London, England, earned a world record by visiting 42 museums in a single day. Ben Melham got the idea while reading the Guinness World Records book and talking with…

Thank you to everyone who has sent us photos of themselves with a book they’ve enjoyed reading. If there’s a title you want to share, including one featured in our Read Across America feature on page 12, have an adult email a photo to hello@theweekjunior.com, along with anything you’d like to say about why you liked the book. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess is a really good book, and I would recommend it to all ages!”Annie, 10, Tennessee “I read Gracie Under the Waves recommended by The Week Junior. I learned a lot about coral environments.” Yilin, 9, California “I like this book because it is mysterious and has a lot of action.”Lucas, 8, New York “I thought The Wish Tree was very interesting as it is written…

Teacher’s Name: Mrs. Carswell School: Lone Star Elementary School “Mrs. Carswell is the best teacher ever. She is kind and smart and teaches the class in an amazing way. Mrs. Carswell comes up with creative experiments that make learning science fun. Once, we even played with lasers! She is so passionate about science and STEM that she is the leader of the robotics team at school.”Camille, 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.…

February 27, 1951 US Presidents limited to two terms On February 27, 1951, the 22nd amendment to the US Constitution (nation’s highest law) was enacted, limiting US Presidents to two four-year terms in office. Amendments (changes) to the Constitution require three fourths of states to approve them. The 22nd amendment met that threshold when Minnesota became the 36th state to approve it. Prior to the amendment, only one President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, had served more than two terms. He was elected to a fourth term in 1944.…

London, United Kingdom Painting’s secret is revealed Using technology including x-ray and infrared imaging, experts at the Courtauld Institute of Art have revealed a secret painting beneath a portrait by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. Researchers examined Portrait of Mateu Fernández de Soto, which Picasso created in 1901, before exhibiting it at the institute’s gallery. They say it appears that Picasso painted the portrait directly over an earlier painting of a woman, whose identity is unknown. Rome, Italy Museum offers walk back in time Last month, a new museum opened near the Colosseum, an ancient stadium in the city of Rome. Visitors to the Museum of the Forma Urbis and the Archaeological Park of the Celio can see historic ruins and artifacts, including a map of Rome that was carved from…

The Great Dismal Swamp is a wildlife refuge that spans more than 112,000 acres across Virginia and North Carolina. The habitat is mostly forest, although there are also marshes and a large lake, Lake Drummond, where people fish and boat. At the Underground Railroad Education Pavilion, visitors can learn about the swamp’s place in US history, as it provided a hiding spot for enslaved people escaping to freedom. Warblers (small songbirds) are common in the area, and 96 species of butterflies (such as the green Hessel’s Hairstreak, found only in white cedar swamps) have been spotted.…

Pine martens Pine martens, a member of the weasel family, are thriving in the UK’s forests after a conservation project. More than 100 pine martens were moved from Scotland to Wales and England, where they seem to be adapting well. Squirrel A new study showed that wild red squirrels fed by humans had weaker jaws compared to those that found food on their own. This may be because the peanuts people offered were easier to chew than the nuts squirrels can find in the wild.…

NASA, the US space agency, released the most detailed image ever created of the Andromeda galaxy, which is the closest galaxy to our own. The image took more than 10 years to complete and combines more than 600 views of Andromeda captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. With about 2.5 billion pixels (small dots that form a digital image), it is the largest image ever created by Hubble. When Hubble was launched in 1990, it was the biggest telescope of its kind. It orbits far above Earth to capture images of planets, stars, and galaxies. The telescope was named after astronomer Edwin Hubble, who discovered the Andromeda galaxy in the early 1920s. Before his discovery, astronomers thought our galaxy, the Milky Way, was the only one that existed. Now they…

The new NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) regular season began on February 16 with the 67th running of the Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is known as the Great American Race and is considered the most important and prestigious event in the NASCAR world. The winner of this year’s competition was William Byron, who also won in 2024. The last driver to win back-to-back Daytona 500s was Denny Hamlin in 2019 and 2020. At 27 years, two months, and 18 days old, Byron is now the youngest winner of multiple Daytona 500s. He also earned his team, Hendrick Motorsports, their 10th Daytona 500 win, a new record for any NASCAR team. The Daytona 500 is part of the NASCAR Cup…

Coach’s Name: Karol Hatzilias Team: Purple Panthers (ice hockey) “My coach is always pushing us to try something new and difficult. If we’re having a hard time with something, he sometimes pulls us to the side to work on it one-on-one. My team is one of the only all-girl teams, and we got second place in our last tournament! My coach is also my dad, so he can talk to me at home about different strategies I could work on. He makes us great!”Keira, 8, Washington 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.…

Roller Girl This award-winning 2015 graphic novel by Victoria Jamieson follows Astrid, a 12-year-old who loves roller derby. Her challenges: older girls, a lost friendship, and her first competition. Remember the Titans A real Virginia high school football team inspired this 2000 drama. It is set in 1971, right after the school integrated Black and white students. Coach Herman Boone has to navigate racial tensions to lead his team to victory. Big Shot In this series, a hotheaded college basketball coach loses his job and takes a new position coaching a team at an all-girls school. As he and the players get to know one another, they all change for the better.…

NHL Hockeyverse: Matchup of the Week (Sportsnet) (NHL Network) Each week, this new series condenses an NHL (National Hockey League) game into an animated episode. Using NHL data, it shows the action with realistic movements as teen commentators share highlights and fun facts. Dino Birds (PBS App) (PBS.org) This Nova episode explores rare fossils dating back 100 million years, revealing how birds became the only surviving dinosaurs after an asteroid struck Earth 66 million years ago. Experts also explain how birds evolved into more than 11,000 species living in diverse habitats. FireAid Concert (Hulu)(Apple TV+)(Paramount+) The January 30 benefit concert to raise funds for wildfire recovery efforts in Los Angeles, California, is now streaming. The event featured performances by artists that included No Doubt (above), Billie Eilish, Jelly Roll, Anderson.…

In this week’s issue we are building excitement for Read Across America Day on March 2, which kicks off National Reading Month (p12). The goal of this nationwide event sponsored by the National Education Association is to celebrate reading, which is also our mission at The Week Junior. To share in the celebration, we have created a map featuring middle-grade books that take place in every state in the US plus the District of Columbia. Which book represents your state, and which books set in other states would you like to read? We hope you can find inspiration on our map—and that when you do read one of our recommended picks, you’ll have an adult take a photo of you with the book and send it to us. Follow the…

Have you read any books you’ve enjoyed so much you wish all kids knew about them? Contribute to our “50 Books Kids Love Most” list for 2025! The list, with quotes from readers, will be published in The Week Junior in June. We’re looking for at least 100 kids to fill out our voting form. If you’d like to participate, have an adult email us at hello@theweekjunior.com with Books Kids Love in the subject line, and we’ll send the form to them. Happy reading! 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 first name, age, and state with your submission. By emailing your…

1 True or false? A whippet named Bourbon won the Best in Show title at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. True ☐ False ☐ 2 A court in which of these South American countries ruled that marine ecosystems have legal rights? a) Ecuador b) Peru c) Venezuela a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 3 True or false? More than 45 million people participated in Read Across America in 2024. True ☐ False ☐ 4 The US Postal Service has revealed a new collection of stamps ​highlighting which historic trail? 5 In the new Pixar series Win or Lose, Laurie has anxiety that takes the form of a talking blob called what? a) Pukey b) Twitchy c) Sweaty a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 6 True or false? The Andromeda galaxy…