Innehållsförteckning för Issue 254 från The Week Junior US

On February 24, many countries around the world marked the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine, which began when the neighboring country of Russia invaded it. The day arrived as tensions have risen over US support for Ukraine. What has happened during the war? The Russian invasion was the largest military attack in Europe since World War II (1939–1945). Ukraine is an independent nation, but Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, claimed that it was part of his country. Russia has been launching constant attacks on Ukraine and currently occupies 20% of its land, while Ukraine is defending itself and using drones to attack Russia. Since the war began, about 6.9 million Ukrainians have fled their country, and at least 153,000 people have been killed, including soldiers and civilians on both…

NEW CHEW TOYS Squishmallows have taken the human world by storm, and now they’re available for dogs too. Chew Mees are mini versions of the supersoft stuffies, made with extra-strong fabric and a squeaker inside. Colorful characters include a dog, shoe, squirrel, and tennis ball. A GOAT’S GREATNESS Meet Mizu, the GOAT of goats! The 2-year-old goat from Texas, whose name means “water” in Japanese, won USA Today’s Favorite Pet contest. His owner said the “charismatic, friendly, and loyal” goat has a job—to eat grass and keep the lawn trimmed—and loves strawberries. AN AWESOME FUNDRAISER Brothers Hank and John Green are best-selling authors, podcasters, and YouTubers who also run an annual fundraiser called Project for Awesome. Started in 2007, the event is a 48-hour livestream, hosted by the Greens and…

United Kingdom Disabled astronaut makes history The European Space Agency has medically approved John McFall for missions to the International Space Station (ISS). McFall, a British surgeon and Paralympic athlete whose right leg was amputated after a motorcycle accident, participated in a study to explore the possibility of sending physically disabled astronauts to space. He would be the first astronaut with a disability to travel to the ISS. McFall said he is“hugely proud.” Buriticupu, Brazil Emergency declared as sinkholes open Authorities in Buriticupu have declared a state of emergency after massive sinkholes opened up in the city. Sinkholes form in the ground when rock near the surface dissolves or collapses. The causes include rain that wore away soil over the past 30 years, trees being chopped down, and poorly planned…

People observe a traditional way of life in Acoma Pueblo, a Native American village and National Historic Landmark. The village is located on a steep cliff in the desert, where the sun shines nearly every day of the year. People from the Acoma tribe settled in New Mexico more than 1,000 years ago, and it is one of the longest continuously inhabited communities in North America. The village is made up of four different communities: Sky City, Acomita, Anzac, and McCartys. Wildlife including mountain lions, black bears, elk, and pronghorn live around the area.…

Checkered skipper butterflies This species of butterfly was successfully reintroduced in England, where it went extinct in 1976. Experts started bringing the butterflies from Belgium in 2018. They have been breeding, and now more than 350 live in England. Green sea turtles A total of 17 green sea turtles had to be rescued off the coast of Florida after frigid water temperatures made them unable to swim. The turtles were brought to a local wildlife center, which said it would release them after a few weeks.…

Technology is helping researchers read an ancient scroll that was scorched in a volcanic eruption in Italy 2,000 years ago. The document is one of hundreds of rolled-up scrolls found in the ruins of Herculaneum. The town was buried under more than 60 feet of lava and ash when a nearby volcano, Mount Vesuvius, erupted in the year 79. The scroll has been kept at the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford in the UK. It was made from a thick, paper-like material called papyrus and would have been 33 feet long when unrolled. It was burned into what looks like a lump of charcoal and is now too fragile to open. Researchers have attempted to open burned scrolls in the past, only to have them crumble into pieces.…

Tate Frantz AGE: 19 SPORT: SKI JUMPING TEAM: USA Cool start I grew up in Lake Placid, New York. I’ve cross-country skied since I could walk. When I was 9, I got to try ski jumping in an after-school program. I was always on my alpine skis and cross-country skis and building jumps and trying to catch air, so it was hard to say no to the sport. My favorite thing is the feeling of flying. In the air, it’s like you’re in slow motion. Big change I used to compete in Nordic combined, a sport that combines cross-country skiing and ski jumping into one event. I did that until I was 15, but I had to stop skiing because of knee problems. I focused on ski jumping alone and had…

Two streaming platforms recently announced they will be “reimagining” popular books for TV. Disney+ is making a show based on Louis Sachar’s novel Holes, and Netflix is creating a series based on the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Holes, published in 1998, follows 14-year-old Stanley Yelnats, who is wrongfully sent to a work camp for teen boys. While there, he uncovers secrets about his family history and the camp warden’s activities. The book was adapted into a 2003 film. In the TV version of Holes, the main character will be a girl. So far, Disney+ has ordered a pilot (first) episode, with the potential for a full series to follow. The show’s executive producer, Drew Goddard, told Variety he was first introduced to the book…

Hello Kitty Island Adventure is a cozy platform puzzle game that was recently released for the Nintendo Switch and PC. It will be out later this year for the PlayStation 4 and 5. It was originally released for Apple devices in 2023 and won the Apple Arcade Game of the Year at the App Store Awards. Hello Kitty was created by the Japanese company Sanrio in 1974. Despite her name and appearance, she is a little girl, not a cat. In Hello Kitty Island Adventure, she and her pals discover an abandoned island and have to bring it back to its original glory. The game features more than 40 different characters from the Sanrio world, including popular Cinnamoroll, My Melody, and Keroppi. Nuls, which are new blob-like creatures, help around…

Have you visited Guatemala? Yes. On my first visit, I went with a group and took Spanish lessons each morning. I went back the next year, and one of the families I stayed with had a 10-year-old daughter. I saw her experience in the country and wanted to write a story about it. What did you like most about the country? I found the people to be warm and friendly. The climate was hard to resist—it was never too hot or too chilly. Did you write or draw first? Both! While I was drawing, phrases or dialogue would pop into my head and I’d jot them down. Or when I was writing, I’d get ideas for pictures and sketch them in the margin. What did you study in college? I…

Ingredients • 2 ounces cooked ham• 4 teaspoons butter or olive oil• ¼ large avocado• Salt and pepper• 1 tablespoon maple syrup• 2 eggs Instructions 1. Heat oven to 200° F and put an ovenproof plate or pan near the stove. Cut the ham into bite-size pieces (you should have about ½ cup). Heat 2 teaspoons of the butter or oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat until butter is melted or oil is shimmering hot. Don’t let it burn. 2. Add the ham and cook, stirring enough so it doesn’t burn, until the pieces are brown and crisp in places, about 5 minutes. 3. While the ham cooks, prepare the avocado. Ask an adult to carefully cut it downward toward the center in 2 places without cutting through…

“Human calculator” breaks records In a single day, a teen from India collected six world records for calculating extremely complicated math problems in his head. Aaryan Shukla, age 14, claimed titles including the fastest time to mentally add 100 four-digit numbers (30.9 seconds) and multiply 10 sets of two eight-digit numbers (2 minutes, 35.4 seconds). Although the mental math master has always been a whiz with numbers, he also practices for up to six hours each day. He said earning world records for his talent was“a dream.” A fast-food favorite for your lips Idaho’s new french-fry-inspired lip balm is a hot commodity. The Idaho Potato Commission recently served up the Kiss of French“lip luxury,” which they said smells and tastes like french fries. The lipstick, made with real potatoes, is…

FREE GIFT! Surprise someone special with 25 weekly issues and send a FREE puzzle magazine! They’ll thank you every week. Trusted and loved by more than 100,000 readers across America, The Week Junior is the perfect gift to delight a child in your life. Week after week, accessible takes on current events, scientific discoveries, new book and movie releases, as well as sports, recipes, and crafts inspire children to read and keep reading. It’s a gift they’ll enjoy long after the celebration is over. Subscribe here! Discounts available. Go online to order. Visit theweekjunior.com/celebrate SCAN TO ORDER…

Around the world, nearly 2 billion Muslims are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan. In the US, the month begins on February 28 and ends on March 29 this year. Muslims (people who follow the religion of Islam) believe it was during Ramadan in the year 610 when Allah (God) first revealed the Quran (Islamic religious text) to Islam’s founder, the Prophet Muhammad. Ramadan is a time to strengthen faith through reflection and prayer. People give to charity, visit mosques (places of worship), fast (do not eat or drink) during daylight hours, and share meals called iftar after sunset. Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, a three-day festival of prayers, meals, and gifts. Many people say Ramadan will feel somber this year due to the war in Gaza, where nearly 99%…

The SS United States, one of the most famous passenger ships ever built in the US, has departed from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on its final voyage. It will be towed to a site off the coast of Florida, where it will become the world’s largest artificial reef. What is the SS United States? The 990-foot-long ocean liner was designed as a passenger ship that could convert to carrying US troops. On its first voyage in 1952, it became the fastest ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean. It traveled between the US and Europe 800 times before ending service in 1969. A nonprofit organization cared for the ship until last year, when Okaloosa County in Florida bought it for $10 million for the purpose of sinking it and turning it into a…

What you need to know • The sandwich is believed to have been named for John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, in the 1700s. He asked his servants to serve meat between slices of bread so he could keep playing cards while he ate.• A survey found that Americans eat an average of six sandwiches per week. And 74% of respondents always keep sandwich ingredients on hand.• Sandwiches are also the top source of salt and unhealthy fats in people’s diets, according to research. The sandwich may have been invented in the UK, but Americans have taken the idea of bread and fillings to new heights. In the US, sandwiches range from a simple, quick, and classic peanut butter and jelly to the world’s most expensive sandwich—the Quintessential Grilled…

The Mount Lyell shrew—a tiny mammal less than 4 inches long and weighing under half a pound—has finally been photographed. Two researchers and a photographer worked around the clock for three days in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains to snap the first-ever photos of the mole-like creature. The Mount Lyell shrew was discovered in 1902, but until now it was the only known mammal in California that had never been photographed alive. To capture the elusive creature, the wildlife enthusiasts set out 150 traps filled with cat food and mealworms, which the shrews eat. They monitored the traps consistently, including through the night. The researchers were surprised to find a Mount Lyell shrew in one of their traps within two hours. They ended up trapping and photographing five shrews, which wasn’t…

Mollye Nardi General curator, Birmingham Zoo African elephants have much bigger ears that are shaped like the continent of Africa. They also look like they have two fingers at the end of their trunk, while Asian elephants have one. The only Asian elephants that have tusks are males, but male and female African elephants have tusks. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the Birmingham Zoo at birminghamzoo.com.…

A new electric surfboard lets people hit the water whenever and wherever they want, even when there are no waves. The Canvas can carry surfers over flat water at up to 37 miles per hour. It’s controlled by a wireless remote that the rider holds in their hand. The Canvas consists of a board, battery, and propulsion system. Its designers said it takes 15 seconds to put together and can be broken down just as quickly. The lightweight board is easy to carry under the arm, while the rest gets tucked into a backpack for transporting.…

On February 23, US skier Mikaela Shiffrin reached a historic milestone during an event in Sestriere, Italy. She won the women’s slalom event, which was her 100th Alpine Skiing World Cup victory. She already holds the record for being the alpine (downhill) skier with the most World Cup wins, male or female. By finishing in the top three, she also made a World Cup podium for the 155th time, which puts her in a tie with legendary Swedish skier Ingemar Stenmark for the most World Cup top-three finishes by a male or female. Shiffrin, age 29, began racing in World Cups in 2011, a day before she turned 16. Most of her wins have been in slalom races, which involve weaving through closely spaced poles, but she has also won…

Ryoji Ikeda is a leading electronic composer and visual artist known for using scientific data in his art. His work has been seen and heard around the world, and now several pieces will be on display in Ryoji Ikeda: data-verse, which opens at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 7. The exhibition includes large light and sound installations that are being shown in the US for the first time. Ikeda was born in Gifu, Japan, and now lives and works in Kyoto, Japan, and Paris, France. Michael Rooks, the curator (person who chooses art) at the High who worked on the exhibition, told The Week Junior that Ikeda’s visual art has minimal images but is “bold and striking.” Some of his pieces incorporate images taken from…

Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank PG (Available on all major platforms) “This really funny movie is about Hank, a dog who moves to the cat-filled town of Kakamucho. Hank dreams of becoming a samurai, a skilled warrior. Kakamucho is threatened by evil cat Ika Chu, who wants to destroy the town and become its leader. After the town’s samurai is injured, Hank is chosen to take his place. Because Hank is a dog, everyone doubts his abilities, so he must prove he’s strong enough to defeat Ika. The movie has funny Star Wars and Pokémon references and teaches about not judging a book by its cover.” Arjun, 11, Washington Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

(Greenwillow) Lissie and her dad and grandma fly to Guatemala to spend two weeks with Raúl, her dad’s friend from high school. Although her father is fluent in Spanish, the language spoken in the Central American country, Lissie knows only a few words. Her dad assures her she’ll pick up the language. On one of the first days, Raúl takes them to a volcano and waterfalls. When they go back to Raúl’s house, his girlfriend and her children are there. Her daughter, Flory, is a little older than Lissie. They play Simon Says (which they call Simon Dice) and soccer. Later, they make friendship bracelets and explore a black-sand beach. Lissie’s knowledge of Spanish grows, and she is surprised by how much she connects with others despite the language barrier.…

World Wildlife Day will take place on Monday, March 3. (Read about it in our story on page 3.) One way to celebrate the wild animals that live all around us—and to educate others about their importance—is to make a nature documentary. All you need to create this nonfiction film is a camera and a subject. Here’s how you can get started. Pick a theme First, decide what you would like your nature documentary to be about. Do you want to film wildlife that lives outside your home, or would you rather ask an adult to go with you to a nearby park or nature preserve? (For ideas about what to film, see the sidebar at right.) Do some research and choose local wildlife that interests you. For example, think…

Your signature identifies you, whether you are signing a card, a school form, or a yearbook. It provides an opportunity to show your style. How do you want yours to look? For inspiration, look up famous signatures. For example, Walt Disney had a loopy signature. Beyoncé’s is defined by her elegant cursive and a squiggly underline. Pablo Picasso signed his paintings in thick, bold letters. Practice with a pen and paper. Choose the letters in your name that you’d like to stand out. For many, those are the initial letters of their first and last names. Experiment with the size and shape of your letters. Once you’re happy with your signature, share it with a friend to make sure they can read it.…

This week we are celebrating World Wildlife Day (WWD), a global event that raises awareness of endangered animals and plants and the importance of protecting them (p3). To see all our articles on this subject, look for the green circle throughout the issue. You can read about this year’s WWD theme (p3), koala conservation at the San Diego Zoo (p5), a tiger comeback in India (p10), and a secret of polar bear fur (p15). This issue’s Charity of the Week (see the box below) highlights the bald eagle, another amazing conservation success story. You can also find out how to create your own wildlife documentary (p24). If you make a film—or do anything else to help wildlife in your community or around the world—we would love to know about it.…

Teacher’s Name: Ms. Payne School: Belding Elementary School “I would like to nominate my math and homeroom teacher, Ms. Payne. She is an amazing teacher because she really connects with all her students. Ms. Payne is super empathetic and kind. She runs all the sports and comes to the games to support us. If I were ever asked who inspires me the most, I would hands-down say Ms. Payne!”Leona, 10, Illinois 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.…

Every year on March 3, World Wildlife Day (WWD) is observed to raise awareness of endangered species and the importance of protecting Earth’s wild plants and animals. Conservation and wildlife experts estimate that more than 1 million species on our planet are threatened with extinction. The global event was officially established by the United Nations (UN, a group of 193 nations) in 2013. It falls on March 3 because that was the day in 1973 when a treaty called the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed. Nearly every country in the world signed the treaty, which manages the international trade of plants and animals and works to ensure that their survival in the wild is not threatened. This year’s WWD theme…

On February 18, the San Diego Zoo in California announced the public debut of a female joey (baby koala) while celebrating 100 years of koala protection in partnership with the Taronga Conservation Society in Australia. The joey, which turned 7 months old in February, was the first to be born at the zoo in two years. In 1925, the first two koalas arrived in San Diego as a gift for the city’s children from the children of Sydney, Australia. Since then, the San Diego Zoo has cared for the largest population of koalas outside their native home of Australia, where they are classified as endangered in some parts of the country. Koalas are marsupials, which are mammals that have pouches to carry their young. In the wild, they live in…

The year is already shaping up to be a big one for comedian and former late-night host Conan O’Brien. He will be hosting the 97th Academy Awards (also known as the Oscars, a top film award) on March 2 and is also the 2025 recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, one of the most prestigious honors in comedy. O’Brien, age 61, grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts, as one of six children. His first audience was his family. He entertained them with tap dances and impressions of silent film star Charlie Chaplin. He studied history and literature at Harvard University, where he wrote for The Harvard Lampoon, a famous humor magazine. After college, O’Brien wrote for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. Inspired by late-night legends like Johnny…

The population of tigers in India has doubled over a period of 12 years, according to government data. The big cats’ numbers increased from 1,706 tigers in 2010 to 3,682 in 2022. This means that about 75% of the world’s tigers now live in the country. Tigers once lived across much of Asia, but in the past 100 years, the big cats’ range has been reduced by 93% because of poaching (illegal hunting), loss of habitat, and declines in their prey. Today, the animals are scattered across 13 countries, from Russia to Indonesia. They are endangered, and three subspecies—Bali, Javan, and Caspian tigers—are extinct. In India, tigers have disappeared from some areas as humans have destroyed forests and other natural lands in order to build cities, homes, and farms. Today,…

How did The Sound of Music become one of the most enduring films of all time? Let’s start at the very beginning. Inspired by a true story The Sound of Music is based on a 1949 memoir The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp, the“real” Maria who is played by Julie Andrews in the film. Set in Austria in 1938, before World War II (1939–1945), The Sound of Music tells the story of a free-spirited aspiring nun who takes a job as a governess for a family with a strict widower father, Captain von Trapp (played by Christopher Plummer), and his seven children. Maria teaches the children to sing, leading them in songs like “Do-Re-Mi,” and falls in love with the captain. Meanwhile, their nation faces…

Despite living in the Arctic, where temperatures hit-40° F, polar bears stay warm thanks to their blubber (fat) and thick fur. Those layers keep heat in and cold out. But scientists have found that polar bear fur provides more than insulation. It also contains oil that prevents ice from building up at all. At first the researchers thought the structure of polar bear fur was what kept ice from sticking to it, but when they examined the fur under a microscope, they realized that wasn’t the case. They noticed something else, however: The fur was very oily. The team suspected that could be what prevented the fur from freezing. To test their theory, they froze blocks of ice onto washed and unwashed polar bear fur, human hair, and ski equipment,…

From February 12 to February 20, hockey teams made up of NHL (National Hockey League) players representing the US, Canada, Finland, and Sweden competed in the first 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. The US and Canada, longtime rivals, made it to the final, which was held at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. It was a thrilling and dramatic game that went to overtime, where Canada won, 3–2. The 4 Nations Face-Off was created by the National Hockey League (NHL) and the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) to replace this year’s NHL All-Star Game. Because players represented their native countries, the competitions were more meaningful and intense than an exhibition-style All-Star game. The tournament was a hit among players and fans. The competition followed a round-robin format, with each team playing every other…

Coach’s Name: Morah Isabelle School: Politz Day School “She has a smile as bright as the sun. She loves to run and make others laugh and hates to be mean. She is sweet and calm even though my class is a pain. She makes up fun games and makes existing ones more fun. She makes us happy even if something sad happens, and she is very fair. She helps me with my reflexes so I can run fast and never says, ‘You did it wrong.’ She says, ‘You did it well, and I know you can do it better.’”Amelia, 11, New Jersey 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…

Picasso and Paper Nearly 300 works by the famous Spanish artist Pablo Picasso are showcased in this exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art, which runs through March 23. Van Gogh: The Roulin Family Portraits The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston will showcase about 20 portraits that French artist Vincent van Gogh painted of a postman and his family. It opens March 30. Amy Sherald: American Sublime Included in an exhibit of Amy Sherald’s work at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City is her portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama. The show starts on April 9.…

Next Level Chef (Fox) Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay hosts this cooking competition series set in a three-level kitchen. Season four challenges groups of home chefs, social media cooks, and pros to impress the judges and avoid being moved down to kitchens with tougher conditions. Wizards Beyond Waverly Place (Disney+) There are new episodes of the Wizards of Waverly Place reboot, which follows a wizard dad, Justin, as he mentors Billie, a young wizard-in-training. As secrets about her past emerge, she must navigate a dangerous prophecy along with school and friendships. Incredible Northern Vets (Disney+) (National Geographic) Follow three Indigenous (first to inhabit a place) veterinarians in Canada as they care for big and small animals in this new documentary series. The vets use treatments such…

How does Lissie realize that words aren’t always necessary to communicate? Do you think Lissie and Flory will remain friends after the trip? Why or why not? How do the book’s illustrations help tell the story? In what way does Lissie grow more confident as the trip progresses? What adjectives would you say best describe the story’s setting? What part of the trip did you enjoy reading about the most? What part of the world would you like to visit?…

Word ladder To change the word SLAM into the word DUNK, use each clue to fill in a word solving from the bottom up. STEPPING STONES Each figure hides a seven-letter part of the body. To find each of the words, 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.) Spot the difference These two pictures of a scene from The Sound of Music appear to be the same, but take a closer look. There are actually five differences. Can you see them? Stepping stones hint: The second word begins with S. DETOURS Draw one continuous path from START to END that goes through every single square without crossing itself.…

The Week Junior is marking its fifth anniversary this month. To celebrate, we’re asking readers to send us photos of themselves holding the issue they enjoyed most since they began subscribing. Some of the photos we receive will appear in Issue 257. If you’d like to participate, ask an adult to email your photo to hello@theweekjunior.com with Favorite Issue in the subject line. Thank you for helping us look back on an amazing five years of publication! 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 submission to us, you give The Week…

1 About what percent of the world’s tigers now live in India? a) 55% b) 65% c) 75% a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 2 True or false? The Japanese character of Hello Kitty is a little girl, not a cat. True ☐ False ☐ 3 Which word were scientists recently able to read in ancient Greek on a Herculaneum scroll? a) Disgust b) Fear c) Surprise a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 4 Disney+ is making a new television show based on what classic young adult novel? 5 When was the Mount Lyell shrew first discovered? a) 1902 b) 1922 c) 1942 a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 6 True or false? The Sound of Music was nominated for five Academy Awards and won them all. True ☐ False ☐…