Innehållsförteckning för Issue 255 från The Week Junior US

In recent weeks, the White House has announced policy changes related to press coverage of President Donald Trump and his administration. The moves include taking control of who can be part of the White House press pool and blocking the access of a prominent news service. What is the press pool? The press pool is a small, rotating group of members of the news media who are allowed to be in close settings with the President, including in the Oval Office (the President’s workspace) and on Air Force One (the Presidential airplane). The pool currently includes six reporters for wire services (services that supply news to other outlets) and print, radio, and online outlets; four photographers; and one TV crew. The pool follows the President around the world, asking questions…

A LLAMA’S LONG LIFE At 27 years and 250 days old, Whitetop became the oldest llama in captivity. The friendly guy lives at a camp for children with serious illnesses in North Carolina. “He’s the llama that you love,” said a camp staffer. FACIAL HAIR For the first time since 1976, the New York Yankees will allow players and staff to grow beards. The baseball team’s famous beard ban was meant to keep everyone looking professional and disciplined but was outdated, said team officials. “Well-groomed” beards are now welcome. “Wow,” said Yankees catcher Austin Wells. “It’s a big deal.” A DANCE MARATHON More than 700 Pennsylvania State University students danced, stood, and stayed awake for 46 hours straight to raise more than $17.7 million for a children’s cancer charity. The annual…

Mexican architect Frida Escobedo has completed her bold design of a new wing for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City (known as the Met). Her vision for the space, the Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing, connects visitors with modern art and reflects varied cultures. The wing is expected to open in 2030. Escobedo is the first female architect to design a wing in the Met’s 154-year history. Growing up in Mexico City, Escobedo, age 45, would accompany her father, a physician, to work and gaze out the hospital windows at neighboring apartments. Curious about how people’s living spaces reflected their personalities, she became passionate about architecture’s power to tell stories. She went on to study architecture at a university in Mexico City and earned…

This month marks 30 years since wild gray wolves were released in Yellowstone National Park after having been absent from the area for decades. Their return has given scientists a rare opportunity to research what happens in an ecosystem (group of plants and animals that affect one another) when a key species is reintroduced. Yellowstone is America’s first national park. After it was established in 1872, rangers began a campaign to eliminate wolves from the area because they saw the animals as a threat to people and livestock. The last two wolves in the park were killed in 1926. In 1978, wolves were listed as endangered in most of the US. Wolves are at the top of the food chain and help keep the populations of other local species at…

California newt More than 22,300 California and rough-skinned newts have been rescued over the past six years by the Chileno Valley Newt Brigade. This team of 80 volunteers patrol roads from late fall through March to help the amphibians migrate safely. ● LIFE SPAN: 20 years in captivity, 15 in the wild ● HABITAT: California’s Santa Monica Mountains ● SIZE: 5 to 8 inches ● DIET: Invertebrates like worms, snails, and insects ● FUN FACT: Adult California newts secrete the same poisonous toxin as pufferfish.…

The 2025 season, getting underway soon, is marking 75 years of the most prestigious motor racing series in the world: Formula 1 (F1). What is Formula 1? Formula 1 is a racing competition featuring cars that have one seat and open wheels (wheels outside the car’s body). The“Formula” in F1 refers to the rules that govern the sport, including the cars’ design. F1 is overseen by the global governing body for motorsports, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). An F1 race, called a Grand Prix, features 10 teams made up of two drivers each, and races are held all over the world. Drivers compete to win the individual F1 Drivers’ Championship, while teams compete for the F1 Constructors’ Championship. How it works In a typical F1 race weekend, there are…

The human ear consists of three parts: the outer, middle, and inner ear. The outer ear, which is visible from the outside, exists only on mammals. For many years, scientists have wondered where it came from. A new study found that it evolved (changed very slowly over time) from fish gills. Scientists have known for many years that the middle ear, which is not visible from the outside, evolved from the jawbones of prehistoric fish. A team of scientists from the University of Southern California wondered if the outer ear also came from fish. They found that the human outer ear and the gills of some fish are made up of the same rare type of cartilage (strong, flexible tissue in the body), called elastic cartilage. It is uncommon outside…

The 30th season of Major League Soccer (MLS) recently got underway. San Diego FC joined the league this season, so there are now 30 clubs evenly divided between the Eastern and Western Conferences. Each one will play in 34 regular-season matches. The LA Galaxy are the reigning MLS Cup champions. Before the season began, they were expected to be one of the best teams in the West, but they lost their first two games. Two other teams in the conference to watch will be LAFC, who finished in first place in the conference standings last year, and the Seattle Sounders. In the Eastern Conference, the top teams are expected to include Inter Miami, whose star player is icon Lionel Messi, as well as Atlanta United and FC Cincinnati. Last year,…

Coach’s Name: Taylor Robertson Team: Wilson Bulldogs Lacrosse Club “Reasons my coach is great: Coach Taylor is always pushing us to new limits every practice, and he helps us achieve goals that we thought we would never have made. Coach is a great and kind person who never gives up. If we are having trouble with something, he pulls us aside and helps us work on it in the moment. He is the best coach, and he always tries his best.”Austin, 10, Pennsylvania 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.…

Effa Manley In the 1930s and 1940s, Effa Manley co-owned a Negro League baseball team with her husband. In 2006, she became the first woman inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Alyssa Nakken In 2020, Alyssa Nakken was hired by the San Francisco Giants and became the first full-time female coach in Major League Baseball history. She remained with the team until 2024, when she joined the Cleveland Guardians’ player development staff. Nicole Sherry At Camden Yards in Maryland, the home stadium of the Baltimore Orioles, Nicole Sherry is the head groundskeeper. She is one of two women who have ever held that top job at a Major League ballpark.…

Fur Babies (Disney+) (Hulu) (NatGeo Wild) Two veterinarians guide families through their pets’ pregnancies and births in this new documentary series. Using advanced medical technology, including special camera setups, the series captures both the challenges and joys of bringing animals into the world. American Idol (Hulu) (ABC) Sundays at 8 p.m. ET The 23rd season of this singing competition is back with host Ryan Seacrest and star judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. They are joined by new judge Carrie Underwood, who won the American Idol title in 2005 and went on to become an award-winning country artist. Amazing Race (CBS) (Paramount+) Follow along as two-person teams race around the world, complete challenges in different countries, and try not to get eliminated. The new season, which just premiered, includes surprise…

What inspired this book? I have always been fascinated by Mount Everest. To me, there’s something amazing about the people who make the choice to prepare to climb that mountain. What surprised you when you were writing it? The earliest climbers of Everest were advanced in what they were able to achieve with so little technology. What is one of the themes of this story? When faced with a challenge, keep climbing even if the route ahead of you isn’t clear. Did you love history while growing up? Yes! I had amazing teachers who told stories that ignited my love for history. Mountain or beach vacation? I live in the mountains, so I am happy to go to the beach.…

Everyone occasionally has disagreements with friends or family members. For example, you and your friends might not agree about what game to play at recess, which restaurant makes the best pizza, or which baseball team is the best in the league. Sometimes you may also have different views than a friend or family member about more serious topics, like events happening in the US or around the world. While disagreements can be uncomfortable, there are some steps you can taketo make conversations more civil and productive. Here’s how. See their perspective Even if you don’t share someone’s point of view, you can still listen to what they have to say. Show that you’re paying attention by listening attentively without interrupting them. Think about how their life experiences may be different…

DO A SPRING CLEANUP When winter comes to an end, many people do what’s called spring cleaning, when they deep-clean their home. You can also do this in your neighborhood. Talk to the people who live near you to see if they are interested, then set a date for your community cleanup. On the day, start by walking around your neighborhood and picking up any trash you see. Sometimes there’s more litter on sidewalks in the spring because it was covered with snow or simply not noticed since fewer people are outside in the winter. Next, clear any natural debris and rake leaves that have fallen from spring storms. Once you’re done, walk through your neighborhood to admire your efforts.…

I love watching the Academy Awards, and this year I was especially excited to see which film would win the Oscar for best animated feature (p3). All the nominees (Flow, Inside Out 2, Memoir of a Snail, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, and The Wild Robot) are terrific, and the suspense leading up to the big night was intense. Film critics typically make predictions in advance as to which films will win Oscars, and we decided to do the same. Our arts editors, who see just about every movie for kids that is released and write about them for the magazine, thought Flow was going to win, and they were right! If you haven’t seen it yet, we hope our story will inspire you to check it out. And…

“I was inspired by The Week Junior to make the Valentine’s Day heart cookies. They’re super delicious!”Olivia, 10, Washington “I heard about the possible discontinuance of the penny, so I decided to make my own snow penny!”Aiden, 13, Maryland “I love reading The Week Junior to my little sister. She’s always surprised by world news!” Elena, 9, with Maddie, 4, California…

1 What is the name of Plankton’s restaurant in SpongeBob SquarePants? 2 Which Formula 1 team will driver Lewis Hamilton be racing for this year? a) Cadillac b) Ferrari c) Mercedes a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 3 True or false? Frida Escobedo is the first woman to design a wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. True ☐ False ☐ 4 In which year were gray wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park? a) 1995 b) 2001 c) 2013 a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 5 A new sunflower-themed Lego set was inspired by which artist? a) Pablo Picasso b) Leonardo da Vinci c) Vincent van Gogh a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 6 In the book One Wrong Step, what mountain are Atlas and his father attempting to climb?…

To celebrate National Reading Month, give a special gift of The Week Junior to a child in your life. With a wide range of news stories on a variety of topics, there is something in each issue to delight and inspire every child. And if you give a gift today, you will receive our special subscription offer just for National Reading Month! To order a 25 weekly issue subscription of The Week Junior and save 67%, plus get 2 free gifts, visit theweekjunior.com/America To order, SCAN HERE:…

On March 14, thousands of people across India and around the world will celebrate Holi (pronounced HOE-lee). Known as the festival of colors, the holiday marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring for people who follow the Hindu religion. Holi also signifies the triumph of good over evil and light over dark. People have been celebrating Holi since at least the 4th century. In many parts of India, festivities begin the previous night when a bonfire is lit with wood and dried leaves. On the day of Holi, people throw water balloons at fellow revelers and toss brightly colored powder at one another. Traditionally, the colored powders were made using natural materials, like turmeric and marigold for yellow and indigo for blue. Today, synthetic dyes are commonly…

SPHEREx, a space telescope that will peer into millions of other galaxies over the next two years, was preparing to launch when The Week Junior went to press on March 4. NASA, the US space agency, created the device to gain a deeper understanding of the origins of the universe. SPHEREx was set to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from a base in California. What is SPHEREx? SPHEREx stands for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer. The $488 million telescope, which is about 8.5 feet tall and 10.5 feet wide, must be kept cold. That’s why it’s stored inside three concentric cones on top of mirrors that protect it from the Sun’s energy. While other space telescopes, such as the James…

Vienna, Austria New government takes office Five months after an election in which no party won enough votes to control Austria’s parliament (similar to Congress), a new government was sworn in on March 3. The government will be run by a coalition of three parties working together. There were two previous attempts to form a coalition, but talks kept breaking down. Christian Stocker (shown above, center), the head of the People’s Party, will lead the new government. Windhoek, Namibia Funeral for first president The funeral of Sam Nujoma, Namibia’s “founding father,” took place on March 1. Nujoma led the group that secured Namibia’s independence from South Africa in 1990. He then became Namibia’s first president and served for 15 years. Thousands of Namibians and several African leaders attended his funeral.…

On the Australian island state of Tasmania lies an extremely rare temperate rainforest known as Takayna or the Tarkine. These forests feature dense tree canopies in cool, rainy climates. The area, which covers about 1,841 square miles, also has mountain ranges, rivers, grasslands, and coastlines. Visitors can see animals including Tasmanian devils, azure kingfishers, giant crayfish, platypuses, and penguins. One way to experience the wilderness is by boat on the Arthur River, which meets the Southern Ocean at a site some call “The Edge of the World.”…

Risso’s dolphins Whale watchers off the coast of California spotted a “super pod” of more than 1,500 Risso’s dolphins, which usually swim in groups of 10 to 30. “They looked like they were having a big party,” said one marine biologist. Blacktip reef sharks Sharks have a reputation for eating almost anything, but blacktip reef sharks at some tourist feeding sites have been eating so much human food that their health is suffering. Researchers found changes in the sharks’ blood and behavior.…

A prehistoric fossil uncovered in Antarctica could be the oldest modern bird ever found and an ancestor of today’s ducks and geese. The discovery could help scientists continue piecing together the long evolutionary history of birds. The nearly complete bird skull is about 69 million years old. Called Vegavis iaai, it belongs to a species of waterfowl (birds that include ducks, geese, and swans) that lived at the same time as dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex. The duck-like species survived when all dinosaurs that were not avian (related to birds) died out about 66 million years ago. The mystery of Vegavis iaai began in 1993, when researchers discovered the fossil of a bird on Vega Island in Antarctica. It did not have a skull, which made it difficult to fully identify.…

Lauren Macuga AGE: 22 SPORT: ALPINE SKIING TEAM: USA Early years My family moved to Park City, Utah, in 2007, and I was in a program that helps kids try sports. I picked ski racing because I like going fast. Role model I grew up watching Lindsey Vonn, the greatest speed skier in the world. She retired but started competing again recently. I ski with her almost every day. Being able to talk to my idol and ask her questions in training is a crazy turn of events. Workout plans In the summer, we ski in South America. On training days, we’re out for about three hours almost every morning. Through the winter, it’s the same. If we’re not racing, we’re going out in the mornings and getting six runs in.…

Fans of the popular SpongeBob SquarePants series can now see a whole different side of the show’s longtime villain, Plankton. His story is being told in the new film Plankton: The Movie, which was just released on Netflix. Sheldon J. Plankton is the scheming owner of the run-down Chum Bucket restaurant in Bikini Bottom, the underwater city where SpongeBob and his friends live. For years, he has been seeking world domination by trying to steal the secret recipe for the Krabby Patty, a veggie burger at a popular rival restaurant. Although his wife, Karen, has tried to help him, in the film she becomes fed up with his failures and goes after the dream herself. Since SpongeBob began in 1999, Plankton has been voiced by an actor who goes by…

Big Helmet Heroes is a new side-scrolling platform game that mixes fighting, adventure, and goofiness. It was recently released for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox systems, and PC. In the game, players go on a quest to save a princess in a faraway land and have to battle hordes of enemies along the way. It can be played alone or with two players in local co-op mode. There are two knights at the start of the game. If you’re solo, you will choose which one you want to control. The other knight will travel with yours, and you can switch between them. In co-op mode, each player controls one knight only. There are four types of characters in the game: the Warrior, who has a sword and shield, the…

“This book follows 12-year-old Artemis Fowl and his obsession with sprites, who are a type of fairy. After Artemis bargains with an outcast sprite, he receives a book containing all the secrets of fairies. He plans to steal gold from the fairies, so he kidnaps a fairy captain named Holly to use her as ransom. Will he succeed in his plan, or will he fail miserably?”Joshua, 12, Maryland Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Crisscross Each of these words associated with chocolate fits into this grid. Can you find where each one goes to complete the grid? 3 letters BAG BOX 4 letters KISS 5 letters DONUT FUDGE PIECE SUGAR SYRUP TORTE 6 letters COOKIE FONDUE GLAZED MOUSSE MUFFIN SMOOTH S’MORES 7 letters DESSERT PUDDING TRUFFLE 8 letters ICE CREAM 9 letters SEMISWEET SPRINKLES ALL THE SAME Each answer contains the letters R-A-M. Those letters have been placed for you. Can you figure out the words? 1. Huge ancient Egyptian tomb 2. Popular style of breakfast eggs 3. Backyard or gym equipment to bounce on 4. Chewy stuff in Twix and Snickers 5. Biggest award in the music business Take five Five 5-letter things associated with housepainters are hidden in this grid. For each…

Americans are expected to spend $26 billion this year on skincare products, like sunscreen, wrinkle reducers, and face masks—and many of those customers will be teens and tweens. In 2023, the beauty company Sephora reported that the number of customers ages 9 to 12 had doubled in five years. One study by Common Sense Media found that 78% of teens said they had watched beauty tutorials online. But many popular skincare products are meant for adults, and some contain strong ingredients that kids don’t need. Other people say the trend is harmless fun for young people. What do you think? Should children use skincare products? Yes—start young and have fun From a young age, children are taught that it’s important to be healthy and take care of their bodies. That…

Experts attached QR codes to the backs of more than 30,000 honeybees in order to shed light on a mystery: How much time do bees spend outside their hives? Honeybees live in hives with a queen, male drones, and thousands of female worker bees. The workers go out and forage (search) for food, such as pollen and nectar from flowers. Experts wanted to find out how far they fly during these trips. To track their behavior, a team from Penn State University visited beehives and stuck tiny, machine-readable codes on young bees. They set up cameras with sensors at the hives’ entrances to record each time a bee left or came back to the hive. They found that although most trips lasted a few minutes, about 34% lasted two hours…

Dr. Gabrielle Fadl Veterinarian, Bond Vet Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound that is toxic to dogs. Unlike humans, dogs process theobromine very slowly, so dangerous levels can build up in their bodies and cause vomiting, seizures, or death. The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it has, making it worse for dogs. 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 pocket-size tool has sensors A that test food and liquid for harmful substances and provide results within seconds. The tool, called EcoTracker, was developed by the company Milerd, which has been making medical equipment and consumer gadgets for many years. EcoTracker measures levels of substances like nitrates and pesticides in meats and produce. These aren’t necessarily bad but can indicate contamination or be harmful in large quantities. It also detects acidity and potentially harmful substances like lead or arsenic in water.…

The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association)—an organization that oversees championship competitions and student-athlete programs at over 1,100 colleges in the US and one in Canada—is expanding opportunities for female athletes. It is elevating women’s wrestling to a championship sport and adding flag football to its Emerging Sports for Women program. The NCAA’s Emerging Sports for Women program began in 1994 as a way to give college women more sports to play and help promote gender equity. Sports in the program receive support and recognition from the NCAA and can recruit athletes to compete for their teams. When enough colleges sponsor varsity programs, the sport can gain championship status. Since 1994, five women’s sports in addition to wrestling have made that transition: rowing (1996), ice hockey (2000), water polo (2000), bowling…

The team that created See Her Be Her, a documentary about women’s baseball, is taking the film on a 12-city tour across the US from now until November. At each stop, they will host a screening and Q&A at an AMC Theatres location. Tickets for students ages 8 and up are free. The film is also available now on Prime Video. See Her Be Her was directed and produced by photographer Jean Fruth, who also published a photo-filled book with the same title. She is a co-founder of the nonprofit organization Grassroots Baseball and got the idea for the film after attending an all-girls baseball game. “It was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen,” she told The Week Junior. Fruth filmed in seven countries, including Uganda, where a growing number…

Leo (PG) Netflix “I love this movie! The story centers on a fifth grade class and their classroom pets: a turtle named Squirtle and a lizard named Leo. Leo is 74 years old and worries that he’s nearing the end of his life. When a substitute teacher takes over the class, she brings back the tradition of sending the pets home with the students for the weekend. Leo sees it as a chance to escape and live out the rest of his life in the wild, but when he goes to kids’ homes, he talks to them and helps them face their fears. I really like how funny Leo is and seeing how each student has a different home life.” Teddy, 10, New Jersey Do you have a film or TV…

(Scholastic) This historical fiction novel is set in 1939, when World War II is about to begin. Atlas and his dad set out to climb Mount Everest as part of an expedition group. At that time, no one had ever made it to the top! They climb part of the way up the mountain to a base camp. Atlas’ dad leaves him there with Maddie, the daughter of another climber in the expedition, as well as a guide who has been injured, so the rest of the group can attempt to reach the summit. Atlas and Maddie have been there for about two weeks when they hear a deep rumbling coming from higher up the mountain. It’s an avalanche of snow falling down. They try to contact their parents using…

The Dark!: Wild Life in the Mysterious World of Caves By Lindsey Leigh (Penguin Workshop) This graphic novel is packed with facts about animals that live in the dark, such as bats. For instance, did you know a cave leech can suck 10 times its body weight in blood and then not have to eat again for a year? Ages 8–12 Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls By Rebel Girls (DK Children) This new, expanded edition highlights the accomplishments of 22 more women and girls, including author Judy Blume, environmental advocate Greta Thunberg, and pop star Taylor Swift. Overall, the book features more than 100 stories of women in over 70 different professions. Ages 8 and up History Comics: Ellis Island By Felipe Galindo Feggo, illustrated by Tait Howard (First…

Ingredients • 1 large broccoli crown, cut into florets• 12 ounces cavatappi pasta• 1⅓ cups ricotta• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese• 3 tablespoons everything bagel seasoning, plus more for serving• ½ teaspoon lemon zest• Kosher salt• Black pepper Instructions 1. Place a large, heat-safe bowl on a countertop near the stove. With an adult’s help, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli and cook 4 minutes. 2. With the water still boiling and with an adult’s help, use a slotted spoon to remove the broccoli from the pot and place in the heat-safe bowl. 3. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions. Once done, with an adult’s assistance, drain and add the pasta to the bowl with…

Lego version of famous painting Artist Vincent van Gogh’s famous paintings of sunflowers have inspired a Lego set. The new kit, released on March 1, includes 2,615 pieces and 16 sunflowers and features a tile with van Gogh’s signature. The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, was involved in its creation. The museum’s managing director said, “We hope this Lego set will inspire and engage new audiences with the art and life story of Vincent van Gogh.” Visitors can also see a Lego installation at the museum this summer. Seal visits seafood pizza hub When a young gray seal was seen waddling the streets of New Haven, Connecticut, residents joked that he was looking for clam pizza, a local specialty. Wildlife experts think the pup, nicknamed Chappy, wandered in…

The Week Junior will be 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…

Teacher’s Name: Mr. Adrian School: The Croft School “I want to nominate my teacher Mr. Adrian because he lets us play a whole class game during our morning meeting. He makes learning so fun by letting us act out the characters in the book we are reading. The most important thing he taught us is expanded form in math. I appreciate that he is so kind when he helps us.”Marco, 8, Rhode Island 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.…