Innehållsförteckning för Issue 270 från The Week Junior US

A travel ban barring or restricting citizens of 19 countries from entering the US went into effect on June 9. The policy is part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to reduce immigration into the US. What is the ban? Citizens of 12 countries, mostly in Africa and the Middle East, are no longer allowed to travel to the US. They are Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The ban also restricted access to the US from seven other nations. People from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela cannot enter the US permanently or get tourist or student visas (government permission to enter another country). The ban does not apply to people with visas who are already…

Violinist Esther Abrami is a rising star in classical music who has performed at some of the world’s top concert halls. Her new album, Women, celebrates the often-overlooked contributions of female composers by featuring only their works. Growing up in southern France, Abrami started playing violin at age 3 on her grandmother’s instrument. She went on to study at the Royal College of Music in London, England, where she signed a rare record deal with Sony before graduating. She has since toured across Europe and China, and today she has more than a million followers on social media. A few years into her career, Abrami made a surprising discovery. “I’d learned hundreds of pieces,” she told NPR, “but not a single one had been written by a woman.” This led…

A scientist best known for her warnings about climate change has had a change of heart. Coral reef biologist Nancy Knowlton (see box above) spoke at the Starmus science festival in Spain’s Canary Islands and revealed 10 reasons to be hopeful about environmental progress around the world. One of these “bright spots” is the increase in legally protected areas worldwide, Knowlton said, which are now at a record high. More than 17% of land and inland waters, as well as more than 8% of the planet’s ocean and coastal areas, are now protected. On La Palma, the island where the Starmus festival was held, one third of the land is protected. This helps nature and reduces the use of artificial lights, keeping the skies dark so scientists can better observe…

Père David’s deer A Père David’s deer has been born at the San Diego Zoo for the first time in 22 years. These deer, also known as milu, almost went extinct in the 19th century, but zoos saved and bred the survivors. Now 53 herds live in the wild. • LIFE SPAN: About 18 years • HABITAT: Swamps and marshes in China • SIZE: 290 to 440 pounds, up to 7.2 feet long • DIET: Grass and other plants • FUN FACT: Their hooves have webbed toes, making them great swimmers but slow runners.…

Scientists know that the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex once roamed North America, but for many years they have debated where the legendary dinosaur species originally came from. A new study offers evidence that T. rex’s ancestors started in Asia, then crossed a land bridge to North America more than 70 million years ago. Once there, they evolved (changed very slowly over millions of years) into the fearsome creatures they became. T. rex lived between 67 and 66 million years ago, during the late Cretaceous period. The species weighed up to nine tons and measured up to 41 feet long. The majority of T. rex fossils have been found in what is now the northern US, including Montana and South Dakota, and in Canada. For the study, an international team of scientists…

For the first time in 10 years, an American woman won the French Open, one of the four most important international tennis tournaments of the year, known as Grand Slams. In an exciting women’s singles final at Roland Garros stadium in Paris on June 7, Coco Gauff, the number two player in the world, beat the number one player, Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus. Gauff now has two Grand Slam titles. Before the final, Gauff and Sabalenka had faced off 10 times, with each woman winning five matches. Sabalenka had won three of their last four, however. Gauff won her first Grand Slam in 2023 by beating Sabalenka in the final of the US Open. In Paris, the final took place as wind gusts of up to 30 miles per hour…

Coach’s Name: Mike Dalianis Teams: Spartans and Homers (baseball) “Our dad is a great coach, and he makes learning baseball fun. When our teammates listen to his advice, they get a lot better. He’s kind and loves baseball, which makes us love it too. When kids strike out or make a mistake, he always makes them feel better and believe they will do better next time. He never gives up on us and makes us feel like we can win even if it’s a hard game. We feel really lucky that he’s our coach!” William, 9, and Ryan, 8, Virginia 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…

A Wrinkle in Time Madeleine L’Engle’s award-winning sci-fi novel follows 13-year-old Meg Murry on a journey to find her missing scientist father. Over the Moon This animated Netflix musical is about a Chinese girl who wants to prove that the mythical Moon Goddess exists, so she builds a rocket and flies into space to find her. The Astronauts In this TV drama, a group of five middle schoolers are accidentally launched into space. They have to figure out how to operate their spacecraft, work together, and survive challenges so they can make it back home.…

Walking with Dinosaurs (PBS.org) (PBS App) (BBC One) This series uses advanced scientific findings and high-tech visual effects to bring dinosaurs to life. Each episode follows paleontologists uncovering how a dinosaur species lived. The featured animals include a speedy T. rex relative and an enormous Lusotitan. Kids’ Choice Awards (Nickelodeon) June 21 at 8 p.m. ET Popular singer-songwriter Tyla hosts this annual live event celebrating kids’ favorite people and things from movies, TV, music, sports, gaming, and podcasts. Expect celebrity appearances, performances, and slime. Nominees include Gracie Abrams, Shaboozey, and Jordan Chiles. Lost in Starlight (Netflix) Set in 2050 Seoul, South Korea, this new animated film is part of the K-drama genre. It follows aspiring astronaut Nan-young and Jay, a musician. When Nan-young is chosen for a mission to Mars,…

The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon has an exciting, twisty plot that explores themes of responsibility, kindness, and acceptance. Here are questions to get a conversation going with friends and family who have also read the book. How does Jin become more responsible as the story progresses? What do you think the game zuqiu symbolizes? How does the physical appearance of the dragons affect their ability to persuade the other characters? What are the different ways in which Jin and Lulu want their fathers to see them? Did you guess the purpose behind the sculptor’s work? If a statue were to represent your spirit, what mythical figure or animal would you choose?…

Word search Can you find all these words associated with horses? They are hidden horizontally, vertically, or diagonally and can be forward or backward. When you’re done, read the remaining letters to get a bonus message. BREECHES BRIDLE BRONCO COLT CORRAL EQUESTRIAN FILLY FLANK FOAL GALLOP GIDDYUP GIRTH HAY HOOVES HORSESHOES MANE MARE NEIGH OATS PALOMINO  PONY REINS RIDE SADDLE SIRE STABLE STALLION STIRRUPS TAIL TROT WHINNY WHOA FILL IN THE BLANKS Fill in the blanks in each sentence with two words that are the same except for the removed first letter, like BOWL and OWL. (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) 1. These new shoes————— my toes because they’re at least an————too short! 2. Every time that cat—————— our tree, she gets stuck on one of…

After months of political turmoil, voters in South Korea elected Lee Jae-myung as president on June 3. Lee won more than 49% of the vote in a special election to replace the previous leader, who was impeached (removed from office) in April. Supporters said Lee, who began a five-year term on June 4, will bring stability to the nation. In December, former president Yoon Suk Yeol claimed that the country was under threat and instituted martial law (when the military takes control). It was discovered, however, that he was trying to protect his own political career. He was removed from office, and three temporary presidents led the nation until the election. Lee has faced legal issues, such as accusations of corruption (using power for personal gain), but has denied all…

The city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has announced a plan to address one of the worst acts of racial violence in US history, which took place in 1921. What happened in 1921? The Tulsa neighborhood of Greenwood—known as Black Wall Street because it was a thriving area where Black people lived and worked—was devastated in an attack known as the Tulsa Race Massacre. (A massacre is the intentional killing of many people.) On May 30, a Black teenager from Greenwood was arrested for a crime he did not commit in downtown Tulsa. The next night, hundreds of white men attacked Greenwood, killing as many as 300 people and burning more than 1,200 houses, businesses, schools, and churches. No one was ever held responsible. What happened this week? The city held its…

Located on top of a dormant volcano in Oregon, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the US. It formed about 7,700 years ago when an eruption caused the volcano’s peak to collapse. Two islands stand in the lake. One is Wizard Island, which is 763 feet tall and has a hiking trail to the top. Golden-mantled squirrels and American pikas live in surrounding forests, and peregrine falcons and Clark’s nutcrackers nest there. Students visit the park on field trips, and it is a destination for scientific research as well. Visitors can take a boat cruise, camp in the park, or bike around the lake.…

Catherine Macdonald Shark research and conservation director, University of Miami Some species of sharks breathe by moving water over their gills as they swim, so they never stop swimming. But some actually can stop! And when they do, they sink. Many species like to rest on the seafloor. They have muscles that move water over their gills while they sit still. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Learn about the Shark Research & Conservation Program at sharkresearch.earth.miami.edu.…

A refillable ballpoint pen is made of an ultra-strong metal called titanium and intended to last for 100 years and a million clicks. The Dragon Pearl is designed to withstand deep-sea water pressure, the extreme conditions of space, and being dipped in corrosive acid. The pen is weighted toward the front for better balance that reduces hand fatigue, and its extra-long tip allows for smooth, precise writing and drawing. Users can choose different grips and tip types. The Dragon Pearl’s creators said it will be available to purchase later this year.…

The Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine, is honoring the career of a popular children’s book author and illustrator who calls the state home. Upon That Isle in Maine: The Story & Works of Chris Van Dusen is filled with artwork and information about Van Dusen, whose books include The Circus Ship, Hattie and Hudson, and the If I Built series. He is also the illustrator of the Mercy Watson books by Kate DiCamillo and is known for his colorful and cartoony painted artwork. The exhibition was designed by Luke Gates-Milardo. He told The Week Junior that showcasing Van Dusen’s work at the museum made sense because “a lot of his books have been inspired by historic events or the culture and lifestyle of living in Maine.” While planning the…

Mario Kart World is a new arcade racing game that was recently released. It is one of the first big new games for the Nintendo Switch 2. The original Mario Kart game debuted on the Super Nintendo console in 1992, and the series has been a massive hit over the years. The games star iconic plumber Mario and his pals zooming around on colorful, chaotic courses. Mario Kart World takes gamers to places they’ve never been before: outside the race tracks. It is set in a world with explorable regions that have distinct features, courses, and obstacles. Among the areas are a desert, an ice region, and an aquatic region. All the areas are connected, and the game features a big map that helps you navigate. You can go off-roading…

Where did you get the idea for your new book? I collected seeds of ideas for this story for many years. When my family and I were traveling in Shanghai, China, I saw an unusual golden dragon structure in the middle of a freeway. Another time, when we were in Boston, Massachusetts, in Chinatown, I noticed a lion statue holding a ball. From these seeds, my imagination grew! What do you hope kids take from the story? I hope kids remember that a hero isn’t about having the strongest muscles. A hero is someone who tries their best. Did you enjoy writing and drawing as a child? Yes, and in seventh grade, I realized I could make a living doing what I love. My English teacher suggested I enter a…

Ingredients • Round store-bought cookies (such as Nilla Wafers or shortbread)• Cookie icing in assorted colors (red, yellow, and black)• Black nonpareils• Candy eyes Instructions Get ready to decorate by setting up your work area. First, remove the cookies from the package. (The smoother the cookie, the easier it will be to work with, which is why we suggest wafers or shortbread.) Then place individual cookies on a tray or baking sheet to catch icing drips as you work. You can find cookie icing at grocery stores, craft stores, or online. To make the ladybugs 1. Outline the top of the cookies with a red circle and fill in with the red icing. 2. Let set for a few minutes. Use the black cookie icing to fill in the head…

Hot dog hot rods on the go Before the world-famous Indianapolis 500 car race, the Oscar Mayer meat company held its very own motorsports event. At the first-ever Wienie 500, six hot-dog-shaped vehicles known as Wienermobiles zoomed around the track at up to 60 miles per hour. About 80,000 spectators cheered with relish until the wheeled wiener known as Slaw Dog reached the finish line first by about half a bun’s length. A participant said, “You are standing in a moment of hot dog history.” Puppet mother feeds vulture chick The Bronx Zoo in NewYork is using a puppet to raise a king vulture chick. Hatched in February, the baby bird is the first of its kind at the zoo since the 1990s. Since vulture parents don’t always take good…

Enter to win books! This is the second issue of our Summer of Reading campaign! We hope you enjoy our interview with Author Ambassador Grace Lin and a review of her new book, The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon (p23). Our reading challenge continues! Once you’ve read any three books, go to tinyurl.com/TWJUS-ReadingChallenge2025 with an adult to enter our sweepstakes. Five kids will win! All winners will be drawn at random. The deadline to enter is August 8. For our list of “The 50 Books Kids Love Most,” go to kids.theweekjunior.com/summerofreading. 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,…

PUPPY LOVE A pack of sled dog pups is frolicking, cuddling, and snoozing on a puppy cam at Denali National Park in Alaska. The fluffy dogs are part of an important cultural tradition and, when they grow up, will help park rangers. FAMILY FESTIVITIES It was a whirlwind commencement weekend for the Jedson family when mom Allison, her twin sons Ethan and Alex, and her daughter Emily all graduated from the University of Rhode Island. It was a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to graduate with our mom,” Ethan said. A TIMELESS TUNE A catchy song called “Pretty Little Baby” has gone viral after popping up in millions of TikTok videos—but it’s not the work of a young pop singer or up-and-coming artist. The tune was recorded in 1961 by Connie Francis, a…

June 15, 1864 National cemetery is established On June 15, 1864, a national cemetery was established in Arlington, Virginia. It began as a cemetery of 200 acres for burying soldiers who died serving in the Civil War (1861–1865). Today, Arlington National Cemetery has grown to 639 acres. More than 400,000 people are buried there, including people who have served in the military, US Presidents, Supreme Court justices, and astronauts.…

What you need to know • Beaches get destroyed by erosion (gradual wearing away due to natural forces), flooding, or major storms like hurricanes. • Rebuilding beaches means taking sand from one place and putting it on a beach that has been damaged. • In 1956, the US government established a federal program to rebuild damaged beaches. • The US Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for rebuilding beaches. Beaches are more than just a great place to spend a sunny summer day—they’re also vital to the communities and ecosystems (groups of plants and animals that affect one another) around them. In the past few decades, federal, state, and local governments have spent billions of dollars on beach restoration projects on coastlines across the country, some of which have gone…

An Alabama community has rallied to save a beloved population of spotted salamanders. Residents, environmentalists, and students in the city of Homewood, which hosts an annual salamander festival, worked together to prevent a college from building over the creature’s habitat. Spotted salamanders have inhabited the state’s Shades Mountain for at least 60 years. Each spring, the amphibians cross a local road to reach the pools of water where they lay their eggs. But earlier this year, Samford University announced plans for new construction along the road, including sports fields that would intrude on these pools. In response, dozens of Homewood residents sent letters to the city council. “This was the salamander’s habitat first,” 9-year-old Ruby Banta told Inside Climate News. Banta and her friends also held a yard sale in…

The curiously shaped, lighter-than-air vehicle turns 100 years old this year. Discover the story behind this engineering marvel. How the blimp began The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, in Akron, Ohio, built airship parts as early as 1911, when the manufacturer found that the materials for its tires could also make a flexible airship. In 1925, Goodyear introduced its first blimp, named the Pilgrim. It was inflated with helium, which allowed it to float. Its control car, called a gondola, carried a pilot, passenger, and mechanic. Goodyear painted its name on the sides to advertise its brand and developed more blimps. The Enterprise, in 1934, featured a larger envelope (the balloon-like part) that became standard for later models. The blimp’s role during WWII When the US entered World War II…

Experts have developed a program that uses artificial intelligence (AI, when a computer imitates human learning) to assess a patient’s health by looking at a photograph of their face. Every person has a chronological age based on their date of birth. But people also have what doctors call a biological age, which is based on their environment, lifestyle, family history, and health issues. Doctors use biological age to predict a patient’s health outcomes and set treatment plans for diseases such as cancer. For example, a patient with a low biological age could be given a stronger form of treatment than their chronological age alone would indicate. Traditionally, doctors have figured out a patient’s biological age by assessing how they look and move. This “eyeball test,” however, isn’t always accurate. FaceAge…

2025 THE MILKY WAY PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS…

From May 29 to June 6, the Women’s College World Series (WCWS) was held at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The finals, which began on June 4, were a best-of-three-game series between the University of Texas and Texas Tech University. The teams split the first two games. Then, on June 6, Texas won the deciding game by a score of 10–4 to earn their first-ever softball national title. The Division 1 softball championship tournament began in May with 64 teams. Texas was seeded (ranked) sixth, while Texas Tech was number 12. Eight teams made it to the WCWS, including the second-seeded University of Oklahoma, who were seeking their fifth straight championship. However, Texas Tech, who were playing in their first WCWS, beat them on June 2, knocking them out…

Disney and Pixar, the studios that created films such as Inside Out 2, Turning Red, and Luca, are bringing a new animated film to the big screen. Elio follows the misadventure of an alien-obsessed boy whose wish to leave Earth unexpectedly comes true. It arrives in theaters on June 20. In the film, Elio (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) is an imaginative 11-year-old who feels like an outsider. He dreams of being abducted by aliens so he can live in a world where he is more accepted. After aliens hear a message he sends into space, he’s beamed up to an interplanetary organization called the Communiverse. Among the aliens he meets is Glordon, the sweet son of a warlord, and the pair become friends. Domee Shi, who directed Turning Red, was…

Little Lunch (Netflix, Prime Video, byutv.org) “This show is based on a book series by Danny Katz. It is a mockumentary (a funny, fake documentary) about elementary school kids Atticus, Debra-Jo, Rory, Melanie, Tamara, and Battie. They tell stories about different things that happened at school. In one episode, Tamara gets mad at Melanie for trying to use the monkey bars. In another episode, their teacher tries to rescue a boy stuck on the playground equipment, but she gets stuck herself! I like this show because it’s funny, and I like the adventures the characters have, too. I hope you like this show like I do!” Ava, 9, New Jersey Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

By Grace Lin (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) This vibrantly illustrated story weaves together modern and classic Chinese folklore to create a new magical adventure. Spirits live inside the lion statues that guard the gate to the human world and protect an important object called the Sacred Sphere. Jin, a stone lion cub, thinks being a guardian to humans is boring. He’d rather be playing zuqiu, a game that’s similar to soccer. One day, Jin kicks the zuqiu ball, and it knocks the Sacred Sphere off its pedestal, sending it rolling into the human world. Jin chases after it, but he can’t catch it. The sphere falls into the hands of a mysterious sculptor who is being manipulated by a sinister dragon. Devastating dust storms and earthquakes occur in…

With so many movies available to see, it can be difficult to decide which ones to watch. When you do settle in for a film, it can also be challenging to stay focused on the screen if you’re getting interrupted by distractions. But there are ways you can enjoy movies more. Here’s how to get started. Check out reviews To select a film, start by asking friends or family for their recommendations. Another way to find movies to watch is to read reviews from professional film critics and movie audiences, such as those on the website Rotten Tomatoes (rottentomatoes.com). If you’re worried that a movie might be too scary or mature for you, check out Common Sense Media (commonsensemedia.org), where you can sort movie suggestions by age range and read…

If you’re going to a beach this summer, keep the environment and wildlife in mind. Last fall, teen volunteers from Punahou High School in Oahu, Hawaii, collected 1,100 pounds of trash from a local beach in a single day. Before you go home at the end of the day, take a look around to make sure you aren’t accidentally leaving behind food wrappers or other trash. It can end up in the ocean and harm marine life. Other ways to help: If you come across crabs or turtles, watch from a distance without disturbing them. Keep dogs on leashes to protect beach-nesting birds, and stay away from any eggs you find.…

Movie night is a favorite activity in my family, so I was happy to see the story on expanding your film horizons in this week’s How To section (p24). The article offers great advice on choosing films to watch, trying new genres you might not have thought of, and making movie-watching more fun. I have one more suggestion, inspired by our story about this year’s Tony Awards (p3): Look for Broadway shows you can watch from home. Many productions—including Hamilton, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and Good Night, and Good Luck, which earned five Tony nominations this year—can be found on streaming services or on demand. It’s amazing to see a theater performance in person, but it’s also wonderful to view it from home and discuss it with family…

“I took the ice bucket challenge because it’s important to increase people’s understanding of mental health issues.” Lilly, 11, Missouri “I participated in the ice bucket challenge with support from my siblings.” Harry, 10, Connecticut “The ice bucket challenge gave me a burst of energy, just like when The Week Junior arrives in our mailbox!” Rosie, 11, Wisconsin…

Teacher’s Name: Ms. Gardea School: Mesita Elementary School “Ms. Gardea is an amazing teacher because she makes learning so much fun! She has a great sense of humor and always has the class laughing as we learn. She’s also very talented because she teaches our bilingual class in both Spanish and English! The projects she leads us in are also very interesting. She even helped us publish a book of classroom poetry. She is the best teacher ever!”Evelyn, 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.…

1 Residents of which Alabama city worked together to help save spotted salamanders? a) Huntsville b) Homewood c) Hartselle a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 2 In the animated film Elio, the main character is beamed to an interplanetary organization called what? 3 True or false? A recent study found that ancestors of T. rex came to North America from Africa. True ☐ False ☐ 4 What is the control car of a blimp called? 5 May be Happy Ending is the first musical from which country to win a Tony Award? a) China b) Japan c) SouthKorea a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 6 True or false? American gymnast Frederick Richard recently set a new world record for doing the most cartwheels in 24 hours. True ☐ False ☐ 7…

The Week Junior invites our readers to jump into a summer of super adventures through our Summer of Reading challenge. Reading can take kids anywhere they can think of. They can be the hero of a thousand stories, this summer and beyond. Bring along a friend, create a summer book club, or give a gift of The Week Junior and treat another child to a summer of reading adventures. Makes a great gift! To order a 25 weekly issue subscription of The Week Junior and save 66%, visit theweekjunior.com/smartfun SUBSCRIBE TO JOIN THE FUN…