Innehållsförteckning för Issue 271 från The Week Junior US

In recent days, the US has faced major political upheaval and division. A military parade took place in the nation’s capital on the same day that millions of people gathered around the US to protest President Donald Trump’s policies. Meanwhile, California fought the federal government on immigration policy and a tragedy shook the state of Minnesota. What was the parade? On June 14, a military parade in Washington, DC, marked 250 years since the creation of the US Army. The day was also Trump’s 79th birthday. A parade like this, which is typically held in the US only to celebrate victory in war or a return of military personnel, had not taken place in the nation’s capital for more than 30 years. Trump looked on as 128 armored tanks rolled…

After the Department of Defense announced its intention to rename the USNS Medgar Evers and seven other US military ships that honor activists, the Evers family urged the government to reverse its decision. The ship was named for Evers (1925–1963), a World War II veteran and civil rights leader, in 2009. His daughter, Reena Evers-Everette, called the idea to rename it“an injustice to a man who fought for his country both at home and abroad.”…

What you need to know • Leather, which most often comes from cows, is a material made by treating animal skins with chemicals in a process called tanning. • Leather is used to make many items, including shoes, jackets, bags, belts, furniture, and sports equipment. • The leather industry has been criticized for its treatment of animals and effect on the environment. • Synthetic leather sales are predicted to double by 2032. Synthetic leather is made from non-animal materials. People have used leather for thousands of years, from clothing made by early humans to modern car seats and shoes. However, leather alternatives are becoming more popular, as people seek materials that look and feel like leather but don’t come from an animal. Synthetic leather has its advantages, but it is…

Over the past 30 years, the number of walls and other barriers that have been installed to stop humans from moving between countries has increased. A recent study has found that these barriers also have an impact on wildlife. The study looked at a 115-mile-long wall that Poland set up along its border with Belarus in 2022. The wall sliced through a forest and separated populations of bison, elk, lynx, and wolves. Researchers found that the wall stopped larger animals from moving freely through the forest. Animals wouldn’t approach the wall because they were afraid of it. The researchers placed 36 cameras along the wall for more than a year, and lynx appeared only twice. Another study published this year showed that border walls interfere with the ranges of more…

Rebecca Roland Public affairs specialist, National Park Service Hagfish slime and spider silk are both made of proteins that are tightly lined up. Spider silk is five times stronger than steel, so in theory, pencil-thin strands could stop a speeding train. Hagfish slime, which is made up of flexible strands that are thinner than human hair, is even stronger. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the National Park Service at nps.gov.…

The new Ring Mouse combines fashion and technology. It connects to a phone, laptop, or tablet through Bluetooth and lets users scroll, swipe, click, and tap with a flick. With two buttons and a mini touchpad, people can take photos, zoom, search, or navigate in any direction. The handy device comes in stainless steel or titanium and is waterproof, so it can be worn while washing hands or taking a shower. Ring Mouse powers up quickly and runs for up to 10 hours on a single charge. Its creators said it will be available to consumers soon.…

From June 12 to June 15, the 125th US Open Championship, one of golf’s four major tournaments, took place at Oakmont Country Club in Plum, Pennsylvania. The winner was American JJ Spaun, who pulled off an impressive comeback to secure his first career major title. Oakmont is ranked as the toughest course on the PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association) Tour. It has several features that make it challenging. For example, the grass on its greens (the areas around each hole) is so short that balls roll on it as if they were on ice. The course also has 175 sand traps, including a massive one that spans 26,000 feet. Spaun entered the final day in a tie for second place, one stroke behind the leader, Sam Braun, a fellow American. However,…

The Morton Arboretum, an outdoor museum of trees located near Chicago, Illinois, is hosting a new art exhibition that mixes nature and imagination. Vivid Creatures features five colorful large-scale animal sculptures by artists Fez BeGaetz and Heather BeGaetz that are placed across the grounds. The sculptures are modeled after a fox squirrel, blue dasher dragonfly, white the arboretum, told The Week Junior that each creature comes with its own story about how it lives and what it represents. “The big message is: Everything in nature is connected,” she said. The arboretum staff found the Portland, Oregon–based artists online and invited them for a visit. “They were really inspired by what they saw—especially the animals,” Scott said. They worked with a small team in their studio to create the sculptures, which…

Oddballs (Netflix) “This is one of my favorite TV shows. It revolves around James, a bubble-shaped animated character that originated on the popular YouTube channel TheOdd1sOut. The show follows James and his talking crocodile best friend, Max, as they go on hilarious and wacky adventures. Along the way, they meet Echo, a girl from the future who travels back in time on a mission to find junk food. There are two seasons of the series so far, and when I finished them, I wanted a third season so badly! If you like laughs and action, this is the perfect show for you!” Chris, 11, New York Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

By Pablo Cartaya (Kokila) Gonzalo’s grandfather writes a best-selling fantasy book series for kids, but Gonzalo has never read a word of it. His grandfather, Alberto, is often grouchy and prefers to be alone. But to promote the final book in a series, Alberto decides to go on tour, and he takes Gonzalo with him. Alberto soon fires their driver and gets behind the wheel of his blue 1968 convertible. While traveling from California to Florida, Gonzalo begins reading Alberto’s books. He also starts to talk about the death of his father, who was an environmental scientist. When Alberto stops to see friends, Gonzalo learns about his grandfather’s childhood in Cuba, and he notices connections between his grandfather’s life and what he writes about in his books. After they have…

Nature photography is about capturing the many natural wonders beyond your door. All you need is a camera—or a device with a camera—to document what you find. You won’t have to look far for subjects to shoot. “Just stepping outside into nature—and seeing birds or insects or stars—will give you inspiration,” professional nature photographer Angela Ledyard told The Week Junior. Here’s how to get started. Pick a setting First, choose where you want to take nature photos. “You can start with a yard or a local park,” says Ledyard. You could shoot local wildlife like squirrels, take close-ups of flowers, or zoom in on interesting details like raindrops on a leaf. As you get more experience, you can work up to larger settings, like a nature preserve or a state…

Technology’s towering achievement The tallest 3D-printed building in the world has opened in Switzerland. Tor Alva, which means “white tower” in the local Romansh language, is 98.5 feet tall. To produce its 32 intertwined columns, a robot squeezed out thousands of layers of concrete, and another machine created steel reinforcements. Visitors can climb the building’s spiral staircase to enjoy 360-degree views of the village of Mulegns, which has 11 residents. Soon, theatrical performances will be held in a theater inside the tower. Epic voyage with a feline first mate Oliver Widger has completed what he called“the journey of a lifetime.” In April, the 29-year-old set sail from Oregon with his pet cat, Phoenix. Widger had taught himself how to sail with the help of YouTube videos, hoping to travel around…

“I wrote a book to help combat weight stigma and weight-based stereotypes in our communities. The book is titled Love Yourself, and it follows a bold, brave, and beautiful plus-size girl as she embarks upon a journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and self-love. I wanted to show the power of self-confidence and resilience when facing challenges like teasing and discrimination. If I could send any message to readers, it would be to love yourself fully because you are perfect exactly as you are.” Have you done something interesting or raised money for a cause you care about? Whatever you’re up to, we want to hear about it at hello@theweekjunior.com. RIDDLE OFTHE WEEK What can be thrown but not caught? A party…

“I made the pepperoni pizza pepper poppers and they turned out super yummy. Thanks for the great recipe!” Caleb, 7, California “Seeing the cover of The Week Junior made me want to play basketball. Feeling inspired!”Vera, 9, New York “I took The Week Junior on a road trip to the beach!”Gus, 10, Utah…

Fighting has broken out between Israel and Iran, two countries in the Middle East with a long history of hostility. The conflict began on June 13. Israel launched an attack on Iran, which responded with an assault on Israel. The nations continued to trade fire, and tensions escalated. Israel said it was acting in self-defense to prevent Iran from developing powerful nuclear weapons that could be used against Israel and other countries. Israel’s initial attack killed top Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists. On June 16, Israel bombed Iran’s government-operated TV broadcaster. More than 220 people have died in Iran, and 24 have died in Israel. Iran has denied making the weapons and said its nuclear program is used only for peaceful purposes, like generating electricity. Iran also said it…

The US Supreme Court (nation’s highest court of law) has ruled that students with disabilities can use the courts to enforce their right to a fair education. The justices were unanimous (all in agreement) in their decision, ruling 9–0 in favor of a student in the case of AJT v. Osseo Area Schools. What was the case? Ava Tharpe, a teenager with serious disabilities caused by a rare form of a brain disorder called epilepsy, and her parents filed a lawsuit (legal dispute) against Osseo Area Schools in 2020. The family argued that the school district, located in Minnesota, should repay the money they spent on Ava’s education before her instructional needs were met. When the Tharpes first moved to Minnesota, Ava received 65% of the classroom instruction other students…

The new live-action remake of the 2002 animated classic Lilo & Stitch premiered on May 23 and quickly became the biggest hit of the summer so far. It set a Memorial Day weekend record with $183 million in US ticket sales and continues to dominate theaters. Chris Sanders, who co-wrote and co-directed the original film with Dean DeBlois, voiced Stitch and stepped back into the role for the remake. Growing up in a creative family in Colorado Springs, Sanders loved to draw. He was a cartoonist for his high school newspaper, and he graduated from the animation program at the California Institute of the Arts in 1984. Sanders has since worked on numerous animated classics, including Mulan (1998), How to Train Your Dragon (2010), and The Croods (2013). Recently, he…

When it’s time for a snack, a flamingo bends down and sticks its head underwater to snap up tasty morsels like algae and shrimp. From above, the process may look calm, but a new study has revealed what is actually going on under the surface: The birds are creating swirling, tornado-like vortexes of water to trap their prey. Victor Ortega Jiménez became interested in flamingos while watching their behavior at a zoo. “Flamingos are actually predators,” Jiménez explained. “They are actively looking for animals that are moving in the water, and the problem they face is how…to pull them together and feed.” Capturing prey is especially challenging for flamingos because they often eat tiny, fast-moving creatures such as brine shrimp and microscopic crustaceans called copepods. Jiménez teamed up with other…

Trees in Hawaii After major wildfires in 2023, volunteers and businesses in Hawaii have helped restore the land by growing trees through the Treecovery Hawaii project. The initiative has cultivated 6,200 trees, including local species like the wiliwili (above). Bananas Rising temperatures, extreme weather, and pests are affecting the growth of bananas, the world’s most consumed fruit, across Latin America and the Caribbean. Research suggests these areas may no longer be able to grow bananas by 2080.…

Peaches are a sweet staple of summer in the US. But they originated many miles away. What is a peach? Peaches are small- to medium-sized round stone fruits, which means they have a fleshy, edible exterior and a hard, stone-like pit with a seed inside. The fruit comes from a pink flowering tree and has a fuzzy red-orange to yellow exterior and flesh that can be yellow, white, or red. (A peach with smooth, fuzz-free skin is called a nectarine.) Scientists say peach fuzz protects the fruit’s skin from insects and provides insulation to keep the moisture inside from drying out. Late spring through late summer is considered the prime growing season for peaches. They are high in fiber and a good source of vitamins A and C. Roots in…

Designers released a prototype (test model) of a 3D-printed wheelchair for kids that could increase availability to the young people who need them. Wheelchairs can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, putting them out of reach for many families. MakeGood is a nonprofit in New Orleans, Louisiana, that builds adaptive devices and works to make everyday life more inclusive through design. Examples of MakeGood’s products include a cuff that makes it easier for someone to hold a phone and palm devices to help people hold a pen or pencil. MakeGood has made wheelchairs for kids before, but this is the first to be entirely 3D-printable. Every part of the toddler mobility trainer (TMT), including its seat, tires, and straps, can be printed. This not only makes the chair more widely…

FIFA, the global governing body for soccer, has kicked off a new competition. The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup began on June 14 and is being played at 12 stadiums across the US. It is similar to the World Cup but features 32 professional club teams from 20 countries. The championship final is scheduled for July 13 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Club World Cup replaces a competition that was held annually for a small group of regional champions. Now the teams in the tournament come from six global confederations: the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and the Confederation of North, Central America,…

Coach’s Name: Dennis Flores Team: Zeus (swimming) “Coach Dennis is a really great coach! He teaches us how to work hard and persevere. Before a swim meet, he always gives us a pep talk and lifts our spirits. I’m new to the team, but I always feel like I’m part of something special—a family. Zeus is a welcoming place, and I love it there. Dennis isn’t just teaching us to swim, he’s also helping us enjoy it. I’m proud that my team is in the top 10 of all Connecticut teams, and I love having Dennis as my coach.” Meera, 9, Connecticut 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…

Paddington in Peru (Netflix) The third film in the Paddington franchise is now streaming. In this adventure, the marmala-deloving bear returns to his homeland of Peru with the Brown family to search for his missing Aunt Lucy. In the process, they must uncover the secrets of the legendary lost city of El Dorado. The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (Max) Looney Tunes characters Porky Pig and Daffy Duck famously do not get along, but after their antics at a bubble gum factory lead them to discover an alien mind-control plot, they work together and become unlikely heroes. Ironheart (Disney+) In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Riri Williams is a brilliant teen inventor who builds high-tech suits of armor. The character was introduced in the film Black Panther:…

A family road trip comes to life in A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation. This adventure is full of laughs while also delving into themes of belonging. Here are questions to get a conversation going with friends and family who have also read the book. Were you surprised that Gonzalo hadn’t read his grandfather’s books? What was the turning point in Gonzalo and Alberto’s relationship? How is Gonzalo able to express the grief he feels over the loss of his father on the road trip? How did Gonzalo’s mom change the dynamic of the road trip? If you’ve been on a road trip, what part of the book did you most relate to? Does Alberto’s fantasy book series remind you of any you’ve read in real life? If so, which…

Do you enjoy taking photographs of plants, flowers, trees, and wildlife? When you’re outdoors, are you often trying to capture the amazing beauty of the natural world? If so, now is your chance to use your creativity, curiosity, and skills to enter The Week Junior’s annual Nature Photo Contest. How to enter • Consider the judging criteria. Submissions will be judged on quality (clear, well-composed photographs that aren’t blurry), originality (the use of creativity and imagination through the camera lens), and how well they reflect the nature theme and The Week Junior. Entries must be original and not generated or altered by artificial intelligence. • Choose one photo to enter. Only one photograph per entrant is allowed. • Fill out this form. With a parent, complete an entry form and…

When I read the story about the incredible efforts scientists are making to save the northern white rhinoceros from extinction, I knew it would make an intriguing cover story for The Week Junior (p14). After all, the northern white rhino is one of the rarest animals on Earth. There are only two left, and they’re both female, which means the species will die out unless urgent action is taken. That’s where the scientists come in. Using cutting-edge technology and rhinoceros cells that were frozen years ago, they are trying to revive the population. It will take time to know whether they are successful—but for now, there is hope for the rhinos as well as other species in danger. “We’re getting closer to being able to rescue animals that otherwise might…

Enter to win books! This is the third issue of our Summer of Reading campaign! We hope you enjoy our interview with Author Ambassador Pablo Cartaya and a review of his new book A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation (p23). Our reading challenge continues! Once you’ve finished 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, and…

Teacher’s Name: Mrs. Langtry School: Bennie Elementary School “I’d like to nominate my second-grade teacher because she cares about everyone’s education. Mrs. Langtry is funny and tells us it’s OK to make mistakes. She also reminds us to be quiet when some people are loud. She helps me with math after school, and she cares about me. Mrs. Langry wants us all to be successful.”Victoria, 8, Michigan 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 What are Kosciuszko National Park staff feeding mountain pygmy possums to replace a lost food source? 2 True or false? Chris Sanders originally came up with the idea for Lilo & Stitch as a children’s book. True ☐ False ☐ 3 The Vivid Creatures exhibition is at an arboretum in which state? a) Indiana b) Iowa c) Illinois a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 4 How many northern white rhinos are left on Earth? a) 2 b) 20 c) 200 a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 5 True or false? Peaches originally came from Persia. True ☐ False ☐ 6 The islands in the game Survival Kids are on the backs of giant creatures called what? 7 The popular musical group Kidz Bop has been around since what year?…

A GIGANTIC GAME A total of 1,423 children and family members in Anaheim, California, set a record for the largest game of Red Light, Green Light. Local police officers and firefighters also joined in. “My face hurt from smiling,” said an onlooker. A SURPRISING FIND More than 1,000 rare gold coins found hidden in the wall of a house in France sold for $3.48 million at auction. Their owner, who died last year at age 89, had built the collection over his lifetime and kept it stashed away. Some of the coins were more than 2,300 years old. HANDWRITTEN NOTES All 443 graduates of Mansfield Summit High School in Texas received a special gift from principal Jason Mutterer: a personalized, handwritten note highlighting their achievements and a $1 bill. He…

June 26, 2015 Same-sex marriage ruled legal On June 26, 2015, the US Supreme Court (the nation’s highest court) ruled that people of the same sex have the right to marry each other in all 50 states. In a 5–4 decision in the case, called Obergefell v. Hodges, the justices said it was a violation of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution (nation’s highest law) for the government to ban same-sex marriage or refuse to recognize same-sex unions.…

This national park is made up of a collection of separate areas, including Mount Fuji, Hakone, the Izu Islands, and the Fuji Five Lakes. Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins swim in the park’s coastal waters, while Japanese clawed salamanders can be found in its forests and rivers. It is the most visited park in Japan. Many locals go there to enjoy the light pink blooms of sansho-bara (“prickly ash rose”) in the spring and summer, and in fall visitors can see the purple flowers of the Fuji thistle, whose edible roots can be pickled with miso paste.…

There are two northern white rhinoceroses left on Earth: a female named Najin and her daughter, Fatu. Without males, the animals cannot reproduce naturally, which means the species is on the brink of dying out. To address that problem, scientists are using DNA (a complex chemical that carries instructions for how a living thing should grow and develop) to try to breed more of the rhinos. In a major step toward that goal, they have created a genome of the species. This is a complete set of the animal’s genes, which is like an instruction manual for how it should grow. Years ago, scientists collected cell samples containing DNA from nine northern white rhinos that have since died. Using advanced genetic technology, researchers converted some of those cells into stem…

The popular group Kidz Bop recently kicked off their Kidz Bop Live Certified BOP Tour, which will run until the beginning of September and stop in more than 40 cities across the US. It features four current members of the group—Aleah, Cliff, Matty, and Shila—performing songs that include covers of Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” and Chappell Roan’s “Hot to Go!” Kidz Bop has been around since 2001 and is known for singing family-friendly versions of popular songs. The Kidz Bop members change periodically, and new ones are chosen out of thousands who audition as part of nationwide casting calls. More than 24 million Kidz Bop albums have been sold, and the group has more than 5 billion YouTube video views. Kidz Bop 50, the most recent album, was released this spring.…

Survival Kids is a new co-op survival game. It was recently released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. The original Survival Kids was released for Nintendo’s Game Boy Color in 1999 and was followed by sequels on the Game Boy and other platforms. A spin-off series, Lost in Blue, was later released on other Nintendo platforms. This is the first Survival Kids game since 2008, giving the franchise the chance to put a fresh spin on a familiar story. In the game, four kids set sail on a rickety boat that gets blown off course, leaving them shipwrecked. The action is set on four big deserted islands, which are on the backs of giant creatures called Whurtles. Each island has many levels, which are packed with challenges and puzzles to…

How did the story evolve? I handed in my first draft in 2020, and it was a very different book than it is now. It didn’t even have a road-trip element. My editor told me that any first draft doesn’t have to be good. It’s more important to get your ideas down. Were you nervous when the book was due? I was scared to turn in my final manuscript. I thought people wouldn’t like it. I was relieved when I got an amazing response! What was a defining moment in your life? I was a performer before I was a writer, and I acted in television shows. One day, a casting director suggested I change my name because I didn’t look like I was Cuban. I did use a different…

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 Result you get when you add numbers 4 What Wile E. Coyote often falls off while chasing the Road Runner 7 It’s found in honeycombs and ears 8 Creature whose name starts with the Latin word for“eight” 9 A genie’s home before he is summoned 11 Passageways between theater seats 13 Einstein-level thinker 14 Someone older than 12 but not yet 20 17 Colorful sighting in the daylight sky 18 Container for jelly or pickles 19 Technology using sound waves to find objects 20 The duplicate that makes a pair DOWN 1 Beach item to lie on 2 Extra…

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. To order a 25 weekly issue subscription of The Week Junior and save 66%, visit theweekjunior.com/smartfun Makes a great gift! SUBSCRIBE TO JOIN THE FUN…