Innehållsförteckning för Issue 297/298 från The Week Junior US

US leadership changes On January 20, Donald Trump was sworn in as the nation’s 47th President in a ceremony in Washington, DC. The inauguration marked the transfer of power from former President Joe Biden to Trump, who also served as the 45th President (2017–2021). At the ceremony, the incoming President and Vice President swore an oath to uphold the US Constitution (nation’s highest law). The ceremony usually takes place on the steps of the US Capitol, but this year’s event was held inside the building in a room called the Rotunda due to cold temperatures of about 27° F. The last time the event was held indoors was in 1985, when Ronald Reagan was sworn in for a second term and temperatures dropped to 7° F. As about 600 people…

Woolly mice with thick, golden-brown hair were created by scientists at a company called Colossal Biosciences, who edited the animals’ genes (short sections of DNA, a chemical that carries all the instructions for how a living thing should grow and develop). Colossal created the mice as a step toward their larger goal of bringing a version of the extinct woolly mammoth to life. The scientists hope to do that by editing the genes of Asian elephants, the mammoths’ closest living relative. For practical purposes, they tested the process on mice rather than elephants. Woolly mammoths had thick fur and pockets of fat that kept them warm in frigid temperatures. To re-create those features in mice, scientists “switched off” or changed genes related to their fur’s texture, length, and color, as…

Dodgers win World Series For the second year in a row, the Los Angeles Dodgers are Major League Baseball’s champions. On November 1, in a thrilling winner-take-all Game 7 of the World Series, they beat the Toronto Blue Jays to become the first repeat champions since 2000. The Dodgers delivered many unforgettable moments in the series. Game 2 featured a standout complete-game performance by Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Game 3 was a historic contest that lasted 18 innings—twice as long as usual. After six hours and 39 minutes, Dodgers star Freddie Freeman hit a game-ending home run for the win. A second superb outing by Yamamoto helped the Dodgers win Game 6. The next day in Game 7, he returned to the mound in the ninth inning with the…

BEST ADVENTURE STORY The Trouble with Heroes By Kate Messner (Bloomsbury) Packed with emotion, this story is about a boy’s quest to climb 46 peaks in New York’s Adirondack Mountains. When he begins, he’s defiant and grieving the loss of his father, a hero firefighter. As he conquers each peak with a dog that belongs to a famous local hiker, his anger starts to fade. Ages 8 and up BEST ANIMAL STORY Pocket Bear By Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Charles Santoso (Feiwel & Friends) In this historically inspired tale, a cat rescues what may be one of the world’s first stuffed bears from the trash. When an evil collector arrives and senses the bear’s value, the cat, as well as Pocket Bear, another character, hatch a plan to outsmart him.…

The US government reopened on November 12 after being closed for 43 days—the nation’s longest shutdown. It had begun when Congress (the branch of government that makes laws) couldn’t agree on the annual budget. The shutdown affected millions of Americans, including more than 700,000 essential government employees who had to work without pay. Funding was also suspended for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food assistance for about 42 million people. The first step to ending the shutdown was for the Senate (one half of Congress) to pass a budget. Democrats rejected the Republican-led bill 14 times because it lacked funding for health-care subsidies (benefits). Without the subsidies, Democrats said, health-care costs would rise significantly for more than 20 million people. On November 10, eight Democrats joined with…

“I decided to have fun with this bee, and I did well, and here I am.” Faizan Zaki On May 29, Faizan Zaki, a 13-year-old from Texas, won the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee, which celebrated its 100th year. Zaki, who began competing in the bee at age 7, came in second place in 2024. During this year’s competition, he drew notice for his energetic stage presence, including a moment when he called a bee official“bro.” He won in the 21st round after correctly spelling the word “éclaircissement,” which means“a clearing up of something that is difficult to understand.” He won $52,500, much of which he planned to give to charity. Misty Copeland Misty Copeland, the first Black female principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), gave her final…

Growing numbers of peregrine falcons appear to be successfully living in big cities in the US, the Associated Press reported. Conservationists see this as a promising sign because peregrine populations in other parts of the country have been declining as the avian flu has spread among many types of birds. Falcons on the coasts are especially vulnerable since their prey—waterfowl such as ducks and geese—tend to gather in large groups, which makes it easier for the disease to spread. Peregrines living in cities have not been as affected by bird flu. These resourceful birds have established homes on buildings, bridges, and other structures. Some falcons that hatch in cities are now moving to shoreline areas as they grow up, which could also help coastal populations bounce back. “Wildlife can really…

Fossil revises evolution The timeline of bird evolution was rewritten this year with the study of a prehistoric bird that lived 150 million years ago. Called Baminornis zhenghensis, it is likely the oldest bird ever discovered and the second bird known to have lived during the Jurassic period. The first, called Archaeopteryx, was found in Germany. Half bird and half reptile, Archaeopteryx had so many dinosaur-like features that it helped scientists determine that birds evolved from dinosaurs. For more than 150 years after Archaeopteryx was found, however, no other birds from that period were discovered, leaving a gap in knowledge about bird evolution. Scientists knew other flying birds must have existed, and B. zhenghensis finally offered proof. Archaeopteryx and B. zhenghensis had key differences. Archaeopteryx was about the size of…

In January, Latin music star Bad Bunny released his sixth studio album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos (translation: “I Should Have Taken More Photos”), and kicked off a year of major achievements. The album debuted at number one, and all 17 tracks eventually landed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Over the summer, the singer had a two-month series of sold-out concerts in Puerto Rico, his home island, which brought an estimated $733 million to the local economy. In November, he was nominated for six Grammy Awards and became the first Spanish-language artist to be up for Best Album, Record, and Song nominations in one year. That followed a big success at the Latin Grammys, where he was up for 12 awards—the most of any artist this year—and won five, including…

Donkey Kong Bananza is a platforming adventure game that was released in July exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2. It has been so popular that it became one of the best-selling games on that platform this year. The first Donkey Kong game came out in 1981 and featured the Mario character (then called Jumpman) trying to rescue his girlfriend, Pauline, from Donkey Kong. In the new game, Pauline is reinvented as a 13-year-old singer. The game is set on Ingot Isle, where apes have just struck gold. DK, as he is often called, is there to get his hands on golden bananas, which are broken into Banandium gems, but he ends up getting sucked underground during a storm. Even worse, thieving monkeys who are part of the evil Void Company…

MANGO ICY Ingredients ● 2 cups frozen mango● 4 teaspoons honey● Juice of 2 limes● Lime wedges, for garnish (optional)● Chili lime seasoning, for garnish (optional) Instructions 1. Combine mango, honey, and lime juice in a blender with 1½ cups ice and ½ cup water. Blend until smooth. If needed, add water 1 tablespoon at a time to get desired consistency. 2. Evenly divide between two glasses and garnish each with a lime wedge and a sprinkle of chili lime seasoning, if using. Drink immediately. Makes 2 servings. WARNING! Ask an adult’s permission before using a knife, oven, stove, mixer, or blender. EVERYTHING BAGEL PASTA WITH CHEESE AND BROCCOLI Ingredients ● 1 large broccoli crown, cut into florets● 12 ounces cavatappi pasta● 1⅓ cups ricotta● ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese●…

Calendar crisscrosses These three crisscrosses are all about the calendar: One for holidays ending with “Day,” one for the four seasons, and one for the 12 months. The words you’ll need for all three grids are combined in the list below. Can you find where they all go to complete the grids? ANSWERS CAN BEFOUND ONPAGE 37. Holidays ending with “Day” 3 letters MAY TAX 4 letters FLAG JULY JUNE 5 letters APRIL ARBOR EARTH LABOR MARCH MLK JR. 6 letters AUGUST AUTUMN SPRING SUMMER WINTER 7 letters FATHER’S JANUARY MOTHER’S OCTOBER 8 letters DECEMBER ELECTION FEBRUARY MEMORIAL NEW YEAR’S NOVEMBER VETERANS 9 letters CHRISTMAS GROUNDHOG SEPTEMBER 10 letters APRIL FOOLS’ PRESIDENTS’ VALENTINE’S 12 letters INDEPENDENCE THANKSGIVING The four seasons The 12 months DETAILS, DETAILS Six pieces have been removed…

It’s been a spectacular year for The Week Junior. We celebrated our fifth anniversary, and we have more readers than ever before. You wrote us letters, sent us photos, nominated teachers and coaches, shared your recommendations, and entered our contests in record numbers. Our mailbox was always full, and we loved hearing from you! Our editorial, art, photo, and production teams stayed very busy covering the most important stories in national and international news (p2–5), animals and science (p8–11), sports and arts (p14–17), and much more. We profiled fascinating people (p6–7), reviewed video games (p18) and middle-grade books (p19), offered recipe and craft ideas (p20–23), and shared unbelievable tales to make you smile (p32–33). We also challenged you with puzzles (p26–31) and quizzes (p38) to test your brain power! We…

1 A recent study found that the population of tigers doubled over a period of 12 years in which country? a) India b) Iran c) Indonesia a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 2 True or false? French police have recovered the jewels stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris. True ☐ False ☐ 3 This year’s Presidential inauguration was the first held indoors since what year? a) 1965 b) 1985 c) 2005 a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 4 What is the title of Taylor Swift’s recordbreaking 12th studio album? 5 Scientists determined that a 150-million-year-old bird called Baminornis zhenghensis lived during which prehistoric period? a) Cretaceous b) Triassic c) Jurassic a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 6 True or false? Baseball player Yoshinobu Yamamoto was named the Most Valuable…

On March 18, two astronauts from NASA (the US space agency) came back to Earth after technical problems turned an eight-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) into an extended stay of 286 days. Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore traveled to the ISS in June 2024 aboard the Starliner spacecraft, which was made by Boeing, an aerospace company. Their mission was to test Starliner to make sure it was safe for human crew members. During the trip, however, the spacecraft leaked helium gas and had problems with its thrusters, which are used to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. Williams and Wilmore safely arrived at the ISS, but NASA engineers on the ground weren’t sure Starliner could carry them back to Earth. So the pair stayed at the ISS, and Starliner traveled…

Global leaders are working to negotiate an end to two wars, one in Eastern Europe and the other in the Middle East. The war in Ukraine began in February 2022 after Russia invaded its neighboring country. The US proposed a peace plan in November, calling for an immediate ceasefire and for Ukraine to give up land that Russia has seized, as well as some that is still held by Ukraine. Under the plan, Ukraine would not be able to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, a military alliance of 32 nations). The US would guarantee, however, that Ukraine would receive military support if Russia invaded it again. Ukraine and Russia said they would continue to fight over the land, and Ukraine called for stronger security guarantees from the US.…

Tigers rebound in India The population of tigers in India has doubled over a period of 12 years, a new study found. 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 India. Tigers once lived across much of Asia, but in the past 100 years, their range has been reduced by 93% because of poaching (illegal hunting), loss of habitat, and declines in their prey. Today, tigers are endangered, and three subspecies—Bali, Javan, and Caspian tigers—are extinct. Since 1973, the Indian government has been working to save the animals through an initiative called Project Tiger. It has created strong anti-poaching laws and expanded tiger reserves from nine to more…

On February 9, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs met in the Super Bowl, the championship game of the NFL (National Football League). The game was a rematch of the 2023 Super Bowl, which the Chiefs won. This time, the Eagles dominated and came away with a 40–22 victory and their second NFL Super Bowl win. The Eagles were 2–2 early in the regular season, but they won 15 of their next 16 games before the Super Bowl. Heading into that game, the pressure was on the Chiefs, who were attempting to become the only team to win the Super Bowl three years in a row. However, the Eagles defense was strong from the start, and they intercepted Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes twice in the first half. By…

A surprise megahit This summer, KPop Demon Hunters began streaming on Netflix. The animated film introduced the world to Rumi, Mira, and Zoey—otherwise known as the K-pop (Korean pop music) trio HUNTR/X—who must save the world from an evil boy band. Netflix expected that the movie would attract mostly kids and families, but it gained a wider following and became the platform’s most streamed film ever. Not only was it a success on screens, but in August, HUNTR/X’s song“Golden” became a number one hit and the film’s soundtrack was a Top 10 album. (Singers EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami perform HUNTR/X songs.) The same month, a sing-along version of KPop Demon Hunters hit theaters and was the number one film at the box office. The film was co-written and…

SONIC RACING: CROSSWORLDS Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, PlayStation platforms, Xbox systems, PC The blue blur and his friends—plus some special guest stars—are the drivers in this racing game. You can choose from four types of base vehicles or create custom karts and race them on the 39 tracks that include a Minecraft world. TO A T PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC This episodic 3D adventure is about a teen whose arms are stuck outward. Part of the challenge is helping the character do everyday activities, such as participating in gym class. A perk of the T body shape: The teen can spin and fly. The game has good lessons about the idea of being “perfect.” MARIO KART WORLD Nintendo Switch 2 The first game released for the Nintendo…

CUSTOM BOOKPLATES What you’ll need ● Scissors● White block erasers (found online or at office-supply stores)● Pencil with a new eraser● A coin or small cookie cutters● Ink pad● All-purpose blank labels or name-tag stickers (from stationery, office supply, or online stores)● Baby wipes or paper towels● Markers● Rubber stamps of letters (optional) Instructions 1. Use scissors to cut some erasers into geometric shapes, like squares, triangles, and rectangles. 2. Use a pencil and a coin or small cookie cutters to trace shapes, such as circles or hearts, onto other erasers. You can also hand-draw shapes, like leaves. With scissors, cut the shapes out of the erasers. 3. Press your eraser stamps onto an ink pad and use them to decorate the blank labels. 4. Combine stamped shapes to make…

The squirrel that water-skis Twiggy the water-skiing squirrel made a big splash at the Carolina Classic Fair in North Carolina, where she showed off her sporty skills to delighted crowds. Pulled behind a remote-controlled boat, Twiggy demonstrated water safety in a tiny life vest and performed tricks like turning a full 360 degrees on the skis. The fair called it the “wildest, furriest show on water.” Twiggy’s trainers—Lou Ann and Chuck Best and their son, Chuck Jr.—have also taught miniature horses, French poodles, and a toad to water-ski. Toothpaste that tastes like chicken Who says toothpaste has to be minty? Fast-food giant KFC joined with dental care company Hismile for a“full-on flavor takeover” inspired by Colonel Sanders’ 11 essential ingredients. The pair created a fried chicken–flavored paste designed to keep…

We received so many fantastic photos from our readers in 2025. Thank you for sharing them with us! You told us about the many ways you are being kind to others. You showed us the recipes and crafts you made from our How To section. You visited amazing places, often taking The Week Junior with you. And you wrote to us about your favorite books! As a fun look back, here are some of the reader photos we published this year. We can’t wait to see what you send us in 2026! Your photos and stories can be sent to hello@theweekjunior.com. YOU FOUND WAYS TO HELP OTHERS 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,…