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50 Articles

Olympic ceremony opens Games

On July 26, the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics took place under rainy skies in France’s capital city. In the first ceremony to open the Olympics ever held outside a stadium, about 10,500 athletes representing 205 nations rode in boats along the Seine River. About 600,000 people watched in person and 28.6 million people watched on television or online. What was the Parade of Nations? The four-hour event began with the Parade of Nations, featuring nearly 100 boats carrying athletes along a 3.7-mile route on the Seine. Greece’s athletes went first, in keeping with tradition, because the Olympics originated in Greece. Basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo carried the Greek flag. Next was the Refugee Team, made up of athletes who were forced from their home countries due to war…

Olympic ceremony opens Games

Teens win global math contest

Six teenagers from the US have earned first place at the 65th Annual International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). The event, which was held in the UK this year, is considered the world’s most prestigious math competition for high school students. The US beat China, last year’s winner, by a score of 192 to 190. The US team included Jessica Wan, age 18, from Florida, who was the first female competitor since 2007. She and teammate Alexander Wang, age 16, from New Jersey, were also among the top five individuals at the competition. The other team members, ranging in age from 16 to 18, were from Connecticut, Illinois, and California. Overall, 609 students from 108 countries competed this year. The IMO launched in 1959. The US first competed in 1975 and finished…

Teens win global math contest

Astronauts’ return is delayed

Two astronauts who are living on the International Space Station (ISS) and were scheduled to return to Earth in mid-June will remain on the ISS for the time being, NASA (the US space agency) announced. The return of Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore is delayed due to problems with their spacecraft, Starliner. Starliner, which was built by the private company Boeing, launched on June 5. It was Starliner’s first flight with a crew aboard and third flight overall. The first flight failed to reach the ISS, and the second reached it without a crew in 2022. Starliner docked at the ISS on June 6, and Williams and Wilmore were set to stay for about a week. During the flight, however, Starliner leaked helium gas and had problems with its thrusters,…

Astronauts’ return is delayed

IT’S AN AMAZING WEEK FOR…

CELEBRATING A BIG DAY Elizabeth Francis, the oldest person in the US and fourth oldest in the world, celebrated her 115th birthday on July 25 at her home in Texas. “She’s led a simple life and has always stayed busy with her family,” her granddaughter said. A WELCOME ADDITION The Mattel toy company has released a blind Barbie doll, which comes with a cane, sunglasses, and textured clothing to help children who are blind or have low vision tell the items apart. One mother in South Carolina said her 8-year-old daughter who is blind was “overwhelmed with excitement” to have “a Barbie of her own.” A TASTY TRAIL Massachusetts has released a new “ice cream trail” map highlighting more than 100 scoop shops, beach shacks, old-time parlors, and farm stands…

IT’S AN AMAZING WEEK FOR…

California ordered to clear encampments

Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, has ordered the removal of homeless encampments from state property. Encampments are sites where people experiencing homelessness live, often in tents. The largest population of unhoused people in the US—about 180,000 of the estimated nationwide total of 653,000—live in California, according to a 2023 report. What happened? Newsom issued an executive order (similar to a law) that directed, but didn’t require, state agencies to remove encampments and to support and assist the people living in them. His order encourages local governments to use state funds to carry out the order, starting with encampments that present a danger to people living in or near them. Newsom made the announcement after the US Supreme Court (the nation’s highest court of law) ruled in June that cities…

California ordered to clear encampments

THE WEEK IN HISTORY

August 8, 1992 The “Dream Team” wins Olympic gold On August 8, 1992, the US men’s basketball team defeated Croatia at the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, to win the gold medal. The US team, known as the “Dream Team,” was made up of legendary players including Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls and Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers. This was the first time the Olympics allowed pro basketball players to compete in the Games.…

THE WEEK IN HISTORY

Biden addresses the nation

On July 24, President Joe Biden spoke to the US for the first time since withdrawing from the Presidential campaign. From the White House, Biden said that although he believed his record “merited a second term,” the best way to “unite our nation” is to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. He outlined his priorities for his term’s final months, including lowering costs for families and protecting the environment.…

Biden addresses the nation

Member of Congress is remembered

Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat from Texas who championed racial justice and equality as a member of the US Congress, died on July 19 at age 74. In June, she had announced that she had pancreatic cancer. One of Jackson Lee’s major accomplishments was being the author and lead sponsor of the legislation in 2021 that established Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, marks the day in 1865 when the last people who were enslaved in Texas learned of their freedom and slavery ended in the US. Jackson Lee was born on January 12, 1950, in Queens, New York. While she was growing up, she didn’t plan to go into politics. But she changed her mind after Martin Luther King Jr. was killed in 1968…

Member of Congress is remembered

Around the world

The Netherlands Climate protests at major airports At two Dutch airports on July 27, environmental activists staged protests against the use of fossil fuels, which contribute to climate change. Advocacy groups organized similar protests across Europe this week, including in Switzerland, Spain, and the UK. Some activists glued themselves to a runway at Germany’s Cologne-Bonn airport, causing flight delays. Others blocked a check-in lane in Norway and security gates in Finland. San Juan, Puerto Rico Law bans hair discrimination On July 24, a law was passed that bans discrimination against people wearing hairstyles including Afros, curls, locs, twists, and braids. Puerto Rico’s population of 3.2 million people is racially diverse, and some people say they have faced unfair treatment for wearing their hair in these traditional styles. Supporters celebrated the…

Around the world

Should we get rid of plastic water bottles?

In the 1970s, US beverage companies started selling drinks in plastic bottles, and the light, convenient products were a huge hit. By 2023, bottled water was bringing in $5.3 billion a year. As sales went up, however, so did the number of plastic bottles in landfills. Today, plastic drink bottles and their caps are among the top trash items in the ocean. Bans are being enacted in some places like New York state universities, which are phasing out all plastic water bottles by 2027. In Massachusetts, bottled beverages under 21 ounces are banned. But bottled water is still a necessity for some people. What do you think? Should we get rid of plastic water bottles? Yes—they cause so much harm Our planet needs help, and getting rid of single-use plastic…

Should we get rid of plastic water bottles?

Artist honors history

Micah Johnson, a former Major League Baseball (MLB) player who is now an artist, connected his two passions on a recent project. With the trading card company Topps, he designed a special series of cards called the 2024 MLB Negro Leagues Collection. They pay tribute to baseball’s Negro Leagues, which were established in the 1920s, when Black players were excluded from the MLB due to racism. Johnson, age 33, was born in Indianapolis and played baseball at Indiana University before joining the Minor League team affiliated with the Chicago White Sox in 2012. Known for his speed, he stole 84 bases in a single season and made his MLB debut in 2015. Throughout his career, he played for the White Sox, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Atlanta Braves. Johnson…

Artist honors history

A gift for education

Former New York City mayor and business executive Mike Bloomberg has donated $1 billion to Johns Hopkins University, where he attended college. It will give medical students from families who earn less than $300,000 a year tuition-free attendance starting this fall. Inspired by the scholarships he received, Bloomberg aims to address the high cost and demand for healthcare education in the US. “By reducing the financial barriers,” he said, “we can free more students to pursue careers they’re passionate about.”…

A gift for education

Supporting sea life

Demi Johnson, a ninth grader from Mississippi, was named a 2024 Significant Achievement Award Recipient by the National Geographic Society for her work aiding oyster habitats in Gulf waters. Her interest in oyster restoration started as a Girl Scout community project. Johnson cares for oysters in submerged cages off a local pier and releases them once they are mature and can form new oyster reefs, which benefits the environment because oysters filter ocean pollution. In two years, she’s nurtured more than 1,000 oysters, which are expected to spawn millions more in the future.…

Supporting sea life

Hyenas thrive in areas near humans

Leopards and hyenas are competitors when it comes to finding food in East Africa. Usually leopards have the advantage, but a new study found that people living nearby can tip the balance toward hyenas. It seems that hyenas are far better at adapting to the presence of people. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen, in Denmark, studied the behavior of spotted hyenas and leopards living in Udzungwa Mountains National Park, a protected area of about 770 square miles in Tanzania. The team used camera traps, which take pictures when they sense movement, to observe the relationship between the two mammal species. Udzungwa Mountains National Park is surrounded by farmland and human homes. People living in the area don’t like leopards because they hunt farm animals and can attack humans. For…

Hyenas thrive in areas near humans

PLACE OF THE WEEK

The Shenandoah Valley, in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, is part of the 1,200-mile Great Appalachian Valley. The Blue Ridge Mountains border one side of the valley, the Allegheny Mountains line the other, and the Shenandoah River runs through the middle. Popular activities include camping and hiking the trails that wind through the valley and along the river. The valley is home to scarlet tanagers, woodpeckers, butterflies, turtles, deer, and salamanders. Goldenrods and sunflowers are among the many wildflower species in the area.…

PLACE OF THE WEEK

Young people win climate case

A group of young climate activists have reached a legal settlement with the state of Hawaii. This agreement, which has been called “groundbreaking,” will force the state to take environmental action. A group of 13 people, ages 9 to 18, started the court case in June 2022. They said the state had harmed their ability to “live healthful lives in Hawaii” by carrying out projects that are harmful to the environment (such as expanding highways) and failing to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming. The court agreed with the activists. Hawaiian officials must now come up with a plan to achieve zero emissions for all state transportation, meaning that no greenhouse gases will be released into the atmosphere, by 2045. This could be achieved by burning…

Young people win climate case

Animal of the week

Tuna crab Huge numbers of tuna crabs have been gathering off the coast of Southern California and washing up on beaches. Experts think they left their habitat farther south because of warmer seas, probably due to a weather pattern called El Niño. • LIFE SPAN: 3 years • HABITAT: The seabed near Baja California, Mexico • SIZE: About 1 to 3 inches long • DIET: Mostly plankton and other tiny organisms • FUN FACT: Despite their name, tuna crabs are actually a species of squat lobster.…

Animal of the week

Good week / Bad week

Koalas The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Australia will no longer offer “koala hold experiences” after studies showed they caused stress to the animals. Instead, visitors will be allowed to watch koalas sleeping and eating without touching them. Kangaroos At least 85 eastern gray kangaroos were found dead in the Australian state of Victoria. Officials believe the animals were killed illegally by humans. Two joeys (young kangaroos) were rescued and brought to a local shelter.…

Good week / Bad week

“How do hurricanes affect ocean animals?” Asher, 9, Washington, DC Catherine Macdonald Shark research and conservation director, University of Miami When changes in temperature, air pressure, wind, and waves warn that a storm is coming, animals must decide whether to move or seek shelter. Small sharks and some larger ones usually leave. Others don’t seem bothered. It can be a chance for dolphins and sharks to snack on escaping prey! 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.…

The sweet history of a classic treat

The chocolate chip cookie has been beloved by children and adults for decades. Let’s find out how this treat became an American favorite. Making a masterpiece From 1930 to 1967, Ruth Wakefield and her husband, Kenneth, ran the Toll House Inn, a restaurant in Whitman, Massachusetts. Wakefield, who had a college degree in household arts, enjoyed experimenting with baking. She is credited with creating the chocolate chip cookie, but no one is sure how she came up with the recipe. One theory is that while making drop cookies she ran out of baker’s chocolate and improvised by chopping up a semi-sweet chocolate bar and adding it to the dough. Instead of melting, the chocolate bits held their shape. The cookies were a hit with inn visitors. Wakefield included the recipe…

The sweet history of a classic treat

More famous cookie classics

Argentina’s alfajores This popular sandwich cookie was originally stuffed with fruit. Today, it’s filled with dulce de leche and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Morocco’s fekkas The classic version of this twice-baked cookie, similar to Italian biscotti, features raisins and almonds. It can also be made with other nuts, including pistachios, and seeds such as sesame or anise. Poland’s kolaczki These flaky traditional pastries, made from cream cheese and butter, are wrapped around sweet or tart fruit jams, such as raspberry, blueberry, or apricot, then dusted with powdered sugar. India’s nankhatai These shortbread cookies, made from a mixture of flour, ghee, cardamom, and sugar, are found in almost every bakery and grocery store in India. They are often garnished with nuts.…

More famous cookie classics

New insights into facial expressions

A new study found that people who use a lot of facial expressions are seen as more likable and can also be better at negotiating (discussing something to try to reach an agreement). Facial expressions reveal people’s emotions and help them communicate in a nonverbal way (without spoken words). Researchers at Nottingham Trent University in the UK used software called the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) to analyze more than 1,500 conversations between people. FACS tracks people’s facial muscles and calculates how expressive their faces are. First, the scientists set up a series of video calls and recorded people’s natural reactions and expressions in different situations. People on the calls used a range of facial expressions, including ones that showed they were listening, found something funny, felt embarrassed, or sensed…

New insights into facial expressions

Advances in robot faces

When two people are talking and one of them smiles, the other person usually smiles back at the same time. That’s because people sense when someone else is going to smile before they do it, so they mirror the expression. This nonverbal communication is natural and puts people at ease. Scientists are working to give robots the same ability, in order to improve their interactions with humans. A team at Columbia University in New York City built a robot named Emo, which has sensors and cameras that track small changes in a person’s face. If Emo senses the person is about to smile, it smiles back at the same time. It also makes eye contact. The team said this feels more natural for the person and helps build trust between…

Advances in robot faces

SpaceX will help NASA remove the ISS in 2030

The company SpaceX has been selected to help remove the International Space Station (ISS) from orbit in 2030. The ISS is a floating laboratory run by NASA (the US space agency) and the Canadian, European, Japanese, and Russian space agencies. It has been in orbit since 2000 and was expected to last 30 years. As the ISS nears the end of its functional life, NASA and the other agencies have weighed several options for “de-orbiting” it. They considered boosting the ISS to a higher orbit or taking it apart in space and returning it to Earth. The agencies decided that the most practical option was to deposit the remains of the facility in a remote part of the ocean, which has not yet been determined. To do this, they needed…

SpaceX will help NASA remove the ISS in 2030

Ancient statue found in Roman sewer

A statue of the Greek god Hermes was found in an ancient sewer in Bulgaria, where it had been for about 1,600 years. The marble figure was uncovered by archaeologists (scientists who study objects from long ago) digging where the city of Heraclea Sintica, which was part of the Roman empire, stood from about 356 BCE to 500 AD. The statue was about six and a half feet tall. It was likely buried in about the year 380, when the Romans adopted Christianity and banned the worship of mythical gods, like Hermes. Some people still believed in the gods, however, and may have buried the statue to hide and protect it because it was important to them. The figure was well preserved, likely because it was carefully laid down and…

Ancient statue found in Roman sewer

An inflatable shelter for camping

Campers can get comfortable in a portable, inflatable structure that goes up in minutes. The Air Station POD-01 holds up to four people. Its frame is formed with inflatable tubes that become strong and supportive as soon as they’re filled with air. The Air Station POD-01 offers about 45 square feet of space. Its walls are 5 feet high with large screened openings to provide airflow and let campers take in the view. When it’s deflated, the house folds down into a carry bag and weighs just under 19 pounds.…

An inflatable shelter for camping

First medals awarded at Paris Olympics

The Olympics in Paris, France, are underway, and the first medals were handed out in the 10-meter air rifle mixed team event on July 27. The gold went to Yuting Huang and Lihao Sheng of China. The same day, host country France won its first gold of the Games with a major upset in men’s rugby sevens. They defeated Fiji, the two-time defending Olympic champions. Team USA’s first medal winners were Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook, who earned the silver in women’s 3-meter springboard synchronized diving. In swimming, the men’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay team earned the US its first gold. One member of the team was veteran Caeleb Dressel, who came into the Games with the distinction of having won only gold medals at past Olympics. It was the eighth…

First medals awarded at Paris Olympics

THIS WEEK’S WINNERS…

CLUB SOCCER On July 28, McKenna “Mak” Whitham, age 14, made her debut for NJ/NY Gotham FC in a match that was part of the NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup, a tournament for teams from the US and Mexico. Whitham, whose birthday was the day before the game, is the youngest athlete ever to play for a top US soccer league. She entered the match in the 80th minute of her team’s 1–0 win over the Washington Spirit. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease threw a no-hitter in a 3–0 win against the Washington Nationals on July 25. It was his first no-hitter and the second one in Padres history. It was also the second no-hitter in Major League Baseball so far this season. In…

THIS WEEK’S WINNERS…

Junior Olympics competition begins

On July 27, the 2024 AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Junior Olympics began in Greensboro, North Carolina. The annual competition, which ends on August 3, is the largest national multisport event for youth in the US. This year, it will feature nearly 13,000 athletes from 10 sports that include track and field, karate, swimming, baton twirling, and sport stacking (also known as cup stacking). Eligible participants can range in age from 6 to 22, depending on the sport. The first AAU Junior Olympics were held in Washington, DC, in 1967. Over the years, the event has taken place in 30 different cities across 19 US states. For many track and field athletes, the AAU Junior Olympics are a stepping stone to the Olympic Games. This year, 46 athletes competing at the…

Junior Olympics competition begins

COACH OF THE WEEK

Coach’s Name: Ryan Breiner Team: Pratt Recreation Baseball Dingers “Coach Ryan is great because he cares for all his players and makes them feel like they belong. He lets everyone have playing time and listens to players and what position they want to play. I also love that no matter what he does, it’s good for the team, and he makes sure we always have fun no matter what happens. He is also my dad, which is another reason I really like him as a coach. He’s the best one I’ve ever had!” Will, 9, Kansas 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.…

COACH OF THE WEEK

SPOTLIGHT ON…

Katie Kutz AGE: 19 SPORT: SOFTBALL TEAM: OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY Young talent I started playing T-ball when I was 3 or 4. Once I got to be 6 or 7, I joined a softball league. I realized I had some natural potential, like being able to throw hard and hit hard. I started pitching when I was about 7. Role model When I was younger, I looked up to Team USA pitcher Jennie Finch. Staying strong I’m also a bodybuilder, and I firmly believe it helps me with softball. It helps with injury prevention, the explosiveness, the muscular endurance—all of that. I also believe it helps me mentally because it gives me something to think about other than softball. But it’s a tough lifestyle and not for everybody. Softball practices…

Movie brings Harold to life

The children’s picture book Harold and the Purple Crayon, which was written and illustrated by Crockett Johnson, is a tale about an imaginative boy that has been popular with families since it was first published in 1955. Harold’s story has been brought to life in a funny new big-screen adventure now playing in theaters. The film version of Harold and the Purple Crayon mixes animation and live-action and begins in the illustrated universe of the book. An unseen narrator describes how Harold uses his crayon to draw anything he wants and create his own world. The film differs from the book because audiences see Harold become an adult. When he stops hearing the narrator’s voice one day, he heads to the real world to look for the man who had…

Movie brings Harold to life

3 facts about the author

Background Crockett Johnson (born David Johnson Leisk) lived from1906 to 1975. He worked with his wife, Ruth Krauss, on four books, including The Carrot Seed and How to Make an Earthquake. Comic strip Johnson created and wrote the popular comic strip Barnaby, which ran from 1942 to 1952 and 1960 to 1962. Blending humor and social commentary, it featured the adventures of young Barnaby Baxter and his fairy godfather, Mr. O’Malley. Later projects Between 1965 and 1975, Johnson produced more than 100 colorful paintings that explored mathematics and mathematical physics. The National Museum of American History in Washington, DC, has 80 of them.…

3 facts about the author

A special library reopens

Four years after closing for renovations, the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is welcoming visitors again. The Folger, which first opened in 1932, has the world’s largest collection of works by William Shakespeare (1564–1616), one of the most famous playwrights of all time. Shakespeare wrote at least 37 plays and more than 150 poems. His works have inspired stories such as The Lion King, which has similarities to Hamlet, Henry IV Part 1, and Henry IV Part 2. The Folger’s director of education, Peggy O’Brien, told The Week Junior that the library is not “a shrine” but a place to make discoveries about Shakespeare and decide how he fits into the world today. Some items on display have never been exhibited publicly before, including 82 copies of Shakespeare’s First…

A special library reopens

READER RECOMMENDS

The Princess Diaries G (Disney+) “This family comedy is about a girl named Mia Thermopolis who, at the beginning of the movie, is insecure because she is not at all popular. When she finds out she belongs to the royal family of a country called Genovia, everything changes. Because she now has royal duties, Mia ends up under a lot of pressure, and when everyone at school finds out about her new role, she becomes the subject of a lot of gossip. She finds it hard to take and doesn’t think the whole royalty thing is so great. Mia struggles, but in the end, she takes bold leaps with grace.” Josie, 10, Oregon Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to…

READER RECOMMENDS

THIS WEEK’S WATCH LIST

The Big Bakeover (CW) Fridays at 8 p.m. ET Baking expert and The Great British Bake Off winner Nancy Birtwhistle helps struggling US bakeries revamp recipes and renovate spaces in this reality series. People she works with include a donut maker saving his family business and a couple modernizing their 45-year-old shop. The Dragon Prince: Mystery of Aaravos (Netflix) It’s time for season six of this popular series set in a world where humans are at war with magical creatures. Follow as a prince, his half-brother, and an elf seek a way out of their enemy’s prison and continue their mission to restore peace. Secret World of Sound (Netflix) In this documentary series, world-famous naturalist Sir David Attenborough explores rare sounds in nature using cutting-edge technology. You’ll see behaviors such…

THIS WEEK’S WATCH LIST

New twist on an arcade classic

NeoSprint is a new racing arcade game. It was recently released for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation systems, Xbox platforms, and PC. The game is a remake of a racer that was part of an arcade series made by Atari. The first game in that series, Sprint 2, was released in US arcades in 1976. To play, gamers controlled their little pixel cars by using plastic steering wheels. Atari made several sequels, but NeoSprint is the first new game in the series in 35 years. NeoSprint combines some of the old game’s look and features with modern elements. Like the originals, it shows the racetrack using a top-down camera that allows all racers to watch and control their car from one screen. That angle makes it very different from the split…

New twist on an arcade classic

With Just One Wing

(Nancy Paulsen Books) Coop climbs a tree in his grandparents’ backyard to get a closer look at the pretty eggs in a mockingbird’s nest. But the protective birds swarm Coop and he falls from the tree. He breaks his arm, ending his plans to play basketball all summer. As Coop recovers, he and his friend Zandi watch the little birds that have hatched from the eggs. They notice that one isn’t flying because it has only one wing. At Coop’s urging, his grandfather removes the one-winged bird from the nest to keep it safe. Coop names the bird Hop and cares for it with his grandparents’ help. One day, Zandi accidentally lets Hop get out of its cage and the baby bird gets hurt. A veterinarian urges Coop’s grandfather to…

With Just One Wing

Can you relate to Coop? Yes, I faced issues of parental abandonment. I lived in a foster home and nearly ended up in an orphanage before being reunited with my mom. Describe Coop and Zandi’s friendship. Their friendship is based on their love for Hop, which grows into an interest in birds. What is the book’s theme? The main theme is that deciding to let go of someone or something you love can be really difficult, but it ultimately may be for the best. What did you want to be when you were a child? Lots of things! When I used a microscope, I wanted to be a microbiologist. When I got my first camera, I wanted to be a photographer. What do you enjoy about writing for this age…

READER RECOMMENDS

Seekers of the Wild Realm By Alexandra Ott ”This book is about a girl named Bryn, who lives on an island where half of it is an ordinary seaside village and the other half is a magical Realm with fantastical creatures. However, only five people are allowed to enter the Realm, and Bryn dreams of becoming one of them. This is a suspenseful, heart-lifting tale that proves that girls can do anything they set their mind to.” Magnus, 9, Florida Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

READER RECOMMENDS

4 books that are the first of a new series

The Magic Paintbrush By Kat Zhang and Eric Darnell, illustrated by Phoebe Zhong (Crown Books for Young Readers) An ancient magical paintbrush makes drawings come to life in this fantasy. When Amy finds the paintbrush, she draws a creature that takes her on an international adventure. This story includes Chinese folklore. Ages 8–12 Max in the House of Spies By Adam Gidwitz (Dutton Books for Young Readers) A blend of historical fiction and fantasy, this first book in the Operation Kinderspion series is set during World War II. Max, a Jewish boy living in Germany, is sent to London for his safety, accompanied by two magical beings. Will he be able to convince the British to make him a spy? Ages 8–12 Sky & Ty: Howdy, Partner! By Steve Breen…

4 books that are the first of a new series

Be a better navigator

Navigation skills are what you use to know how to get from one destination to another. You may have also heard these skills described as a “sense of direction.” Even with modern tools like GPS and Google Maps, it’s still useful to have basic navigation skills. You may not always have a digital map or wifi, and strengthening these skills can also increase your confidence that you’ll be able to navigate new places. Here’s how to get started. Put away the device You can start building navigation skills with a route you already know well, such as your walk or bike ride to a park. With an adult, take a slightly different path to get there. Pay attention to visual cues along the way. Without GPS, use the clues to…

Be a better navigator

Mazes are fun to explore and designed to be challenging to escape. Here are a few tips on finding your way out of most simple mazes. Follow the wall. Put your hand on the wall of the maze and maintain contact as you walk through it. You will eventually find your way out. Always turn right. In most mazes, research shows, the “turn-right rule” works: Keep turning right, and you will ultimately get to the exit. Ask for help. There will be staff members in or around the maze. If you’re not sure which way to go, it’s OK to ask!…

Bake up a staff favorite cookie recipe

During The Week Junior staff meetings, senior editor Alisa sometimes treats the editorial team to chocolate chip cookies made from her own custom recipe. To celebrate National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day on August 4, she is sharing her recipe with our readers! Ingredients • 3 cups all-purpose flour • ¾ teaspoon salt • ¾ teaspoon baking soda • 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature • ½ cup packed light brown sugar • 1 cup granulated sugar • 2 large eggs, at room temperature • 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature • 1 tablespoon molasses • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract • 1½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips Instructions 1. Whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl. Set aside. 2. Stirring by hand…

Bake up a staff favorite cookie recipe

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 Host city for the 2024 Summer Olympics 4 Like a towel brought home from the beach 7 Container for soup or baked beans 8 A gymnast must keep this while on the beam 9 Do the backstroke or the butterfly 10 Person whose fame and accomplishments will live on, like Simone Biles or Michael Phelps 13 The Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe, for example (if you’re visiting the answer to 1-Across) 14 Not favoring one side over another 17 Every Olympic contender 19 This number once represented a “perfect” Olympic gymnastics performance 20 It’s worn by Alice in…

That’s unbelievable!

A fantastically flexible family A married pair of contortionists (performers with flexible bodies) say they have passed on their super skills to their children. Ikhertsetseg Bayarsaikhan and her husband, Bud Tumurbaatar, have been professional contortionists for many years and say their children “have both been flexible from birth.” Bayarsaikhan added that the family practices together and “it’s a lot easier to learn when you start young.” The family, who originally lived in Mongolia but now live in the US, say they might put on a show together in the future. Secret society’s crafty good deed A mini mystery unfolded in Kelowna, Canada, after resident Kelly Blair’s beloved, weather-worn lawn gnomes went missing. He thought thieves had taken them, but a few weeks later a woman showed up at his door…

That’s unbelievable!

Editor’s note

The Summer Olympics are in full swing, and the competition has been so exciting (p18)! I am enjoying the action in Paris and elsewhere (surfing is taking place in Tahiti!), and I also appreciate the chance to learn about the athletes’ personal lives and any challenges they overcame to be there. The Week Junior’s coverage of the Games will continue in Issues 226 and 227. Another highlight for me this week was seeing the vacation photos you sent us. (A selection is shown here.) You’ve visited so many interesting places that we’ve featured in previous issues of The Week Junior—and I love that you bring the magazine with you so you can take a photo while you’re there! Keep the submissions coming, whether they’re travel photos, shots of you making…

YOUR SPECTACULAR VACATION PHOTOS

“I traveled to Kenya and saw the ‘big five’ animals in the Masai Mara National Reserve.” Aayush, 11, New Jersey “I visited the Intrepid Museum in New York City and saw the Concorde aircraft featured in The Week Junior! I also have the Lego model of it!” Jacob, 13, Connecticut “I visited the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston after reading about it in The Week Junior.” Olivia, 12, Virginia “We both love The Week Junior, so we took it with us on our trip to the Columbia Icefield in Canada.” Ivy, 9, and Michael, 8, California “Here’s me in Paris with The Week Junior just prior to the 2024 Summer Olympics.” Etta, 11, Hawaii “I enjoyed taking my issue of The Week Junior to the Titanic Belfast museum in…

YOUR SPECTACULAR VACATION PHOTOS

Teacher OF THE WEEK

Teacher’s Name: Mrs. Fink School: University School of Nashville “Mrs. Fink is the best teacher ever. She’s the sweetest, kindest, most loving person on the planet. You feel a sense of safety when you’re around Mrs. Fink. She’s super understanding and easy to talk to. Her sense of humor is also amazing. I was lucky to be in her advisory this year, and so far it has been a blast! Mrs. Fink shows no judgment toward anyone. She is the most positive person ever! She is the reason I love middle school so much.” Lauren, 11, Tennessee 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.…

Teacher OF THE WEEK

How much of this week’s news can you remember?

1 Who is credited with creating the chocolate chip cookie? a) Wally Amos b) Betty Crocker c) Ruth Wakefield a □ b □ c □ 2 Young climate activists recently reached a legal settlement with which US state? a) California b) Hawaii c) Washington a □ b □ c □ 3 True or false? The first AAU Junior Olympics were held in Washington, DC. True □ False □ 4 In the book With Just One Wing, what name does Coop give to the one-winged bird that doesn’t fly? 5 The new arcade racing game NeoSprint can handle up to how many racers at a time? a) 4 b) 8 c) 12 a □ b □ c □ 6 Sheila Jackson Lee sponsored legislation to get which federal holiday established? 7…

How much of this week’s news can you remember?

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