Table of contents for Issue 296 in The Week Junior US

The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was held at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, on December 5. The process determines the matchups at the most important tournament in international men’s soccer, which will take place in the summer of 2026. What is the FIFA World Cup? The World Cup brings together the best soccer teams from dozens of countries to compete for the global championship. It’s held every four years in a host country or countries chosen by officials at FIFA, the organization that oversees soccer globally. The 2026 World Cup will be held in the US, Canada, and Mexico, making it the first to be hosted by three countries. Matches will take place in two cities in Canada, three in Mexico, and…

A FAVORITE TRADITION The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree dazzled the crowd at a lighting ceremony on December 3 in New York City. At 75 feet tall, the Norwegian spruce has 50,000 lights and a 900-pound Swarovski star on top. “It’s a dream come true,” said an onlooker visiting from Ecuador. “I love Christmas.” KNITTING FOR KITTENS Readers of Woman’s Weekly magazine knit or crocheted 46,506 toy mice, which were donated to cat shelters across the UK—and set a world record for the most toy mice of their kind. The magazine’s editor, Geoff Palmer, praised readers’ generosity. “Every mouse was handmade with care,” he said. A NEW HOME Since 2000, a 12-foot-tall statue of Kermit the Frog has greeted visitors to the Jim Henson Company in Los Angeles, California. As the company,…

The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge in Florida is an unspoiled, natural spring habitat located near the Gulf Coast. It is the only refuge dedicated to protecting the threatened Florida manatee. The refuge was established in 1983 as a haven for the large marine mammals, which are a subspecies of the West Indies manatee. The Crystal River flows into Kings Bay, where seven additional US sanctuaries are in place to safeguard the animals. About 600 manatees migrate to Kings Bay and the refuge each winter from other parts of the Florida coast.…

Spiny-tailed iguanas Mexican officials were planning to eliminate spiny-tailed iguanas from Clarion Island, believing the species was non-native. But new evidence shows that the iguanas have lived there for half a million years—longer than humans. Red oaks A pest that has killed millions of red oak trees in California was recently found in a plant nursery in Minnesota. Experts say this “sudden oak death” disease has been moving east across North America, but so far it hasn’t spread in the midwestern US.…

Americans eat about 32.5 billion pounds of chicken per year, and most of the birds’ feathers get thrown away. Now scientists in Hawaii are using them to create a sustainable fabric called Kertex that can be used for clothing, upholstery, and other purposes. Chicken feathers contain keratin—a natural substance that makes them strong. Kertex, which has the look and feel of wool but is sturdier and stretchier, takes advantage of that strength. Its designers said feathers from two chickens can make one sweater.…

Noah Elliott AGE: 28 SPORT: PARA SNOWBOARDING “My favorite thing about snowboarding is the feeling it gives you—that freedom, that dance with the board, that ride.” Mystique Ro AGE: 31 SPORT: SKELETON “We slide headfirst on our bellies and go about 80 miles an hour. You definitely have to know how to have body position and body control.” Alex Hall AGE: 27 SPORT: FREESKI “There are very few rules in freeski, so you get to do it a lot of different ways. In addition to the competitive side of things, there’s also another side to our sport, which involves making videos and traveling around the world trying your hardest tricks on certain jumps and rails.” Kendall Gretsch AGE: 33 SPORT: PARA NORDIC SKIING “Being in the mountains and outside in…

A new film based on one of the most well-known children’s books is being developed by Netflix. The company recently announced it is adapting Eloise, by Kay Thompson, into a live-action movie with an all-new story that will star Ryan Reynolds as a villain. As fans of the book know, Eloise is an imaginative and sneaky 6-year-old who lives at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. The first Eloise book was published in 1955 and was illustrated by Hilary Knight. The pair followed up those books with Eloise in Paris (1957), Eloise at Christmastime (1958), and Eloise in Moscow (1959). Two other Eloise books were published more recently. In 1956, an Eloise play aired on TV, and over the years, there have been live-action and animated Eloise films and…

Kirby Air Riders is a new arcade racing game. It was recently released for the Nintendo Switch 2 and is a sequel to Kirby Air Ride from 2003. The vehicles in the game are hovercrafts known as Air Rider Machines, and they help set Kirby Air Riders apart from other racing games like the ones in the Mario Kart franchise. The vehicles move forward automatically, so all you have to focus on is drifting (turning), timing speed boosts, and bumping rivals off the track. There are more than 25 Air Rider Machines, all of which have different features, such as how fast they go or how easy they are to control. Air Riders has a total of 27 tracks and more than 20 playable characters, including series regulars Meta Knight…

Snoop by Gordon Korman “On a ski trip, Carter is so absorbed by social media that he doesn’t see his brother skiing uncontrollably toward him. Carter ends up breaking both of his legs. While recovering, he attends school virtually and starts watching his town’s police cameras. After he watches them more, he starts to see some strange things. Can Carter figure out what is happening? Read to find out!” Levi, 11, California Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Scientists have added the first insect to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Frozen Zoo in California. Researchers successfully collected cells of the critically endangered Lord Howe Island stick insect and added them to the biological bank, which is dedicated to protecting and preserving the world’s wildlife. The Lord Howe Island stick insect is a large, flightless invertebrate (animal without a backbone) that can be found only on a small group of islands in Australia. They were presumed extinct in the wild in 1930, but a tiny population was rediscovered in 2001. The Melbourne Zoo in Australia led the effort to preserve the species and partnered with the San Diego Zoo in 2012. The Frozen Zoo, which was established in 1975, also holds samples from more than 1,300 species and…

Hundreds of acres of land located along the western edge of Yosemite National Park in California has been returned to its original occupants, a Native American tribe that had been displaced from the area about 175 years ago. What happened? The nonprofit Pacific Forest Trust (PFT) transferred nearly 900 acres of land bordering Yosemite and the Sierra National Forest to the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation. The land overlooks the Merced River and includes the Henness Ridge, a migration corridor for wildlife that is also the site of an ancestral trail. The PFT, which conserves forests in California and Oregon, acquired the property about 20 years ago to prevent vacation homes from being developed on it. The organization then helped secure funding for the land transfer and cared for the property,…

There’s no arguing that chocolate drinks are popular, whether they’re hot or cold. In one survey, 34% of Americans named hot chocolate as their favorite holiday beverage, and plenty of people say the season would feel incomplete without the iconic winter treat. Many others, however, prefer a refreshing drink of chocolate milk, which can be enjoyed straight from the refrigerator no matter what time of year it is. One in three adults have said they would drink chocolate milk every day if they had the choice. Three quarters of US schoolchildren agree and drink it at lunch. What do you think? Is hot chocolate better than chocolate milk? Yes—it’s a cold-weather classic Hot chocolate is a tell-tale sign that winter and all the festivities that come along with it are…

Giraffes are known for their impressive height, which allows them to reach leaves on the tops of acacia trees in Africa. Their long necks are obviously helpful, but researchers recently found that giraffes’ legs may help them even more. Giraffes have high blood pressure because their hearts need to work hard to pump blood up through their long necks to their brains. In fact, the heart of a resting giraffe uses more energy than the entire body of a resting human. Researchers guessed that having long legs means a giraffe’s neck doesn’t need to be quite as long, enabling the animal’s heart to use less energy to pump blood to the brain. To test this, the team compared giraffes to an imaginary “elaffe,” a cross between a giraffe and an…

Cody Hickman Avian care expert, Brookfield Zoo Chicago Birds migrate to find food and safe places to raise their young. When it gets cold, food becomes scarce, so birds fly to warmer locations with plenty to eat. Changes in daylight signal when it’s time to begin their journey. Some birds travel thousands of miles to their preferred spots! Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about Brookfield Zoo Chicago at brookfieldzoo.org.…

At its peak, the Roman Empire (8th century BCE to 476 CE) spread across land that makes up 50 different countries today. One source of the empire’s power was its extensive network of roads. Recently, researchers created a map of the roads called Itiner-e. The map shows the empire as it was in about 150 BCE, when it had about 100 million people. Centered in what is now Rome, Italy, the empire stretched from Britain through western Europe to parts of Africa and the Middle East. Itiner-e was made using historical records, field surveys, and satellite imagery. It includes more than 185,000 miles of ancient roads, including about 62,000 previously unknown miles. Researchers were able to document the precise locations of about 3% of the roads on the map and…

For our sixth annual Winter Cover Contest, we invited readers to create a cover for the magazine that celebrates the season along with the spirit of The Week Junior. We received more than 2,000 submissions and were impressed by the skill and imagination that went into all of them. The contest was judged by Editorial Director Andrea Barbalich, Creative Director Dean Abatemarco, and renowned children’s book creators Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Whitney Gardner, and Chris Raschka. Brantley-Newton is a best-selling author and illustrator whose titles include Becoming Vanessa. Gardner is an award-winning graphic novelist whose most recent book is Free Piano (Not Haunted). Raschka, a Caldecott Medal winner, has illustrated more than 50 books for children, including his latest project, I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea. Given the high quality…

It’s early in the college basketball season, but one women’s team has attracted attention for its superb offensive performances. LSU (Louisiana State University), ranked fifth in the US, set an NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) record by scoring at least 100 points in eight straight games to start their season. When The Week Junior went to press on December 9, LSU were 10–0. One big reason for the team’s hot start is their star guard, senior Flau’jae Johnson. She had the chance to go pro after last season but chose to return to LSU. She is expected to be a first-round pick in next year’s WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) draft. She is leading LSU with an average of 17.1 points per game. So far, most of LSU’s games this…

A new film featuring characters from the popular Nickelodeon series SpongeBob SquarePants is heading to theaters. The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants opens on December 19 and stars the original voice cast along with some well-known new additions, including a major music star. SpongeBob SquarePants premiered on TV in 1999 and is the longest-running animated children’s show. There have been 16 seasons and three feature films, plus spin-off shows and video games. The series is set in the underwater city of Bikini Bottom, where SpongeBob, whose best friend is Patrick Star, works at the Krusty Krab alongside his neighbor Squidward and their boss, Mr. Krabs. Search for SquarePants is directed by Derek Drymon, who has been a co-writer on the series since its early days. He told The Week Junior…

Ice Age PG (Disney+ or rent on other platforms) “I like the Ice Age films because they have humor and a bit of adventure. There are five in the series, and each one has the same main characters: Sid the sloth, Manny the mammoth, and Diego, a saber-toothed tiger. They usually go on long, dangerous journeys together. In the first film, Sid and Manny meet after getting separated from other animals during a migration. The pair find a human baby and want to return it to its home. They meet Diego, who offers to help, but he is secretly trying to bring the baby to his pack.” London, 11, Montana Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Written by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Sophie Blackall (Candlewick) Set in the imaginary land of Norendy, this fairy tale focuses on a tiny girl and a cobbler (shoemaker). The cobbler, who has yearned to be a father and sail the seas, discovers a miniature child in a boot he’s repairing. At long last, he has a daughter! He names her Evangeline after a famous boat that has sailed around the world twice. The cobbler and Evangeline bond and sing about their desire to explore the world. Unfortunately, the shoemaker’s wife doesn’t share his joy about Evangeline. She believes the girl has filled her husband’s head with useless fantasies. For some gold, she sells Evangeline. The cobbler realizes he must go to sea to find her. Meanwhile, Evangeline escapes from where…

Clever Fox Reading Journal (Clever Fox) This leather journal has space for you to complete up to 55 book reviews. The formatted pages allow you to give each book a star rating, track how long it took you to read it, and write down the story’s highlights. It comes with stickers that you can add to your reviews. Ages 8 and up I Can Read 100 Books! A Reading Journal Written by McWu Store, illustrated by Corina Wu McFaden (Self-published) If your goal is to read 100 books in 2026, this journal will help you do it! After you read five books, you’ll earn a bookmark you can color. The pages also leave room for doodling, and you can write when you started and completed your challenge on the book’s…

Ingredients ● ½ cup milk or milk alternative● 1 cup frozen cherries● Handful baby spinach● 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder● ½ cup plain Greek yogurt or dairy-free yogurt● 4 to 6 ice cubes● Honey, to taste Instructions 1. Combine the milk, cherries, spinach, cocoa powder, yogurt, and ice cubes in a blender. Puree ingredients until smooth. 2. Taste and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey to sweeten, if desired, then stir. Makes 1 smoothie. CAKE FLAVOR Black forest cake—made of chocolate, cherries, and cream—is named for the Black Forest region of Germany. WARNING! Ask an adult’s permission before using the blender.…

Grumpy art guides are a hit Do you get bored listening to friendly guides drone on about art? Now a German museum is offering tours with its“Grumpy Guide,” who insults visitors while they explore the galleries. Groups are led by the grouchy Joseph Langelinck, a fictional character created by performer Carl Brandi. He scolds guests if they use their phones, wags his finger in their faces, and mocks them for knowing less about the art than he does. Amazingly, these tours have been selling out. They’re an“emotional ride,” said Brandi. A drink that’s minty fresh The California food store Erewhon has teamed up with dental brand Boka to launch an unusual smoothie flavor. Inspired by one of Boka’s toothpastes, the green drink is supposed to give you the same“clean, fresh…

“I hosted a book drive at a local elementary school to donate books and bookmarks to children affected by the Altadena wildfires. I wanted to help by donating used but high-quality books to them. My goal was to collect 100 books, but I quickly realized that was far too low! The families and students were extremely generous, and I believe we were able to donate about 400 books. This just shows that anyone, no matter their age, can help other people and make a positive impact on the world.” 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.…

“We made the apple cider fudge recipe, and it was delicious!”Matthew, 9, and Owen, 7, North Carolina “I love Dog Man, and I even watched the Dog Man movie!”Sayeisha, 7, Texas “I look forward to The Week Junior every week! My favorite is the sports section.”William, 7, Illinois…

Teacher’s Name: Ms. Jennison Lee School: Kent Place School “Ms. Lee is the best teacher. She is an awesome English Language Arts teacher and lets us write fun stories as assignments. Ms. Lee put up fairy lights so our classroom shines. During morning meetings, we play fun games to greet each other. She always helps without hesitating. Those are only a few reasons why Ms. Lee is the best teacher ever!” Mira, 9, New Jersey 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.…

Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist, which means he studies how people think, behave, and relate to one another. Last year, Haidt wrote a best-selling book called The Anxious Generation. It explores how smartphones and social media are reshaping childhood and helps adults understand the challenges kids face. With co-author Catherine Price, he has now released an adaptation titled The Amazing Generation for ages 9 to 12. Growing up in Westchester County, New York, Haidt rode bikes with friends, explored the woods, and built forts from construction scraps. He went on to study psychology at Yale University and earned a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. Haidt now teaches psychology and business ethics at New York University (NYU). About 10 years ago, while at NYU, Haidt noticed more students feeling…

Experts have known for many years that wolves are intelligent animals. But one wolf in Canada’s British Columbia has surprised scientists by breaking open a human-made trap to feast on the food inside. This may be the first time a wild canid (a group that includes foxes, wolves, and jackals) has been observed using tools. In 2021, members of the Heiltsuk Nation started laying out underwater traps near the coast to catch invasive European green crabs. After a couple of years, a problem emerged. When people went to check on the traps, many had been damaged or destroyed and the bait inside (typically herring or sea lion meat) was gone. They suspected this was the work of bears, wolves, seals, or sea otters. To solve the mystery, they set up…

In a major breakthrough, scientists are helping people with impaired vision see again by inserting tiny wireless electronic chips into the backs of their eyes. The chips, called Prima implants, are two millimeters wide, which is about as thick as a grain of rice. A trial program involved 38 patients who suffer from an eye condition called agerelated macular degeneration (AMD). It mostly affects older people and makes the center of their vision look blurry. About 20 million people in the US have AMD, and there is currently no cure. The trial took place at 17 hospitals in Europe. All the patients had a type of AMD called “dry AMD.” The disease damages cells at the back of the eye that detect light. Those light-sensitive cells transform light into electrical…

On December 6, the 2025 MLS (Major League Soccer) Cup championship was played between Inter Miami CF and the Vancouver Whitecaps at Inter Miami’s home field, Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was an exciting matchup between two teams with legendary stars: Lionel Messi, an Argentinian forward for Miami, and Thomas Müller, a German forward who plays for Vancouver. Both teams hoped to win their first MLS Cup, which Miami clinched with a 3–1 victory. Miami and Vancouver made the MLS Cup playoffs after strong regular seasons. Miami was the third seed (ranking) in the Eastern Conference and earned a shot at the title by defeating fifth-seeded New York City FC, 5–1, in the conference final. Tadeo Allende of Miami scored a hat trick (three goals) in the match.…

Coach’s Name: Laurel Reid Team: NOVA Swim “Coach Laurel is the BEST! She is hilarious and always makes swim practice fun. She’s helped me with all of my strokes, and they look much better. Her butterfly drills have improved my stroke and now I’m not afraid to race it. She makes our whole team feel awesome and comfortable, even at big meets. She won’t be my coach forever, so I want her to know that I will always remember her and I’ll take all that I have learned from her with me.” Brooke, 9, 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 great.…

Merv (Prime Video) This new film is a comedy about a couple, Anna and Russ, and their dog, Merv. When the pair break up, Merv becomes heartbroken, so Russ takes him to Florida to boost his mood. After Anna shows up, Merv starts getting better—and Russ and Anna’s relationship changes, too. iHeartRadio Jingle Ball (Hulu) (Disney+) Each year, the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour brings prominent musical artists to cities across the US. Fans can watch some of the performances from home in this TV special. The lineup includes Ed Sheeran, Conan Gray, Reneé Rapp, Laufey, and a sing-along moment from KPop Demon Hunters. Born to Be Wild (Apple TV+) Young endangered animals being raised by conservation groups are the subject of this six-part documentary. It follows the challenges and triumphs…

What inspired this book? I carried the idea for this story around with me for more than 15 years. I kept trying to make the story work, but it didn’t come together until I had the idea to have the father be a shoemaker. So this book is a testament to not giving up on an idea! How would you describe Evangeline? Brave, imaginative, and filled with wonder. What do you hope kids take from the story? You can still be fearless in the world, no matter your size. Being small does not preclude someone from being brave. Favorite place to write? I am not one of those people who can write anywhere. I have to be at my desk. What do you enjoy in your spare time? Reading is…

Winter will officially begin on December 21, which is the winter solstice. That is the shortest day—and longest night—of the year for people living in the northern hemisphere (the half of Earth above the equator). But the winter solstice also means that the days will start to have more sunlight after that, which is a great reason to celebrate. Here are some activities to try. Learn some history Ancient civilizations likely celebrated the winter solstice to mark the return of longer days and more sunlight. Some monuments related to the solstice that were built thousands of years ago are still standing today. These include Stonehenge in England (a ring of giant stones that align with the Sun’s rays on the winter solstice), Newgrange in Ireland, and Maeshowe in Scotland. You…

With the holidays approaching, you may be lucky enough to receive gifts from family or friends. It’s important to let them know how much you appreciate their presents. After you open a gift, say thank you right away and then say something specific you like about it. For example, maybe you love the color of a shirt or really needed a new basketball because yours is worn out. There may be times you feel disappointed in a gift. Still, try to respond in the spirit of the gift without lying. You could say something like, “Wow! What a gift!” or “Thank you so much for thinking of me.” Finally, even if you said thank you in person, it’s polite to follow up with a written thank-you note.…

Every December, I have the honor of being one of the judges of our Winter Cover Contest (p14). It’s an exciting but challenging task! This year more than 2,000 children sent in submissions, and we carefully considered each one before choosing 10 finalists and ultimately two runners-up and one grand prize winner. Our warmest congratulations to Elle, whose beautiful drawing of a polar bear looking at the night sky earned the top honor. Congratulations, also, to Seth, Victoria, and all the finalists who submitted such impressive work. And thank you to every child who entered and made the contest so special. I also offer my deepest thanks to fellow judges Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Whitney Gardner, Chris Raschka, and Dean Abatemarco for sharing their expertise as we made such a difficult decision.…

To celebrate The Week Junior’s fifth anniversary in 2025, we called on readers to tell us about five good deeds they’ve done. Charlotte, a 10-year-old from New Jersey, sent us the form shown at right. Her good deeds include donating toys, comforting her upset friend, and raising awareness about the environment. We’ve enjoyed reading every form we have received this year. Thank you for sending them to us! If you have helped a neighbor or performed a kind act and want to write about it, you can fill out the form as a keepsake. Go to kids.theweekjunior.com/activities to download it. JOKE OF THE WEEK Why don’t scallops and clams ever like to share? They’re two shellfish. IT’S YOUR TURN Email your news, views, and photos to hello@theweekjunior.com. We want to…