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From 19 to 22 August, the Democratic National Convention (DNC) took place in Chicago, US. What is the DNC? The DNC is a big event that takes place every four years in the lead-up to the US presidential election (when US voters choose their country’s leader). A presidential election will take place on 5 November and the current vice (deputy) president, Kamala Harris, will campaign to become president. Tim Walz, a politician and former teacher, will campaign to become the next vice president. The US’s other main party, the Republicans (see panel), held their own convention (meeting) earlier this year. The DNC is also a chance for the Democrats to formally approve the party’s “platform”, which is a document outlining its principles (beliefs that shape an organisation’s behaviour), priorities and…

Around the world, many people do not have access to safe drinking water. More than 700 million people – about one in 11 – don’t have clean water available close to home. For many people, bottled water is the only water that’s safe to drink. However, the UK has some of the best quality tap water in the world. Even so, buying bottled water is still popular. The drinking of bottled water increased from about 0.3 litres per person per year in the mid-1970s to 37 litres in 2021. Experts who predict how people will shop in the future say sales of bottled water are set to rise. Some people say shops shouldn’t sell bottled water because it’s not needed in the UK; others say a ban would be inconvenient…

The UK’s only flightless grasshoppers can be spotted between April and October. Across the UK, meadow grasshoppers are found in wild meadows and other grassy areas that have been allowed to grow. They are mostly green – although you might see brown or purple ones too. They have a grey-brown stripe running back from their eyes. You’re likely to hear a meadow grasshopper before you see one. The males rub their legs against their wings to create a “rrrr” sound to attract females. They have no back wings, so these grasshoppers jump away, rather than fly, to escape predators. Their powerful back legs can catapult them three metres in a second and they can jump up to 20 times their own height.…

The world’s biggest sporting event for athletes with disabilities starts on 28 August and runs until 8 September in Paris. It brings together 4,400 athletes from around the world who will compete in 549 events within 22 sports, across various venues including at the Eiffel Tower and Grand Palais. What are the Paralympic Games? Para means “alongside” in Greek and shows that the Paralympic Games exist alongside the Olympic Games. Both showcase feats of sporting excellence – and Paralympic athletes sometimes record faster race times than those in the Olympics. The Paralympics are also known for challenging ideas about people with disabilities and bringing positive changes to the countries that host them. Before this year’s games, for example, the French government announced it would spend £1.3 billion to make it…

A new school term is a great time to try out new clubs and learn new things such as first aid. Learning this important skill will give you confidence that you can cope in an emergency. It might even help save a life. What is first aid? First aid is the help you give to a person who is suddenly sick or injured to keep them safe. If someone accidentally gets scalded (burned with hot liquid) or cuts their finger, first aid can stop their injury getting worse before they see a doctor. First aid skills are kept simple on purpose so that lots of people can learn and remember them – but they make a big difference. Dr Ronx is a doctor, CBBC TV presenter and author of the…

Bigg School: Double Drama by Lisa Williamson. Illustrated by Jess Bradley (Guppy Publishing) In the second book in the Bigg School series, Daniel is struggling with problems at home. Things look up when he gets a starring role in the school play – but what will happen when his football-mad mates find out he’s into drama? Daniel finds himself living a double life to keep his big performance secret. Three Cheers for the River School by Sabine Adeyinka (Chicken House) Jummy and her friends are about to start a new term at the River School, a boarding school in Nigeria. Jummy wants to play football but the new headteacher bans the game. Instead, there will be a music contest – which a boys’ school is likely to win. Will Jummy…

From joy-filled anthologies to heartfelt verse novels, this new award celebrates the best in children’s poetry. The winning title will demonstrate the power of poems to spark the reader’s imagination, arouse emotions and explore ideas. A Dinosaur at the Bus Stop – Poems to Have Fun With! By Kate Wakeling. Illustrated by Eilidh Muldoon (Otter-Barry Books) This funny, gentle and thoughtful collection of poems explores a range of themes. It is perfect for younger readers and joyful to read aloud. The Final Year By Matt Goodfellow. Illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton (Otter-Barry Books) This illustrated coming-of-age novel, written in free verse, is a powerful, heart-wrenching and uplifting story about the last year of primary school. Balam & Lluvia’s House By Julio Serrano Echeverría. Illustrated by Yolanda Mosquera (The Emma Press) Meet…

Hello my name’s Olaf Falafel, I’m a dad, a stand-up comedian and the author and illustrator of the Trixie Pickle Art Avenger books. Every month I show you how to create art based on the works of famous artists, plus I tell you a really bad joke like this: Why don’t sharks eat clowns? Because they taste funny! I want to tell you about the British artist David Hockney, who was born in 1937. Hockney is known for his bright paintings, especially those of Californian swimming pools. His use of colour and perspective has made him a very important person in modern art. One of his most famous paintings is called A Bigger Splash. In it, he shows a big splash in a swimming pool on a sunny day but…

After a short time to catch its breath, Paris is powering up to welcome a new set of athletes. The Paralympic Games start on 28 August, and on page 12 you can find out how they started and just some of the Team GB names to look out for. There’s a lot of sport happening: on page 18, we report on the start of the new Premier League season. On page 5, we report on Belfast Mela, the festival celebrating many cultures, and the joke that was voted the funniest at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. More stories that caught my eye this week are about animals. Scientists have found that horses seem able to plan and achieve their aims – at least when it comes to getting a treat…

Our friends at the children’s charity Barnardo’s have brought together some great low-cost activities for you to do with your family. For arts and crafts inspiration, they suggest checking out Tate Kids’ website. There you can find quizzes, fun things to create and story videos about artists’ lives. The Science Museum Group’s page of experiments are great to take you out into nature. You can have a go at identifying plant species, creating leaf and bark rubbings, and more. Plus, find out about free events and days out near you – visiting farms, libraries, museums and parks, a lot of which are free. Parents or carers can see the full list of ideas at tinyurl.com/TWJ-Barnardos…

Teacher’s name: Mr Bagley School: TASIS England, Thorpe, Surrey “Mr Bagley is one of those teachers who can get you in a happy mood within a minute. He is always so energetic and excited to teach history and his love of history is reflected in his amazing personality. He is an awesome teacher who has even got his own way for us to take notes (Bagley notes)! Mr Bagley is my favourite teacher ever and I think he really deserves recognition for his hard work. He always has a new lesson ready and constantly changes his plans to suit us as a class. Thank you so much Mr Bagley.” Sareena If we pick your teacher as Teacher of the Week, we’ll send your school three free issues of The Week…

1 In which month will the US presidential election take place? □ a) October □ b) November □ c) December 2 True or false? A giant Paddington Bear has appeared in the Cheshire countryside. □ True □ False 3 The Green Vault museum is in which German city? ____________________________ 4 In the UK in 2021, how much bottled water was drunk per person? □ a) 17 litres □ b) 27 litres □ c) 37 litres 5 True or false? In Terrie Chilvers’s book series, the character Michael is a bulldog. □ True □ False 6 Sandwich terns are named after a place in which English county? ____________________________ 7 Which Paralympic sport used to be known as “murderball”? □ a) Boccia □ b) Wheelchair rugby □ c) Wheelchair basketball 8 True…

The Republican Party’s presidential candidate Donald Trump was president of the US between 2017 and 2021. He lost the last election to Joe Biden. Before becoming president, he was a businessman and TV star. His vice presidential candidate – also known as his “running mate” – is James David (J.D.) Vance. Vance was famous for writing Hillbilly Elegy, a 2016 book based on memories of his life. This helped launch his political career, and he was elected to the US Senate in 2022. The Senate is one of the two parts of Congress (the US parliament).…

SPOTTING A SEA SLUG For the first time, a rainbow sea slug has been spotted in Devon, England. The colourful creature, also called a nudibranch, is usually found in warmer European waters but was discovered by 15-year-old Felix and her father in a rock pool near Wembury. UNLEASHING YOUR INNER SUPERHERO On 17 August, a Marvel superhero-themed sports day for adults and children with disabilities took place at Dorney Lake, England. The triathlon (a running, swimming and cycling event) was attended by 3,300 people, many wearing superhero costumes. It helped to raise funds for people who use wheelchairs. A WAX FOOTBALL FIRST Goalkeeper Mary Earps has become the first female footballer to be copied in a waxwork (lifelike figure made of wax) by Madame Tussauds, a museum in London. Earps…

National Dog Day on 26 August is a special day for Terrie Chilvers. She is the author of a hilarious book series about Michael, a small sausage dog with a mind-reading “su-paw-power”. Chilvers believes that being around dogs can increase your wellbeing. She says dogs have had a positive effect on her own mental health and creativity, and some of her best ideas come during dog walks. Chilvers’s first book, Michael the Amazing Mind-Reading Sausage Dog was shortlisted for The Week Junior Book Awards: Younger Fiction prize. Michael is based on a friend’s sausage dog, and his best friend Stanley is based on all those big dogs who are “super friendly and a bit goofy,” Chilvers tells The Week Junior. Strong friendships are at the heart of Chilvers’s books. “Having…

Horses are known to be intelligent animals that have a close bond with humans. Police horses, for example, are trained to stay calm in noisy crowds while responding to complicated instructions from their riders. A recent study by Nottingham Trent University, in England, has shown that horses are clever enough to plan ahead, especially when a few treats are involved. The study involved a game played with 20 horses. At the beginning, they were given a treat for touching a piece of card with their nose. Next, the researchers started using a “stop” light and only rewarded the horses if they touched the card when the light was off. At first the horses nudged the card anyway – but then the researchers introduced a penalty: if the horses touched the…

On 16 August, the 2024–25 Premier League season started. It is the highest level of men’s football in England and one of the world’s most famous sporting competitions, with 20 teams taking part. In the opening game Manchester United, who have won the Premier League a record 13 times, beat Fulham 1-0. Joshua Zirkzee scored the winning goal in his first Premier League appearance for United. Manchester City are the current champions and they also won, defeating London club Chelsea 2-0. City’s striker Erling Haaland netted the first goal. Brighton beat Everton 3-0 at Goodison Park, Everton’s stadium. During the summer, Fabian Hürzeler became Brighton’s manager, and at 31 years old he is the youngest manager in Premier League history. Ipswich, who are playing in the Premier League for the…

Audiences can watch a free, world-class dance show on their doorsteps this summer as Doorstep Duets tours the south-east of England. This is the fourth year the dance group has visited local neighbourhoods where its dancers perform in libraries, parks, streets and youth centres. Doorstep Duets is part of Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures dance company, which has created famous productions such as Sleeping Beauty and Edward Scissorhands for theatres. New Adventures aims to bring people together through dance, and if that isn’t possible on a stage, the company takes performances out to the audiences instead. This year’s Doorstep Duets show is called Hum, which is named after hummingbirds. These tiny birds support life in rainforests, and Hum takes them as inspiration. The show tells the story of how a small…

We need your help to decide which book will win our Children’s Choice book award. Scan the QR code or go to tinyurl.com/twj-vote-2024 to cast your vote. The winner will be the shortlisted book that receives the most votes overall. You can vote as many times as you like for your favourite book. Cast your vote to WIN PRIZES! All Children’s Choice award votes will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 book bundle. Voting closes at 11.59pm on 5 September 2024. Terms and conditions apply.* The Week Junior Book Awards are brought to you by The Week Junior and The Bookseller, and partners WHSmith, LoveReading4Kids and World Book Day. * Make sure you have your parent/guardian’s permission to vote. If you are the prize winner, we…

Number fit All of these numbers fit in the grid. Can you work out where they go? We’ve placed one to start you off. 3 numbers 202 726 822 847 945 972 4 numbers 2076 3867 9435 5 numbers 30801 57828 72043 94755 6 numbers 214031 456840 567683 732582 7 numbers 1275264 2027827 5186468 9254158 8 numbers 18647226 41337735 92800241 9 numbers 192244394 745356075 957258053 Sudoku Place the numbers from 1 to 6 exactly once in each row, column and 2x3 bold-lined box, to complete the grid. Wordsearch Can you find all of the words listed here? They are hidden horizontally, vertically or diagonally and may read forwards or backwards. CHOCOLATE COLD CONE CORNET CORNISH DAIRY DESSERT FLAKE FROZEN FUDGE LOLLY NUTS RASPBERRY SAUCE SORBET SPRINKLE SWIRL TUB VANILLA WAFFLE…

Email your news, views and pictures to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk Please include your full name and address so that we can send you a Roving Reporter badge if your contribution makes it onto the page. We will only use the details you provide to arrange delivery of badges, and we will not share them with anyone else. By submitting your reports and pictures, you give consent to The Week Junior to print them in magazine and digital editions, and mention on our podcast. We reserve the right to edit contributions for length, accuracy and suitability. Ensure you have your parent/guardian’s permission before sending anything to us.…

We love hearing from you! It’s easy – just write a comment when you vote in our online Big Debate poll, or even record a voice note for The Week Junior Show. Last week we asked you if art galleries should always be quiet… “No, people should be able to talk about what they have seen.” “Yes, people want to enjoy the art in peace.” “All the time is too much, given art galleries’ educational value.” “Yes, sometimes you can discuss a bit but most of the time you should be quiet.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

A nine-year-old boy from Jersey, in the Channel Islands, is selling some of the art he has created at an auction, in order to raise money for a mental illness charity. Scott, who loves expressing himself through painting and drawing, is raising money for Mind Jersey. The charity provides support for both adults and children living with mental illness. So far, Scott has raised £570 for the charity. In the past, Scott crafted Roman-inspired helmets out of cardboard and sold them to raise money for a charity event held at his school. Scott says he hopes his art makes children “feel happy and confident”.…

Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England, has puzzled historians for many years. The earliest parts of the monument were constructed around 5,000 years ago, and the famous large standing stones were put in place 500 years later. Scientists and history experts have long questioned who built it, why, and how it was possible using such limited tools. Now a new study has found that one of the structure’s stones, the Altar Stone, originally came from at least 460 miles away in northern Scotland. Researchers thought the stones used to build the monument were from England and Wales. The big standing stones were traced to the West Woods, an ancient woodland site about 15 miles from Stonehenge. The smaller stones in the middle are thought to be from the Preseli…

Oval Invincibles The Hundred’s men’s final was won by Oval Invincibles. They beat Southern Brave to become champions for the second year in a row. Lauren Coughlin At the women’s Scottish Open, the US golfer finished four shots ahead of Esther Henseleit to become champion. London Spirit In the final of The Hundred’s women’s cricket competition, London Spirit defeated Welsh Fire to take the women’s title for the first time. Kasia Niewiadoma On 18 August, the cyclist from Poland won the women’s Tour de France competition. She won by just four seconds in the final metres of the race.…

The New Adventures dance company was started by Sir Matthew Bourne, a famous choreographer (someone who designs dance routines). Bourne grew up in London and says, “We were always singing at home.” Although he had no dance training as a child he would act out films like Mary Poppins and charge people to watch. Bourne eventually started dance classes when he was 22 and is now one of the most famous people in the dance world. He is known for giving ballets a colourful twist to create shows that appeal to younger people, such as Nutcracker! and Swan Lake.…

What inspired you to combine fairy tales with a murder mystery? It grew from a single image in my mind – a country lane blocked by a fallen giant. Who was he? How did he die? If you could live in a fairy tale, which would it be? Many fairy tales are quite brutal so I’d probably want to avoid getting stuck in one. Although a hearty porridge breakfast with the three bears sounds nice. What lessons can readers learn from trainee witch Anwen? That it’s ok to fail. Sometimes those failures lead to opportunities we’d never have considered otherwise. What is your favourite bit in the book? Anwen and Cerys exploring the giant dollhouse they’re staying in. I made it as lavish and luxurious as possible. Have you always…

Whoever delivers your post every day may travel on a bike, in a van or on foot. They almost certainly don’t arrive on a broomstick. If they did, they’d be like Mika, the hero of a new game called Mika and the Witch’s Mountain. She’s a trainee witch who lives in a town on an island where lots of parcels need to be delivered. That’s Mika’s job: she flies around on her magic broomstick making sure all the people in the town receive their important packages. The game is out this month for Switch and PCs, with more consoles to follow later. Mika starts at the bottom of the island’s mountain with a broom that isn’t good enough to get to the top. This is why she takes a job…

A real-life Barbie Dreamhouse is for sale in New Jersey, US. The house is fully decorated in bubblegum pink and has three bedrooms, a gaming room and a craft room. As you go through the front door, the hall leads to a cinema room with recliner seats. The owner of the home, Kate Gabrielle, says there are some interested buyers who would like to keep the furniture and decorations. The property’s unique style is a big hit on social media. One fan said, “I feel like it would be impossible to have a bad day living here.”…

Name: Minnie “I have allergies to dairy, eggs, nuts, sesame and kiwi, and I have to be aware of what I am eating at all times. I used to go to birthday parties and they would have cake that I was not allowed, but now I bring sweets or homemade cupcakes that I eat so I don’t feel left out. A couple of weeks ago, I had an allergic reaction to contaminated cheese on pasta. I knew I was having a reaction when I felt a tingling sensation in my mouth. When you are unsure about anything, always tell a trusted adult or teacher. Always check what you are eating so you feel safe, because I know that I always get a bit nervous. Just be brave and don’t worry…