Indice dei contenuti per Issue 264 in The Week Junior US

On April 26, world leaders and hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered at the Vatican in Rome, Italy, to mourn Pope Francis in a solemn funeral service that was also televised around the globe. Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, died on April 21 at age 88. Who was Pope Francis? Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1936 and raised in a humble neighborhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was a priest and cardinal (senior religious leader) in his home country before being elected the 266th pope in 2013. He was the first Jesuit (Catholic order focused on helping others) pope and the first chosen from Latin America. After being selected to lead the church and its 1.4 billion followers, he took the name Francis after Saint Francis…

CROWNING A WINNER An English bulldog named Milo won the Beautiful Bulldog Contest at Drake University in Iowa. Milo, age 7, is the 46th pup to wear the crown. His owners said he loves treats, playing with his brother, and watching Animal Planet. CHIPS FOR CHARITY Just in time for summer, the snack company Utz has teamed up with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a charity that fights children’s cancer, to create Lemonade Potato Chips. The limited-edition snack is sweet, salty, tangy, and crunchy and tastes like “summer in a bite,” Utz said. A portion of sales will support the foundation, which called the chips a “fun and meaningful way” to help. AN OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD SALE A watch given to astronaut Neil Armstrong after he became the first person to walk on…

Lencia Kebede made her Broadway debut in March, becoming the first Black actor to play Elphaba full-time in the musical Wicked. The show, which first opened in 2003, tells the story of Elphaba and Glinda, the witches from the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and is one of the most popular musicals in the world. Kebede, age 30, is the daughter of Ethiopian immigrants and grew up in Los Angeles, California. Her path to Broadway was unexpected. She studied diplomacy and politics at Occidental College and originally planned to work in law or public service. But during her senior year, Kebede decided to follow her passion for performing. After graduating from college in 2016, she pursued a career in musical theater. Kebede’s early roles included a national tour of…

Primates (the group of mammals that includes apes, humans, lemurs, and monkeys) often help each other raise their young babies. A new study has found that snub-nosed monkeys choose who baby sits their young based on who has the most parenting experience. A team of researchers at Southwest Forestry University in China made this discovery by accident. They noticed that during the breeding season at the Baimaxueshan National Nature carrying, and feeding the newborns. This behavior reminded the team of the way humans babysit for one another, so they decided to observe the monkeys more closely. The researchers followed the group every day for six months. They observed more than 400 moments in which a female monkey interacted with a mother and newborn. Some of these interactions included grooming the…

An “extinct” snail After being declared extinct in the 1980s, Partula tohiveana has been reclassified as critically endangered. Conservationists bred the tiny snails and reintroduced them in French Polynesia, where they have begun to thrive. Bristlecone pines A wildfire in eastern California burned within 15 miles of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, threatening some of the world’s oldest trees (above). One of them was Methuselah, a nearly 5,000-year-old pine that may be the oldest living thing on Earth.…

Serengeti National Park, home to millions of wildebeest and many other animals, is one of the most important wildlife habitats on Earth. Where is the park? Serengeti National Park is in Tanzania, Africa, near the country’s border with Kenya. The park, established in 1951, occupies about 5,700 square miles—about three times as big as Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. It is part of the larger Serengeti ecosystem that stretches for nearly 12,000 square miles. The park spreads across the Serengeti Plains, an area of tropical grasslands called savannas. This landscape has grass of varying lengths that animals feed on. The Mara River runs through the park. On the Kenyan side of the Serengeti Plains is the Maasai Mara National Reserve, which animals from the park seasonally cross into. Animals…

Scientists working to create new kinds of medicine have turned to an unlikely source: a frog species that lives mostly in South Asia and is known for its strong odor. The frog, Odorrana andersonii, releases a stinky chemical that has antibiotic properties. Antibiotics are a type of medicine that fights off infections caused by bacteria. But as people use antibiotics, the bacteria can gradually become resistant to the medicines. Scientists are developing new kinds of antibiotics that can fight drug-resistant bacteria. Amphibians like frogs live in environments with a lot of bacteria and have natural ways of fighting off bacterial infections. One of those is the chemical released by O. andersonii. When the frogs produce it, however, it forms clumps. This makes the chemical less effective at fighting bacteria and…

From April 24 to April 26, the 2025 NFL (National Football League) Draft took place in Green Bay, Wisconsin. During the event, NFL teams select college football players to bolster their rosters. On the first night, 205,000 fans watched the action in person. The NFL Draft, which launched in 1936, was originally completed in one day. That year, 81 players were drafted and 24 chose to pursue a pro football career. This year, 257 players from a total of 86 different colleges were drafted over seven rounds. The order in which teams make their picks is based on how they finished the previous season. The teams with the worst records pick first, and the Super Bowl champions pick last. However, teams can trade their picks to move up or down…

Coach’s Name: Robert Querubin Team: Blue Wave Aquatics (swimming) “Coach Bob is an amazing coach. He designs practices for our individual and team needs, depending on what we need to work on the most. He is really thoughtful and fun, and he has encouraged me time and again when I’ve been battling illnesses or having difficulties in my sport. He is one of the main reasons I’m still swimming!”Rae, 12, Pennsylvania 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.…

Cruella This 2021 film (rated PG-13) reveals how a girl named Estella grows up to become a fashion designer who turns into Cruella de Vil, the revenge-driven villain of 101 Dalmatians. Peter and the Starcatchers Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson wrote this 2006 book that takes place before J.M. Barrie’s classic story Peter Pan. It follows a young orphaned Peter and his friends on a high-seas adventure. Solo: A Star Wars Story Star Wars hero Han Solo’s life before Luke and Leia is depicted in this 2018 film (rated PG-13). When he meets Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian, it sets the stage for his future.…

Red Bull Soapbox Race (Discovery+) (Discovery Channel) In Red Bull’s wild competitions, teams build soapbox cars that rely only on gravity to speed down race courses. Each episode of this series is set at an event in a different city around the world. Teams are judged on the creativity of their car and how quickly they get to the finish line. WondLa (Apple TV+) Based on the best-selling The Search for WondLa books, this series is set in a future where Earth is called Orbona and inhabited by aliens. As the new second season begins, human teen Eva, who has newfound powers, sets off with friends to continue her search for her family. Big City Greens (Disney Channel) (Disney+) This hit series about curious 10-year-old Cricket Green and his quirky…

Honest June By Tina Wells “This book is about a girl named June. A fairy godmother named Victoria places a spell on June that makes her say the truth whenever she is asked a question. Victoria will only lift the spell if June will ‘live her truth.’ June worries her friends will think she’s mean if she answers their questions honestly. I hope you enjoy this emotion-filled book.” Iyana, 10, New Jersey Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Whether you are preparing a presentation for a class, making a speech at an awards ceremony, or planning to join the debate team, knowing how to give a speech is an important skill to have. Learning to be more comfortable with public speaking will help you gain confidence. Here’s how to get started. Research your topic Check out books from the library, talk to people who have knowledge about your subject, and search online for information. Write down facts that interest you, especially ones with numbers. Numbers help to make a speech memorable. For example, if you were preparing to talk about protecting tigers, it would be more compelling to say, “There are fewer than 6,000 tigers left in the wild,” rather than“There aren’t many tigers left in the wild.”…

With the weather warming up, it’s a great idea to walk or ride your bike whenever you can. It’s good exercise and gives you a chance to socialize with other kids your age who are walking to school or biking around town. It also helps reduce pollution from motor vehicles in your neighborhood. You can even talk to your family about starting what’s called a “walking bus” for your block, which is a term for a group of kids who meet up near their homes to walk to school together. Just be sure to be safe while walking or biking. Stay on the sidewalk, cross at designated spots with crossing guards, and if biking, always wear a helmet.…

Toothpaste that tastes like chicken Who says toothpaste has to be minty? Fast-food giant KFC has 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 mouths fresh and clean. Hismile’s marketing director admitted, “This started as an April Fools’ joke, but we thought, ‘Why not make it real?’” The innovative oral care idea quickly sold out, along with a KFC-branded specialty toothbrush with a built-in timer. Athletic grannies take the field Last month in South Africa, women from seven countries laced up their cleats for a soccer competition called the Grannies International Football Tournament. Havinggrandchildrenisnot required, but playersmust beat least 50 years old. After fierce matches, during which one French player was…

“First Landing State Park is one of our favorite places to go! We were so excited to see it highlighted in The Week Junior.”Layla, 10, Ben, 8, and Eden, 6, Virginia “I took The Week Junior with me on my trip to the Forbidden City in China.”Jade, 11, Texas “After we saw the photo of the Palace of Versailles on the back of The Week Junior, we were excited to see it in person!” Avery, 10, and William, 12, Minnesota “I enjoyed The Week Junior at the Grand Canyon on a very sunny day.” Anthony, 10, Pennsylvania “We went snorkeling during a nighttime bioluminescence tour at Grand Cayman island.”Henley, 10, Wisconsin “I love reading The Week Junior so much I brought it with me on a cruise to the Bahamas.”…

Teacher’s Name: Ms. Webb School: St. Peter School “I would like to nominate my third grade teacher, Ms. Webb. She starts every day with a morning meeting so students can share something special with the class. For her spring project assignment, we get to pick a person from history, learn about them, and do a poster board. Then we dress up like our chosen person and present our report to the whole school. Ms. Webb is the best teacher!”Charlotte, 8, Rhode Island 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.…

In an election on April 28, Canadians chose the Liberal Party to lead the country for a fourth straight term. Mark Carney, the party’s leader since March, will continue as the nation’s prime minister (PM, like a President). It was a major comeback for a party that was very unpopular as recently as January, when Liberal leader Justin Trudeau stepped down after nearly 10 years as PM. In Canada, citizens vote for members of Parliament (similar to the US Congress, the branch of government that makes laws). The party that wins the most seats in Parliament is in power, and the leader of that party becomes the country’s PM. When The Week Junior went to press, the Liberals had won 168 seats and their opponents, the Conservative Party, had won…

In May, the US is observing Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s a time for organizations and individuals to increase understanding about mental health. This year, the effort is receiving a boost from the ice bucket challenge, an activity that has gone viral on social media. What is mental health? Mental health is related to how people think, feel, and behave. Although everyone feels anxious or sad at times, when these feelings persist, they can develop into more serious conditions. Anxiety is having feelings of worry or fear that won’t go away. Depression is when someone feels sad for a long time and loses interest in activities they usually enjoy. One in five people in the US has a mental illness, and it is important for people to learn how to…

London, United Kingdom New marathon record set Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa won her first London Marathon on April 27, setting a new world record in the process. Assefa broke the record time for a women’s-only marathon by 26 seconds, completing the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 15 minutes, 50 seconds. Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe won the men’s race, finishing in 2:02.27. He is the fourth consecutive Kenyan athlete to win the men’s London Marathon. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan Country relaxes visiting rules Turkmenistan, one of the most closed-off countries in the world, introduced a law that will make it easier for tourists to visit. In the past, an invitation to travel to the country was needed. Now people can fill out an online form to apply for a visa (document that allows…

This national park in northwestern Wyoming features the 40-mile-long Teton Range, which is the youngest mountain range in the Rocky Mountains. Snake River runs through the park’s 310,000 acres, and forests and meadows make up the rest of the landscape. Pronghorn antelope, which can sprint up to 60 miles per hour, live in the Grand Tetons, along with grizzly bears, bison, elk, and beavers. More than 300 species of birds, including the bald eagle, trumpeter swan, and great blue heron, can be seen in flight throughout the park.…

Darwin’s rhea Wildlife experts in South America are coming together to save Darwin’s rheas from going extinct in Chile. They are moving 15 of the large, flightless birds from Argentina to boost Chile’s population and restore grasslands in Patagonia National Park. ● LIFE SPAN: 20 years in the wild, 40 in captivity ● HABITAT: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru ● SIZE: About 4 feet tall, weighing 50 pounds ● DIET: Broad-leafed plants, fruits, seeds, and roots ● FUN FACT: These ostrich-like birds have three-toed feet and can run 37 miles per hour.…

Two rare statues were discovered during an excavation in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, in Italy. The depictions of a woman and man are nearly life-size and carved in careful detail. Experts are unsure whether the pair are a husband and wife or mother and son, but the woman’s appearance indicates that she may have been a high-ranking priestess and was more important than the man. Pompeii was a thriving seaside town with about 10,000 residents and lavish homes, marketplaces, and art. In the year 79, a nearby volcano called Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the city beneath layers of volcanic ash. The ash preserved Pompeii nearly perfectly, freezing the city in time until it was rediscovered in the mid-1700s. Experts have been digging it out slowly, and they…

In 2023, news broke that a TV series based on J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books was going to be made for the streaming app Max. Filming begins this summer, and names of the actors who will portray some of the main adult characters were recently revealed. The Harry Potter series is an epic saga about a young orphan who discovers he is a wizard. The books were turned into popular films that came out between 2001 and 2011. The show will be released over 10 years, and each season will follow the story from one of the core books. In the show, Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, will be played by actor John Lithgow. The decision created controversy because he is from the US.…

Rusty Rabbit is a new exploration adventure game. It was recently released for the Nintendo Switch, PC, and PlayStation 5. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humans no longer exist and rabbits have become the planet’s dominant species. They have their own civilization filled with houses, stores, and restaurants. The main character is Stamp, a wisecracking, carrot-chomping rust digger who lives in a cozy, snow-covered town. Using his mech (piloted robot) named Junkster, he spends his days looking for old machine parts and other useful items. Stamp does his digging underneath Smokestack Mountain, a wasteland left by humans. Early in the game’s story, he gets to know a gang of diggers who call themselves the BBs. Eventually, Stamp decides to join them on a quest to the…

Are J and K based on you? Kwame: Yes, they are funny versions of ourselves. Jerry: J is definitely a little version of me. I just wanted to draw as a kid. What was it like working together? Kwame: The last couple of books I’ve written have been serious, so the best part for me was Jerry challenging me to tap into being funny. Jerry: When we began, I’d write a chapter, then Kwame would write the next one, and so on. I couldn’t wait to read what Kwame wrote. It was like getting a little Christmas gift. Which is harder—writing or illustrating? Kwame: I think illustrating is harder. I find it incredible that Jerry can do both! Any advice for kids? Jerry: Keep dreaming! I always considered myself a…

1 Which football player was chosen first overall in this year’s NFL Draft? a) Cam Ward b) Abdul Carter c) Travis Hunter a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 2 What is the name of the new space telescope being built in a desert in Chile? 3 Which actor has been cast to play Rubeus Hagrid in the new Harry Potter TV series? a) John Lithgow b) Nick Frost c) Paapa Essiedu a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 4 True or false? Giraffes with larger spots are more likely to survive unusually hot temperatures. True ☐ False ☐ 5 Giant sequoia trees were recently planted to create an urban forest in which US city? a) Chicago b) Detroit c) Milwaukee a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 6 In the video game…

On April 23, Richard Durbin, a US senator from Illinois, announced that he will not seek re-election next year. Durbin, age 80, was first elected to the Senate (one half of Congress) in 1996 and has since served five terms. For the last 20 years, he has been the Democratic whip, the second-ranking position in his party. He served in the House of Representatives (other half of Congress) before the Senate. “I know it’s time to pass the torch,” he said.…

What you need to know • In 2024, more than 540,000 students played NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) sports at 1,100 US colleges and universities. • The NCAA is divided into Divisions I, II, and III (known as DI, DII, and DIII), with DI the most competitive. • According to the NCAA, DI student athletes spend about 35.5 hours per week on academics and 33 hours per week on sports. • In DII, they spend 37 hours per week on academics and 31 on sports. Cheering students pack the stands at college games, wearing their school’s colors, while graduates stay loyal to their teams for life. For many people, sports are a huge part of the college experience, with revered traditions and thrilling rivalries dating back hundreds of years. That’s…

Every giraffe has a unique pattern of spots in different shapes and sizes. These spots are not just for show—they help the large creatures blend into their environment and hide from predators. Now scientists have learned that the spots also play a role in how giraffes respond to extreme temperatures. Researchers studied 810 wild maasai giraffes in Tanzania. They found that calves and adult males with larger spots were more likely to survive unusually cold temperatures. On the other hand, giraffes with smaller spots were more likely to survive unusually high temperatures. This could be because dark-colored fur absorbs more heat than lighter fur. Large, dark spots may absorb too much heat in hot weather but bring needed warmth in the cold. Giraffes also have many blood vessels under their…

Joseph K. Gaydos Senior wildlife veterinarian, SeaDoc Society, UC Davis SVM Dolphins swim underwater like fish, but they are not fish. They are whales, which are mammals. Being a mammal means they have hair (a few hairs on their chin when they are born) and produce milk to feed their young. Also, unlike fish, dolphins must come to the surface to breathe air. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the UC Davis SVM at vetmed.ucdavis.edu.…

Scientists have made an “electronic tongue” that lets you taste food without eating it. Called e-Taste, it has a thin strip with sensors that “sample” food. The sensors detect the levels of certain chemicals that correspond to the five flavors people experience: salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and umami. The device takes those readings and converts them into digital data. Using that data, e-Taste re-creates the taste of the food by mixing flavored hydrogels, then pumps them to a user’s tongue. It could be used to boost virtual reality experiences.…

On April 21, top athletes from around the world gathered in Madrid, Spain, at a ceremony for the Laureus World Sports Awards. The annual event celebrates the best performances and most inspiring achievements of the past year, as well as groups that help young people through athletics. The awards are often called the most prestigious honors in sports. US gymnast and Olympic champion Simone Biles won the Sportswoman of the Year Award. In 2024, she won four medals at the Paris Olympics, including three golds. Her performance was part of a major comeback that began in 2023, after she took a two-year break from competing to focus on her mental health. The Sportsman of the Year was Mondo Duplantis, a pole vaulter who was born in the US and competes…

The popular Netflix series Stranger Things is heading into its final season, but a new chapter of the story is being told in a Broadway play. Stranger Things: The First Shadow opened on April 22 and serves as a prequel to the TV show. It was written by one of the series’writers, Kate Trefry, and was produced by its creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, known as the Duffer Brothers. The First Shadow premiered in London, UK, in 2023, and won Olivier Awards (top theater awards) for set design and best new entertainment or comedy play. The Broadway show, which differs slightly from the London production, is recommended for ages 12 and up. As Stranger Things fans know, the TV series is set in the 1980s in Hawkins, Indiana, a town…

The Emoji Movie PG (Netflix) “This cool movie is set inside the smartphone of a teen named Alex, where keyboard emojis live in the city of Textopolis. It follows Gene Meh, a misfit emoji who is assigned to the ‘meh’ face but can’t stick to one facial expression. When Alex tries to text ‘meh’ to his crush, he ends up embarrassed. The emoji leader wants to erase Gene, so he runs away. He teams up with Hi-5, a rejected emoji, and they find Jailbreak, a hacker who might be able to help Gene. The movie is about embracing individuality and expressing yourself even if the world is trying to put you down.” Aarush, 13, Illinois Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your…

By Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft (Little, Brown and Company) Celebrated authors Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft team up for an amusing book that imagines they’re both in the same fifth-grade class. J is an epic artist but doesn’t use any words in his comics. K is a whiz with words and writes the most amazing poems, but he can’t draw well. His squares even look like circles! When their teacher announces the middle school’s annual creative storytelling contest, they both want to enter. Since a fifth-grader has never won the competition, J is hoping to be in the top five. He tries to sabotage K by giving him terrible advice about drawing. K does the same to J with writing tips. Eventually, they realize they’ll have a better chance…

Cousins in the Time of Magic By Emma Otheguy (Atheneum Books for Young Readers) When three cousins find a time portal in their aunt’s yard, they travel back to 1862. To get home, they must deliver a sword to a general for the Battle of Puebla in Mexico on May 5, which is the basis for today’s Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Ages 8–12 Fiesta! A Celebration of Latino Festivals By Sherry Shahan, illustrated by Paula Barrágan (August House) This colorful nonfiction book contains a month-by-month guide to annual Latino celebrations. Besides Cinco de Mayo in May, it highlights an Inca festival that takes place in Peru in June and a ritual of African origin held in Brazil in September. Ages 6 and up The Hero of Cinco de Mayo By…

Ingredients • 1 teaspoon garlic powder• Kosher salt• Black pepper• 1 (13- to 15-ounce) can chickpeas• ½ cup plus 2 teaspoons olive oil• ¼ cup mayonnaise• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce• Juice of 1 lemon• Heaping ¼ cup grated Parmesan, plus more for serving• 1¼ teaspoons grated fresh garlic (from about 2 small cloves)• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard• 1 large bunch green kale Instructions 1. Heat oven to 350° F. In a medium bowl, stir together the garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper. 2. On a baking sheet, toss the chickpeas with 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Roast in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes until crisp, gently shaking the pan halfway through. 3. With an adult’s help, transfer the chickpeas immediately to the bowl with…

Word ladder To change the word SEND into the word MAIL, use each clue to fill in a word that is only one letter different from the word before it. If you get stuck, try solving from the bottom up. STEPPING STONES Each figure hides the name of a seven-letter food you eat with a spoon. To find each one, start anywhere and move in an unbroken path through letters that share a border (no jumping!), using each letter once. (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) Stepping stones hint: The second word begins with O. Spot the difference These two pictures of a huge African elephant crossing the plains of the Serengeti appear to be the same, but take a closer look. There are actually five differences.…

Have you heard of the ice bucket challenge (p4)? It first became popular in 2014, when more than 17 million people around the world poured buckets of cold water over their heads to increase awareness of a disease called ALS. The effort raised more than $115 million for ALS research! This year, a group of college students in South Carolina started another ice bucket challenge, this time to bring attention and donations to Active Minds, a national organization focused on the mental health of young people. More than $387,000 has been raised so far, and the organizers hope to see the total increase in May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month across the US. If you participate in the challenge, let us know! Have an adult send us a photo…