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On 5 July, Keir Starmer became the new Prime Minister of the UK. The Labour Party, which is led by Starmer, won the general election, which took place the previous day. What happened in the election? Millions of people across the UK voted on 4 July. Their votes decided the country’s Members of Parliament (MPs). The UK is divided into 650 areas called constituencies, each of which is represented in Parliament by a single MP. Once the votes had been counted on 5 July, the three parties that won the most seats (places) in Parliament were Labour (412), the Conservatives (121) and the Liberal Democrats (72). Rishi Sunak, who is the leader of the Conservatives and had been Prime Minister since 2022, stepped down and Starmer became Prime Minister. Sunak…

In the second and final round of the French parliamentary elections on 7 July, no party got enough votes to win a clear majority. The results were a surprise because the National Rally – the party that got the most votes in the first round – came third. What happened? French parliamentary elections have two rounds of voting. The first round rules out candidates who don’t get support from at least 12.5% of voters. The second round is a choice between whoever is left. In the first round on 30 June, the National Rally party came first with 33% of the overall vote. The National Rally are a “far right” party with views that many consider to be extreme or unfair to certain groups of people. After the first round,…

Long before cones were invented, people ate ice cream out of cups. In the mid 19th century, small glasses holding a single dollop of ice cream were sold in the streets. They were called “penny licks” because customers would pay a penny to eat the ice cream, licking the glass clean. People in Victorian times didn’t understand germs as we do now and the glasses were re-used without being washed, which spread diseases. Waffle cones became popular in the 1920s but today people often have a choice of a cone or a disposable cup for their ice cream. Some people think cups are easier to eat from but others say cones are the ultimate environmentally friendly packaging because nothing is wasted. What do you think? Is ice cream better in…

KATE SANDERS, ZSL LONDON ZOO You may be surprised to learn that the strongest in the animal kingdom come in small sizes. That’s if you look at strength in relation to body size. For example, dung beetles can roll balls of dung that are 50 times their body weight. Leafcutter ants are also super strong and can carry 10 times their body weight. Insects may be small but they are mighty! Have you got a question you’d really like to ask a zookeeper? Send your animal, bird or bug questions to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk and it might appear in a future issue.…

Anew study has challenged a popular theory about the first people who lived on Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean. It was thought that the islanders destroyed their environment by overusing natural resources. However, new research says it was Europeans who arrived and harmed the island. Easter Island, which belongs to Chile, lies 2,200 miles from South America. It’s one of Earth’s most isolated places. The island is famous for its statues (see panel) and humans first lived there more than 1,000 years ago. When explorers arrived from Europe in the 18th century, they found about 3,000 inhabitants. Many studies estimate that the population had been much greater, but it was destroyed by an environmental disaster. The new study says this is wrong and that the people of Easter Island…

Yaroslava Mahuchikh The Ukraine athlete won the women’s high jump at the Diamond League in Paris, France. She set a new world record of 2.1 metres. Hollie Armitage Playing for Northern Diamonds in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, the cricketer scored 101 to help beat Western Storm. Lamine Yamal The 16-year-old forward scored in Spain’s 2-1 win over France in a Euro 2024 semi-final. Yamal is the youngest player ever to score in the men’s Euros. Wigan Warriors In rugby league’s Women’s Super League, Wigan Warriors beat Featherstone Rovers 50-0 to go to the top of the table.…

European dragon These fearsome, fire-breathing dragons were said to hoard gold and jewels. They became popular during the Middle Ages when brave warriors, such as Saint George, would seek fortune and honour by trying to slay them. Chinese dragon Chinese dragons are wise, sacred creatures with the ability to grant good luck. They have long, snake-like bodies, a lion’s mane and are wingless. Chinese New Year dragon dances celebrate this powerful creature. Colchian dragon In Greek mythology, this monstrous serpent guarded a priceless treasure: the Golden Fleece. The hero Jason, leader of the Argonauts, had to defeat the beast in battle in order to get the fleece and be crowned king.…

This Is Skateboarding by Hannah Wilson. Illustrated by Peter Phobia (Farshore) Celebrate skateboarding, from its start on the streets of Los Angeles in the US to its first appearance at the Olympic Games. Find out about great skateparks and tricks; meet trailblazing skateboarders and medal-winning champions; and discover how skateboarding has influenced everything from shoes to art and city design. Marvellous Magicians by Lydia Corry (Thames & Hudson) Want to try your hand at a few magic tricks? Delve into the history of magic and magicians with this beautiful book, celebrating the work of eight pioneering illusionists. You’ll also find out about contemporary magicians from all over the world and get advice on becoming a magician yourself. The Life-Changing Magic of Chess by Maurice Ashley. Illustrated by Denis Angelov (Magic…

If you’ve been following the Euro 2024 tournament and want something to keep the football fun going while you wait for the new season, there are plenty of games to choose from. EA Sports FC is still the biggest football action game, while Football Manager 2024 is the most popular choice if you prefer managing a team. If you’re interested in trying a different football game, Sociable Soccer 24 may be just the thing. It’s out for Nintendo’s Switch and PCs, with Xbox and PlayStation versions on the way too. It is made by a games developer called Jon Hare, who was famous in the 1990s for his Sensible Soccer games. Mention them to an adult who loves football and games, and you might see them go misty-eyed remembering the…

The world’s luckiest gardener Finding a four-leaf clover is said to bring you good luck, so a gardener in Japan could be the luckiest person ever – after growing a 63-leaf clover. Yoshiharu Watanabe began specially breeding clover (mixing together different varieties of the plant to change its characteristics) in 2012. It was when he discovered a 20-leaf clover growing in his garden that he set his sights on the world record. On finding the rare plant, he said, “Because the leaves are smaller than the standard clover that you know and love, it’s hard to count the number of leaves. When I counted this record-breaking clover, it took me over an hour.” Watanabe hopes his luck will spread to others, saying, “It would be great if this 63-leaf clover…

Name: Amy and Emina “On the weekend, my best friend and I decided to do a sponsored litter pick across Southfields, London, for charity. We raised £486, which we are donating to Cool Earth because it protects the rainforest and helps to prevent global warming. It took us nearly the whole afternoon but it was really fun. We picked almost 400 pieces of litter off the streets to stop it harming animals or damaging wildlife. Many people sponsored us, so thank you if you were one of them and remember to try to save the planet in any way you can.” What have you been up to lately? Which books have you enjoyed reading? What have you made? Have you written a poem or drawn a picture that you’d like…

Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister Rayner is also the Secretary for Housing. A former care worker, Rayner has been the Labour Party’s deputy leader since March 2020. Rachel Reeves, Chancellor The UK’s first woman Chancellor (in charge of the UK’s finances) was a child chess champion and has worked for the Bank of England. Her sister is also a Labour MP. David Lammy, Foreign Secretary Lammy has been an MP for Labour since 2000. He was the first black person from Britain to study at Harvard Law School (a famous university in the US). Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary Phillipson joined the Labour Party at the age of 15. Before she was an MP, she managed a refuge (safe place) for women and children fleeing violence.…

A hung parliament happens when no political party wins enough seats to have a majority (more than half) in parliament. This means the party with the most seats will need to form a coalition (team up with another party) so that their total number of combined seats makes up a majority in parliament. Since the Second World War (1939–1945) France has rarely had a parliament where one party hasn’t had a clear majority. There have been times when the president and prime minister were from different parties.…

KOALAS The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Australia will no longer offer visitors “koala hold experiences”. The sanctuary will instead allow visitors to observe koalas eating and sleeping without touching or cuddling them. Koalas can sleep for up to 18 hours a day. COMMUNITY GARDENS The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in England, has given 26 community groups across the UK £2,000 as part of its Grow Wild initiative. The groups can use the money to transform local spaces into havens for plants and fungi. They will also receive training from Kew experts about how to help wildlife flourish. YOUNG POETS On 1 July, 100 young people performed poems they had memorised at the grand finale of the Poetry by Heart competition. The event was held on the main stage at…

When vet and TV presenter Jess French was growing up, she was an only child surrounded by pets. She told The Week Junior, “I’ve always felt a real connection to nature.” It wasn’t just the animals that French was interested in; she wanted to know how their bodies worked too. When she went to the vet with her parents, she always wanted to see the X-rays of her pets because she was fascinated by what was going on inside them. Her new book, The Animal Body Book, is exactly what she would have wanted to read as a child. It looks at lots of different types of animals’ insides, including skeletons, muscles and how they digest food. She said, “Who wouldn’t want to know what’s going on underneath the fur…

Leopards and hyenas are competitors when it comes to finding food in East Africa. Usually, leopards have the advantage but a new study has found that people living nearby can tip the balance in favour of hyenas. It seems hyenas are far better at adapting to the presence of humans. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen, in Denmark, studied the behaviour of spotted hyenas and leopards living in Tanzania’s Udzungwa Mountains National park. This is a protected area of more than 2,000 square kilometres that is surrounded by farmland and areas where humans live. The team used camera traps to observe the relationship between the two mammal species. Local people don’t like leopards because they hunt farm animals and can attack humans. Some farmers attack leopards, so the animals have…

A butterfly flight A group of painted lady butterflies flew 2,600 miles non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean. They were found on a beach in French Guiana, South America, in 2013, and a study now confirms that the insects came from Europe or Africa. Scientists studied details like the pollen on their wings. UK blackbirds A virus called usutu, carried by mosquitos, is threatening blackbirds in the UK. An organisation called the British Trust for Ornithology has launched the Blackbirds in Gardens project, asking people to record bird sightings in order to see how numbers are being affected in different areas.…

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is the oldest and largest animal welfare charity in the world. For two centuries the charity has been rescuing and caring for pets, farm animals and wildlife. What does the RSPCA do? Preventing cruelty (causing pain or suffering deliberately) to animals is the RSPCA’s main mission. It rehomes animals, microchips cats and dogs (inserting a special chip inside an animal, so that if lost it can be linked back to its owner), and runs local shops that raise money for the RSPCA and provide advice and health treatments for animals. The RSPCA also has four animal hospitals and four wildlife centres. It runs a phone service for the public to report sick and injured animals that receives more than…

If you’ve struggled to save up your pocket money or found it hard not to eat a whole packet of sweets in one go, you’ll understand the power of self-control. What does self-control mean? Also known as “willpower”, self-control means making short-term sacrifices for long-term rewards. This could be going without things you want to buy now to save up for a future treat, or walking away from an argument in case you say something hurtful. Psychologist Roy Baumeister (an expert in thoughts and feelings) says willpower is a type of energy. “It can be low at times,” he says, like when you’re tired, hungry or stressed. However, there are ways to top it up. Superpower energy Self-control is a superpower that can help you achieve your goals. Doing music…

(Faber Books) Harry Houdini was an escape artist, illusionist and stunt performer, who became famous around the world at the beginning of the 20th century for his death-defying escapes. In this new story from Emma Carroll, a Houdini escape becomes the starting point for a show-stopping adventure. Glory is thrilled when Houdini comes to her small seaside town to perform a daring trick: jumping off the town pier wrapped in chains, throwing himself into the water below. When Glory unexpectedly outwits Houdini, she is drawn into his world and finds herself having to look after his trunk of secrets. Together with her friend Dennis, she is thrown deep into a thrilling adventure that will take them all the way to Coney Island in America where, among the candy floss and…

This category celebrates the best non-fiction titles about animals and nature, from incredible migrations to the secrets of the deepest, darkest oceans. With exciting facts and absorbing images, the winning book will expand young readers’ knowledge and inspire them to respect and protect wildlife and nature. Amazing Animal Journeys By Philippa Forrester. Illustrated by Tim Smart (DK) This engaging book takes readers on an epic adventure exploring the incredible journeys that take place in the animal kingdom. Animal FACTopia! By Julie Beer. Illustrated by Andy Smith (Britannica Books / What on Earth Books) All the facts in this fun book are interconnected, forming a fascinating web of information, where you will leapfrog from topic to topic in exciting ways. The Tyrannosaur’s Feathers By Jonathan Emmett and Dr Adam S. Smith.…

Do you ever forget what you’ve read? Have you ever wondered how many books you’ve read in a year? Perhaps you struggle to remember details from books you’ve read and why you loved them so much. Keeping a book journal is a really useful way of reminding yourself what you’ve read – and can be fun and creative too. Writing in a journal can help you improve key skills like creative writing, critical thinking and reading comprehension (the ability to understand what you read). It’s also a record that you can look back on, tracking how your reading habits and tastes change. You can use it to jog your memory, too. Perhaps you’ve got the sequel to a book you read a while ago; a journal can help you recall…

It really has been the year of elections – and in this issue we report on three. On page 2 we’ve got a breakdown of the outcome of the UK election and some of the people in the new Government. We’ve also got the results of our reader survey. We had well over 1,000 responses, so a huge thank you to everyone who took part. What was clear was that the environment is the number one issue you want the new Government to tackle, but that health and poverty are also very important. This election delivered some surprises. With our electoral system, is it fair that Reform and the Greens won lots of votes but didn’t win more seats? We’ll have to see if the parties decide to change the…

Calling writers of short stories Do you love writing stories? CAAB Publishing has two competitions for young writers, with a chance to see your writing in print and win prizes. Accepted stories will be published in an anthology (collection). The Terrific Tricks and Terrible Treats competition is for eight to 12-year-olds and stories must be a little spooky. The Twisted Winter Tales competition is for writers aged 13 to 16. Stories must be set in winter and must have a twist (unexpected event in the plot). Both competitions have a prize of a £30 Amazon voucher and a digital copy of the book in which the story appears. Visit tinyurl.com/TWJ-caabcomp GET INVOLVED Email your news, views and pictures to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk Please include your full name and address so that we…

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 whether Monopoly is the best family board game… “Yes, it is good for all ages.” “No, it takes too long and it gets boring too quickly.” “Yes, it’s a good game to have a laugh and to spend some fun family time.” “No, it is expensive so some families can’t afford it.” “Yes, but it is hard to admit defeat.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

While the adults were getting ready to vote, we asked you, our readers, what you thought of the election. We wanted to know how you felt (62% said you were interested in the election), which issues you thought were the most important for the Government to tackle first, and who you thought would make a good Prime Minister. Here are some of the things you told us. Top tasks We asked you to choose the three things you’d like the Government to tackle immediately. Education and peace were important too, but these were your top three choices: TOP QUALITIES You said the three things a Prime Minister should be are honest, fair and hard-working. Do you trust politicians to keep their promises? Who would make the best Prime Minister? Lots…

Smera Sachin, aged 16, plays the bassoon (a type of woodwind instrument) in The National Youth Orchestra (NYO). Sachin joined the orchestra through NYO Inspire, a programme that gives thousands of young people a chance to play music and perhaps turn it into a career. Music is hugely important for Sachin. She says, “For me, playing music is a liberating experience where I am truly able to express myself.” Sachin will perform with NYO on the As One tour this August in Manchester and Essex (free tickets for teens) and at the BBC Proms on 10 August.…

Said to smell like marzipan, this wildflower blooms between June and September, bringing a sweet scent to the air all over the UK. The plant likes wet and boggy places, such as the side of rivers, streams and ditches, damp fields and verges. Meadowsweet grows up to 120 centimetres high. Its leaves grow in pairs, on either side of each stem, but with three leaves at the end. They are oval, with a pointed tip and serrated edges. Meadowsweet’s tiny cream flowers have long stamens (the pollen-producing, reproductive part of plants) which gives them a fluffy look. They grow in clusters called “cymes“ up to 10 millimetres wide. The larvae (immature form) of several moth species like to feed on meadowsweet.…

Double kitten rescue In January this year, two men discovered a pair of kittens that had been put in a bag and left on the back of a truck in Chesterfield, England. The white and tabby kittens, now called Constance and Evelyn, were taken to RSPCA Chesterfield and North Derbyshire’s animal centre to be checked over before being rehomed. New house for a mouse Also this year, a mouse that was abandoned in its cage outside a house in Powys, Wales, has found a new home after being taken to RSPCA Llys Nini Animal Centre. The mouse, named Stuart Little after the film character, is now living with a family who has a little boy that loves animals. Stella the police dog Stella was taken in by the RSPCA in…

One of the most simple but fun sports to try is tug-of-war. All you need is a long rope, two teams of people and enough space to contest a match. Around 400 competitors recently took part in the English National Tug of War Championships in Devon. There were gold, silver and bronze medals up for grabs in event categories for women, men, juniors and mixed teams. Each person on a team is called a puller. A team enters a category depending on the total weight of their pullers and the aim is to pull the rope four metres from the centre line. When a team wins two pulls they win that match. Pullers wear sturdy shoes that help their feet dig into the ground and they are not allowed to…

Dragons have featured in stories for thousands of years across many cultures, and the mythical creatures continue to capture imaginations today. Here Be Dragons, a new exhibition at The Story Museum in Oxford, celebrates these magnificent beasts. The exhibition takes visitors through lots of different stories and legends, and they can also meet dragons from the popular How To Train Your Dragon books and film series. Author Cressida Cowell worked closely with The Story Museum, and her characters Hiccup, Toothless, Camicazi and Stormfly act as guides through the exhibition. There are objects showing how different artists have been inspired to create their own dragons, including the Soup Dragon from the classic children’s TV show The Clangers; a sculpture of a sleeping dragon by model maker Eve Bannister; and a letter…

A Greyhound of a Girl (U) Out now in select cinemas Eleven-year-old Mary loves cooking, and hopes to become a great chef one day. When her family receives some unexpected news, they head off on a journey together where they reconnect and learn more about each other’s past. Star Trek: Prodigy, season 2 Available now on Netflix Six young members of the Prodigy crew are given a mission aboard the USS Voyager-A. They accidentally create a rift in time that puts both the past and the future at risk.…

What is your favourite historical period? Why? Late 18th century, early 19th century, when revolution was in the air. Mary Wollstonecraft was arguing for women’s rights, Olaudah Equiano was supporting an end to enslavement and poet Lord Byron was making mischief. Do you know any magic tricks? I know how to make a bag of salt and vinegar crisps disappear in 10 seconds – does that count? Without spoilers, what is your favourite part of The Houdini Inheritance? Probably the ending. Tell us about your favourite writing spot. At home, in my little writing room with its views of the Somerset countryside, in the company of my dogs Bert and Olive, and with a piping hot cuppa to hand. Rollercoasters: super fun, or super scary? SUPER-DUPER SCARY.…

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 324 471 514 663 706 4 numbers 1631 2814 4484 8783 5 numbers 11402 23806 48005 56921 82161 6 numbers 263457 484245 878842 7 numbers 2850621 7480374 7602427 8 numbers 45061840 54813707 86080733 9 numbers 425351371 451255747 938185068 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. ACE BACKHAND BALL BOUNCE CLAY COURT DEUCE DOUBLES FAULT FOREHAND GRASS LOVE MATCH NET OUT RACKET RALLY SERVE SINGLES STROKE Spot…

Under One Sky The charity Under One Sky believes that getting society involved is vital to ending homelessness. Skywalkers (workers from the charity) support 500 to 600 people affected by homelessness, mainly in London, every week. The teams provide food, underwear, socks, toiletries and, most importantly, friendly human help. The teams aims to develop strong relationships based on trust. They build conversations to understand what sort of support each person needs. Skywalkers also help prepare food, clothes packages and other projects. You and your family can find out how to help at underoneskytogether.com…

Teacher’s name: Mr V. School: Beckington CofE First School, Somerset, England “Mr V. is an amazing teacher who is really funny, kind and considerate. He has made me realise that I am SO much better at maths than I thought and I now have the confidence to give it all a go! Mr V. usually shares stories about his black cockapoo Cody and I can’t wait for the day when he brings Cody into school. Mr V. is the very best (even though he supports Leeds Utd).” Autumn If we pick your teacher as Teacher of the Week, we’ll send your school three free issues of The Week Junior. Send your nominations, along with a picture of your teacher and your school’s full name and address, to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…