Tabla de contenidos para Issue 309 en The Week Junior US

The US Senate passed the largest housing bill in 36 years on March 12, amid a nationwide shortage of homes and soaring housing costs. In a rare show of unity, the bill was passed by members of both main political parties, Republicans and Democrats. The Senate is one half of Congress, the branch of government that makes laws. What is the housing shortage? In the past several years, fewer homes have been built and fewer owners have been selling their homes, which means there are not enough homes available for people to buy. The real estate website Realtor.com estimated that there are 4 million fewer homes than buyers. At the same time, home prices have increased and it is more expensive for people to take out a mortgage (loan from…

AN ADORABLE ARRIVAL A baby echidna—called a puggle—was born at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio. Echidnas, which are rare in the US, are related to platypuses. The healthy puggle was born with a long snout and claws and will soon grow spikes on its back. A MAJOR TRADE New York Yankees star Aaron Judge has added a new record to his list of accomplishments. A baseball card signed by the right fielder sold for $5.2 million, which is the most ever paid for a modern baseball card. “We’re incredibly honored…to be part of such a momentous moment in hobby history,” said the company that sold it to an anonymous buyer. CELEBRATING AN ANNIVERSARY Winnie the Pooh has been sharing humor and wisdom for 100 years. The beloved bear and his friends—including…

The championship game of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), a tournament with 20 national teams from around the globe, was played in front of 36,190 fans at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, on March 17. In a dramatic upset, Venezuela defeated USA, 3–2, securing their first-ever WBC championship. Earlier in the tournament, Venezuela had knocked out Japan, the tournament’s defending champion. The US has won the WBC title once, in 2017.…

Artificial intelligence can be useful for everyday life, from digital assistants like Alexa and Siri to medical screenings for diseases like cancer. However, some people are not happy about one new AI invention in particular: an actor named Tilly Norwood. Although Tilly hasn’t been cast in any big movies or TV shows yet, the company that created her says she could be a star. Can a creation that’s not real actually convey human emotions and be believable on screen? Many people aren’t convinced. There are also concerns that AI actors could start taking over real actors’ jobs in films and TV shows. What do you think? Is the use of AI actors a good idea? Yes—they free up more money Making movies and TV shows can be really expensive. Using…

A fishing ban in China’s Yangtze River is showing promising results after about five years. A new study found that fish biomass (the weight of all the fish in the river) has more than doubled, and several endangered species have made a recovery. The Yangtze is the third longest river in the world, and more than 400 million people depend on it for their livelihoods, water, and food. It has 194 native species that are found nowhere else on Earth, including the Yangtze finless porpoise, a rare freshwater mammal. But for more than 70 years, human activities such as fishing, dam building, and pollution have harmed the river. By 2016, fish stocks had fallen by 85% and the river’s native dolphins, called baiji, had gone extinct. In 2021, China implemented…

Alex Winsor Spider expert, University of Massachusetts Amherst In many animals’ eyes, including ours, special cells sense light. Each responds best to a certain color. Our brains see color by comparing signals from red, green, and blue cells, but some animals see things differently. For example, many spiders also have cells for ultraviolet, a color we can’t see. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the University of Massachusetts Amherst at umass.edu/biology.…

Aviation company Wisk Aero recently showcased its new flying taxi, which runs on electrical power and can fly at an altitude of 2,500 feet. The Generation 6 aircraft is autonomous, meaning it does not require a pilot to operate it. People on the ground willmonitor its flight and remotely control the aircraft if necessary. Generation 6 holds four passengers and is accessible for people with disabilities. The company has successfully carried out test flights and hopes it will provide safe, everyday flights for people within a few years.…

Bees have incredibly fascinating lives. Now a new two-part documentary series, Secrets of the Bees, is offering an up-close look at the insects’ world and their remarkable intelligence. The program is the latest installment in the Emmy-winning Secrets of documentary franchise, and it premieres on National Geographic on March 31 at 8 p.m. ET. It will arrive on Disney+ and Hulu the next day. The series was filmed over three years, and a team of scientists and filmmakers worked in locations such as the Amazon jungle, an almond orchard in California, and a lab in Colorado. They also monitored 15 different hives. They captured never-before-seen footage of how bees move, work, and communicate by using equipment such as tiny probes and powerful close-up camera lenses. Because the footage is taken…

The Outsiders PG (Philo or rent on other platforms) “This movie is set in Oklahoma in the 1960s. It follows Ponyboy Curtis, a thoughtful teen who is part of the Greasers, a group of kids from a poor part of town. He and his friends often clash with a group from a wealthier area, and the tension between them leads to serious consequences. As Ponyboy faces tests of loyalty, hard choices, and loss, he begins to understand the meaning of family, friendship, and growing up. The movie shows how social class affects people’s lives and is a reminder that everyone encounters challenges, no matter where they come from.” Henry, 12, New Jersey Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

If you liked… The Wishing Spell By Chris Colfer The first installment in the six-book Land of Stories series transports 12-year-old twins into a world where several fairy tales exist simultaneously. They need to collect magical items from well-known fairy tales to return home. Ages 8–12 You might like… The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom By Christopher Healy, illustrated by Todd Harris The debut of this hilarious three-book series offers a fresh take on fairy tales. Four flawed princes must triumph over their shortcomings to fight an evil plot against the kingdom. Ages 8–12…

Escape of the Unicorn By Deborah Lerme Goodman, illustrated by Suzanne Nugent Part of the popular Choose Your Own Adventure series, this book allows you to investigate the claims that unicorns are being kidnapped. You make choices throughout the story that will result in one of more than a dozen possible endings. It’s fun to reread the book, making different decisions! Ages 9–12 Meanwhile By Jason Shiga This epic interactive graphic novel starts with one simple choice you make for the main character: chocolate or vanilla ice cream. Soon the stakes get much higher, involving a mysterious science lab and a mind-melding device. As you pick from thousands of possible adventures, will your choices save the world or end it? Ages 8–12 You Choose: Can You Survive? By Rachael Hanel…

Ingredients ● Cooking spray● 8 large eggs● 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons cottage cheese● ¾ teaspoon kosher salt● ¼ teaspoon black pepper● ¾ cup gruyere, shredded● 2 scallions, chopped● 6 slices cooked bacon, roughly chopped (optional) Instructions 1. Heat oven to 350° F. With an adult’s help, bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Coat a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray and place the tin onto a rimmed baking sheet. 2. In a blender, combine the eggs, cottage cheese, salt, and pepper. Purée a few seconds until smooth. 3. Distribute the gruyere, scallions, and bacon (if you’re using it) evenly among the wells of the muffin tin, reserving 1 heaping tablespoon of each. 4. Pour egg mixture into each well, distributing it evenly. Use a butter knife to…

Get a whiff of these tomatoes A team of Chinese and Australian scientists has developed a variety of tomatoes with the scent of buttered popcorn. Soon after tomatoes are picked, they typically start losing their natural aroma, which also affects their flavor. Inspired by types of aromatic rice that have a popcorn-like smell, the researchers modified tomatoes to re-create the fragrance. They say the process could give the fruits a more complex flavor and help them remain tasty when they reach supermarket shelves. A record-setting rap lesson Award-winning teacher, author, and rapper MC Grammar, whose real name is Jacob Mitchell, recently led the world’s largest rap lesson. During the 30-minute event at a theater in the UK, he taught 859 students from 18 schools how to rap the lyrics from…

Have you made a difference in your school or community or taken action on an idea? If so, we’d love to feature you and your story on this page in the section above. To be considered, please write 100 to 120 words about what you did. Maybe you volunteered your time for an organization, sold crafts or baked goods to support a cause, or helped animals. Have an adult email your submission, along with a photo of yourself, your first name, your age, and the US state you live in, to hello@theweekjunior.com. IT’S YOUR TURN Email your news, views, and photos to hello@theweekjunior.com. We want to hear from you! To have your letters, photos, nominations, recommendations, or ideas considered for inclusion in the magazine, please include your first name, age,…

“I love The Week Junior, so I cut out articles to make a poster. I shared the poster and some magazines with my class during library hour.”Alma, 7, Pennsylvania “We walked on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.”Ian, 10, New Jersey “We followed the recipe in The Week Junior and made strawberry fudge. It was delicious!”Kaitlyn, 9, and Claire, 7, Colorado…

1 Fish and porpoises are recovering after a fishing ban in which river? a) Nile b) Mekong c) Yangtze a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 2 True or false? A recent study found that AI does not give reliable medical advice. True ☐ False ☐ 3 Who received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Children’s & Family Emmy Awards? a) Bill Nye b) John Lithgow c) Joe Locke a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 4 In the book Red River Rose, Rose is a member of what Indigenous group? 5 Which country finished with the most medals at this year’s Winter Paralympics? a) China b) Ukraine c) TheUS a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 6 True or false? The name of the grand outdoor pool at Hearst Castle is the…

NASA (the US space agency) announced that repairs to the Artemis II spacecraft have been completed and it is cleared to launch on April 1. The spacecraft, consisting of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion crew capsule, is scheduled to be moved back to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 20. Artemis II was initially moved to the launch pad in January and was set to take off as early as February. As crews tested the spacecraft in preparation for liftoff, however, they discovered a problem with the helium system. The launch was delayed and the spacecraft was moved back to its hangar for repairs on February 25. While it was there, crews also addressed issues with its oxygen feed, electrical system, and…

A new report about teenagers’ sleep has been released. The study’s findings show that most teens don’t get the recommended amount. What was the study? Researchers from the University of Connecticut analyzed the sleep habits of nearly 121,000 high school students in the US. The information about the teenagers had been gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, the US health protection agency) from 2007 to 2023. The CDC asked the participants how many hours of sleep they got on an average school night. What did the study find? The number of teens getting sufficient sleep, defined as eight or more hours a night, dropped from more than 30% in 2007 to less than 25% in 2023. Of the teenagers not getting eight hours a night, more…

In addition to being the longtime crossword editor of The New York Times, Will Shortz is also the founder of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, the nation’s oldest and largest crossword competition. In April, he will host its 48th edition. Shortz grew up on an Arabian horse farm in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and developed an early interest in puzzles. He began creating his own around age 8. When he was 14, he sold his first puzzle to a national magazine. “I love the creativity of it,” Shortz told The Week Junior. “I’m always using my brain and learning something new.” While at Indiana University, he invented his own major in enigmatology (the study of puzzles). After earning a law degree from the University of Virginia, he soon returned to the puzzle…

Scientists have demonstrated for the first time that bonobos enjoy pretend play. Just like human children, these great apes are capable of using make-believe situations to explore the world around them as they grow up. Bonobos, along with chimpanzees, are humans’ closest relatives. Human children typically start playing with pretend objects (like having a tea party with no tea) between ages 2 and 3. Experts used to think that make-believe was an ability unique to humans, but apes have shown a similar sort of imagination. Wild chimpanzees, especially young females, have been seen carrying logs like dolls, and a captive bonobo named Panbanisha seemed to pretend to eat blueberries. Scientists began to suspect that bonobos enjoy imaginative play, but for many years they were unable to prove it. To test…

Coastal marten Researchers from Oregon State University are studying coastal martens in northern California. Scientists used to think the weasel-like animals were extinct, until a small population was spotted in 1996. Now they believe about 500 are alive. ● LIFESPAN: Up to 14 years ● HABITAT: Old, undisturbed forests ● SIZE: Up to 28 inches ● DIET: Small animals, berries, eggs, and insects ● FUN FACT: In winter, martens grow fur on the bottom of their feet to protect against the snow.…

Hearst Castle is an architectural marvel located in the town of San Simeon, California, between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Let’s take a tour. Who are the Hearsts? George Hearst was born in Missouri in 1820. He moved to California in 1850 after gold was discovered there and built a fortune in mining. He married Phoebe Hearst in 1862, and their son, William Randolph, was born the next year. George Hearst purchased the newspaper The San Francisco Examiner in 1880. He served in the US Senate, and his son William Randolph took control of the Examiner in 1887. William Randolph Hearst built a massively successful publishing company, although his newspapers were known to have biased reporting and to exaggerate the truth. (He is considered to be the inspiration for the…

Aprehistoric ancestor of modern A humans was driven to extinction by a severe, long-lasting drought, according to a new study. The finding has solved the mystery of what happened to Homo floresiensis, which was first discovered in the Liang Bua cave on the island of Flores, in Indonesia, in 2003. Scientists knew that H. floresiensis lived at least 100,000 years ago and possibly up to 190,000 years ago. But they had been unable to determine why the species went extinct about 50,000 years ago. In the latest study, researchers analyzed stalagmites deep in the cave. These are natural formations that form on the floor of a cave when water drips and deposits minerals. The minerals in the stalagmites were a natural record of how much rain had fallen in the…

The 2026 Winter Paralympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy, came to a close on March 15 after nine days of medal events. Athletes from around the world competed in para sports such as cross-country skiing, Alpine skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey (also known as sled hockey), and wheelchair curling. The Games are for athletes with physical, visual, or intellectual impairments, and each athlete is assigned a classification so they compete against athletes who have similar abilities. In the final medal standings, China finished in first place with a total of 44 medals, including 15 golds. The US placed second with 24 medals, including 13 golds. Ukraine earned the third-highest total, with 19, while Russia took home the third-highest number of golds, with eight. Here are some highlights from the final six…

LISTEN: EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN Molly Oldfield, a former researcher and “Quiz elf” on the British quiz show QI, hosts this show and answers kids’ questions about life on Earth. Each episode features science experts, and topics have included blood moons, how seeds form, and why volcanoes erupt. (Major podcast platforms) PLAY: SUBWAY SURFERS CITY In this new version of a fast-paced running video game, you play as a graffiti artist escaping through subway tunnels and city streets while dodging trains and obstacles. Along the way you can ride hoverboards and use gadgets such as bubblegum shields. (Apple App Store, Google Play) CLICK: FACTS ABOUT WHALES AND DOLPHINS The Whale and Dolphin Conservation, an international charity, created this site filled with facts about the lives of whales, dolphins, and porpoises.…

What inspired Red River Rose? Definitely the Little House on the Prairie series. I grew up with that series, and I liked reading about the relationship between Laura and her dad. At the same time, I struggled a lot with how Native people were portrayed in the series. I thought I would really love to rewrite that story from a Native perspective. What does this book mean to you? This story is very personal to me. It took me three years to write it because as I did the historical research, it was hard to read and to see what had happened to my ancestors. And then from there, it was hard to be creative. So I would take breaks to spend time in nature. When you’re outdoors, you’re watching…

Analog hobbies are activities that you do in the physical world, rather than on a screen. They can sharpen your mental focus, enhance your problemsolving skills, and help you feel more creative. These activities are having a resurgence, as people look for fun things to do offline. Here is how you can get started. Consider the possibilities There are many types of analog hobbies. They can be fiber arts, which refers to creative practices that use fibers, yarn, or fabric as the main materials and include knitting, crocheting, quilting, and needlepoint. If you enjoy music, you could explore vinyl records, cassette tapes, or compact discs for a more tangible listening experience. There are also many outdoor hobbies, like bicycling, birdwatching, and nature photography. Turn to helpful resources First, you can…

GROW A MINI HERB GARDEN Herbs are plants that have leaves, seeds, or flowers and can be used for many purposes. Some, like aloe vera, can help heal cuts and burns. Many herbs, like basil, cilantro, parsley, oregano, and thyme, are used in cooking or to flavor prepared dishes. Herbs are easy to grow, can thrive inside or outside, and can be grown in a container or a garden. By growing your own herbs, you can help the environment by avoiding buying herbs wrapped in plastic and shipped to a store. With an adult, visit a local gardening center to buy herb seedlings (young plants). They can be grown in small pots on a windowsill or outdoors. Put them where they will get plenty of sun, and water sparingly.…

We are delighted to profile Will Shortz in this week’s issue (p9). He is the crossword editor at The New York Times, and I have been a major fan of his for many years. I enjoy trying to solve his puzzles in the Times, I like to listen to his puzzle segments on NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday, and I’ve also watched Wordplay, the 2006 documentary film about the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, which he founded in 1978. I think it’s amazing that he sold his first crossword to a magazine at the age of 14. Around the same time, he decided he wanted to become a professional puzzle maker. And when he went to college at Indiana University, he invented an “enigmatology” major for himself. (Apparently he’s the only person…

“I love to write stories in my creative writing class, but my school didn’t have a place for kids to publish stories, poems, jokes, or art. My friend and I stood up at the school assembly and said we were starting a literary magazine. Kids started submitting great stuff, and our classmates wanted to join as editors. Now the literary magazine is an official part of the school and we are having a contest to name it. I want every child who is creative to have a place to share their ideas and feel like they belong.” 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. RIDDLE OFTHE WEEK What store should you…

Teacher’s Name: Mr. Rigney School: Tierra Del Sol Middle “Mr. Rigney is an amazing sixth-grade English teacher! He works so hard to make lessons engaging and fun for us, even though we are older now. He makes English easy to understand. If students misbehave, Mr. Rigney has a funny comeback to lighten the mood. My favorite part of the school day is definitely English, and it’s because of him!” Charlotte, 12, California 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.…

March 23, 2010 Affordable Care Act becomes law On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama (2009–2017) signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law. It expanded healthcare access to millions of people, protected people with pre-existing conditions, and more. The law was controversial when passed and was challenged in court, but today the majority of Americans approve of it. A record 24.2 million people signed up for coverage under the ACA in 2025.…

Kākāpōs The world’s only flightless parrots have laid at least 248 eggs and hatched 78 healthy chicks so far this year. Experts hope this rare breeding event, linked to a large crop of rimu berries, will bolster the critically endangered bird’s population. Narwhals Scientists warn that increased underwater noise from ships and human activity is affecting narwhals, which use sound to navigate and find food in Arctic waters. Experts say the noise is a growing problem that could also affect other marine life.…

Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots might be very smart, but a new study found they’re not good at giving health advice. AI is a computer system that can learn and do things that usually require human intelligence. Many people are using AI to identify their medical issues and help them decide when to see a doctor or go to the hospital. Researchers say this can be a problem if the advice they get isn’t accurate. AI companies have developed chatbots that focus on health issues, and some of them have even passed medical exams that human doctors have to take. However, a new study, led by experts at Oxford University and the Oxford Internet Institute in England, shows that they aren’t very useful when a real person is asking them for…

NCAA TOURNAMENT PREVIEW What’s happening Each spring, the top college basketball teams play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament, also called March Madness. The field is made up of teams that won their conference tournaments and those chosen for their strong regular-season records. The winner of each game moves to the next round. Men’s teams to watch Duke University earned the overall top seed (ranking) this year, and their star player, Cameron Boozer, is looking to lead the team to its first national title since 2015. He is one of several exciting freshmen in this year’s tournament, along with Brigham Young University’s AJ Dybantsa, the leading scorer in men’s college basketball, and University of Kansas guard Darryn Peterson. Last year’s national champion, the University of Florida, is another…

The best TV programs for young people were recently honored at the 4th Annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards, one of the most prestigious prizes in television. They are given out by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Two programs won five awards each, the most of any nominees. Disney’s Descendants: The Rise of Red was named Outstanding Fiction Special. One of its four other awards was for the song “Red Christmas.” Win or Lose, a Disney+ animated series about a middle school softball team, won the award for Outstanding Children’s or Young Teen Animated Series plus four others. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, the first Star Wars live-action story centered on kids, won Outstanding Young Teen Series and three more awards. The Outstanding Animated Special award went to…

It’s 1885 in this adventurous historical novel, and 12-year-old Rose loves riding the ferry with her best friend Ambroise and joining her dad and uncle on moose hunts. Along with the rest of the Métis Nation (Indigenous people in Canada), she adores living on the beautiful Red River Prairie and honors the animals and plants she uses. Unfortunately, this balance is about to be upset by the Canadian government, which wants to sell the prairie (what is currently Saskatchewan, a province in the Western region of the country) to new settlers and build a railroad. This situation horrifies Rose’s parents because the government already forced them to relocate once before. Rose is determined to stop this injustice. She spies on meetings held by people loyal to the government and disguises…

Goosebumps House of Shivers: Goblin Monday By R.L. Stine “The book is about a boy named Mario who goes on a winter vacation to Vermont with his friends Jewel and Todd to visit their grandparents. Little does Mario know that his friends’ grandparents might not be who he thinks they are! During the trip, Mario keeps witnessing weird occurrences his friends don’t see. Just when you think things can’t get any worse, they do! I really enjoyed this book for its suspense!” Jayden, 10, Massachusetts Do you have a book to recommend? We want to hear about it! With an adult’s help, please send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Keyword crossword Once you have completed the crossword, transfer the letters in the yellow boxes, from top to bottom, into the boxes below to get the answer to the Keyword question. ACROSS 1 Part of the train that has the engine 7 Prescription eyewear 8 Popular type of bread in a deli 9 Stay behind 10 The one after this one 12 Number signifying “no number” 14 Metal the Statue of Liberty is made of 17 Color that has been shown to increase a person’s heart rate 18 Permitted 20 List of similarities or differences between two items DOWN 1 Fallen tree trunk 2 Small ornament worn on a bracelet 3 Picture formed from small pieces of colored tile 4 Small job you’re assigned to complete 5 Rhyming section of…