Table of contents for 397 in The Week Junior

A heatwave has hit southern Europe, pushing temperatures over 40°C. A heatwave is a long period of unusually hot weather. The heat is expected to continue in some places until the end of July. China and the western US are also having very hot weather. Which parts of Europe are affected? The Italian island of Sardinia reached 46°C on 18 July. Andújar, in Spain, hit 44.8°C the day before. Wildfires have broken out in many places. In Greece, which recorded 41°C on 18 July, fires near the capital, Athens, have destroyed huge areas of forest and thousands of people have been moved to safety. Heatwaves can make fires worse because hot weather dries vegetation (plants), which fuel the fires. Another fire, in the Haut-Valais area of the Alps mountain range…

Millions of people are to receive doses of the first vaccine that protects people against malaria. A vaccine is a medicine that trains the body to fight a disease using its own defences. Twelve African countries have been chosen to get the vaccine first. Malaria is a disease spread by mosquitos in tropical parts of the world, including Africa, Asia and South America. Some mosquitos in these areas carry a particular parasite (an organism that lives off other creatures) that causes malaria. When a mosquito infected with the parasite bites a person, that person becomes infected. Although they feel unwell, most people who are infected with malaria get better. If the disease is spotted soon enough, it can be cured with medicine. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO), a global…

On 16 July, Marketa Vondrousova beat Ons Jabeur to win the Wimbledon women’s singles title for the first time. The next day, in the men’s final, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic to win his first Wimbledon championship. Wimbledon is one of the biggest tennis competitions in the world. It is held every year over two weeks at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London. The world’s top tennis stars compete on the famous grass courts, and there are events for junior and wheelchair players. Vondrousova, from the Czech Republic, was playing in her first Wimbledon final. She won by two sets to zero to become the first unseeded player to win the women’s title. Before Wimbledon begins, the organisers select the top 32 female and male players and seed (rank)…

This summer, a familiar, grumpy green ogre is making his way to the stage for a musical tour of the UK, 22 years after Shrek first hit the cinemas. Shrek the Musical, an exciting and funny stage version of the film, started its tour on 21 July in Plymouth, England, and is scheduled to visit more than 30 theatres across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It follows the story of Shrek, a green ogre who lives in a swamp, on an adventure with his chatty and upbeat sidekick, Donkey. During their quest, the two of them must defeat a dragon and help Princess Fiona escape from her tower. Along the way, they encounter a lots of magical fairy-tale characters, and of course the evil Lord Farquaad. Antony Lawrence, who…

by Joe Haddow. Illustrated by Ellie Hawes (UCLan Publishing) What is art? Who are artists and how can you become one yourself? This book sets about answering these questions and more. Author Joe Haddow is an art collector, musician, podcast host, radio producer and writer who wants to inspire young readers to be creative. He shows that art is much more than oil paintings on art gallery walls – it is found in many different places and is created by all kinds of people. You’ll explore acting, comedy, contemporary visual art, dance, music, poetry and writing; discover inspiring artists from classical musicians to stand-up comics; and find great ideas to get you started making art of your own. Brimming with inspiration, this is a brilliant book for anyone who would…

Are you related to daffodils? How many cow farts make up Earth’s atmosphere? Why are bubbles round? The books on our STEM shortlist will satisfy curiosity and inspire you to find out more. i-Spy Seaside Challenge, The Secret World of Plants and Slow Down and Be Here Now invite you to look more closely at the world around you. You Are 25% Banana takes readers on a mind-boggling journey through DNA, and 24 Hours in Space invites young people wanting to be astronauts to board the International Space Station. The Brainiac’s Book of the Climate and Weather and The Extraordinary Book That Invents Itself are full of interactive fun and facts. SuperQuesters: The Case of the Missing Memory stars fictional science superheroes and teaches real-life STEM skills. The Bedtime Book…

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 536 746 804 873 882 975 4 numbers 5203 6342 7236 5 numbers 16257 48725 57260 72826 6 numbers 218265 240824 743685 785405 788353 7 numbers 1827766 3517485 5641534 8 numbers 80456586 91132655 96237113 9 numbers 397287129 480161243 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. BOOK FLIP FLOPS GOGGLES HAIRDRYER HAT IPAD MAGAZINE MONEY PASSPORT PYJAMAS SHAMPOO SHORTS SNACKS SNORKEL SUNGLASSES SUNSCREEN SWIMSUIT TICKET TOWEL TRUNKS…

GOLDEN RETRIEVERS To mark 155 years since the first golden retriever puppies were born, hundreds of them and their owners travelled to Guisachan House in the Scottish Highlands. The celebrations included four days of events, including a night-time procession. OLDER SWIMMERS Synchronised swimmer Jeanne Ansley, aged 79, won a gold medal at the Swim England Artistic Swimming National Masters Championships on 8 July. Ansley, from Leeds, swims for two hours every day, and said, “I just feel at home in the water”. The judges stood up to clap her performance. A TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE Before postmen and postwomen were given vans, they delivered mail on foot, horse or bicycle, and relied on postmen’s huts for a place to rest and eat during long days. One of the few remaining…

Lots of people depend on tourism to make a living, and travelling to new places can make visitors feel relaxed and happier. However, tourism has its drawbacks. Crowds of people can have a negative effect on the environment, wildlife and local people. For this reason, some places limit tourist numbers. Bhutan in Asia charges tourists a fee that it uses to protect the country’s natural landscapes. A week’s stay in Bhutan costs £627, on top of the usual costs like hotels. A popular beach called Maya Bay in Thailand was shut to visitors for about four years to allow nature to recover from damage that they caused. Some people think limiting numbers is unfair for tourists and the locals who depend on them. What do you think, is it ok…

Dutch researchers have discovered that birds living in cities are stealing the metal spikes that humans put on buildings to keep them away – and using them to protect their nests. Anti-bird spikes are placed on the parts of buildings where some birds perch or nest, such as window ledges and balconies. The idea is to discourage them because they can cause damage and mess with their poo. Auke-Florian Hiemstra was one of the Dutch nest experts who found an enormous magpie nest near a hospital in Antwerp, Belgium. It was made from around 1,500 metal spikes, all pointing outwards to ward off predators. The researchers then found that 50 metres of anti-bird spikes that had been glued to the hospital’s roof had been ripped out – presumably by the…

Underneath the River Thames in London, engineers are building a new sewage tunnel that measures 7.2 metres across – that’s the width of three buses. The giant sewer is also more than 15.5 miles long. It’s called the Thames Tideway Tunnel and it is due to be finished next year. Why does London need a sewage system? “Sewage” means human waste (poo and wee) and a sewage system carries waste safely away. Even though the city of London has existed for 2,000 years, it only got a proper sewage system in 1865. Before that, all the poo and wee went straight into the River Thames or to cesspits (holes in the ground) in cellars or courtyards. The smell was appalling and the waste was causing outbreaks of dangerous diseases. From…

Australia women’s cricket team They won the Ashes series against England with a three-run victory in the second One Day International. Hannah Cockroft Cockroft won her 14th title at the Para Athletics World Championships by winning the T34 800 metres event. Akani Simbine The South African sprinter took the gold medal in the Diamond League men’s 100 metres race at the Silesian Stadium, in Poland. Rory McIlroy Northern Ireland golfer McIlroy beat Robert MacIntyre by one shot in a dramatic finish to win the Scottish Open tournament at North Berwick.…

Favourite joke? Why do bees have sticky hair? They use a honeycomb. Favourite season? If I HAD to choose, spring, but I genuinely love all seasons. Describe the book in one word. Arty. Best way to relax? Music helps me relax, especially if I’m listening on headphones whilst walking. I also love a nice bath! Do you plan or are you spontaneous? I really do like a plan but I’m open to a bit of spontaneity from time to time.…

The summer holidays are here, and after a few days’ rest you might be itching to get out and about again. What would you like to do? There are plenty of helpful websites with good ideas. The Wildlife Trusts charity has a map of walks all over the UK. You can zoom in to find the ones nearest where you live, read about them and plan a visit. Another good website for finding places to walk is AllTrails, where you can search for the name of a nearby city or park to find trails to explore with your family or friends. One fun way to explore your neighbourhood is through wildlife. The Week Junior Science+Nature’s summer scavenger hunt asks you to track down 10 natural objects, including clouds and creepy-crawlies.…

Naughty tourist says he’s sorry A tourist who was filmed carving his and his girlfriend’s names into a wall at the Colosseum in Rome, Italy’s capital city, has apologised “to the Italians and the whole world”. The Colosseum is a 2,000-year-old amphitheatre (venue for entertainment) that hosted events such as chariot races and gladiator fights. Ivan Dimitrov, from Bristol, England, said he did not realise the wall’s age when he cut into it with a key. In his letter of apology to the city mayor, he said he now understood the “seriousness” of what he had done and felt “deep embarrassment”. Airline tries renting out clothes Deciding which clothes to pack for a holiday can be a long and boring chore. However, a company called Japan Airlines has just made…

Ask the experts Have you got a burning question that has got you scratching your head? Our buddies at The Week Junior Science+Nature have teamed up with The Royal Institution of Great Britain to put your science queries to the experts. They have busted myths and answered all sorts from natural wonders such as why spiders don’t stick to their webs, to the super-sciencey – like how many atoms has a human got? If you have got a fascinating science question that has left you baffled and bamboozled, send it to the experts at tinyurl.com/TWJ-Headscratchers – the most interesting questions and their answers will feature in the upcoming magazine. GET INVOLVED Email your news, views and pictures to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk Please include your full name and address so that we can…

Teacher’s name: Mrs Collman School: Garden House School, London “Mrs Collman is fun, kind, fair and understanding. She always listens to our thoughts. When teaching she is balanced on how much help she gives us because she wants us to be independent and to learn in the right way. She makes our classes one of a kind. We love Mrs Collman.” Allegra, Ava, Cara, Lily, Millie and Olivia 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…

1 Which country has sent more than 1,500 applications to Guinness World Records since May? □ a) Portugal □ b) Nigeria □ c) Japan 2 True or false? Police and members of the military are not allowed to go on strike from their jobs. □ True □ False 3 In which country is Mount Fagradalsfjall located? 4 Which European city recently introduced a fee for visitors in order to reduce tourist numbers? □ a) Paris □ b) London □ c) Venice 5 True or false? The UK’s oldest bookshop for children, in north London, turns 50 next year. □ True □ False 6 In Scandinavian legend, which type of birds were said to be witches flying to evil meetings? 7 What was the name given to the long, hot and…

At the oldest children’s bookshop in the country, visitors will find a shop “packed with books, floor to ceiling”, the owner, Sanchita Basu De Sarkar tells The Week Junior. The Children’s Bookshop in Muswell Hill, north London, turns 50 next year, and has something to delight every reader. Basu De Sarkar started working at the shop after university, and says she fell in love with all the books. After five years, the previous owner suggested Basu De Sarkar take over. “I had always wanted to own a bookshop,” she says, “but I thought I’d do it as an old lady.” She was only 25, but Basu De Sarkar said yes. She only had to modernise the shop a little, she said, “removing a carpet that many feet had trampled over”.…

Researchers in Italy have spotted birds from two different species raising their chicks together. They believe that the parents, a pair of common redstarts and a pair of black redstarts, built the nest together. Three black redstart chicks and two common redstart chicks hatched in it and both pairs of parents fed the other species’ chicks as well as their own. It’s the first time this behaviour has been observed and the researchers want to study it further. All five chicks successfully fledged (matured enough to fly from the nest).…

Where will you go this summer? Maybe Jamaica, where mangoes and mysteries meet – or the desert in Texas, where a group of teenagers are digging holes. Who will you meet? How about a sailor who survived a shipwreck by drinking sharks’ blood or a skeleton detective with sorcery skills? Unlock your powers to travel through time and space, boost your mood, read minds and more by taking this year’s Summer of Reading challenge. 1. Take the challenge We are inviting you to read, rate and review at least one book this summer. You can pick any book you like – but if you need inspiration, we’ve put together a list of 50 books that our readers have recommended over the last year. Once you have read a book, you…

What are your plans for the long summer holiday? These weeks off are a great opportunity to challenge yourself to try a new activity or learn a skill. Try something different The summer holidays are a good time to try something new because you have several weeks off at school. By challenging yourself you could discover an activity that’s fun and makes you happy, leads to making new friends or is good for your wellbeing. Challenges help you discover talents or skills you didn’t know you had and you show yourself you can stick with something even when it’s tricky or you’re not good at it to begin with. Teacher and youth mentor Bec Coldicutt says, “When you try new things, you learn a little bit more about yourself: what…

My Family and Other Romans by Marie Basting (Chicken House) Livi is half ordinary schoolgirl, half Roman goddess. When her dad is accidentally transported back in time to ancient Rome, it’s down to Livi to go after him and save the day. Full of fun and adventure, this time-travel tale will show you the Romans as you’ve never imagined them before. Empire’s End: A Roman Story by Leila Rasheed (Scholastic) Camilla, a girl from North Africa, sets out across the Roman Empire on a journey to the remote island of Britannica. Can she navigate this strange, cold new land, full of secrets, danger and intrigue? This is a gripping adventure that features real historical events and characters. Live Like a Roman by Claire Saunders. Illustrated by Ruth Hickson (Button Books)…

Name: Isabella The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks By Katie Kirby “Every time I feel sad I take a look at the pictures and laugh as soon as I see them!” YOUR TURN Email your book review to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk. If your review is printed in the magazine you’ll receive a Roving Reporter badge. Tell us what you liked about the book and why you’d recommend it to others, and don’t forget to include your name and address.* *If you are the competition winner, we will only use the details you provide to contact you and arrange delivery of your competition prize. Further details about how we manage the data you provide can be found at www.futureplc.com/privacy-policy…

If you thought muffins had to be sweet, think again. These savoury treats are perfect for a picnic – or a breakfast that you can make in advance. The recipe is enough to make eight muffins in a muffin tin. If you don’t have one of these, you can use silicone or paper muffin cases – but oil them well to stop the egg from sticking. If you haven’t got all the vegetables, swap them for others that you like. What you need • 1 tbsp oil (oil spray works well)• 150g courgette, finely chopped or grated• 2 tomatoes, finely chopped• 2 spring onions, sliced• 6 large eggs• 1 tbsp milk• Paprika (optional)• 50g cheddar cheese, grated• 8-hole muffin• tin• Pastry brush• Frying pan• Mixing bowl• Chopping board• Whisk 1…

We are feeling very bookish this week. On page 16 we launch our Summer of Reading challenge. You’ll find a big list of brilliant books with details of how to enter the competition. You’ll also find where to download a poster to keep track of your reading over the holidays. By the way, a huge thank you to all our readers who have sent in recommendations to the Book Club page over the last year – we used them to draw up our list of suggested reads. Of course, later in the year we will be holding our Book Awards, and over the last few days the judges have been busy reading, arguing and selecting. Thank you to all of them for working through what was an almost impossible task.…

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 if you thought hosepipe bans are a good idea… “No, people spend years growing their gardens – it’s important to keep plants well-watered.” “Just use a watering can!” “Bans make water supply more equal.” “We need hosepipes to water crops and grow food.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…