Table of contents for 452 in The Week Junior

On 1 August, the largest prisoner swap between Russia and the West in more than 30 years took place. A prisoner swap is when countries make a deal with each other to release certain people from jail. “The West” refers to most of Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The relationship between Russia and the West has become worse since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. What happened? The swap took place on the runway at Ankara airport in Turkey. Russia received eight prisoners, who had been held in jail in the US, Norway, Germany, Poland and Slovenia. Two of the prisoners were a couple and their two children were returned to Russia with them. The West received 16 prisoners, including two British citizens. Fifteen of these were…

• According to the World Register of Marine Species, there are more than 243,000 known wildlife species living in the sea.• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says that at least 37% of the world’s sharks and rays, and 33% of corals, which make up reefs, are at risk of extinction.• Around the world, there are lots of tourism companies that take people out on boats to spot sea creatures in the wild, such as dolphins, turtles and whale sharks. Sometimes, tourists are encouraged to go into the water and swim alongside them.…

This month, places across the UK will turn a purple-pink as bell heather comes into bloom. It likes dry soil habitats, including heathland, open woods and sometimes coastal areas like clifftops. The shrub grows up to 50 centimetres high and its bell-shaped flowers hang in bunches. There are four spikes around the rim of the flower and the leaves are needle-shaped. Bell heather produces lots of sweet nectar, so you’ll often find the flowers humming with insects, including several types of bumblebee and ruby tiger moths. Honeybees make a dark and fragrant honey from its nectar. Bell heather was once used for bedding and to thatch the roofs of houses; the flowers were used to create purple dye.…

From 16 to 18 August the best Pokémon players from around the world will come together for the Pokémon World Championships in Honolulu, Hawaii. There they will battle for prizes and Pokémon World Champion titles. What are Pokémon, though, and how did the game start? Where did it all begin? In 1989, two friends, Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori, decided to turn their gaming magazine, Game Freak, into a gaming company. After the success of some early games (including Yoshi), Tajiri came up with an idea for a game called Pocket Monsters, which was later shortened to “Pokémon”. The creatures in the game were inspired by the bugs Tajiri found while exploring forests as a child. In fact, the Pokémon Poliwag is based on a tadpole. What exactly are Pokémon?…

Highland Games began hundreds of years ago in Scotland, and they still take place there every year from May to September. The Games include traditional sports, as well as dancing and music competitions, and they attract hundreds of competitors and thousands of spectators. Events you can expect to see include caber tossing (flipping a trimmed tree trunk), dancing, hammer throwing, running races, tug-of-war and wrestling. Piping involves groups of musicians playing the bagpipes – an instrument with a long tradition in Scotland. Some Highland Games also offer young people the chance to get involved. The Braemar Junior Highland Games took place earlier this summer in Aberdeenshire, north-east Scotland. The goal of the event was to give children and young people the chance to try different activities with help and support…

Would you like to travel millions of years through time? The Natural History Museum in London has opened two new gardens that take visitors on an incredible journey through Earth’s history. The Evolution Garden shows how life on this planet has changed over millions of years. Visitors can join a path that is surrounded by rocks formed 2.7 billion years ago, and as they follow it, the rocks change – from chunky slabs of white chalk to fossil-filled limestone. “You travel five million years every metre,” said Dr Paul Kenrick, a scientist at the museum. During their journey, visitors are surrounded by mosses, flowers and woodland, as well as being watched over by ancient creatures like Fern, a giant bronze model of a Diplodocus dinosaur’s skeleton. The museum has also…

by Natasha Farrant (Faber Children’s) Did you know that there are more than 6,000 islands in the British Isles? In this story, Skylar is fascinated by one of them – the tiny Golden Island, which is wild, hidden by cliffs and has just one house that’s surrounded by a secret garden. She’s heard all about the island from her beloved grandpa, who visited it once, long ago but things have changed since grandpa’s stroke, and now Skylar is struggling at home and at school. When she meets Yakov, a refugee who has been forced from his home by war and longs to go back, the two of them forge an instant friendship. Then they see an extraordinary notice in the newspaper, advertising a competition to win Golden Island. It feels…

The books in this category are perfect for readers aged from nine to 12. The winner will demonstrate superb storytelling with exceptional writing, engaging characters and a well-crafted plot. Finding Bear By Hannah Gold. Illustrated by Levi Pinfold (HarperCollins Children’s Books) This heartwarming sequel to The Last Bear follows April as she journeys to Svalbard to rescue her friend, Bear, in this tale of survival, hope and love. Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer By Jeffrey Boakye (Faber) Follow enterprising school friends Kofi and Kelvin as they create a new rap fanzine full of song lyrics in this uplifting, funny musical adventure. Safiyyah’s War By Hiba Noor Khan (Andersen Press) Set in wartime Paris, this story tells of Safiyyah. She runs dangerous errands around the city after her father is…

This delicious breakfast dish is perfect for holidays or weekends, when – hopefully – you have a bit more free time in the mornings. Served with home-made raspberry ripple yoghurt and nut butter, it’s just one of the recipes in Let’s Cook: Fun, Easy Recipes for Kids by Buddy Oliver. The young chef and YouTube star also has a television show on CBBC called Cooking Buddies, and episodes are available to watch now on BBC iPlayer. Buddy creates recipes that are simple and achievable, including speedy after-school snacks, pasta dinners and party treats. His book is also full of handy tips to build healthy eating habits for a happy life. Try making this naturally sweet summer breakfast. It serves two people and takes about 15 minutes to make. What you…

The news of the unrest in several cities around the country has been worrying but it is uplifting to see how communities have pulled together to support each other. On the cover and page 4, you can read about the locals who have come out with brooms and litter pickers to clear up mess and repair damage, and the thousands of people across the country who have donated money to help businesses and services open up again and go back to serving their community. It shows how strong our society is when we come together in friendship and respect. This week we have lots of stories of people gathering to compete and to celebrate. We’ve got the Olympics, of course (page 3), where there have been some amazing achievements; the…

The Copley Prize Artist L.S. Lowry’s particular style has made him one of the most celebrated and beloved British painters of the 20th century. Copley Prize invites children to recreate their own modern-day versions of Lowry’s work in ways that represent the world that they live in. The competition is open to primary school children, and the winning artwork will be framed and hung in The Lowry galleries in Salford, England, alongside Lowry’s work. Find out how to take part at tinyurl.com/TWJ-Lowry GET INVOLVED Email your news, views and pictures to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk Please include your full name and address so that we can send you a Roving Reporter badge if your contribution makes it onto the page. We will only use the details you provide to arrange delivery of badges,…

Teacher’s name: Mr Moore School: Ardvreck School, Crieff, Scotland “Mr Moore is the best teacher because he is kind and has neverending patience. He also makes learning fun by doing kung-fu punctuation with us, heeee-hi! Most of all, he is so funny and has a magnificent moustache! Once, we were white-water rafting and Mr Moore had a bug on his shoe. We named it “Buggy” and Mr Moore took a selfie. Wouldn’t you want Mr Moore (and his magnificent moustache) to be your teacher?” Ardvreck School’s Form 3 class 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…

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 sandy beaches are better than pebble ones… “Yes, the feel of sand is much nicer on your feet than pebbles.” “No, in pebble beaches you don’t need to worry about getting the sand off.” “Yes, pebbles hurt more than sand and they get slippery when wet.” “No, because it’s fun finding cool pebbles.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here. If you’ve enjoyed this issue, why not listen to our podcast, The Week Junior Show? Go to tinyurl.com/TWJ-show or scan the…

1 How many times has Andy Murray won Wimbledon? ◻ a) One ◻ b) Two ◻ c) Three 2 True or false? The London Museum’s new logo features a magpie. ◻ True ◻ False 3 Which country has launched a new scheme to prevent peanut allergies? 4 How many known wildlife species are there in the oceans? ◻ a) 43,000 ◻ b) 143,000 ◻ c) 243,000 5 True or false? Taekwondo originated in Korea. ◻ True ◻ False 6 What is the world’s biggest and heaviest species of lizard? 7 What is Pokémon short for? ◻ a) Pocket Monsters ◻ b) Poking Monsters ◻ c) Pikachu’s Monsters 8 True or false? The earliest known life dates back more than 3.5 billion years. ◻ True ◻ False 9 What was the…

PROTECTING CHICKS The RSPB and Natural England have launched a project to protect ringed plovers’ nests. The project involves placing cages along the Cumbrian coast to protect the birds’ nests. The RSPB hopes the project will help increase ringed plover chicks’ survival rates next year. NEW CHILDREN’S FILMS AWARD The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) announced a new Children’s and Family Film category for its annual awards. The awards celebrate the best work seen in British cinemas over a year. The new category will be introduced for 2025, and films rated U, PG or 12A will be able to enter. A BRILLIANT SCIENTIST Rosemary Fowler, a 98-year-old physicist (a type of scientist), has been given an honorary doctorate by her old university for contributions to science. In…

Five years ago, a fiction studio (a company that creates stories) with a difference arrived. Storymix was set up by Jasmine Richards to put children and teens of colour at the heart of stories and to help creators who may be treated differently because of their skin colour, culture or nationality. As a child, Richards loved visiting her local library, where the staff found books that suited her reading skills. However, she says, “It was very rare I’d ever see a character in a book that looked like me.” The idea for Storymix landed when Richards was in a shop with her son and found no books featuring characters of colour. She thought, “This isn’t good enough, because there’s no way any young person who loves reading should grow up…

The importance of an area in Scotland called the Flow Country has been recognised by UNESCO, which has listed it as a World Heritage Site. UNESCO is a United Nations (UN) organisation that uses education and science to help countries work together. World Heritage status is given to places with cultural, historical or scientific significance, such as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and Stonehenge in England. The Flow Country is a large area of blanket bog, which is a type of wetland made from peat (see panel). Blanket bogs form when peat builds up in very wet areas; they cover the landscape like a blanket. The Flow Country also has pools, lochs (lakes), mountains and hills. People have been campaigning for the Flow Country to be recognised as a…

Emma Finucane, Sophie Capewell, Katy Marchant The cyclists won Great Britain’s first Olympic women’s team sprint gold medal and set a new world record. Keely Hodgkinson The 22-year-old middle distance runner won her first Olympic gold medal in the women’s 800 metres race. Noah Lyles The US sprinter narrowly won gold at the Paris Olympics in the men’s 100 metres race. He was just 0.005 seconds ahead of the second-placed athlete. Sky Brown Despite having an injured shoulder, Brown won a bronze medal at the Olympics in the women’s skateboarding park final on 6 August.…

Where did you get your inspiration for the book? The war in Ukraine, my own father being ill and a tiny, tiny island with a single house on it, which I saw from afar on a holiday in France. Who’s your favourite, Skylar or Yakov? Why? I love them equally! Skylar is more fierce and I love that. Yakov is more of a dreamer and I love that too. What would you take to a deserted island? Assuming I have food, shelter and water, I’d take a pen, paper and a good pillow. When and why did you start writing? I’ve always made up stories but my first book was published when I was 39. Why did I want to write? Because stories are magic! Best childhood memory? Holidays on…

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.* * Make sure you have your parent/guardian’s permission to vote. If you are the prize 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…

Over the summer holidays, lots of people will be travelling to different parts of the world with their friends and family. A popular holiday activity is swimming with animals in the wild. There are trips to swim with dolphins, sea lions, stingrays and even whale sharks. For people who love and admire wildlife, this is a rare chance to see amazing animals close up in their natural habitat. However, some conservation charities argue that it’s not fair for the animals because, even though they are free to leave, visiting them disturbs their day-to-day life and could have unintended effects. There are concerns about how the presence of humans could affect different species’ behaviour and even population numbers. What do you think? Is it ok to swim with wildlife? Yes –…

For the first time since the 17th century, spoonbills have been spotted nesting in Cambridgeshire, England. Spoonbills used to be quite common in the UK but their habitats were destroyed and they were hunted for meat. Conservation efforts have boosted their numbers again. • HABITAT: Marshes and wetlands.• SIZE: 80–90 centimetres long with a wingspan of 120–135 centimetres.• DIET: Beetles, small fish, frogs, tadpoles and worms.• FUN FACT: A nickname for a baby spoonbill is a “teaspoon” because its beak is so small.…

Until now, scientists had thought that complex life (living things made up of more than one cell – see panel) first appeared on Earth 635 million years ago. A study led by Cardiff University in Wales has now suggested this actually happened more than 1.5 billion years earlier – although not all scientists agree. The team looked at rock samples from the Franceville basin in Gabon, Africa, to work out what conditions were like there billions of years ago. Fossils (preserved traces of animals or plants) found at this site were used as evidence that complex life had developed there. Some experts said they couldn’t be fossils because they were too big to be creatures from so long ago in the Earth’s history. However, the Cardiff team’s study might change…

Snake surprise Marco Maggesi saw this snake on the hunt. Alien world Slime moulds and raindrops, by Barry Webb. Frozen in time Poppies in ice, by Ian Gilmour. Pretty petals Claudia Gaupp captured this love-in-a-mist flower. All eyes on you A damselfly covered in dew, by Pete Burford. CLOSE-UP PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR CHALLENGE: WATER Walking on water Sebastien Blomme took 100 goes to get this mosquito image. Dazzling droplets Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas saw this bristly springtail.…

Have you ever felt nervous about trying something for the first time? It’s the same for everyone, and overcoming fears and taking healthy risks can open up new experiences. Step out of your comfort zone Summer is a great time to try something new, like learning a skill or making new friends. It can feel exciting but scary, because doing something new means taking a risk that it won’t work out. Scientists say feeling nervous is our body dealing with danger; it releases chemicals that make the heart race and the skin feel prickly. However, Catherine Hayes Fisher from the mental health charity Place2Be tells The Week Junior not to let it stop you. “Not loving something at first doesn’t mean you’ve made a terrible mistake to try it,” she…

Marvin and the Book of Magic by Jenny Pearson. Illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff (Barrington Stoke) After being humiliated by a squirrel on television, Marvellous Marvin vows never to perform magic in public again. Then he acquires a mysterious book and his best friend Asha persuades him to make a comeback in the school talent show. Marvin will find the magic that can be found in true friendship. Rani Reports on the Missing Millions by Gabrielle and Satish Shewhorak. Illustrated by Navya Raju (Oneworld) Rani Ramgoolam is a young reporter with a plan to write the perfect story for a junior journalism competition. With the help of her Nani, who is visiting from Mauritius, can she figure out the clues to a mysterious treasure hunt – and get her hands on…

Cats aren’t exactly famous for their love of the sea, or any kind of water. They also aren’t known for their skills at sailing ships, hunting for treasure or shooting fireballs. Unless that’s what they do when you’re asleep. No, of course cats shouldn’t make good pirates – but in Cat Quest III that’s exactly what they are. It’s the third in a series of action role-playing games with fearless felines as the heroes, and it is out on PlayStation, Xbox and Switch consoles, as well as PCs. Your job is to sail the Purribbean sea (a pun on Caribbean, which was famous for its pirates in past centuries) exploring, digging for loot, fighting – both on land and with your ship – and meeting a colourful cast of cats…

Customers try traditional taste Travellers on some trains in Wales were recently offered a seaweed dish as part of a special menu. To coincide with the National Eisteddfod (a festival of Welsh culture, see page 5), the menu had a range of Welsh food including laverbread, a traditional dish made from edible seaweed called laver. The seaweed is boiled for hours then mashed until smooth. Piers Croft from Transport for Wales said, “This celebrates everything that Wales has to offer while enjoying a delicious and authentic meal.” The menu was available until 10 August. Teacher crafts model pupils A primary school teacher created mini versions of her pupils as an end-of-year gift. Sara Shabir, a teacher at Tyndale Community School in Oxford, England, started the project in May, using crochet…