Table of contents for 459 in The Week Junior

World leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, US president Joe Biden and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau have called for calm after fighting between Israel and Lebanon escalated. What did the leaders say? Starmer, speaking at the Labour party conference in Liverpool on 24 September, said, “I call for restraint at the border between Lebanon and Israel.” US president Joe Biden said, “a war is in no one’s interest,” adding that a peaceful solution was possible. Trudeau said, “we need to protect lives. We need to make sure we’re moving towards peace and stability.” Ettie Higgins, from UNICEF (an organisation that works to protect children across the world), called for an immediate pause to the fighting. Starmer also told all British people in Lebanon to leave immediately. He said…

Crab apple trees grow wild but they are related to the 7,500 varieties of apple tree that have been cultivated (used as crops) by humans. They grow across the UK and can reach up to 10 metres in height. The trunk can get quite gnarled and twisted and the twigs often develop spines. The trees also host mistletoe, which is a parasite (lives by taking nutrients from another living thing). The tree’s leaves are eaten by the caterpillars of many moth species and its flowers provide pollen and nectar for insects. The fruit – which ripens from late summer into autumn – is eaten by birds and mammals. Crab apples aren’t eaten like other apples because they are sour, but can be made into a jelly and served with other…

Scientists from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in the US are helping queen conches to find a mate. This species of sea snail is affected by increasing ocean temperatures caused by climate change. Warm water makes it difficult for the species to mate so numbers are dropping. They are being transported to cooler waters in the hope that they will find a partner. ● LIFESPAN: Up to 30 years.● HABITAT: Coral reefs, seagrass beds and sand flats.● SIZE: Up to 30 centimetres.● DIET: Algae and organic matter from seagrass.● FUN FACT: The outside of a queen conch shell is sandy coloured so that they blend in with their surroundings, but they are bright pink or orange on the inside.…

On 20 September, the new Women’s Super League (WSL) season kicked off. The WSL is the highest level of women’s club football in England and 12 teams take part. Chelsea are the current champions and have won the WSL a record seven times, including the last five titles. They started the 2024-25 competition with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Aston Villa. Johanna Rytting Kaneryd scored Chelsea’s goal but Sabrina D’Angelo, the Aston Villa goalkeeper, nearly scored a surprise equaliser right at the end of the game. Arsenal and Manchester City are two of the WSL’s top teams. They played each other at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, in London, and the match finished 2-2. Vivianne Miedema scored one of City’s goals – it was her first WSL game for City after playing…

If you’ve ever seen Michael Rosen perform his poems, you’ll know just how brilliantly he brings them to life. At last year’s The Week Junior Book Festival he had the audience laughing, cheering, clapping and rapping along with classics including No Breathing in Class – his poem about an imaginary teacher who was so strict she banned pupils from breathing. After his event, Rosen met children and signed their books. One young fan told us that meeting him there was the best thing that had ever happened to her. If that sounds like fun to you, you may be happy to hear that the popular poet will be back on stage at this year’s book festival, which will take place at the Barbican Centre in London on 29 October. Rosen…

Game On Grandparents Series 2 available now on BBC iPlayer Skilled young gamers coach their grandparents to play games such as Team Sonic Racing and Minecraft. The goal? Being named the Game On Grandparents champion. Be prepared for hilarious moments and gripping rivalries as kids turn their grans and grandads into expert gamers. 200% Wolf In cinemas now In the sequel to 100% Wolf, Freddy Lupin makes a wish to transform into a werewolf. His wish is granted by a Moon spirit, Moopoo, who crashes to Earth. With the help of his friends, Freddy sets off to get Moopoo home safely.…

Astonishing art Cave paintings found in Sulawesi, Indonesia, are believed to be at least 45,500 years old. Strange but true A special type of cloud called a “lenticular cloud” can look very similar to an alien spaceship (or a stack of pancakes). People power Professional speed skydivers can reach astonishing speeds of up to 329 miles per hour! Sensational science Experts think that our Milky Way galaxy could contain 40 billion planets similar to Earth. Amazing animals Researchers found that cows, foxes, apes, monkeys and seals are among dozens of animals that love to laugh!…

When Sony’s PlayStation 5 (PS5) was first released in 2020, the console came with a free game called Astro’s Playroom, which starred a friendly robot named Astro. It was fun but didn’t last that long: it was mainly designed as a way to show off the new features of the PS5’s controller. Four years later, its hero is back with a proper game called Astro Bot, and this time he’s brought lots of friends. The game takes place on more than 50 planets, across which Astro and his fellow bots have been scattered after their spaceship crashed. Your mission is to bring the crew back together, and you do it by running, jumping, bouncing, climbing and bashing (with boxing gloves) your way through the different planets. It’s a 3D platform…

Meet Floki, a border collie teaching people on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, how to play footvolley – a mixture of football and beach volleyball. In footvolley, players cannot touch the ball with their hands or arms, which is perfect for Floki who hits the ball over the net with his snout (nose and mouth). The dog’s owner Gustavo Rodrigues, a footvolley coach, first noticed his pet’s potential when Floki started jumping at birthday balloons. Now, Floki barks at Rodrigues to pass him the ball, and jumps into his arms when they score.…

I love words and the stories of where they come from. These stories reveal so much. For example, one of my favourite words is pyjamas (PJs, jim-jams) which comes from the Hindi and Urdu word pajama (comfortable trousers) and travelled into everyday English through Britain ruling India from 1858 to 1947. Other words that followed this path include jungle and shampoo. So, I really enjoyed the story (p5) about the Oxford English Dictionary being updated with Welsh words and English words from East Africa, New Zealand and the Caribbean. Continuing the theme of words and language, look out for our interview with the wonderful writer, poet and storyteller Kwame Alexander (p23), who brings poems to life on stage. You can also get a sneak preview of The Week Junior Book…

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, and we will not share them with anyone else. By submitting your reports and pictures, you give consent to The Week Junior to print them in magazine and digital editions, and mention on our podcast. We reserve the right to edit contributions for length, accuracy and suitability. Ensure you have your parent/guardian’s permission before sending anything to us.…

Teacher’s name: Miss Sattin School: Minster C of E Primary School, Warminster, Wiltshire “Miss Sattin was so supportive when we were worried and nervous about our SATS – she even brought us different breakfasts each day and treats during the exams. During our class residential to Wales she reassured me and my roommates, making us laugh in our room even though it was pretty late. She is always interesting to talk to and is funny and kind. We’ve loved having her teaching us.” Isla 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…

A WINNING ILLUSTRATOR Benjamin Phillips has won the Illustrator of the Year at the V&A illustration awards. He also took the Illustration for Children prize for his work in graphic novel Alte Zachen: Old Things by Ziggy Hanaor, about a boy and his Jewish grandmother in New York, US. A CROSS-CHANNEL SWIMMER Seventeen-year-old Lowenna North swam across the English Channel, from Dover in England to Calais in France, in 14 hours and 56 minutes. North’s dad followed her on a boat to support her and pass her food – mainly peaches and jelly babies. North said she was achy after but it was “the best day of my life.” AN ADVENTUROUS CAPYBARA Cinnamon, a capybara that escaped from Hoo Zoo in Telford, England on 13 September, has been found and…

Social media is full of videos that showcase skincare routines. Influencers film themselves using (and often advertising) products for skin. These can include cleansers, anti-ageing creams and face masks. Many of the products smell good and come in bright, colourful packaging that appeals to children, and there is a growing trend of young people asking their parents to buy them. The problem is, lots of skincare products are meant for adults. Some items contain really strong ingredients, such as retinol, which is used to reduce wrinkles. Dermatologists warn that children don’t need these products, and using them could cause harm to young skin. Others say that skincare for young people is harmless and fun. What do you think, should children use skincare products? Yes – start young and have fun…

A new study has found that water anoles have a special technique for breathing underwater that they can use as a last resort to escape from predators. The small lizards live near streams and waterfalls in South and Central America. When they spot a bird or snake, they usually stay very still to try to avoid being eaten, or dash into a nearby crack in a rock. If that fails, water anoles will dive into a stream. As they do, they breathe out to form a bubble of air over their nostrils. Tiny bubbles also form on their skin and combine with the bigger nostril bubble. Scientists knew this, but didn’t know whether this big bubble actually helped the lizards by allowing them to stay underwater for longer. To investigate…

You’ve probably heard of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) in the sky, but what about a USO? It means an unidentified seismic object, or seismic activity that can’t be explained. Seismic activity – also called seismic waves – is a sudden release of energy that makes the ground shake. It’s caused by natural activity like earthquakes and human activity such as an explosion. A group of scientists recently uncovered the mystery behind a very puzzling USO. Last year, seismologists (scientists that study seismic activity) picked up a single seismic wave on their seismometers (see panel). Unlike the waves caused by earthquakes, it was not a messy mix of vibrations but a single, steady one. And while earthquake signals can last for minutes, the USO was recorded every 92 seconds for nine…

Daniel Dubois The British boxer defeated Anthony Joshua, also from Great Britain, to retain his International Boxing Federation heavyweight title. Bath Rugby In the rugby union Premiership competition, Bath started the season with a 38-16 win over Northampton Saints. Sunrisers At the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy cricket final, Sunrisers beat South East Stars to win the competition for the first time. Eilish McColgan & Jack Rowe McColgan won the women’s event and Rowe was the men’s champion at the Vitality London, which is a 10,000 metres running race.…

Be inspired You will be able to watch brilliant, award-winning authors and illustrators as they bring their thrilling stories and wonderful characters to life on our stage. Meet your heroes You’ll have opportunities to meet the stars of the show and get your books signed by them. Get expert advice You’ll get writing and drawing tips from the people behind best-selling children’s books.…

Out of this World by Michael Rosen. Illustrated by Ed Vere (HarperCollins Children’s) Poetry legend Michael Rosen has written this wickedly brilliant new collection of verse, packed with poems that are silly, spectacular and surprising. As well as lots of great new poems, there’s fun and eye-catching black-and-white artwork. Let Sleeping Cats Lie by Brian Bilston (Macmillan Children’s Books) Enjoy an entertaining selection of funny poems about pets – dogs, cats, goldfish, chinchillas, guinea pigs, snakes, budgies, rabbits and more – in this new book from Brian Bilston. Highlights include a loving tribute to a hen named Barbara; a poem about Wilf, the hypnotist Labracadabrador; and even a haiku written by a goldfish. Marshmallow Clouds by Ted Kooser and Connie Wanek. Illustrated by Richard Jones (Walker Books) In this lovely illustrated…

Name: Lewis The Wolf Wilder Katherine Rundell “Adventure, wolves, suspense. I liked this book because it draws you into a world of adventure. I didn’t want to put the book down.” YOUR TURN Junior Please email your book review to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk. If it is printed in the magazine you will receive a Roving Reporter badge. Describe your chosen book in three words, tell us what you liked about it and why you would recommend it to others. 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…

This recipe works for a tasty lunch or an extra-special side dish. Sweet potatoes are a filling and delicious vegetable. The flesh is usually an orangey colour and it is packed with vitamin C. The great thing about this recipe is that you can make it with anything you want. Use up any left-over vegetables you have in the fridge, or mixed vegetables from the freezer. If you’re cooking for your family, you can each add whatever vegetables you like to your own sweet potato boat and make it your own. Some vegetables need cooking but some – such as tinned sweetcorn or chopped pepper – can go in raw. This recipe serves four people (based on a medium-sized sweet potato) and will take around 25 minutes to make. What…

A street in Scotland has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the shortest street in the world. Ebenezer Place in Wick, Caithness, is just 2.05 metres long and only has room for one address – Number 1 Ebenezer Place. The street dates back to 1883, when a man called Alexander Sinclair built Mackays Hotel on the corner of two streets. The council told Sinclair to put a name on the short side of the building, making it a separate street. The hotel’s current owner, Murray Lamont, says, “Every few minutes we see people standing in there taking a photo.”…

Name: Noah “This summer I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with my brothers Rowan and Aran; our friends Thomas, Freddie and Seb; and our parents. We travelled to Tanzania and trekked to the ‘Roof of Africa’, the highest free-standing mountain in the world at 5,895 metres. It took us eight days and we walked through rainforest, moorland, alpine desert and arctic zones. We were helped by amazing local guides from Habari Adventure. We made it to Uhuru Peak (the highest point on Kilimanjaro) on 17 August. I did this climb because I like an adventure and to raise money to help orphaned children to access education in Africa. So far I have raised over £3,000 which I will donate to children in Kenya getting an education.” What have you been up to…

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 it should be illegal to text while walking… “Yes, it is too dangerous and people could get hurt.” “No, it’s too difficult to enforce.” “Yes, too many people are getting injured.” “It should be discouraged but making it illegal is too harsh.” “People need to concentrate when they’re walking.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

Teenager Rafaella was crowned Ecuador’s female kayak champion last year, and will defend her title this November. One day she’d like to represent her country in international competitions – maybe even the Olympics. She tells The Week Junior she loves the “freedom” the sport gives her. “It feels amazing to navigate through the rapids and connect with nature,” she says. Rafaella, who lives in Puyo, central Ecuador, took up kayaking at 11. She had seen kayakers gliding down rivers, expertly dodging whirlpools and boulders. At first, some of her family didn’t want her to pursue the sport because it can be dangerous. “My mum was not happy,” says Rafaella, “but she saw how passionate I am and how much I love it, so now she supports me and trusts that…

Cyprus turtles The population of green and loggerhead turtles on the beaches of two British military bases in Cyprus has increased. There were 382 nests recorded on the beaches this year – nearly 25% more than last year. This is because of a project that involved protecting turtle nests. The UK’s butterflies The number of butterflies recorded in this year’s Big Butterfly Count was the lowest since the survey began 14 years ago. The wildlife charity behind the survey, Butterfly Conservation, has asked the Government to ban the use of pesticides (chemicals used to protect food crops from pests).…

Balanced and factual news helps us to understand and form opinions about the world. World News Day on 28 September reminds us why accurate reporting of world events is important. What is news? News is information about what’s happening. It teaches people about events and shapes how they feel about the world. It appears online, on TV and radio, and in newspapers and magazines. The early days of news Before most people could read or write, a town crier would ring a bell and cry (shout) out the latest news. From the 16th century, news was also spread by ballads (songs). These were long, rhyming tales about events such as politics, crimes and gossip. They were performed by singers in public then repeated, sometimes in group sing-songs. News was also…

National Eye Health Week, which ends on 29 September, aims to remind everyone of how important it is to look after your eyes and keep them healthy. Why are eyes so amazing? Your eyes help you see and make sense of the world. They work hard every day, with reading, doing homework, watching television and playing sports. A report by the charity Eye Health UK says eyesight can even affect how you feel: 76% of people with poor eyesight in the survey said it had affected their mental health. The average eyes can see about a million colours and have been called “windows to the soul” because they can reveal our emotions – for example, they might look big and shiny when you’re happy to see someone. By revealing emotions,…

Did you know that an elephant can swim for up to six hours at a time? That the Amazon rainforest contains an estimated 400 billion trees – or that ice cream likely originated in China more than 4,000 years ago? You’ll find all these facts and thousands more inside The Week Junior Big Book of Knowledge. Brightly coloured, clearly presented pages are packed with eye-catching photographs and fascinating facts covering a wide range of subjects. You’ll also learn about useful topics such as how to appreciate art, how to succeed at school, and how to get a good night’s sleep. Finally, a Strange but True section concludes the book with weird and wonderful true stories about everything from bizarre sea creatures to some very mysterious gnomes. WIN! We have five…

Crossword Read the clues carefully and write the answers into the grid. Across 1 Container for toothpaste (4) 3 Trousers cut above the knee (6) 8 Passenger’s suitcases (7) 9 ___ constrictor, snake (3) 10 Old office keyboard machine (10) 13 Smooth-skinned peaches (10) 17 Item laid by a hen (3) 18 Protective finger cap used in sewing (7) 19 Tried food (6) 20 Graceful white bird with a long neck (4) Down 1 Square for a bathroom wall (4) 2 Baby carriage (5) 4 Variety or shade of a colour (3) 5 Mechanical person (5) 6 Set of steps between floors (6) 7 Device for taking photographs (6) 11 Dried grape (6) 12 Bug, creepy-crawly (6) 14 Enclosures for pet birds (5) 15 Funny-bone joint (5) 16 Horse-guiding strap…

The BBC’s 500 Words contest is back for another edition. If you’re between the ages of five and 11 and love telling stories, this is the perfect competition for you. To take part, write the story you would love to read, in 500 words or less, and submit it by 8 November. Your work won’t be marked on spelling, grammar or punctuation – just on imagination. Judges include Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce and singer Olivia Dean. For tips and more information, visit bbc.co.uk/500words…