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The US Congress (parliament) has agreed to give £49 billion worth of help to Ukraine. This is in addition to £60 billion that the US has already given Ukraine. The money and aid is to help Ukraine fight against Russia’s invasion of the country, which began in February 2022. Who agreed to provide the help? The House of Representatives (which has 435 members and is the equivalent of the UK’s House of Commons) first agreed to the aid package on 20 April, after six months of disagreement. On 23 April, the Senate (which has 100 elected members), then approved it too. The House of Representatives and the Senate together make up Congress – the part of the US government that makes laws. The agreement was expected to be officially signed…

YOUNG OPERA FANS Playground Opera, a scheme to promote opera to young people in the Cotswolds, England, has begun. Opera is a type of musical play where all the words are sung. This summer, workshops will help children to learn an opera and then perform in it. A VERY OLD WOMBAT The world’s oldest wombat, Wain, is believed to turn 35 this April. Wain’s exact birthday isn’t known because he was rescued as a baby in Tasmania, Australia, in 1989. He now lives in Satsukiyama Zoo, Japan. Scientists think wombats live for around 15 years in the wild but they often live a lot longer in captivity. AN INVINCIBLE TEAM A girls’ football team has finished top of its league without losing a game all season. Queens Park Ladies under-12s…

● In the UK, 3,718 libraries provide a variety of services, including lending out books and offering a free, warm and safe space for people to go to. ● Library fines are issued when people do not return the items that they have borrowed by the date agreed. ● Currently, one third of Britain’s libraries are fine-free. This means some library users who return books past their due-back date are not charged. ● Recently, Somerset Council announced that it is owed £50,000 in library fines. Yet fines have been scrapped for young library users in Somerset. Scan the QR code to vote in the debate…

Actor Francesca Amewudah-Rivers has been cast (given a role) alongside Hollywood star Tom Holland in Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. The British Ghanaian-Nigerian actor will play Juliet, with Spider-Man actor Holland as Romeo. Not only is she an actor, Amewudah-Rivers is also a writer, musician and composer. When asked about working with the other actors, she said, “I’m excited to bring a fresh energy to this story alongside Tom, and to welcome new audiences to the theatre.” The show starts on 11 May at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London.…

As its name suggests, this is one of the first orchids to flower, and blooms from April into June. Found in ancient woodland, grassy areas and hedgerows across the UK, the plant grows up to 40 centimetres high. It has shiny, dark green leaves in a blade shape, with purple splodges on them. The flowers are a purplish-pink, although some can be white. Each orchid displays up to 50 flowers, which grow in clusters on the straight stems. The lower petal of each flower looks like three joined together and the upper petals form a hood over it. When the flowers first open they attract bees and insects with their sweet scent, but later the smell changes to something a bit like cat wee.…

Scientists have discovered that the clay robber frog has an ultrasonic scream. Ultrasonic sound has a very high frequency that humans cannot hear. It is thought that the frogs use their scream to warn off predators, such as bats and rodents, which are able to hear it. ● HABITAT: Among fallen leaves on the forest floor and near ponds in southern Brazil. ● SIZE: Up to 6.4 centimetres long. ● DIET: Isopods, such as woodlice and similar minibeasts, as well as ants and other insect larvae (young). ● FUN FACT: The scientists had seen the tiny frogs open their mouths and throw back their heads as if they were screaming but no sound came out. To prove that the frogs were screaming, they recorded them with a special machine that…

Scientists looking into why children generally experience milder symptoms of Covid-19 than elderly people have discovered that it could be down to people’s noses There are now far fewer Covid-19 infections than there were at the height of the pandemic. However, the virus is still around in the UK and regular vaccinations (medicines that train the body to fight off infection) are still offered to elderly people and others whose bodies are at higher risk from infections. Scientists are keen to understand why some people are more badly affected by the illness. For the study, the scientists used cells (the microscopic units that make up all living things) from three groups of people: children up to 11 years old; adults aged 30 to 50; and adults over 70. They grew…

Boston Dynamics, a robotics company in the US, has unveiled a new electric robot. Atlas is an updated model of previous robots the company has made. The original Atlas robot was designed in 2013 to help with search and rescue missions. It had arms and legs and was developed to run, jump and do backflips, as well as pick up and move heavy objects. It was a hydraulic robot, which means that its arms and legs were moved by pressurised liquid being pushed around inside them. Boston Dynamics has retired the original robot to make way for the newer model, which is fully electric and has no cables on display. The Boston Dynamics team say the new Atlas is stronger and more agile (can move better) than previous designs. It…

Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, York Valkyrie and Warrington Wolves The rugby league teams all won their opening games in the Women’s Super League season. Armand Duplantis The Swedish athlete broke his own men’s pole vault world record, setting a new height of 6.24 metres. Nelly Korda At the Chevron Championship, in Texas in the US, the American golfer finished first to win her fifth tournament in a row. Iona Winnifrith The 13-year-old British swimmer won gold on the first day of the Paraswimming European Open Championships in Madeira, Portugal.…

Mammals Available now on BBC iPlayer Sir David Attenborough narrates this documentary about mammals from around the world. Meet mammals that have learned how to live in changing environments, those who stay awake at nighttime and the ones who survive in different bodies of water. Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp Available now on Netflix Woody Woodpecker has been kicked out of the forest and needs to find somewhere to live. He thinks Camp Woo Hoo could be his new forever home, but the camp is threatened by an inspector who wants to close it down. Rated PG. The Next Step, Series 9 Available now on BBC iPlayer The dance team is preparing for a major competition but it’s a difficult journey to get there. The relationships and loyalties between the…

What’s your favourite thing to draw and why? I like to draw everything – animals, people, buildings, tin whales, skiing octopuses or flying saucers. What was Miss Cat’s style inspired by? Miss Cat was initially inspired by a small drawing of a girl in a panther onesie, in a sketchbook owned by Oyvind Torseter, a Norwegian illustrator that Jean-Luc Fromental (writer of Miss Cat) met 10 years ago. Tell us, what is your favourite children’s book or graphic novel? It’s difficult to choose ONE book… let’s say Les Trois Brigands (The Three Robbers) by Tomi Ungerer. What do you like to do in your spare time? Drawing! Also reading, cooking, creating and crafting things. What is your favourite drawing spot? In my studio, in the middle of the total disorder…

Word fill in All these words fit in the grid. Can you work out where each word goes to complete it? 4 letters Back Feet Flip Pike Puck Seat 5 letters Front Twist 7 letters Acrobat Compete Routine 8 letters Exercise Straddle 10 letters Somersault Trampoline Wordsearch Can you find all of the words listed here? They are hidden horizontally, vertically or diagonally and may read forwards or backwards. AGATE AMETHYST BERYL CITRINE DIAMOND EMERALD GARNET JADE JASPER MALACHITE OBSIDIAN ONYX OPAL PERIDOT QUARTZ RUBY SAPPHIRE TOPAZ TURQUOISE ZIRCON Number tower Place a number in every circle to complete the tower. The value in each circle is the sum of the numbers in the two circles directly beneath it. Spot the difference These two pictures appear to be the same,…

Sport in Mind Sport in Mind uses sport to improve the lives of people with mental health problems. Playing sport is good for wellbeing, both physical and mental. Sport means many things to people and it is inclusive – so it can help everyone from any walk of life, no matter what their age, fitness level or ability. Sport in Mind works with young people to get them active and boost their mental health. To read more, ask an adult to go to sportinmind.org and click on “Youth Programme”.…

Sketch for Survival Junior Pens and pencils at the ready! Do you enjoy drawing animals? Check out Sketch for Survival Junior and help support wildlife conservation. This competition is open to anyone under 16. All you need to do is submit an artwork featuring a species at risk of extinction. You can also share a photo of you and the artwork – these will be used to create a special exhibition to be shown alongside the finalists’ work, and to help raise awareness about endangered species. Visit tinyurl.com/TWJ-sketch to find out more. 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…

Teacher’s name: Mr Torres School: Belleville Primary School, London “Mister Torres is an amazing teacher and truly understands every single one of us in school. He focuses on how we prefer to be taught and learn and tells funny jokes so we are intrigued to listen. Somehow after all that, he still manages to keep us disciplined and in order.”Madison 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 What is the name of the top award given at the Venice Biennale? □ a) Platinum Tiger □ b) Silver Leopard □ c) Golden Lion 2 True or false? 50% of the UK’s plastic waste is recycled. □ True □ False 3 Where did more than a year’s worth of rain fall in just a few hours? ___________________ 4 How many libraries are there in the UK? □ a) 372 □ b) 3,718 □ c) 37,180 5 True or false? Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, is the highest mountain in Wales. □ True □ False 6 Which animal has been voted the UK invertebrate of the year? ___________________ 7 How long is the North American blue grouse’s migration? □ a) 300 metres □ b) 300 miles □ c)…

Now that you’ve read a bit more about it, tell us what you think by voting in our poll at theweekjunior.co.uk/polls. Vote YES if you think libraries should scrap fines, or NO if you don’t. We’ll publish the results next week. The aim of the Big debate page is to present two sides of an issue fairly and objectively, in order to stimulate discussion and allow our readers to make up their minds. The views on the page do not reflect those of The Week Junior, and the page is not funded by third parties.…

YOUR PHOTOS Email photos you have taken to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk. If your photo is printed in the magazine you’ll receive a Roving Reporter badge. Photos could be of buildings, pets, nature or anything you find interesting.…

Can you tell when your friends are happy or going through a difficult time? Whether you have one or two besties or are part of a group, building and keeping friendships is a skill we all learn. As well as lifting up others, friendship can boost your own wellbeing too. What does friendship mean? Friendship is a special connection you have with another person, and it comes in all shapes and sizes. You could chat for ages or giggle at things other people don’t find funny. You don’t expect the other person to be fun all the time and may know when the other has had a bad day. Friends don’t always enjoy the same sports or hobbies but they encourage each other anyway. Experts say good friendship is a…

Welcome to the Arts: Dance by Sir Alistair Spalding. Illustrated by Jason Raish (Big Picture Press) Whether you prefer ballet or ballroom, flamenco or tap, you’ll find lots to learn in this book, which explores all forms of dance. Find out about some of the most famous dance performances from history, discover dance stars past and present, explore global dance and learn more about what goes on behind the scenes. The Magic of the Ballet by Vivian French. Illustrated by Lauren O’Hara (Walker Books) You might already know the famous stories of The Nutcracker or Swan Lake – but how about Coppélia, The Firebird or La Sylphide? This lovely book retells the stories of seven classic ballets, all accompanied with lots of enchanting and colourful illustrations. Life in Motion by…

Please email your book review to us at hello@theweekjunior.co.uk. If it is printed in the magazine you will receive a Roving Reporter badge. Please describe the book in three words, what you liked about it and why you’d 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 futureplc.com/privacy-policy…

National Superhero Day takes place on 28 April. It’s a great excuse for dressing up as your favourite superhero, while celebrating people in your life that you find inspiring. There are plenty of heroes to be found in games too, and not just the ones featuring popular Marvel characters like Spider-Man, Iron Man and Thor. Start with Mario, the heroic and bouncy plumber who has been starring in games since 1981. His fun exploits include soccer in Mario Strikers: Battle League Football, golf with Mario Golf: Super Rush and traditional platform-jumping with Mario vs. Donkey Kong. Don’t forget Princess Peach, though. Mario’s royal friend is currently starring in her own Princess Peach: Showtime! game that puts her in a range of different heroic roles. Sticking with princesses, Princess Leia was…

While commuters were recently waiting for their train at Warwick Farm Station in Sydney, Australia, they were very surprised to see a horse join them on the platform. The racehorse, which had escaped from its home nearby, walked down the platform and then patiently waited behind the yellow line for the train to arrive. It didn’t manage to board the train successfully and was taken back by its owner before it could continue its grand adventure.…

Has your local library scrapped library fines? During the pandemic, some libraries made it easier to borrow books: for example, by delivering books to vulnerable library users’ doorsteps. Many libraries have got rid of fines all together. Roulin Khondoker, a member of a council in London, says this change marks the “end to conflict and disputes over late fines” and makes libraries more welcoming environments. Not all librarians agree with the new rules, though. One librarian said the fine on an overdue book was not there to make money but to make sure that all library users have fair access to books. After all, some books are so popular that there can be a waiting list for people who want to read it next. So, what do you think? Should…

April is the Month of the Military Child, which recognises the role of children in families where parents serve in the armed forces. Nine-year-old Louis Darwell’s dad is in the navy, which means he’s away from home a lot, but he and his family make the most of the time they have together. “We usually go on days out, and we go for walks,” Louis tells The Week Junior. When his dad is away, Louis and his younger brother, Henri, take on extra responsibilities. Their mum is still affected by injuries from a car accident, so Louis and Henri are very important in helping around the house. Together they keep up with chores such as laundry and doing the dishwasher (one of Louis’ favourite jobs). Last year, Louis was given…

Every year, lots of animals around the world go on long journeys called migrations. Some need to find food; others are looking for somewhere to find a mate, breed and raise their young. Migrations can be long and challenging for animals but new research on birds has found that farmland along the way can help their progress. In spring, hundreds of thousands of birds living near Lake Poyang, in China, fly north to breed in Siberia, Russia. On the way, they find places to stop and eat to keep their energy levels up for the long flight. Some birds, such as geese, eat grass shoots that start to grow at the beginning of the season. This food source is only available for a few weeks and rising temperatures caused by…

New football shirts have been developed that can help deaf football fans to “feel” the atmosphere of the stadium during a game. The shirts, created by a company called Cute Circuit, use haptic technology. This uses forces, vibrations or movements to create an artificial sense of touch. Microphones were set up around Newcastle United’s stadium to capture the sound of the crowd cheering and singing. A special computer program analyses the sounds picked up and transforms them into data. This is wirelessly sent to the football shirts. Electronic circuits inside the shirt material then cause tiny motors to vibrate in response to the sounds of the crowd. Cute Circuit has also created similar shirts for deaf and hard-of-hearing people to feel live music. The Lyric Opera of Chicago, in the…

On 21 April, more than 54,000 runners took part in the London Marathon. It is a famous 26.2-mile race through the city’s streets and all sorts of people take part. The elite races are for the fastest athletes and they start earlier than the other runners. Peres Jepchirchir, from Kenya in east Africa, won the women’s elite event in two hours, 16 minutes and 16 seconds. That is the fastest time run in a women-only marathon. “I am so happy. I was not expecting to run a world record,” she said. Kenya’s Alexander Mutiso Munyao won the men’s race in two hours, four minutes and one second, ahead of Kenenisa Bekele in second place. Great Britain’s Emile Cairess and Mahamed Mahamed came third and fourth. Two athletes from Switzerland won…

The award-winning CBBC show A Kind of Spark is back for a new series. It tells the story of autistic teenager Addie, played by Lola Blue, who successfully campaigns to have a memorial set up for women who were wrongly accused of witchcraft centuries ago. Autism refers to a range of conditions that affect how people experience the world. Blue chatted to The Week Junior and gave a few clues about what’s in store for fans of A Kind of Spark in series two. She said, “You can expect mystery, history, female friendships and strength, autistic joy [and] lots of dungarees”. There are even “sharks, sharks, sharks”, says Blue, although she doesn’t give away how the sharp-toothed creatures manage to find their way into the plot. Inclusivity (including everyone) is…

Sky High Disney+ Celebrate National Superhero Day on 28 April by diving into an exciting comedy adventure. Sky High is the name of a school for superheroes in training. One of their students is William Stronghold, the son of two legendary superheroes, Commander and Jetstream. William hopes to make a name for himself so that he can stop living in the shadow of his parents as well as make them proud. However, it seems that William doesn’t have any powers of his own. Soon enough, he’s labelled as a sidekick. As he starts to discover his own strengths, William realises that becoming a superhero doesn’t just require special powers, but loyalty and teamwork as well.…

(Thames & Hudson) Graphic novels for young readers are getting more popular. Today, around four times as many are sold than in 2019. This is the first in a quirky detective series, which has been translated from French. Miss Cat is a smart young sleuth in a black, cat-ear hoodie, who slinks about the city using her sharp eyes and feline agility to solve mysteries. When a sad old man loses his beloved pet canary, Miss Cat agrees to help find it and begins following clues. When she meets a talking dog and his strangely serpentine owner, Miss Cat realises this is more than a simple bird-napping. Her investigation leads her to crafty crooks, a powerful magic gem and some unusual animals. Perfect for fans of detective stories and graphic…

Twenty-five years after the publication of The Bad Beginning – the first of the popular A Series of Unfortunate Events books – life for its author remains as baffling as ever. Lemony Snicket (real name Daniel Handler) believes no one ever has all the answers. “If you’re thinking to yourself, ‘I have no idea what’s going on’, then you’re probably the closest to understanding what’s going on,” he tells The Week Junior. This sense of confusion follows orphaned siblings Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire, as they battle their way through the 13 Series of Unfortunate Events books. Pursued by the villainous Count Olaf, they try to unravel the mysteries that surround their lives. The story of the children is certainly unfortunate, and often unhappy, but their togetherness and kindness shine…

Made-up news can be really harmful, but how do you know what’s real and what’s rubbish? Fake news is the term given to false news stories that trick you into believing they are true. There are three types of fake news. The first is news people have written to mislead you on purpose. The second is spoof news. These are stories that aren’t true but are written in a funny way to make you laugh, and most people know that they aren’t real. The third is unintentional false news. This is when people publish or share fake news stories on social media without realising the facts are wrong. It’s not just stories that can be faked. Technology makes it easy to change photographs to look different and mislead people too.…

Our cover star this week is the brilliant Peres Jepchirchir, who achieved a world record at the London Marathon. Well done to her and to everyone who took part – you can read our report on page 18. I was definitely not in the marathon. In fact, I was in Belgium on a, um, special mission to, er, check that the Nutella pancakes were still up to standard (they are). I was staying with a friend who pointed out that the Olympics are less than 100 days away. She has already booked tickets and she and her family will be watching the beach volleyball beneath the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The excitement is building, and on page 5 we report on the new kit for Team GB. The Olympics set…

Congratulations to the winners of the Reveal Your Character competition. Organised by children’s charity Coram, with TV show The Masked Singer, entrants created a character based on themselves. The best ideas were brought to life by children’s illustrator Rob Biddulph. Name: Eva “I was so happy to win the competition! I’m a massive fan of The Masked Singer and Rob’s work. Rob’s art is really inspiring. It’s so cool that he brought my ideas to life and I loved his work on the other entries. I hope that The Masked Singer creators see the designs and use them in future episodes.” Name: Heidi “The idea for Chatterbox came from my love of crafting, junk modelling and chatting. Rob’s drawing is exactly how I’d imagined, but better! He included everything I…

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 our readers whether roads should be closed for play… “No, roads are for cars, not people.” “Yes, so you can get to have fun and spend time with the people on your street.” “No, because children have toys at home and cars will have no space to park.” “Yes, but I think it would be hard to do in practice.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…