Table of contents for Issue 265 in The Week Junior US

On April 29, President Donald Trump marked the 100th day of his second term in the White House. It has been a tradition in the US to assess the performance of the President at this milestone since the 1930s. Why are the first 100 days important? The 100-day period is typically seen as a time for Presidents to set the tone of their administration, advance key policies, and demonstrate their leadership. The idea started in 1933, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave a radio address to the nation summarizing what his administration had done (see box above) to tackle the Great Depression (period from 1929 to the late 1930s when poverty and unemployment soared). Historians have since used the first 100 days as a yardstick to measure a President’s progress,…

SAYING HELLO A Masai giraffe calf was born at the San Diego Safari Park in California. The healthy male baby, who does not have a name yet, has been bonding with his mother. The species is endangered in the wild, and the calf’s birth “ensures their global population remains strong and healthy,” the park said. A SWEET WIN Top prize at the UK’s World Marmalade Awards went to Hitomi Wakamura, who is from Japan. After beating out 3,200 other entries with her Yuzu and Pear Marmalade, she called the win a “great honor.” Her spread will be sold at retailer Fortnum & Mason, which called it “joy in a jar.” A portion of sales will go to charity. A GROUP EFFORT Deirdre Carter was worried when her donkey Murty went…

What you need to know • Although they can vary in length, crew socks reach at least to your mid-calf. They can be worn pulled up high or scrunched down low. • “No-show” socks are cut very low around or below the ankle. They’re designed to be invisible or almost invisible when worn with a shoe. • Clothing brand Hanes reported that sales of taller socks are up 5.9%, while sock company Bombas had a 9% increase in tall sock sales and a 9% decrease in no-show sock sales. SOCK IT TO ME According to Guinness World Records, the longest sock in the world measures about 32 feet and 7 inches long. According to fashion experts, there’s a good-natured battle brewing between Generation Z (people born between 1997 and 2012)…

Humans are not very good at recognizing how dogs are feeling, a new study has found. Researchers at Arizona State University recorded videos of a dog in different situations. Some were positive experiences for the dog, such as being offered a treat, and some were negative, such as seeing a scary vacuum cleaner. The researchers then edited some of the footage to change the context of the dog’s behavior. For example, one edited video might show the dog acting happy, but the background now showed a vacuum instead of a treat. The scientists showed people the videos and asked them how happy they thought the dog was. People watching the exact same canine behavior came to different conclusions. They thought the dog was happy if the context of the video…

Mark Wanner Animal care expert, Brookfield Zoo Chicago Porcupine quills are modified hairs that protect them from predators. North American porcupines have barbed quills that are hard to pull out if poked, causing pain to those who mess with our spiky friends. An African Cape porcupine’s large quills have no barbs, but they are very sharp. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about Brookfield Zoo Chicago at brookfieldzoo.org.…

Sometimes when you walk through a crowd, people move in an orderly line. But other times, people are all over the place and you have to zigzag in order to dodge them. In a new study, researchers determined the point at which crowds naturally go from orderly to disorganized. Mathematicians at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology created computer simulations of people moving at different angles across spaces of varying widths. They also conducted an experiment with volunteers walking across a gym from different points. The team found that crowd movement was determined by a measurement called “angular spread,” which calculates the number of people walking in different directions. Angular spread can change depending on whether people are walking in a narrow space, like a corridor, or moving through a wide…

On May 3, the PWHL (Professional Women’s Hockey League) ended its 2024–25 regular season with high-stakes action. Now four of the league’s six teams have moved on to compete in the Walter Cup playoffs. The Minnesota Frost are the defending Walter Cup champions and will be vying for another title. The PWHL is currently in its second season and has been a major success. One highlight was the Takeover Tour, which brought league games to North American cities that do not have PWHL teams of their own. It attracted a total of 123,601 fans over nine games. The tour stop that drew the biggest crowd was Vancouver, Canada, and the PWHL announced on April 23 it will add a Vancouver team for the 2025–26 season. One week later, the PWHL…

Coach’s Name: Katie Sheridan School: Whitman Elementary “Coach Katie is very nice. She creates fun games, like noodle tag. The tagger is a remote-controlled monster car with noodles taped to it. PE is always cool with her as a teacher. For the warmup, she has us roll a giant die to decide what we’ll do. Also, if a student gets hurt, she makes sure they can get to the nurse or take a break. I am very happy to have Coach Katie as my coach.” Olive, 11, Oregon To nominate a Coach of the Week, send your coach’s name, photo, sport, and team to hello@theweekjunior.com. Include your name, age, state, and a few reasons why your coach is great.…

Founder Henry Clay Frick (right) lived from 1849 to 1919 and made his fortune in the steel industry. He was one of the wealthiest men of his time and used his money to build an art collection and support charities. Related location The Frick Pittsburgh, a museum and historic site in Pennsylvania, was established in 1990 by Henry Frick’s daughter, Helen. It includes the Clayton mansion (below) where the family once lived, a car and carriage museum, and an art museum. Tie to pop culture Marvel Comics co-creator Stan Lee was inspired by the Frick mansion in New York City when he created the headquarters for the Avengers (right). They are both located on Fifth Avenue.…

Bugs That Rule the World (PBS App) (PBS.com) Using special cameras that can zoom in on tiny subjects, this new four-part documentary offers a close look at insects in nature and their extraordinary behaviors. Among the topics covered are the hunting skills of mantises, the diversity of beetles, and the roles of pollinators. Light & Magic (Disney+) In a new season of this series, artists, technicians, and engineers from Industrial Light & Magic, the company that creates visual effects for Star Wars and Marvel films, discuss historic moments, such as making the first computer-generated character. It is rated TV-14 for language. Nonnas (Netflix) This new film is a heartwarming comedy based on a true story. It follows a grieving man who opens an Italian restaurant and hires four nonnas (Italian for…

Why did you write the story through letters? I love letters. I love emails. I love text messages. I wanted the characters to have a relationship through words that would create a lasting friendship. Who in history would you like to write to? I would like to correspond with Susan B. Anthony or Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who both fought for the passage of the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote. What do you hope readers take away from this book? I hope children see the value in making connections with other people, even if they seem different from them. Are the characters based on anyone you know? No, all my characters come from my imagination. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? I get so excited…

When the 12 members of The Week Junior’s Junior Council began meeting for the Spring 2025 session, they decided they wanted to use their voices to raise awareness of the importance of being kind—to people, animals, and the planet. They came up with specific ideas, conducted research on the topics, and wrote their stories. We hope their work inspires you to put kindness into practice too! If you do, write to us about it at hello@theweekjunior.com. KNOW ABOUT THE MANY BENEFITS OF BEING KIND By Seraphina, 10, New York Offering a compliment or holding the door for the person behind you isn’t just polite. Research suggests kindness can improve your physical and mental health. “Kind acts boost your mood, improve sleep, and even make us more patient,” says Dr. Kelli…

When I saw the film The Six Triple Eight earlier this year, after we highlighted it in our Watch List column, I was amazed by the true story it brought to life (p4). The movie was based on the experience of 855 Black women who served in the US military during World War II. Their unit, officially known as the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion and nicknamed the Six Triple Eight, figured out how to quickly process a huge backlog of mail and get it to US troops serving in Europe. The unfair treatment the women faced because of their race and gender made their task more difficult but did not deter them. Now the US Congress has awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, its highest civilian honor, to the members…

Addison, a 12-year-old from Minnesota, likes helping others. Addison’s good deeds include writing letters to older people, carrying a bag for a friend, and donating clothes and toys. To celebrate The Week Junior’s fifth anniversary this year, we’re asking readers to share five good deeds they’ve done. Have you helped a neighbor or a friend or performed a kind act? Go to kids.theweekjunior.com/activities to download a form like the one shown at right. Fill it out, then have an adult email it to us at hello@theweekjunior.com. We’ll feature some of the submissions on this page in future issues. JOKE OF THE WEEK What side is best when sitting on a plane? The inside! IT’S YOUR TURN Email your news, views, and photos to hello@theweekjunior.com. We want to hear from you!…

Teacher’s Name: Mr. Bohannon School: Child of God Lutheran School “I would like to nominate my sixth-grade homeroom teacher, Mr. Bohannon. I think he is the best teacher because he is welcoming, kind, fun, friendly, and just gets my class. He lets us have free time but also knows when to get serious with us. Mr. Bohannon helps us when we are having a bad day and need someone to talk to. He also has a great sense of humor and always greets us with a smile.” Maria, 12, Missouri 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.…

On April 29, a one-of-a-kind unit of Black women who served in the US military in World War II (1939–1945) received recognition from Congress (branch of government that makes laws). The Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor, was awarded to the women 80 years after they played a historic role in the war. Who were the soldiers? The recipients of the medals were the members of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only unit made up entirely of Black women who served in Europe during the war. The battalion of 855 soldiers, nicknamed the “Six Triple Eight,” was sent to England in February 1945 to solve the US military’s mail crisis. They were led by Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams (whose name later changed to Charity Adams Earley).…

Ashlie Crosson, who teaches English at Mifflin County High School in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, was named the 2025 National Teacher of the Year on April 29. The news was announced on the TV show CBS Mornings. The National Teacher of the Year award is considered the most prestigious teacher recognition program in the US. It has been given out since 1952 by the Council of Chief State School Officers. Every year, the organization names its State Teachers of the Year and chooses the National Teacher of the Year from that group. Crosson was chosen from among 56 state winners. Crosson has been an educator for 14 years. Besides teaching English, she is an adviser to the school’s journalism program, which publishes the school newspaper and district magazine. In this role, she…

Award-winning actress and activist Geena Davis, known for her roles in beloved films like Beetlejuice (1988) and A League of Their Own (1992), has made a career of portraying strong women in stories. Now she has written and illustrated her first children’s book, The Girl Who Was Too Big for the Page. It follows a young girl who grows so tall her head pokes out of the pages of her storybook and is inspired by Davis’ own experience as the tallest girl in her class. Growing up in Wareham, Massachusetts, Davis, age 69, was always creative—she made art and sewed her own clothes to fit her tall frame. She went on to earn a drama degree from Boston University and rose to fame in the mid-1980s. She has since appeared…

When an iceberg the size of Chicago broke away from the Antarctic Peninsula, an international team of scientists began investigating what was underneath it. The expedition crew was surprised to uncover a thriving marine community, including never-before-seen species. Researchers from the Schmidt Ocean Institute were sailing the Bellingshausen Sea near Antarctica on their way to examine local marine life when a nearby iceberg named A-84 broke away from an ice shelf (floating sheet of ice attached to land), revealing a 209-square-mile area of the seafloor that had never been accessible to humans. The team changed course and spent eight days exploring the area using a remotecontrolled underwater vehicle. They did not expect to find much on the seabed, since it had been trapped under a giant block of ice. But…

Researchers examining a book of property records from the 1500s found a surprise stitched into its binding: fragments of a handwritten medieval manuscript that’s about 800 years old. The manuscript recounted a tale of the mythical King Arthur and the wizard Merlin. Stories of King Arthur’s royal court were popular among wealthy people in England at the time, and manuscripts were copied by hand. Between the years 1275 and 1315, a scribe (person who copied text by hand) wrote out a story called Suite Vulgate du Merlin that includes noble knights, battles, and fire-breathing dragons. That copy made its way to a family at a manor house, where it remained until the 1500s, when someone used its pages as a cover for a household ledger. In the 1970s, the ledger…

A big celebration is about to begin at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. The popular destination, which opened as Disneyland in 1955, will turn 70 years old on July 17. This month, in honor of the milestone, the resort—which includes Disney California Adventure Park—will start rolling out updates to attractions, adding new shows, an art exhibit, and other special features. The festivities will run through summer 2026. There are 12 Disney theme parks around the world, but Disneyland was the first. It was built by Walt Disney, the creator of Mickey Mouse and a famous TV and film producer. One of his goals was to have visitors feel as if they were in the worlds they saw in his films. As of May 9, visitors will see changes to the…

A blank sheet of paper and some imagination can be a great starting point to create paintings, drawings, or collages. Many art apps let you do the same thing, but you just begin with a blank screen instead. Tayasui Sketches School is one of the best examples. The app was designed for young people to use easily, getting rid of some of the more complicated features in apps that professional artists use. Its virtual tools include a pencil, a felt pen, and brushes for oil pastels or watercolor paints. The app is free, but an optional subscription can be purchased to unlock more features. Tayasui Sketches School is only on Apple devices, but the original Tayasui Sketches app, made for all ages, is available on Android. Infinite Painter and Sketchbook…

Montgomery Bonbon: Murder at the Museum By Alasdair Beckett-King, illustrated by Claire Powell “This book follows 10-year-old Bonnie Montgomery, who has a secret that nobody knows—she is the world’s greatest detective! When she visits the Hornville Museum, a staff member named Oliver Munday, who is also a choir singer, is murdered. Now it’s up to Montgomery to find the killer.” Camilla, 7, Massachusetts Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Crisscross Each of these gem names fits into this grid. Can you find where each one goes to complete the grid? 4 letters JADE OPAL 5 letters AMBER BERYL CORAL PEARL TOPAZ 6 letters QUARTZ ZIRCON 7 letters DIAMOND EMERALD PERIDOT 8 letters AMETHYST SAPPHIRE SARDONYX 10 letters AQUAMARINE BLOODSTONE ALL THE SAME Each answer contains the letters U-M-P. Those letters have been placed for you. Can you figure out the words? (NEED A HINT? Check the bottom of the page.) 1. In a bad mood 2. Light source on Halloween night 3. Big win 4. Unbelievably tasty 5. Big egg in a nursery rhyme ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 29. Spot the difference These two pictures of bananas appear to be the same, but take a closer look.…

The nominations for the 78th annual Tony Awards, the most prestigious prizes in Broadway theater, were announced on May 1. The awards will celebrate the best of the 2024–2025 Broadway season, recognizing achievements in acting, directing, stage production, and more. Three musicals earned the most nominations this year. Death Becomes Her, Maybe Happy Ending, and Buena Vista Social Club received 10 nominations each, including best musical. The most-nominated plays were The Hills of California and John Proctor Is the Villain. Each received seven nominations, including best play. Audra McDonald, who was nominated for leading actress in a musical for her role in Gypsy, made history as the most-nominated performer in Tony Awards history. McDonald has been nominated 11 times and has previously won six Tonys, also making her the person…

May 11, 1910 Glacier National Park is established On May 11, 1910, President William Howard Taft (1909–1913) signed a bill into law that established Glacier National Park as America’s 10th national park. The1,583-square-mile area in Montana, located along the US–Canada border, features more than two dozen large glaciers and more than 2,000 species of plants and animals. Each year, about 3 million people visit the park.…

Spanning more than 1 million acres in the small country of Bhutan, this park was set up as a wildlife sanctuary in 1974 and became a national park in 1993. Dotted with alpine lakes, Himalayan mountain peaks, hot springs, and other natural features, the park stands out for its unusual plant and animal life. This is the only park where the endangered Bengal tiger and the elusive snow leopard share space. It also provides habitats for Asiatic wild dogs, Himalayan musk deer, yaks, and the country’s largest population of the Bhutan takin, an animal similar to goats and antelopes.…

American oystercatchers These red-billed birds that live in coastal areas have made a significant recovery thanks to 15 years of conservation efforts by about 40 nonprofit groups and government agencies. The bird’s population has risen by about 45% since 2008. Honeybees A record number of honeybees have died in the US recently, according to a large survey. Professional beekeepers said they lost more than 60% of their honeybee colonies during the winter. Experts are trying to find out why.…

King Arthur was a mythical British king who lived in a castle called Camelot and led a group of men called the Knights of the Round Table. According to legend, Arthur became king when he pulled a sword called Excalibur from a stone, where it had been embedded for many years. Arthur was said to be a brave and noble leader who fought dragons, giants, and witches and presided over a time of prosperity in England. The character of King Arthur first appeared in poetry in the 500s and early 600s. Many famous poems, books, and movies have been created about Arthur and others in his court, including Queen Guinevere, knights named Lancelot and Gawain, and the wizard Merlin. For many years, historians have debated whether Arthur was based on…

A new phone can help people who want to cut back on screen time. While regular smartphones offer colorful displays and access to an endless number of apps, the Light Phone III is simpler. It has a black-and-white screen and a few basic tools built in, including messaging, phone, calendar, camera, and music player. The designers of the Light Phone III said it will never have email, ads, social media, or internet browsing. It’s made of sturdy metal so it won’t need to be replaced as frequently as other smartphones.…

The second round of the NBA (National Basketball Association) playoffs started on May 4. As the first round was wrapping up, the league announced the winners of major awards that honor players in areas that include performance, character, and impact throughout the season. The Defensive Player of the Year was Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the top team in the Eastern Conference. Jrue Holiday of the Boston Celtics won the NBA Sportsmanship Award, and his teammate Payton Pritchard was named Sixth Man of the Year. That honor goes to an important player who is usually not in his team’s starting five. The NBA’s Rookie of the Year was Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs. He had 14.7 points per game, the most of all rookies this season. The…

Five years ago, the Frick Collection, an art museum in New York City, closed to renovate and expand its home, a historic former mansion built in 1914. Last month, it finally reopened, welcoming visitors ages 10 and older. Businessman and art collector Henry Clay Frick founded the museum in 1935. It was designed to showcase his renowned collection of European art, including pieces from the Italian Renaissance (the 1300s to 1600s). Today, there are around 1,800 pieces in the museum’s collection, including paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and furniture. Artwork is spread throughout the rooms of the building, which has 27,000 square feet of new space. For the first time, the mansion’s second floor, where the Frick family lived, is open to the public. Two major exhibitions kicked off the reopening.…

Amphibia (Disney+) “In this show, teen Anne Boonchuy opens a mysterious music box and is transported to Amphibia, a world full of talking frogs, toads, and giant insects. At first many of them think Anne is a monster, but after a few months, they start to respect her and she becomes friends with the frogs, especially one named Sprig. Anne goes on lots of adventures, and the series has plenty of plot twists, including one involving Anne’s best friend from back home. I love this show so much that after I watched it, I even made a book about it!” Ellie, 9, California Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

By Carolyn Mackler (Scholastic Press) When Mason receives an assignment to write a letter to anyone, he chooses Albert Einstein. Einstein was a scientist who lived from 1879 to 1955 and paved the way for the discovery of black holes. Mason confesses in his letter to Einstein that he feels like the human equivalent of a black hole. His dad recently moved from their home in New York City to Atlanta, and a bully at school has been extra mean to him. Mason tosses the letter he wrote to Einstein in his closet, not planning to share it with anyone. The next day, the letter is replaced with a letter from Talia, a girl from Pennsylvania who lives in 1987. She thinks Mason is pranking her and doesn’t understand what…

Max in the Land of Lies By Adam Gidwitz (Dutton Books for Young Readers) The Operation Kinderspion series continues when Max, now a British spy, is about to embark on a mission in Germany. He is also desperate to find his missing parents. This fast-paced historical fiction series, set during World War II, weaves humor into serious situations. Ages 9–12 Penny Draws a Team Sport By Sara Shepard (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers) In the fifth book in the illustrated Penny Draws series, Penny has a pickleball dilemma. She wants to play in her school’s tournament for charity, but she worries she’ll let down her teammates. The stakes get higher when a TV station arrives to cover the action. Ages 8–12 A Song of Swords and Stuffies By…

Robots run a half marathon At a half marathon in China last month, 21 two-legged robots were in the running alongside 12,000 human competitors. While humans paused to drink water, the bots’ handlers swapped out their batteries. Some bots crashedout—one simplylay down at the start—but six reached the finish line, earning awards such as best gait and endurance. Millions of people watched on a livestream as the fastest robot completed the 13.1-milerace in 2 hours and 40 minutes, lagging 98 minutes behind the human winner. To catch a crested criminal For more than a month, a vandal has been cracking car windows and side mirrors in Rockport, Massachusetts. Locals were puzzled until one shared a description of the suspect: “18 to 24 inches tall, wearing black and white with a…

“Most students may find civics boring. Even I did at first, but then I grew to love it. My wonderful civics coach, Mrs. Koury, helped me see how civics can change people’s communities. With that knowledge, I was inspired to research a topic at the library and brainstorm solutions to a local problem. I competed in the National Civics Bee Virginia State Finals to advocate for affordable housing and learned a lot about the US Constitution and related aspects of government. At the competition, I came in first and had the opportunity to engage with other civic-minded students like me. That’s why I believe youth government is the future of change!” Have you done something interesting or raised money for a cause you care about? Whatever you’re up to, we…

We’d love to see pictures you’ve taken or pictures with you in them! Have an adult email them to us at hello@theweekjunior.com, along with anything you would like us to know about what’s happening in the photo. “I was most delighted to see an image of one of my original FDR campaign pins in The Week Junior.”Herlof, 11, North Dakota “I love the How To section of The Week Junior and made these cute animal eggs.” June, 10, Colorado “I made this spiced dal from the magazine. The Week Junior wasn’t joking that it was delicious!”Hugo, 10, New York…

1 What is the name of twin doctors Chris and Xand van Tulleken’s YouTube channel? 2 True or false? A study found that people mostly judge a dog’s emotions based on its behavior. True ☐ False ☐ 3 Which team finished the 2024–25 Professional Women’s Hockey League season in first place? a) Minnesota Frost b) Montreal Victoire c) Toronto Sceptres a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 4 Chef Mirko D’Agata took first place in what category at the 2025 International Pizza Challenge? 5 Audra McDonald made history with a Tony nomination for her performance in which Broadway musical? a) Death Becomes Her b) Gypsy c) Maybe Happy Ending a ☐ b ☐ c ☐ 6 True or false? The largest powwow in North America was recently held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.…