Highlights for Children articles from April 2004

Highlights for Children archives from April 2004

Lizard.(Poem)
April 1, 2004... Lizard Oh, what would people say if you Ate bitter-tasting ants, drank dew, Caught gnats as blue as summer skies, And swallowed painted butterflies? And what would people think, if then You laid eggs--just like...

Find the pictures.
April 1, 2004... Can you find each of these pictures at another place in this book? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Dear readers.
April 1, 2004... A few weeks ago, I went to lunch with some other Highlights editors. Happily talking, I grabbed the grated cheese to sprinkle on my pasta. Just one bite told me that, instead of cheese, I had sprinkled sugar on my food! My friends at the table...

Speechless.(Short Story)
April 1, 2004... When I felt the sharp jab in my back and heard the hiss, I almost yelled, "Snake!" Then I realized it was just Jerry Epstein trying to save me from looking stupid. "First up is Sam Abernathy," Mr. Mead said for probably the fourth time....

Presto change-o! a butterfly appears.
April 1, 2004... I found a caterpillar and put it in a cage. I gave it plenty of food--the same kind of plant that it was eating when I found it. Then I watched it closely. Maybe the caterpillar would change into a butterfly right before my eyes. I even had a...

For wee folks.
April 1, 2004... * What season is this? How can you tell? What changes tell you that a new season has begun near your home? * How have you changed lately? Have you grown taller? What new things have you learned recently? What do you want to learn before...

Helpful ladybugs.(science letters)
April 1, 2004... What is the importance of ladybugs? Ashley Giri, Age 10 Washington Ladybugs eat other little insects called aphids, which live on leaves and stems of plants and suck juices from them. Losing juices from inside weakens the plants....

Fruit juice that stings.(science letters)
April 1, 2004... If you have a cut, why does citrus sting it? Melanie Ellison, Age 12 Colorado Citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruit, all contain a mild acid called citric acid. You can't feel the stinging effect of this acid on...

Matching.
April 1, 2004... Look at each fox on the left. Find one like it on the right. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Baseball smarts: a rookie took a chance and changed the game.
April 1, 2004... Put yourself in Charlie Waitt's shoes for a moment. It's 1875 and you play big-league baseball for the St. Louis Brown Stockings. You're a 21-year-old rookie outfielder who'll be filling in at first base for your team's next game. The...

Birdhouse builders.(Hidden Pictures[TM])
April 1, 2004... In this big picture find the pinwheel, candle, mitten, safety pin, flashlight, slice of pie, nail, bell, pushpin, muffin, piece of cake, artist's brush, and musical note. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Can you find these Hidden Pictures TM on...

Find the partners.
April 1, 2004... Which items usually go together? [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Riddles.
April 1, 2004... 1. What is the Earth after it rotates all day? Lindsey Miller, Illinois 2. Why did the dinner roll get into trouble? Austin Gabel, Maryland 3. How do you know how far away a house is from you? Kelli Steward, Pennsylvania...

Oops, I goofed!
April 1, 2004... Last October, we asked you to tell us about funny mistakes you've made. Thanks for your responses! We wish we had room to print all of the great stories we received. Here are just a few.

Slow cookers.(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... On one Boy Scout campout, I woke up early to help cook breakfast, which happened to be scrambled eggs. I cracked the eggs into a pan, put the pan on our propane stove, got a spatula, and started mixing. Twenty minutes later, I was getting...

My goof.
April 1, 2004... Back at my old apartment complex, I was riding bikes with my friend Michael. It was time for him to go home. He swerved by his front door and waved goodbye. I waved back, and then I felt a jolt and I fell off. It turned out that I had run into...

Lost lyrics.
April 1, 2004... Once I was doing karaoke, and I picked a song that I thought I knew but I didn't. I tried to keep up with the rap song. I did that in front of one hundred people. Boy, did I goof! Brooke Chenault, Age 8 Ohio

Memo mix-up.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... One day we got this sheet of paper that said: "Opposite Day Friday-- Have a good time. Don't forget to wear your shirts backward!" On that Friday I thought it was Opposite Day, so I wore my shirt backward, and...

Express yourself.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... One time at Hebrew class my teacher told us that, for the day, if we had to go to the bathroom, we had to say it in Hebrew. I had to go to the bathroom, so I raised my hand to say it, but instead I said, "I want to fry." Everyone laughed....

A bagful of fun.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... When I was getting ready for school, I knew I had already packed my backpack. When I got to school and unpacked my backpack, I realized that my little brother must have emptied out my school supplies and replaced them with his toys, because my...

Rude awakening.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... One morning, I went to the sink to brush my teeth. I got out my toothbrush and what I thought was my toothpaste. When I poured the stuff onto my toothbrush and put it into my mouth, I quickly found out it was not toothpaste but shaving cream!...

Muddy one-on-one.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... One day I was playing basketball with my dad. The basketball went into the grass, so I went to get it. But there was a mud puddle in front of it. I didn't see the mud puddle. So I stepped forward, and I accidentally slipped and fell into the...

Sock silliness.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Once I was late, so I didn't pay attention to what I was doing. I was wearing shorts. I put on a black sock and a gray sock. Everyone was looking at me when I got to school. I felt so silly. Mary-Agnes Connolly, Age 10 British Columbia...

Whoops!(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... One of the downright funny things I did was that I called my teacher Mom! At least nobody heard except for the teacher. Robert McComb, Age 8 Colorado

Soggy shirt.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... One time I forgot to take my shirt off before getting in the bath. Kyle Carter, Age 6 California

False fruit.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... When I was on vacation at Myrtle Beach, there was a bowl of fake fruit on the table in the condo. I thought it was real, so I asked my dad if I could have an apple. He said yes. I went over to the bowl and picked up one of the fake apples. I...

Forgot one thing.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... One morning, my clock didn't ring, so I woke up late. The school bus had already passed. I went downstairs quickly, took my bag, grabbed some cookies, and put on my shoes. When I got to school, everybody was laughing at me. It took me a while...

A big hair mistake.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... One time, I stayed up very late. The next day, I wanted to comb my hair. After I put on some gel, I started to cut my hair. I couldn't believe it--now I had some lost hair on my forehead! I went to school like that. After school, my dad took me...

Early riser.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... One time I was sleeping, and I thought for some reason that I had to go to school. So I woke up and started taking a shower. I was trying to figure out why I was so tired. When I finished, I looked at the clock on my VCR. It was 1:30 A.M.! I...

Yogurt all over!(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... As I was opening my yogurt at school, it splattered all over me and the floor! I was really embarrassed because all the first-graders were around me. I had to go to the nurse's office to wait for my mom to bring me all new clothes. Yogurt was...

Yogurt all over! <T>Lumbled jetters.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... One time I said fet pood. I meant to say pet food, but I got the F and P mixed up! Also at Thanksgiving I said, "How long does it take for a cookie to turk?" I meant to say, "How long does it take for a turkey to cook?" Shaynie...

Your best costume ever!
April 1, 2004... Dressing in costumes can be fun, whether it's for a play, a party, or a holiday like Halloween or Purim. What was the best homemade costume that you've ever worn? We'd like to hear about it! In fewer than one hundred words tell us about...

Come visit.
April 1, 2004... A magic forest... A magic forest with a shy unicorn... A magic forest with a shy unicorn and a friendly lion... A magic forest with a shy unicorn, a friendly lion, and a flying dragon... A magic forest with a shy unicorn,...

Thinking.
April 1, 2004... These children are taking part in a worship service celebrating the Christian holiday of Easter. * How do you think singing helps make the celebration special? * Have you ever performed by yourself or with a group? How did that make...

Taking his best shots: thousands of pounds of water poured over the edge of the boat. John Fielder was in big trouble.
April 1, 2004... John Fielder could have drowned on his way to work. His raft bumped over rocks and pitched through rapids on the Dolores River in southwestern Colorado. The spring runoff of melting snow from the mountains sent chilly water crashing down the...

Riding the whale.(Short Story)
April 1, 2004... My parents make me ride around in the most embarrassing car. I call it the Blue Whale. It's a station wagon, light blue and huge. There's a fake-wood stripe along each side, like scars from some sea battle. Dad thinks that the car is...

Evening.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2004... Evening A sherbet sky, sun setting slow. A porch swing creaking to and fro. A mother singing sweet and low. A baby nodding-- off he goes. Ashley Brown, Age 11 Connecticut

A Field Trip to Space.(Our Own Pages)
April 1, 2004... A Field Trip to Space [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kristin McFadden, Age 7 Illinois

Sleeping Beauty.(Our Own Pages)
April 1, 2004... Sleeping Beuty [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cecile Kalimaga, Age 5 France

How God Makes the World.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2004... How God Makes the World For mountains, God takes his clay and whips it around. For water, he fills a glass bowl with non-air, then paints it blue. He uses white clay and orange and brown pastels to...

My Good Boy.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2004... My Good Boy When the bus drives away, he cries and cries all day. But when I return after a hard day trying to learn, he's filled with joy-- My good boy. Kali MacLeod, Age 9 Massachusetts

Without You.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2004... Without You It's just not the same without you. Like dropping a pebble into a stream, You never get to see it again. It's just not the same without you. It's like throwing something away. You never get to see it...

My dad is special and makes me happy.(Our Own Pages)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... My dad is special and makes me happy. He teaches me to ride my dirt bike. He plays video games, too. He works a lot for my family. My dad makes me happy because he helps me and we have fun. Connor Breton, Age 9 New Hampshire

The Family Picnic.(Our Own Pages)
April 1, 2004... The Family Picnic [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jung Yoon, Age 5 California

The darkness has come.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2004... The darkness has come clouds are building up large tears just about to cry Sarah Chisholm, Age 9 Virginia

On the Farm.(Our Own Pages)
April 1, 2004... On the Farm [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Edward Kong, Age 8 New Jersey

Walking.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2004... Walking I'm walking on the street with my feet and I hear a little beat. Grace Arnette, Age 7 Florida

Pileated Woodpecker.(Our Own Pages)
April 1, 2004... Pileated Woodpecker [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jerrod Elsemore, Age 12 Colorado

My Kitchen Is Getting Renovated.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2004... My Kitchen Is Getting Renovated My kitchen's getting renovated-- lots of dust and lots of dirt, insulation going in, hardwood on the ground, dumpster in the driveway, making lots of sound. Daddy's getting...

Cat Smiling at Friends.(Our Own Pages)
April 1, 2004... Cat Smiling at Friends [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Andrew Ward, Age 10 Ohio

Where I'm From.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2004... Where I'm From I am from the world of snow, the giant leaf piles, and the lemonade sold. I am from the big berry bushes, the little Koosh balls, and my big brother's pushes. I am from the soccer balls...

Sillytown.(poem)(Poem)
April 1, 2004... Sillytown In Sillytown dancers cook and cooks dance. Artists build houses and builders draw. Chair makers make shoes; shoemakers make chairs. I sell ice pops. My stand is closed, but you...

Raccoon in a Dress.(Our Own Pages)
April 1, 2004... Raccoon in a Dress [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ashley Edwards, Age 11 Ohio

Faded.(poem)(Poem)
April 1, 2004... Faded When the light of day starts to fade away, when the light in the sky starts to die, the little man who lives in the sun, never seen by anyone, flips off the light-- it's no longer bright....

The Last Sight I See.(poem)(Poem)
April 1, 2004... The Last Sight I See The moon I see Is such a sight to me. The leaves glimmer in its light, And to me it is a delight. The stars go on When the sun goes down, And twinkle like diamonds In a crown....

Easter egg chicken.
April 1, 2004... Jon helped Grandma gather eggs. "I like coloring eggs for Easter," Jon said. "My new chicken will help us," said Grandma. "She is an Easter egg chicken." "Why is she called an Easter egg chicken?" asked Jon. "You'll see," said Grandma....

April.(poem)(Poem)
April 1, 2004... April Sometimes April is sunny and warm. Sometimes April is cold. Sometimes April is misty gray. Sometimes April is gold. Sometimes April is rather rude. Sometimes April is kind. My request to April is this:...

Goofus and Gallant[R].
April 1, 2004... "That new haircut looks weird on you." Gallant avoids saying things that could hurt someone's feelings. Goofus leaves the water dripping. "Look, Dad. Someone left the water running. I'll turn it off." [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Free at last! A Kurdish family in America.
April 1, 2004... Amina Ahmet squatted on the floor of her kitchen in El Cajon, California, mixing flour and water and yeast into large balls. She pushed and pulled the bread dough, then flattened it into a pan for baking. As soon as the loaves were fresh from...

The bear family.
April 1, 2004... Piddy: Wow, there's a truck like Pug has. May I get that? Mom: You already have lots of trucks, Piddy. Piddy: I like my trucks, but they aren't as cool as Pug's. Poozy: I really like those backpacks. They're the cool kind. ...

I wonder ... why fish don't come up for air.(Science Corner)
April 1, 2004... Fish don't breathe air as humans do. They use their gills to get oxygen from the water. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Challenge your creativity.(Science Corner)
April 1, 2004... Using one sheet of paper (8 1/2 inches by 11 inches), support a heavy hardcover book 1 inch above a tabletop. To change the paper's shape and structure, you may measure, cut, roll, fold, or tape it. But only the paper may hold up the book. ...

Which squirts farther?(Science Corner)
April 1, 2004... A container has two holes in its side, one near the top and one near the bottom. It is filled with water and allowed to drain. Which picture shows how the water will squirt out? Which Squirts Farther? The answer is C. Because of the...

Dinosaur days.(Science Corner)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Would a triceratops have died if a dinosaur bit its horns? A.J. Biggane, Age 7 Illinois A Triceratops (try-SAIR-uh-tops) probably would not have died from a bite to one of its horns. The horns were tough and could take a lot of...

Can you beat this tricky triangle?(You Can Make It!)
April 1, 2004... 1. From poster board, cut out a triangle that is 10 inches long on each side. 2. Cut out and paint 15 egg-carton cups. Glue the egg cups to the triangle in rows. 3. Game pieces can be pompoms, buttons, pennies, marbles, beans, or even...

Who's peeking out of that egg?(You Can Make It!)
April 1, 2004... 1. Glue together two sheets of yellow construction paper. When the glue dries, cut out a chick from the paper. Cut out a diamond-shaped beak from orange construction paper. 2. Glue the middle of the beak to the chick so that the mouth is...

Put these worms to work.(You Can Make It!)
April 1, 2004... 1. Cut a strip of felt the length you want your worm to be. 2. Glue different-sized pompoms, from largest to smallest, on top of the felt. 3. Glue wiggle eyes to the largest pompom. You can add a scarf or hat to decorate the worm. ...

Craft challenge!(You Can Make It!)
April 1, 2004... Step back in time onto the Oregon Trail. Use construction paper, string, toothpicks, and cardboard to create your own covered wagon.

Please don't feed the fish.(You Can Make It!)
April 1, 2004... 1. Cut out fish shapes from different colors of craft foam. Draw eyes with a ballpoint pen (marks from felt pens will smear in the water). 2. Use the end of a paper clip to poke a hole in the middle of a fish. Thread several inches of...

You'll be a-mazed by this puzzle.(You Can Make It!)
April 1, 2004... 1. Use an empty clear plastic compact-disk case or a zip-drive case to make this maze. 2. Cut out leaves from green craft foam. Draw black veins on one side of each leaf. 3. From red craft foam, cut out two ladybugs (a mother and a...

Headwork.
April 1, 2004... Start at the beginning and see how far you can go, thinking of good answers from your own head. Try to hop without making any noise. What color necktie would look nice with an orange shirt? Can you snap your fingers? Which...

Odd one out.
April 1, 2004... These six panels were made to be alike in every way. But one panel is different. Can you find it? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Panel 3 is different.

Kingfisher.(Nature Watch)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... From the Roger Tory Peterson Institute Did You Know? Kingfishers use their sharp eyesight to spot fish in lakes and rivers. This bird will hover above the water's surface. When it sees its prey, it drops straight down into the water. Using...

David's dinosaur.(Short Story)
April 1, 2004... David wanted to be a paleontologist and dig for dinosaur bones. One afternoon he poked his spade deep into the sandbox in his backyard. He dug and dug and dug. He reached into the hole. He touched something smooth and hard. It was a......

The Timbertoes.(Comic)
April 1, 2004... What a day! Cold is hot. Up is down. Down is not. Out is in. Black is white. Round is square. Day is night. Tall is short. Home is school. Yes, you guessed-- April Fool! [ILLUSTRATIONS...

Jokes.
April 1, 2004... Bird gave his friend Flower a new bike. Soon afterward he saw Flower riding a skateboard. "Why aren't you riding the new bike I gave you?" asked Bird. Flower replied, "Because my petals fell off." Winifred Hoerr, Wisconsin Waiter:...

Give yourself a hand.
April 1, 2004... Which of these could you do with one hand? * Tie your shoes. * Hang a coat on a hanger. * Eat a bowl of cereal. * Draw a picture. * Cut a piece of steak. * Stir cookie batter. * Take a shower. * Do a...

Check ... and double check.
April 1, 2004... There are at least sixteen differences in these two pictures. How many can you find? [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Let the bears fish.
April 1, 2004... My family and I drove down a dusty road toward the Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site. My husband had been working on this project for months. Finally, I would get to see it. After we arrived, I stood on the new viewing platform with two...

Whose chore is it?(Dear Highlights)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... When my sister is given a job, she tells me to finish it. What can I do? Sean C., Connecticut You could try talking to your sister about this. Pick a time when the two of you are getting along, and calmly explain that you don't want...

Following the crowd.(Dear Highlights)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... There's a new TV show, and everybody in my school has cards, hats, and shirts with the characters on them. I'm the only one who doesn't have many. I want to make new friends. Should I buy more of these things? Irvin M., Arkansas It's...

Easily upset.(Dear Highlights)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... I have a friend who is very nice. But if someone says something even a little bit mean about him, he gets really upset. When I try to comfort him, he says, "Go away," or he makes a mean face and growls. After a few minutes he's back to normal....

Struggling gymnast.(Dear Highlights)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... I joined gymnastics three years ago, and I'm still not good at it. I love this sport! Please help. A.P. Pennsylvania Many athletes don't do as well as they'd like, but they continue to participate because they're having fun and doing...

Scritch, scratch, scrape: making collage cards.
April 1, 2004... Children's book illustrator Cheryl Nathan uses tools from her home to create interesting textures in her collage art. You can, too? Follow Cheryl step by step as she spreads acrylic paint over white paper, mixes colors, and uses household...