Highlights for Children articles from April 2006

Highlights for Children archives from April 2006

Find the pictures.
April 1, 2006... Can you find each of these 12 pictures at another place in this book? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Do the bunny hop!(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... If your birthday is in April, add an activity course to you celebration. Include events such as the kiddie-pool wade, the backward bunny hop, the sack jump, and the somersault. For an extra challenge, have participants sing the Happy Birthday...

5 ways to enjoy nature.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... If you've been cooped up in the house all winter, it's time to head outside! 1. Watch the moonrise. 2. Sing along with crickets. 3. Be a rainbow spotter. 4. Play tag with your shadow. 5. Dance in the rain.

April is National Poetry month.(Poem)
April 1, 2006... Room for Rent Room for rent: Twigs like new, Skylight ceiling, treetop view, Eat-in kitchen, bath nearby, Heat included for July. Room to hatch and eat and sleep Early bird will get it cheep.

Fooling around with words.
April 1, 2006... Tongue twisters are no joke! They're a challenge Try twisting your tongue around this one. Foolish Freddie fried fragrant fish for Thursday.

Jester jumble.
April 1, 2006... How many moves does it take to un-jumble the jester? (Hint: Blocks can move up and down, or side to side.)

Dear readers.(Editorial)
April 1, 2006... Last night as I was driving home, I saw a deer standing in the road before me. I stopped safely and waited, but the deer wasn't in any hurry to move. It didn't run away until I honked my car's horn. I thought, At least it wasn't an...

Every Cat Has a Story.(Poem)
April 1, 2006... Every Cat Has a Story The yellow cat from the bakery smelled like a cream puff. She followed us home. We buried our faces in her sweet fur. One cat hid her head when I practiced violin. But she came...

Bee a-mazed!(puzzle)
April 1, 2006... Help the bee get to the flower. With your finger, buzz one space at a time--up, down, left, or right--but only land on spaces with flower names in them.

Guess the word.(Poem)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Guess the Word My first letter is in west but not in went. My sixth letter is in best but not in bent. My fifth letter is in tram but not in pram. My third letter is in port but not in part. ...

Goofus and Gallant.(Brief article)(Cartoon)
April 1, 2006... Goofus combs his hair where people eat. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I'll be ready in a second!" says Gallant. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Don't worry. You won't catch it," says Goofus. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gallant tries to...

Celebrate Greek Easter.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... This year, Greek Orthodox Easter is celebrated on April 23. Crack That Egg! Greeks play a special game on Easter--and it's cracking good fun! 1. Everyone picks out a hard-boiled Easter egg. 2. Each player finds a partner. One...

Soccer in any language.
April 1, 2006... Number 54 dribbled the soccer ball down the sidelines on a breakaway, and I was the last player between him and my goalkeeper. I had to stop the forward or at least slow him down so that my teammates could catch up. "Die, Tomas, die!" my...

Thinking.(butterfly garden)
April 1, 2006... Visitors are having fun at the butterfly garden. * Why is a butterfly garden a good place to watch butterflies? * How are these people learning about butterflies? * Imagine that a butterfly landed on your arm. How would it feel? ...

Making matzah brei.(Recipe)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Matzah is a large, flat cracker that is made of flour and water and is typically eaten during Passover. It recalls a time when Jewish slaves rushed out of ancient Egypt. Their bread didn't have time to rise, so it baked flat in the hot sun....

Matching.
April 1, 2006... Look at each frog on the left. Find one like it on the right.

April Fools' art.(wildlife art)
April 1, 2006... Robert Bateman worked late the evening of March 31, 1992. He studied his painting of three lion cubs staring intently at a rhinoceros. Bateman decided to add some finishing touches. As he turned away from the canvas, he smiled, imagining the...

Funny-hat day.(Hidden Pictures[R])(Image)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... In this big picture, find the glove, shuttlecock, banana, ruler, ring, flashlight, lollipop, artist's brush, hammer, trowel, pennant, pumpkin, ice-cream bar, boot, insect, crescent moon, and crown. pumpkin [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Jokes.(Cartoon)
April 1, 2006... Jack: "Did you hear the joke about the sidewalk?" Anya: "No." Jack: "Really? It's all over town." Timberly Borce, Florida Max: "What would you have if you had fifty gallons of ice cream in one hand and twenty pounds of bananas...

Rejoice.(Poem)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Rejoice Bells are ringing far away. like to hear them when they say: "It's Easter Day, it's Easter Day. Rejoice! Rejoice! Across the lands, bells are ringing, The blessed, blessed message bringing, The...

Stinky treasure: garbage is so special that no one is allowed to touch it.
April 1, 2006... I rest my chin on Kenny's knee. He is about to hand me a sausage link when Kenny's mom notices me. "No begging, Rosie," she scolds. I flop down beside the treasure bin. This is where my family keeps its most valuable possessions--meat...

Copper.(Pet Stories)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... One day I was outside playing on rocks. I fell and broke my ankle. No matter how loud I yelled, no one could hear me. My dog, Copper, was on the porch and started barking like mad. My mom heard Copper and went to let him in. When she opened the...

My parrot Fido.(Pet Stories)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... My parrot got her name accidentally. There was a fire, and a dog named Fido was trapped in the house. We all screamed "Fido" over and over. It did not work. Suddenly my parrot, Capricorn, flew into the house (the fire was out) and started...

The brave young mare.(Pet Stories)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... One day in Poland, my family and I were riding our horses in the mountains. Suddenly we were at the part that was really steep! When my horse got creeped out, I fell off and was holding on to the edge of the mountain. Then an amazing thing...

Pecky, my chicken.(Pet Stories)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... I was walking down to water the plants, and I stepped on a rattlesnake! I screamed. Pecky heard me. He bit the snake on the head or neck (I couldn't tell) and stood in front of me. I gave Pecky a big hug and thanked him. Nicole Bedner, Age...

My pet Rooty.(Pet Stories)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Rooty is a fish. He is red and has sparkles. He knows how to read! Every time we hold up a book, he looks at it and swishes his head from side to side. Daniel Mencio, Age 9 Connecticut

George the gecko.(Pet Stories)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... I have a pet gecko named George. He eats bugs. It is very funny when he whacks his tail while hunting for crickets! Thomas Weidner, Age 7 Indiana

Tonka.(Pet Stories)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... My pet dog Tonka slides down the slide. Tonka climbs up the slide stairs all by himself, and we laugh. Tonka is funny. Dixie Birge, Age 6 North Carolina

Brownie the brave.(Pet Stories)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... When Hurricane Katrina came, we had to evacuate and leave my hamster behind. When we got back, he was alive. Every afternoon, we put him outside. We had no electricity and had to give him air. Soon we got electricity back. I think Brownie is...

Black Patch.(Pet Stories)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... My cow is Black Patch. He walks all around the town. Some people say he is odd for a cow. When I take him for a walk, he wants to walk by himself. He is grumpy in the morning. Derian Scales, Age 8 Indiana

Ah-choo! Ah-choo!(Pet Stories)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... I have a guinea pig named Scratchy, and my sister, Emmalyn, has one named Pig. One day I sneezed, "Ah-choo," and right away Scratchy sneezed, "Ah-choo," too! Lyla Beckingham, Age 5 Australia

The talebearer's lesson.
April 1, 2006... Merchant Tovel loved attention. Knowing that people would listen if he had news to share, he went around his village making up stories about the local rabbi. "He eats leavened bread on Passover," Tovel whispered. The townspeople...

Logan's library.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Logan loved books. He had books about bugs and an birds and trains and planes. Logan's friends loved his books, too. Logan looked around his room. His friends had left his books everywhere--on the bed, on the dresser, and on the rug. Logan...

Dino days.(Tyrannosaurus)(Pentaceratops)
April 1, 2006... Was Tyrannosaurus rex really the strongest dinosaur ever? Elizabeth Valentine, Age 10 Florida No one can be sure which dinosaur was the strongest. But I wouldn't want to mess with T. rex. It was 40 feet long and weighed 7 tons or...

Challenge your brain.(Science Corner)
April 1, 2006... Look for squares, circles, and other geometric shapes in the things around you.

The ocean is not in the shell.
April 1, 2006... Hold the opening of a seashell or mug to your ear. Can you hear a soft noise, like the sound of the ocean? What do you think causes it? The Ocean Is Not in the Shell--The noise begins as background sounds that we may not notice. The sounds...

I wonder ... where sand comes from.
April 1, 2006... Sand is made from rocks that have been ground down into tiny pieces. Some sand was carried down by rivers from rocks that were ground up along the way. Some was made here at the edge of the ocean by pounding waves. And because of the waves, the...

Living close to jumbos.
April 1, 2006... When an elephant comes into a village, everyone panics. I know. I live in Zimbabwe, Africa. Villagers are used to seeing other wild animals in their yards. Wild animals usually stay in the parks and game reserves, where nobody disturbs...

Feathered friends.
April 1, 2006... "What kind of bird is that?" I asked our neighbor, Mrs. May. "A nuthatch," she said. "Don't let him get too close. He might be after your hair." "My hair?" I said. "What for?" "To make a nest," Mrs. May said, smiling. "They say...

The bear family.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Dad: Why the long face, Poozy? Poozy: We have a substitute teacher today. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Morn: Even you, Poozy? Poozy: I try not to. But one person starts acting up, and soon everyone else joins in. [ILLUSTRATION...

Climb your mountain.(Flashback)
April 1, 2006... For years, I'd begged my mountain-climbing parents to take me with them. At nine years old, I was about to attempt my first mountain. Mt. Taranaki, in the center of New Zealand's north island, is about 8.5 miles high. It would be a winter...

Watch a bunny wobble.(Silly Rabbits)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... 1. Take the top off a plastic Easter egg. Push a piece of clay into the bottom. Put the top back on. 2. Glue cut-paper ears and facial features to the plastic egg. For a tail, glue a cotton ball to the back. 3. Try to tip your bunny...

Jiggle this rabbit and watch its eyes wiggle!(Silly Rabbits)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... 1. Cut a rabbit head and ears from poster board, and decorate them. 2. For the eyes, trace two bottle caps. Cut out the eyes so that the holes are a little smaller than the circles you've drawn. On the back of the head, tape plastic wrap...

Send a comet flying!(Crafts You Can Make)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... 1. With an adult's help, cut the top from a clean plastic bottle, leaving some of the curve. Leave the cap on. Glue yarn around the rim. 2. Cut long strips of tissue paper, and glue them to the inside of the rim. 3. Hold your comet...

Carry a fancy change purse.(Crafts You Can Make)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... 1. Find an empty plastic candy container or small tin. To decorate it, glue on foam paper, fake jewels, or other decorations. 2. If desired, glue on a cord or ribbon strap. 3. Keep your change inside the container, and carry it like a...

Craft challenge!(Crafts You Can Make)
April 1, 2006... Make a creature out of a sponge, chenille sticks, and paint.

Play a game of chicks and eggs.(Crafts You Can Make)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... 1. Place four egg-carton bottoms vertically, side by side. Number the cups 1 through 48, down and up the columns. 2. Cut 18 small eggs from poster board, and decorate them. 3. For each chick, glue one medium pompom onto one large...

Count down the days with a waiting chain.(Crafts You Can Make)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... 1. Count the number of days until an event you're looking forward to. Cut strips of colored paper, one for each day. 2. Curl the first strip of paper into a circle and glue it closed. Pass the next strip through the circle, and glue it to...

The Timbertoes[R].(Brief article)(Cartoon)
April 1, 2006... 'Today is April first," said Ma [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "He's just reading [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ma saw Pa. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mabel and Ma watched Pa. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Watch out for Pa's jokes."...

Salty tears: why are tears salty?(Science Letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... All of the fluids of your body are at least a little bit salty. They have some salts dissolved in them. And each of these fluids has a little of the commonest of salts, sodium chloride. That's the one that tastes saltiest. You are always...

Star birth: how does a star form?(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... That's an important question, since our light, warmth, and food energy come from a nearby star that we call the Sun. Stars form in clouds of gas and dust floating in space. Over many years, the small pull of gravity between those bits of...

Cavities: why don't animals get cavities?(Science Letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... Kevin Chow, Age 10 California I think that animals can get cavities, but they get fewer cavities than we do. In the wild, animals don't usually eat sugary foods, which feed the bacteria that can create cavities. Instead, they eat...

Josiah, the White House badger.(President Theodore Roosevelt gets a baby badger!)
April 1, 2006... Folks came from miles around to the train depot of Sharon Springs, Kansas, on May 3, 1903. Dressed in their Sunday best, they eagerly awaited the arrival of the Pacific Coast Special. President Theodore Roosevelt was coming to town. ...

An Amazing Creature.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2006... An Amazing Creature The wind starts to blow, all is quiet. The beautiful and acrobatic deer approaches. Its wonderful form leaps through the air. A crumbly, scratchy sound catches his attention. He...

The Three Sisters.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2006... The Three Sisters Three sisters in a tub. And I just scrubbed a foot, And I'm sure it was not mine. I do have too many sisters In a tub. Annika Conrick, Age 7 Texas

My World.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2006... My World I see friendship around me, Like a circle surrounding me. I hear the wind laughing like children. I can also feel the laughter. I love this world so much I want to feel it And hug it and kiss it....

We went out to sea.(Your Own Pages)
April 1, 2006... We went out to sea. Jalyn Rutledge, Age 6 Oregon [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Love.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2006... Love Have you ever Had a friend? A loving friend? Well, I had one Until she moved, And now My heart is broken. Bekah Greer, Age 8 Washington

My Dog.(Your Own Pages)
April 1, 2006... My Dog Alexandra Sobor, Age 7 Illinois [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Delaney's Kitten.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2006... Delaney's Kitten My little kitten loves to lick her fur, and when I pet her, she says purr. She likes to dance with me behind the trees. We watch out for beehives because they have bees! Delaney...

A Bike Poem.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2006... A Bike Poem Tall and thin, you become a part of it. Speeding down streets, never stopping, it is a joy! New or old, shiny or rusty, the fun never ends. Little kids admire it. Adults watch with...

Beautiful swans.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2006... Beautiful swans swim to the shore. Pink little flowers popping with joy, as I watch little tadpoles flutter through the water. Maggie Kuhn, Age 5 North Carolina

Fear Fought.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2006... Fear Fought As I dribble down the court, sweat devours me in one. When I reach the hoop, the game is almost done. Just when I get there, my knees lock. I am boiling like an egg in fear. What should I do? I...

Travis Diener.(Your Own Pages)
April 1, 2006... Travis Diener Stephen Schumaker, Age 12 Wisconsin [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The Bat.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2006... The Bat Flutter, flutter, fwat, fwat goes the flapping of the bat. A beautiful angel of the night, reaching a very great height. Amazing as they may seem, when some kids see bats, they scream. But there is...

Cityplace.
April 1, 2006... Cityplace Jordan Aliers, Age 9 Louisiana [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Birds.(Your Own Pages)
April 1, 2006... Birds Austin Nolfi, Age 8 Connecticut [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Describing Words.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2006... Describing Words Words are heavy, like big giant rocks. They are light, like a delicate leaf. Light words flow in the air. Big heavy words drop to the ground. Words express yourself. Words help you learn new...

Saturn.(Your Own Pages)
April 1, 2006... Saturn Maddie White, Age 4 Maryland [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Brain play.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Start at the beginning and see how far you can go, thinking of good answers from your own head. START Who has more teeth, you or a grown-up? Name some foods that crunch. Are there more places in your house for a hamster to...

Drawing from squiggles.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Here's a fun way to make a drawing. Draw a squiggly line on a piece of plain paper. Turn the paper around and upside down until you have an idea of something to draw. Use crayons or colored pencils to finish your picture.

Riddles.
April 1, 2006... 1 What do you call a baby deer that is eating grass? Ummeh Kashem, New York A fawn mower 2 Where do ghost go for a vacation? Sam and Lucy Lombardo, Gregoria Ghost-a Rica 3 Why can't a bicycle stand up on its own? ...

The best story ever.(story writing)
April 1, 2006... Meg ran home after school on Friday. She burst into her house and shouted, "Look--A+! Not just an A, an A+!" Meg waved her essay in front of her dad. "Mrs. Miller said I'm an excellent writer," Meg announced. "She said maybe I'll be an...

Pass the bickies, please: here's a cookie that lasts.(Australia and New Zealand Army Corps.)(Recipe)
April 1, 2006... American children call it a cookie. Children in Australia and New Zealand call this sweet treat a biscuit, or "bicky." ANZAC biscuits are a special kind of bicky. They are easy to make, delicious to eat, and have an unusual story. ANZAC is...

How do they know.(Dear Highlights)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Why do some people know what they want to be when they grow up when they are little and others have to wait until they are grown? Logan G., North Carolina That's a good question. People have different personalities. Some people like to...

Bites nails.(Dear Highlights)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... I have been biting my nails for three years. I can't give it up. Do you have any suggestions? Kaitlyn R., Pennsylvania You may not even be aware when you are biting your nails. Ask your family members to gently remind you whenever...

Where's the index.(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... Why do you not have an index in the back of your December issues of Highlights anymore? I saw them in older editions, Anna B., Texas You are right that we used to put an index in the December issue of Highlights, listing all of the...

A tip for falling asleep.(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... Every time I can't fall asleep, I close my eyes, get in a comfortable position, and count from one to "forever" in my mind. When you count, you can't think of anything except the number. The next morning when you wake up, you won't remember...

Picture puns.
April 1, 2006... What common word or phrase does each picture represent? 1 jeans 2 far here 3 meals snacking meals 4 play play play 5 through through 6 time time 7 RAIN 8 CALM 1. Blue jeans. 2. Far away from here....