Highlights for Children articles from April 2007

Highlights for Children archives from April 2007

Kite-astrophe!(Fun This Month)
April 1, 2007... The wind has whisked away every kite in the kite-flying contest. Can you find them all?

Find the pictures.(Fun This Month)
April 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

April 27 is Arbor Day.(Fun This Month)
April 1, 2007... April 27 is Arbor Day, and it's all about planting and caring for trees. Match each to its leaf, then find America's national tree. Arbor Day Redwood Kapok Palm Maple America's national tree is hiding inside KAPOK: oak. ...

Try this "ribbing" tongue twister!(Fun This Month)
April 1, 2007... Reading frogs fables.

How to be a nature detective.(Fun This Month)
April 1, 2007... 1. Go outside. 2. Wear green and blend into the trees. 3. Listen in on animal conversations. 4. Peer under leaves and rocks to discover what is hiding. 5. Spot a critter for each letter of the alphabet.

"Shubho nobo borsho!(Fun This Month)
April 1, 2007... On April 14, the people of Bangladesh--a country tucked between India and the Bay of Bengal--celebrate the new year.

Peanut Butter Jar.(Poem)
April 1, 2007... Peanut Butter Jar There's nothing sadder than being a kid, Straining against a too-tight lid. I grabbed on hard, my fingers slid Till... Phew! I got that lid undid. --Barbara Kerley

Making Discoveries.(Dear Readers)
April 1, 2007... Once, on a hike, I found a small Fossil. It showed a clear impression of some kind of fern. I remember turning the rock over and over in my hands, marveling at this souvenir of a time long ago. But imagine how exciting it would be to find...

Matzo ball soup.(Poem)
April 1, 2007... Matzo Ball Soup All alone or with a group I love eating matzo ball soup. I will beg, cajole, or stoop To be near my matzo ball soup. Made From matzo, tastes good hotza. Watch me slurp it, swallow, burp it. ...

Bedbug battles.(Ask Arizona)
April 1, 2007... Dear Arizona, I keep having the same nightmare. It's gotten so bad that I'm afraid to go to sleep! How can I turn my bad dreams.... into good ones? --Sleepless Dear Sleepless, I am so sorry for you. Nightmares are the worst....

Goofus and Gallant[R].
April 1, 2007... "Forget it. We'll never at this team," says Goofus. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gallant always gives his best effort. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Goofus doesn't hold the door for other. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Here you go,"...

Fresh-fruit hunt.
April 1, 2007... Find the hidden fruit in each sentence. Example: My sweet tooth makes me long for candy. 1. Kate and Penelope are best friends. 2. Eli meant to water the plants, but he forgot. 3. Please stamp each envelope now. 4. Waikiki...

Penny puzzle.
April 1, 2007... Place six pennies in two columns as shown in the picture. Put them in a circle in only three moves, Move only one coin at a time. After the move, the coin moved must be touching two other coins. ANSWERS: "Penny Puzzle" (page 8) ...

Seeing the Last Supper for the first time.
April 1, 2007... A few years back, I walked into an old church dining hall and beheld an artistic masterpiece--a large mural that had recently been restored and was now ready for all to see. For more than 500 years, Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper in Santa...

Lucy's puppy: needed: a perfect name for a puppy.(Short story)
April 1, 2007... "Here you go, Lucy," said Dr. Brennan. "One basset hound." Before I could say "Thank you," my older brother, John, and his friends were on the vet's floor, playing with my bouncy baby. "This is the puppy's family history," Dr. Brennan...

Science corner.
April 1, 2007... Flip a Switch Each of these switches turns on a different number of lights. With permission, see which switches in your home turn on the most lights. I wonder... why giraffes are so tall. Giraffes are the world's tallest animals....

Dino days.(tyrannosaurus rex)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... How can you tell if T. rex was a boy or girl? Chance Mork, Age 13 Texas Some scientists think the shape of little bones at the base of T. rex's tail is a sign. The females might have had wider bones that allowed tbr eggs to pass. But...

April foolery: what better way to enjoy April Fools's Day (on April 1) than with an upside-down, turned-around, backward celebration? Here are some ideas to get your family started.(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... DECORATE! Hang a variety of holiday decorations, such as a "Happy New Year!" banner with the wrong year on it, holiday lights strung on a houseplant, and birthday balloons. Or use items that have little or nothing to do with holidays, such...

Sack race.(Hidden Pictures[R])
April 1, 2007... In this big picture, Find the muffin, banana, flying disc, crescent moon, paper airplane, tack, heart, slice of cake, Fish, bowl, sock, artist's brush, snake, shoe, wishbone, boomerang, leaf, mushroom, sailboat, Fishhook, and pennant. ...

Jokes.
April 1, 2007... Waiter: "What can I get for you?" Customer: "A salad." Waiter: "With pleasure." Customer: "No, with dressing, please." Star Jasmine, Texas "Knock, knock." "Who's there?" "Repeat." "Repeat who?" "Who,...

April Snow.
April 1, 2007... April Snow By Vijaya Khisty Bodach Blow, Wind, blow. Make cherry blossoms snow On clean, fresh clothes.

What dinosaurs left behind: fossil footprints led two boys to a big discovery.
April 1, 2007... In the summer of 2000, two Canadian boys had the adventure of a lifetime. As 8-year-old Daniel Helm and 11-year-old Mark Turner of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, rafted down a local creek, they saw a trail of evenly spaced depressions in the...

Does sound travel in space?(Science Letters)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Can a voice get loud enough and high enough that a glass can break? Patterson, Nicole Age 9 Ohio The answer is yes. The idea is that the singing voice would create sound waves that make the sides of the glass bend back and forth so far...

Check ... and double check.
April 1, 2007... There are at least fourteen differences in these two pictures. How many can you find? [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

The best Easter basket ever.(Short story)
April 1, 2007... Mom helped Sara plant grass seeds in a flowerpot. "The grass will grow in time for Easter," Morn said. "We can color eggs to put in it." "This will be a pretty Easter decoration," Sara said. She hung the flowerpot on the porch. ...

An Angel.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2007... An Angel She crosses the sky in a dark carriage pulled by flashing horses, drummers pounding their giant drums. Everyone hurries inside. A thousand angel tears, which no one can dodge. A rainbow...

King James.(Your Own Pages)
April 1, 2007... King James Jonathan Summers, Age 8 Pennsylvania [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The Field.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2007... The Field Behind my house lies a field where I go exploring for people's lost treasures. I love to be there so much. I could spend the whole day walking and watching the horses play. I feel I'm in my own...

My Mom.(Your Own Pages)
April 1, 2007... My Mom Medha Jasthi, Age 5 Arizona [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

When I Play My Violin.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2007... When I Play My Violin My violin is a living thing. When I play it, my bow willingly flies across the strings. The wood turns alive, like it was, once, under the blue sky. The notes have feelings, a...

Black Cat.(Your Own Pages)
April 1, 2007... Black Cat Hannah Hartwell, Age 4 California [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The Mystery of Light.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2007... The Mystery of Light Today, I'm a poem of the mystery of light. Tomorrow, a brave, clear sun that seeks a fancy garden filled with hibiscus and bougainvillea. Once I dreamt of tender anthuriums that...

Hot-Air Ballon Ride.
April 1, 2007... Hot-Air Ballon Ride Pennington, Age 6 Colorado [ILLUSTRATION OMMITED]

Sri Lanka Summer Vacation.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2007... Sri Lanka Summer Vacation I was in Sri Lanka at summertime. The crows begin to caw every morning. And every day different types of birds also begin to sing. The cows are calling calves. The flowers are blooming in...

My Band.(Your Own Pages)
April 1, 2007... My Band Khalil Lockhart, Age 9 North Carolina [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The Wind.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2007... The Wind The shrill wind Shivered in the mountains And pierced the air, Stinging the trembling leaves. It chills me to the bone, Like needles piercing my skin. Jeff Kang, Age 13 Korea

Sir Isaac Newton.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2007... Sir Isaac Newton Sir Isaac sat out by the sea, Underneath an apple tree. When--plop an apple fell on his head. "Wow," he said. "For a couple of days I'll be in bed!" Then he thought, "What made this apple fall? ...

I Am a Walrus.(Your Own Pages)
April 1, 2007... I Am a Walrus Yossi Mordecai, Age 6 California [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Dragon.(Your Own Pages)
April 1, 2007... Dragon Michael Jung, Age 7 British Columbia [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Two little bubbles.(Your Own Pages)
April 1, 2007... Two little bubbles In my tub. One popped, two popped, No more fun. Mercedes Tomic, Age 8 Chile

Springtime.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2007... Springtime Spring! Spring! How I love spring! I looked at the sky blue and clouds white. I see the sun happily shining bright. Its rays shine down all around the ground. Jonathan Curtis, Age 8 Ohio...

Busy on the Farm.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
April 1, 2007... Busy on the Farm I'm busy, busy on the farm. I have no time to play. The pigs and cows all need their food The chickens have eggs to lay. I need to mow the lawn and yard, To feed the goats and sheep. I'm...

A day in the life of a zookeeper.(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... I am a service volunteer at the San Antonio Zoo. My job is to help the zookeepers with their daily work. From 7 A.M. to 4 P.M., we are busy with the animals. To keep the animals happy and healthy, we do many of the things you might do for your...

Sticker story.
April 1, 2007... "Let's read a book," Corey said. "We have read all of our books," said Katie. "But I have an ideal!" Katie got a box of stickers and some paper from her desk. "We will make our own book," she said. "Pick out any stickers you like and stick...

Thinking: these people are keeping the Earth beautiful.
April 1, 2007... Who is lifting somethincj heavy? Who is lifting something light? How can you tell? Which people are working in a group? Which people are working alone? Where have you seen litter in your community? How can you help keep...

The apple-pie monster: the monster wanted an apple pie every day.(Short story)
April 1, 2007... "AAARRGGHH!!!" roared the terrible monster. All of Apple Valley trembled. The townspeople were terrified of the monster, for he had threatened to gobble them up if they ever failed to give him an apple pie a day. Day after day, the...

Animal Storm.(Poem)
April 1, 2007... Animal Storm Be careful of the storm out there! It's raining cats and dogs-- And elephants and penguins, too, And monkeys, pigs, and frogs. There are horses, bears, giraffes-- All falling from the sky. And...

Shamus, Megan, and Molly Carroll: there's some of Goofus and Gallant in us all. When the Gallant shines through, we show our best self.(Gallant Kids)
April 1, 2007... During Fire Prevention Week. kids often meet firefighters, see the insides of fire trucks, and talk about fire safety. At a school in northeastern Pennsylvania, Megan Carroll, age 9, learned about making an escape plan in case of fire. ...

A giraffe will hold your pencils.(Crafts)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... 1. Glue yellow felt around a clean, empty tin can with no sharp edges. Glue on brown-felt spots and two black-felt lines (to divide the legs). For hooves, glue a black-felt rim along the bottom of the can. 2. Cut two matching head shapes...

A message minder can remind you.(Crafts)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... 1. Paint a metal jar lid, and let it dry. 2. Measure and cut ribbon long enough to circle the lid once and form a loop to fit over a doorknob. 3. Glue the ribbon along the edge of the lid. Make the loop and glue the end of the ribbon...

Play tabletop egg hunt.(Crafts)
April 1, 2007... 1. Cut twelve pictures from old magazines. 2. Glue each picture to a piece of heavy paper. 3. Draw an egg shape on a piece of heavy paper, then cut it out. Trace that egg onto each magazine picture. Cut out the eggs. 4. On the back...

Make a pretty Easter basket.(Crafts)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... 1. With an adult's help, cut a 2-liter bottle five inches from the bottom. (You will use the bottom part.) 2. Cut two-inch slits all the way around the top edge. Bend back the tabs as shown. 3. Glue strips of colored paper to decorate...

Design a home.(Crafts)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... 1. Make two folds in a piece of heavy paper so that the two sides meet in the center. 2. Trim the top to form a roof, as shown. 3. Decorate the outside of your house. 4. Open the flaps, and use a pencil to divide the house into...

Create your own finger-puppet zoo!(Crafts)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... 1. Cut two pieces of felt into matching animal shapes. 2. Glue the shapes together around the sides. Leave the bottom open. 3. Use markers, yarn, paper, craft foam, and wiggle eyes to create the face and body. 4. Repeat to make as...

Dance of a thousand years: it's April! It's New Year's! It's time to dance!
April 1, 2007... "Sou Sdey Chhnam Thmei!" Channa Sath says to Monica Veth, wishing her a happy New Year in their native Khmer. Khmer is the name for the Cambodian language, but it is also the word for Cambodian people. Channa and Monica are Cambodian...

Riddles.
April 1, 2007... (1) What wakes up a rooster? Jeremy Pentsil, Maryland (2) How do cows travel to the moon? Marguerite Stewart, Texas (3) Why did the orange roll only halfway down the hill? Zachary Peters, Pennsylvania (4) Why didn't...

Tongue twisters.
April 1, 2007... An ape ate an apple appetizer. Ingrid Pelletier, Age 9 Washington Mike made marshmallows with marmalade and maybe even milk. Jordan Garcia, Age 9 Illinois

Your best self.
April 1, 2007... Here's the book I borrowed. Thanks for returning it. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Picking pets.
April 1, 2007... Toby, Kara, Hope, and Leon went to the pet store together. Each took home a different kind of pet: turtle, hamster, lizard, or kitten. Using these clues, can you figure out which pet each friend took home? No person picked a pet with the...

The Timbertoes[R].(Comic)(Cartoon)
April 1, 2007... "Look at this sign," said Tommy. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Let's follow it," said Mabel. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I'd better come, too," said Ma. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The sign pointed to the woods. [ILLUSTRATION...

Bear hits a home run.(Short story)
April 1, 2007... Swish! Bear swung the bat so hard that he twirled in a circle. But he still missed the baseball. It landed in Raccoon's glove. She was the catcher. "I see the problem," said Raccoon. "Point your feet at the plate and bend your knees." Then...

Brain play.
April 1, 2007... Start at the beginning and see how far you can go, thinking of good answers from your own head. START Tell a difference between an umbrella and a hat. Are words made up of letters or numbers? Where might you see whiskers? ...

Matching.
April 1, 2007... Look at each shirt on the left. Find one like it on the right. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The Oak Hotel.(Poem)
April 1, 2007... The Oak Hotel By Clare Mishica Beneath the roots of our old oak, a mouse curls up to nap and rest, and in the branches high above, a blue jay builds her cozy nest. Upon the bark all gray and brown, a moth is...

Night watch.(Short story)
April 1, 2007... Alan and the other campers sat around the fire chewing meat chops. It would be Alan's first night in a tent, and he was excited, if a little nervous. As they ate, the conservation officer spoke. "Much of the wildlife in this area comes out...

Dear highlights.
April 1, 2007... I worry way too much about things I have done. Can you help? Jillian R., North Carolina Some people find it helpful to keep a journal in which they write down things that are on their minds. You can say to yourself: "I will write down...

Picture puzzler.
April 1, 2007... Find your way through the Imagination Constellations from "start" to "finiah"--but be sure to avoid the satellites and asteroids along the way. Then solve the word puzzlers. Riddle 1: What do you call an almond on a spaceship? Are...

What's wrong?
April 1, 2007... How many silly things can you find in this picture? ANSWERS: There are more blue (hotter) stars. Riddles: 1. An astro-nut. 2. You rocket (rock it). 3. At a parking meteor. 4. unidentified Frying Objects (UFOs). The scrambled...