Highlights for Children articles from August 2004

Highlights for Children archives from August 2004

A flamingo is a long cooooooooool drink of something pink.
August 1, 2004... A flamingo is a long cooooooooool drink of something pink [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

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

Dear readers.
August 1, 2004... How much do you think you have in common with a young girl living in the Amazon? Until I read "Judica's Jungle" in this month's issue (pages 8-9), I might have said, "Not very much." Now I know that South American kids living near the world's...

Butterfly puddles: give butterflies a place to find minerals they need. Then sit back and enjoy the show!(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Most kinds of butterflies get the liquid they need from flower nectar, so why do they sometimes swarm around damp spots? Perhaps you've seen butterflies clustered around a damp spot on a dirt path or road. Those butterflies aren't thirsty. They...

The Rooster and the Fox: based on a fable by Aesop.(Brief Article)(Short Story)
August 1, 2004... One evening Rooster flew up into a tree to sleep. He fluffed his feathers and flapped his wings three times. But just before he tucked his head under his wing, Rooster spotted a flash of red. It was moving behind the barn. He looked again...

Judica's jungle: every day is an adventure for Judica, who lives in a small Amazon village in South America.
August 1, 2004... Waking Up Stars fade in the purple morning light. The moon kisses the jungle's canopy, making room for the burning February sun. Urco Mirano, a little village in the Amazon, comes to life. The Amazon is the largest river in South...

The camping trip.
August 1, 2004... "May we go camping tonight?" asked A.J. "We can camp in our backyard," said Dad. A.J. helped Dad set up the tent in the backyard. They unrolled two sleeping bags. "Now we need a fire," said A.J. Dad lit a fire in the...

Penny puzzle.
August 1, 2004... Can you use nine pennies to cover all four lines? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Goofus and Gallant[R].
August 1, 2004... Goofus doesn't think of sharing. "Pull up a chair, Jorge. We can all move over to make room." "Hey! Your dog growled at me when I tried to pet him!" Gallant asks permission before petting someone's dog. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]...

King James and the peasant lad: a Scottish folktale.(Short Story)
August 1, 2004... James the Fifth, king of Scotland, often disguised himself and traveled about the land to see how the common people were treated. On one occasion, while alone and in the garb of a servant, he was assaulted by some highwaymen. Outnumbered,...

Art class.(Hidden Pictures[TM])
August 1, 2004... In this big picture find the canoe, comb, eyeglasses, golf club, leaf, toothbrush, ring, hammer, banana, mallet, nail, spoon, fork and lollipop. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

It's a jungle out there.(poem)(Poem)
August 1, 2004... It's a Jungle Out There I helped a hippopotamus To cross the street today. She didn't make a lot of fuss As we walked on our way. But when we got across the street The hippopotamus Said, "Thank you, dear,...

Riddles.
August 1, 2004... 1. What never asks questions but always gets answered? Tyger Davis, California 2. What are the two strongest days of the week? Alana Dettwiler, Montana 3. Why did the triangle jog around the block? Ryan Lanese, Arizona ...

My Little Sister.(poem)(Poem)
August 1, 2004... My Little Sister Her tiny fingers, her tiny toes, Her tiny little button nose, The way she laughs, the way she giggles, The way she lies in her crib and wiggles, The lovely melody her heart plays... I love my...

Long Island.(poem)(Poem)
August 1, 2004... Long Island Every long vacation I go to Long Island. We go to my grandma's house. When we walk in, we hear the dogs barking We smell the scent of homemade soup. We feel the warmth of our loved ones. We see the cat...

Raindrop.(Children's poem)(Poem)
August 1, 2004... Raindrop A raindrop is falling, falling, falling past clouds floating and insects scurrying for shelter but still falling, falling, falling past a tree branch so still and a bird resting on it but still...

Monkeys and Me.(Children's poem)(Poem)
August 1, 2004... Monkeys and Me I love monkeys! They are so cool. They love bananas. I love bananas! They have thumbs. I have thumbs! We have so much in common. Taylor Romero, Age 8 California

I Can Fly.(poem)(Poem)
August 1, 2004... I Can Fly Birds can fly Up in the sky And so can I But don't you try Only I can fly! Thomas Roelker, Age 8 Ohio

Summer.(poem)(Poem)
August 1, 2004... Summer We had a great day At the pool In the sun. Now it's time for bed Everyone. Sophie Simpson, Age 5 New Jersey

Bowl of Fruit.(Our Own Pages)
August 1, 2004... Bowl of Fruit [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Texas

Light and Hope in My Hands.(our own pages)(Poem)
August 1, 2004... Light and Hope in My Hands At dawn, I walk to the hilltop of Hope And watch the day bloom out its beauty. But I can't stay here; I'm traveling somewhere, With light and hope in my hands. Shela Gu,...

A Picture Inside a Picture Inside a Picture ...(Our Own Pages)
August 1, 2004... A Picture Inside a Picture Inside a Picture... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Alaska

The Moon.(poem)(Poem)
August 1, 2004... The Moon The moon is bright. It can help you with your frights. It shimmers in the darkness. The stars dance around it. Leah Boelkins, Age 6 Michigan

Male Peacock.(Our Own Pages)
August 1, 2004... Male Peacock [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Missouri

Changes.(poem)(Poem)
August 1, 2004... Changes When I moved to a different state, it seemed like it was fate-- moving away from my best friend, I thought my world was going to end. It was like a bird leaving its only nest, not knowing where...

Baseball.(poem)(Poem)
August 1, 2004... Baseball Ball one- That was fun. Strike one- I'm done. Fast ball-- We won! Oh no! I got out. Ball two. Oh, phew! Home run-- What? I'm out? They won? Jonathan Seguin,...

Ruff Moments.(Our Own Pages)
August 1, 2004... Ruff Moments [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] California

The Hungry Mahi-Mahi.(Our Own Pages)
August 1, 2004... The Hungry Mahi-Mahi [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hawaii

Outside.(poem)(Poem)
August 1, 2004... Outside the wind is blowing the trees. My teacher puts on soft music while I'm writing. And I stop-- and think-- and I have a word. My teacher comes over, and she reads my writing. ...

Electric Guitars.(Our Own Pages)
August 1, 2004... Electric Guitars [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Illinois

Take bearings for a spin: they're always going around, making things work better.
August 1, 2004... What makes in-line skates and skateboards so fast? Each wheel has something inside that lets it spin freely--a bearing. Bearings are not glamorous. They are tiny, simple in design, and rarely seen. But good bearings can make the difference...

Thinking.
August 1, 2004... * Which of these people could be someone's sister? Who might be a brother? An aunt? An uncle? A mother? A father? What other relations might these people be? * What does your family do to have fun together? * If you were going bowling,...

Who's that creepy crawler?(Short Story)
August 1, 2004... Something was eating my tomato plants. Holes in the tomato leaves told me a creepy crawler was hiding nearby. Under the leaves I found a huge worm! It was about four inches long and looked scary. Later I learned that the creepy crawler...

Jokes.
August 1, 2004... Camp counselor: "What are you taking home from camp--the train or the bus?" Camper: "I don't think either would fit through the door." Katie Baer, Missouri A sheep is boarding an airplane. Ticket agent: "Where are you going,...

Backward tic-tac-toe.
August 1, 2004... For a change of pace, try playing a game of tic-tac-toe in which the loser is the first to get three marks in a row. Remembering to avoid three marks in a row can be difficult.

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

The alligator race.(Short Story)
August 1, 2004... What was I doing here? And in a tournament, of all things! The Allie Pond Challenge was an annual water-sport competition for kids from all over town. My blooper had just cost us the Ring-Diving Contest. "Don't feel bad, Steve," Brian said...

The Timbertoes[R].
August 1, 2004... It was a hot day. "Let's go swimming," said Mabel. Pa brought a big ball. "Who wants to play catch?" Pa threw the ball to Mabel. Mabel threw it to Tommy. Tommy threw it to Ma. Oops! Ma missed. Pa swam after...

Looking up: my love of the cosmos grew and grew.(Flashbacks)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... When I was in elementary school, my teachers would always complain about my behavior in class. I had a lot of energy, and I was always talking with my classmates and occasionally not paying attention to the day's lesson. The comments on my...

Marathon man: an ancient legend inspired an Olympic champion.
August 1, 2004... In 1896, a young man from Greece named Spiridon Louis ran one of the most exciting footraces ever. Not much is known about Spiridon's early life. He was born in 1873 in a small house in the rocky hills above Athens. His father was a...

Crossing the river.
August 1, 2004... A man needed to take a fox, a goose, and a bag of corn across a river in a rowboat. The boat was big enough for only the man and one of his possessions at a time. If he left the goose and the corn together, the goose would eat the corn. If he...

"Wild" horse.(nature watch)
August 1, 2004... From the Roger Tory Peterson Institute Did You Know? At one time, horses were wild animals. People tamed them thousands of years ago, probably in Asia. Those are the kinds of horses we see most often today. Tame horses were brought to North...

For wee folks.
August 1, 2004... * Find the stages in the lives of these creatures. * How would you sort these items into two groups? How else could you sort them? * Which animals live alone? In a small group? In a large group? [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Missing mark.(Short Story)
August 1, 2004... "Who will take me to get ice cream when you're gone?" Ashley asked. She watched her big brother, Mark, lay a shirt in his suitcase. "Maybe Mom. She likes ice cream," Mark said. "Who will read me stories?" "Maybe Grandma. She's the...

Insect skin.(Science Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... We found the complete skin of a grasshopper. We can't find a tear in it. How did it shed its skin? Peter and Tasha Wyche, Ages 12 and 7 Kansas I asked my friend George Keeney at Ohio State University. He said that, actually, the...

That tickles!(Science Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... Why are some people ticklish and some people aren't? LaKeisha Taffe, Age 9 Ontario You are not likely to see a complete explanation of that, mostly because no one knows exactly what causes a tickle. It is believed to come from...

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

Mixed-up story.
August 1, 2004... Which happened first? Second? Third? Last? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The bravest thing.
August 1, 2004... * Singing a solo. * Sticking up for a friend. * Running in your first race. All of these things require courage. We want to know about the bravest thing you've ever done. In fewer than one hundred words, tell us what you did and...

Draw those stinky shoes.
August 1, 2004... What would you do if you were sent a pair of stinky sandals that were from 4,000 to 5,000 years old? Pam Headrick didn't turn up her nose. Instead, she drew them. "They still had the distinct odor of human feet!" she said. Clues in Ancient...

Caterpillar bookmark changes to a butterfly.(paper craft)
August 1, 2004... 1. From construction paper, cut out two identical butterfly shapes. Decorate them. Glue chenille-stick antennae on the back of one butterfly. 2. Position a 12-inch ribbon so that the top of the ribbon is under the antennae, and glue it...

This kitty puppet is sew cute!(puppet play)
August 1, 2004... 1. From craft foam, cut out two matching cathead shapes, two triangles for inside the cat's ears, and a heart for its nose. 2. For whiskers, use two 3-inch-long chenille sticks to sew the nose to one head shape, leaving the ends sticking...

A school of fish for your fingers.(puppet play)
August 1, 2004... 1. Cut two identical fish shapes out of construction paper, felt, or craft foam. 2. Glue the fish shapes together along the edges, leaving an opening at the bottom for your finger. 3. For eyes, glue on paper or felt circles, pompoms,...

A cool card for baseball fans.(you can make)
August 1, 2004... 1. For the shirt front, fold construction paper in half and draw half of a uniform shirt. Cut out the shirt, unfold it, and decorate the front. 2. To make the "body" of the card, cut a rectangle of construction paper that is no taller than...

Shake, rattle, and count!(You Can Make)
August 1, 2004... 1. Separately cover the inside bottom and the top of a small box with construction paper, gift wrap, or newspaper. Decorate the lid with craft foam. 2. Glue plastic caps on the inside bottom of the box. 3. Cut out small paper circles...

Aly's discovery.(Short Story)
August 1, 2004... Aly strolled toward the garden, where Miss Strawbridge, the landlady, knelt planting pansies. Last week, Aly and her parents had moved into the house trailer in Miss Strawbridge's backyard. Aly watched silently until the old woman looked up...

Baseball race.(Science Corner)
August 1, 2004... A machine pitches a baseball so that it starts out perfectly parallel to the ground. At the same instant, a girl drops another baseball from the same height. Which ball will hit the ground first? Both baseballs will hit the ground at the...

I wonder ... why the Moon stays close to Earth.(Science Corner)
August 1, 2004... The Moon is always trying to drift away, but it can't. It is held in a path around Earth by the force of gravity. That's the same force that acts on your body to keep your feet firmly on the ground.

Dinosaur days.(Science Corner)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Did dinosaurs have as many teeth as humans do? Colette and Mallory Verch, Ages 8 and 6 Michigan A typical adult human has 32 teeth. Some kinds of dinosaurs had more than that, and others had no teeth at all. Duck-billed dinosaur...

I'll huff and I'll puff ...(Science Corner)
August 1, 2004... Can you use your breath to tip over a hardcover book that's standing on one end? You can use other objects to help, as long as it's your breath that forces the book to tip over. We placed the end of a brown paper bag under the book. Then we...

Headwork.
August 1, 2004... Start at the beginning and see how far you can go, thinking of good answers from your own head. Which is longer, a minute or an hour? -- What might happen if you put a bee in your pocket? How do you know that you have a heart? --...

Lonely ballplayer.(Dear Highlights)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... I like baseball, but I have nobody to play with. What should I do? Joshua P., Ohio Because baseball is a group activity, it can be hard to get enough people together to play. But maybe you can get one or two others to play catch with...

What to play?(Dear Highlights)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... When we have Friday free time, my friends and I keep fighting over what game we want to play. What should I do? Jade M., Texas One way to solve a disagreement like this one is to take turns choosing. You could make a list of the games...

Seeing ourselves.(Dear Highlights)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... One of my friends is always talking about the mean things others do, but then she does them herself. I'm really puzzled. Ally M., California You have noticed an important thing about human beings. We often complain about some behavior...

Can't stop chewing.(Dear Highlights)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... I have a problem. I gnaw on erasers. Can you help me? Jake F., Florida Some people tend to chew on pencils, fingernails, and other things when they are nervous or bored. It becomes a habit, and soon the person isn't even aware that...

Tricks and teasers.
August 1, 2004... 1 Say the names pictured here. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2 What object is shown here up close and in silhouette? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 3 What is it? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 4 What is shown here? [ILLUSTRATION...