Highlights for Children articles from December 2007

Highlights for Children archives from December 2007

Santa Lucia Day.(Fun This Month)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In Sweden, December 13 honors the Catholic saint Lucia. In some towns, a girl leads a procession dressed as Lucia--in a white gown, with a crown of candles on her head. (For safety, the candles used now are often...

Who makes the shot?(Fun This Month)
December 1, 2007... These basketballs are wacky! Follow the path each ball takes to figure out which one makes it into the basket. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Mail to make the mouth water.(Fun This Month)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] How can you share your favorite treat with a faraway friend? Write a recipe on one side of a 4-inch-by-6-inch index card, stamp and address the other side, and pop your greeting in the mail. Encourage friends to...

5 ideas for December cheer.(Fun This Month)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... 1. Decorate gift bags with ribbons, cut paper, and bells. 2. Make a bird feeder to attract winter birds. 3. Organize a sing-along, using homemade instruments. 4. Write a silly holiday poem. S. Design a 2007 family "yearbook."

Mystery photo.(Fun This Month)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Can you identify the picture? Hint: December 11 is International Mountain Day. Mystery Photo You are looking down at moguls, or bumps, on a ski slope.

"The sleeping fox catches no poultry.".(Fun This Month)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] December 28 marks the 275th anniversary of the first issue of Poor Richard's Almanack, written by Benjamin Franklin. It included a calendar, weather information, advice on many topics, and witty sayings such as the...

Find the pictures.(Fun This Month)
December 1, 2007... Can you Find each oF these 10 pictures at another place in this magazine? [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Discover your world.(Dear Readers)
December 1, 2007... In our story "Not Another Candy Cane" (pages 36-37), Natalie doesn't care much for candy canes. I felt the same way when I was a kid. So when my Girl Scout leader planned a tour of a candy-cane factory, I wasn't very excited. The Factory...

The Stars.(Poem)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Stars The stars are lighted candles Upon a Christmas tree (The branches that they hang upon We cannot ever see) On Christmas Eve the angels stand About it after tea. And if an...

I could see it! I imagine the ball soaring through the air.(Short story)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's tough when your big brother is the best player on the varsity basketball team. Brad was All-Conference, All-State, and All-Everything at Lincoln High School. Reporters interviewed him after every game. Dad...

Goofus and Gallant[R].(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Goofus tunes people out. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "This wasn't on my list," says Goofus. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I felt like Goofus when I stayed up late on a school night." Kaylyn, Age 9,...

What am I?(riddles)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Example: I can show you how to get to your vacation destination. Fold me up and you might get lost. What am I? A map. 1. I am often made of wood and have three feet. can measure 36 inchworms. What am I? 2. I...

Ring roundup.
December 1, 2007... Count how many rings the rope goes through. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Five rings.

Adora Svitak: there's some of Goofus and Gallant in us all. When the Gallant shines through, we show our best self.(Gallant Kids)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... When eight-year-old Adora Svitak sits down at a computer keyboard, her fingers fly. Typing 60 words a minute, she writes down the stories that swirl in her head. But Adora doesn't keep her love of stories to herself. She shares it with kids all...

Window shopping.(test)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Two presents appear in all four windows. Can you Find them? The cowboy boots and goldfish bowl. Wow! You should buy that. We'll see. I want to get nice gift for my family first.

Head-to-toe matchup.(body parts)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Which part of the body fits each description below? Example: A cob of corn. Ear. 1. The side of the road. 2. What holds up a table. 3. The end of the bed. 4. The long, narrow part of a bottle. 5. Where you put thread...

Curve like the animals.(animal movements)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Imitating two desert animals with curves in their backs is not only fun--it will help keep your back flexible and strong. Follow these guidelines: * Don't practice right after eating. * Move into each pose slowly. Hold it as long...

Zachary's menorah.(Short story)
December 1, 2007... At the Levine house, each of the children had made a menorah for the first night of Hanukkah. There was Howard's menorah made of wood, Mark's menorah made of clay, and Josh's menorah made of tin foil. But where was Zachary's menorah? ...

Cookie cutters.(Hidden Pictures[R])(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In this big picture, find the nail, sailboat, pencil, needle, baseball bat, ruler, heart, leaf, bell, bat, toothbrush, candle, button, caterpillar, butterfly, snake, and drinking straw. Can you find these Hidden...

Jokes.
December 1, 2007... A book never written: The History of Tag by U.R. It. Gabriela Valenzuela, New Jersey A man walks into a railroad station and asks the ticket agent, "May I have a round-trip ticket, please?" The ticket agent asks, "Where to?" And the...

Snowy Coaster Ride.(Poem)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Snowy Coaster Ride Whirling, twirling, Snowflakes swirling. Dipping, tipping, Cold wind whipping. Bumping, thumping, Sometimes jumping. Slipping, sliding, Downhill gliding. ...

Hay holiday.(Ask Arizona)(tardiness)(Brief article)(Column)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Arizona, Things always take longer than I expect, so I end up turning in stuff late. People get mad, but I can't help it. What should I do? --Late in Louisiana Dear Late, I know what you mean...

What would you take to outer space?
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Imagine that you're going to live on a space station for a year, and you can take along only what fits in your backpack. What would you bring with you? Books, games, pictures of friends? You decide! (Clothes and...

You helped the cartoonists!
December 1, 2007... "So, your dog ate your report on bones?" Hunter Armstrong, Age 10 Iowa "Spot says it needs more salt." Sammy Morrow, Age 10 Indiana "It seems that your dog is suffering from yellow-Book pageria." Victor Nguyen,...

Brighten someone's holiday with a nice note.(Crafts)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... 1. To make a pattern, draw a light-bulb or candle shape on cardboard. Cut it out. Trace the shape onto different colors of construction paper, and cut them out. Punch a hole in each. 2. Cut a long piece of thread and tie the bulbs or...

Make music with a tambourine.(Crafts)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... 1. With an adult's help, cut off the bottom of an empty oatmeal container 11/2 inches above the base. Use the bottom section and the lid for the tambourine. 2. Glue construction paper to the lid and to the bottom and sides of the...

Make a picture keepsake for your family.(Crafts)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. For each frame, cut a 4-inch square from poster board. Cut a 2-inch square from the center of each. 2. Select a family picture for each frame, and glue each in place. 3. Punch a hole at the top of each...

Play: scrambled legs!(Crafts)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... 1. For dice, use two 1-inch wooden blocks. On the six sides of one block, use a marker to write left hand, left foot, right hand, right foot, any hand, and any foot. On the other block, draw an ant, a caterpillar, a ladybug, a spider, a...

An ice-skate bookmark for a friend.(Crafts)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. Cut a 3-inch square from cardboard. Trim it to form an ice-skate boot. Trace the boot onto two folded pieces of felt, with the bottom of the boot lined up on the fold. Cut them out, but don't cut along the fold....

Hanukkah place cards for your guests.(Crafts)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... 1. For each place card, cut a 3-inch-by-5inch rectangle from blue card-stock. Fold it in half, then fold another half inch on each end for the card's base. 2. Lay each card flat. Use a gold or silver pen or marker to draw a Star of David...

What's for dinner after dark?(night animals)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lots of animals are awake at night. They are nocturnal. These animals use amazing senses to find food in the dark. Some animals hunt at night to avoid competing with daytime hunters. Some animals use the cover of...

Thinking.(Kwanzaa celebration)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... There's a lot going on at this Kwanzaa celebration. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Kwanzaa celebrates African American heritage. In what ways is African culture represented here? * How can people learn more about their heritage? *...

Dino days.(questions about dinosaurs)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Why was Xiaosaurus so small? Jack McCormack, Age S New York It's hard to say why any dinosaur grew large or small. Xiaosaurus (ZHOW-saw-rus) was certainly small for a dinosaur. It was less than four feet long. Microraptor...

I saw so many!(Science Corner)
December 1, 2007... Why are there so many different kinds of saws? Think of your own best answer. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

The brightest spots.(Science Corner)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Guess which window in your home lets in the brightest light. Check each window at different times to see if your guess was right.

I wonder ... how polar bears swim in cold water.(Science Corner)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Polar bears are so well insulated that they barely feel the cold. They have two layers of fur and a thick layer of fat that keep their bodies from losing heat.

Christmas shelter.(Short story)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Will you come, Lisha?" asked Cielo at recess. "We always had posadas back in Mexico during the week before Christmas. Now we're having a posada here in Phoenix. Mama said I could invite a friend, and you're my best...

Handy.(Creatures: Nobody Has Ever Seen!)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Handy He flies around the world finding people who need an extra pair of hands. He meets nice people who help him by giving him food. He's always a welcome friend. If you need an extra pair of hands, you know...

Scizzie.(Creatures: Nobody Has Ever Seen!)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Scizzie Scizzie cuts hedges on the planet Hedge. His favorite hobbies are gardening and brushing his moustache. Halley Dilworth, Age 9 Ohio

Yard cat.(Creatures: Nobody Has Ever Seen!)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Yard Cat If you love to measure, you're in luck. The yard cat is brown because it will blend into the fences. It has a blue tail because it loves to swim, green legs to blend in with the grass, and large eyes...

Munchinmuchcrunch.(Creatures: Nobody Has Ever Seen!)(children;s humor on homework)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Munchinmuchcrunch This animal searches at night for finished homework that is not put away in students' backpacks. It grows bigger with each homework paper that it eats. It will be true when you tell your teacher that this animal ate your...

Super grapefruit.(Creatures: Nobody Has Ever Seen!)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Super, Grapefruit Super Fruit can fly and save people. Super Fruit is vitamin C. Super Fruit has to keep everybody healthy. Ethan Goldring, Age 8 New Jersey

Wheely.(Creatures: Nobody Has Ever Seen!)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Wheely When cars break down and their wheels fall off, Wheely will go and hook himself on the car and help it drive back to its own home. Wheely is from Planet Wheelmo. He has braces and goes one million miles per hour. Wheely is very...

Robguin.(Creatures: Nobody Has Ever Seen!)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Robguin A robguin is a combination of a robin and a penguin. It turns snowflakes into sunshine, and at night it turns the snow into moonlight. Liliana Ward, Age 6 New York Can you think of a...

The fox and the crow.(Short story)
December 1, 2007... A crow found a piece of cheese and flew up into a tall tree. But before the crow could eat the cheese, a hungry fox came by. "My!" said the fox slyly. "What a fine crow you are! Your feathers shine like the sun. Your wings are...

My dog, Quincy.(Your Own Pages)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] My Dog, Quincy Matthew Carlson, Age 7 Colorado

The Night Sky.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
December 1, 2007... The Night Sky Stars, stars in the night sky. I see Venus, and Saturn says "Hi!" Constellations are the drawings of stars. There are more planets, like nearby Mars. The planets, the moons, and...

A soccer player.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Soccer Player Esteban Tamayo, Age 9 Texas

Gymnastics.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
December 1, 2007... Gymnastics In gymnastics I flip through the air, like water in the ocean, evaporating and falling as rain back in the ocean. I fall in the pit and start all over again. Ethan Bond, Age 6 Illinois...

Sister, Sister, Where Are You Hiding?(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
December 1, 2007... Sister, Sister, Where Are You Hiding? Sister, Sister, My little sister, Oh, where are you hiding? Are you in the doorway? Or Dad and Mom's room? Or the bathroom? Or our room? I hear talking in our...

The marching band.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Marching Band Ana Maria Moran, Ate S South Carolina

Treasure.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
December 1, 2007... Treasure Hiding in an oyster lies a treasure from the sea, white and shiny. How do you make such beautiful jewelry? Valencia Fu, Age 7 Maryland

Sparky and Yoyo.(Your Own Page)(Poem)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sparky and Yoyo Kendra Tracy, Age 12 California

In the Outfield.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
December 1, 2007... In the Outfield Hey, batter, look at me. I'm bored as a tree. Hey, batter, hit that ball, Because I'm not having any fun. That's all. Katherine Hoover, Age 9 Mississippi [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Owen...

Sewing Box.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
December 1, 2007... Sewing Box My lemon-yellow sewing box holds all sorts of things with which to measure and to stitchrulers, needles, strings. A spool of thread so small and thin that it is barely seen, a folding metal...

IF I Were a Tree.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
December 1, 2007... IF I Were a Tree If I were a tree... I could be tall, I could be strong, I could be a shadow to people. Promotto Islam, Age 5 Virginia

I Like School.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
December 1, 2007... I Like School I like school! It's so cool. I use glue sticks. They are so fun. We glue the paper and then we're done! I read and write with all my might. I draw pictures with delight! ...

Secret.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
December 1, 2007... Secret Floating around like a comet in space, trying to keep others from knowing about it. It is unprotected. A sitting duck, hoping not to be caught. Day after day it roams, with more and more people...

Life.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
December 1, 2007... Life Life is like a butterfly, gliding gently in the sky. Sometimes life is a cherry pie, sweet and sour, warm but shy. Life is like a volleyball; sometimes you're up, sometimes you fall. Life can be...

Catching Andromeda's light.(Andromeda Galaxy and Milky Way)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Andromeda Galaxy is the closest giant galaxy to our own. By observing Andromeda, astronomers have learned a lot about our Galaxy, the Milky Way. A Spiral Galaxy In 1887, Isaac Roberts, an astronomer in...

Why do diamonds sparkle?(Science Letters)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Diamonds are made out of the element carbon. But many other things, such as coal and charcoal, are also made of carbon. They do not sparkle. In a diamond, each carbon atom is bonded to four other carbons, and...

Why do cats always land on four legs?(Science Letters)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... All big animals have very fast systems of nerves, called reflexes. One of these reflex systems works to balance the body and keep it upright. Animals use it when they walk. Cats have an unusually good balancing reflex. If a cat starts to...

What are bones made out of?(Science Letters)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Like all parts of the body, bones are made up of cells. These building blocks of living tissue are so tiny that we need a microscope to see them. Each one is a pocket of living matter. A cell can grow and split into...

The Timbertoes[R].(Poem)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A blanket of white, [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] a spin on the lake, [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] a slide clown the hill, [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] a lacy snowflake. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Not another candy cane.(Short story)
December 1, 2007... Not another candy cane, thought Natalie. But it was! Mrs. Orman, Natalie's piano teacher, took a candy cane from a jar on top of the piano. "Merry Christmas, Natalie," she said. "Merry Christmas, Mrs. Orman. Thank you for the candy cane."...

A Hanukkah Game.(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Hanukkah Game Come and play with dreidels, Little tops that spin. Nun means you get nothing; Gimel means you win. Nun: Do Nothing Gimel: Win All

Riddles.(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... (1) "What is an elf's favorite type of music? Ezra Duran-Gracia California (2) Why is a giraffe a bad dinner guest? Emma Rhodes, Virginia (3) What did the doctor say to the frog? (4) What kind of jokes do farmers tell? ...

Your best self.
December 1, 2007... Wow! You should buy that. We'll see. I want to get nice gifts for my family first. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Brain play.(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Start at the beginning and see how far can go, thinking of good answer from your own head. START [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What goes into socks? Which takes longer to eat, a bite of apple or the whole apple? Which of these...

Unfolding fairy tales: whipping out his giant pair of scissors, Hans Christian Andersen cut and snipped folded paper to create elves, fairies, and animals of all kinds.
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Most people know Danish storyteller and writer Hans Christian Andersen for his fairy tales. "The Little Mermaid" and "The Ugly Duckling" are among the popular tales he wrote. Few, however, know how much he also...

Dear Highlights.(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2007... My family is going to Mexico in December, but I don't want to go because I don't want to miss school. What should I do? Lupita (by e-mail) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Perhaps it would help to look at all the positive reasons for going...

Picture puzzler.(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... In this bean--whoops! we mean "scene"--at least ten items have been replaced by a rhyming item. For example, a hat on the man in the portrait has been replaced by a cat. How many replacement can you identify? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...