Highlights for Children articles from February 2003

Highlights for Children archives from February 2003

Waiting.
February 1, 2003... Waiting Dreaming of honeycombs to share With her small cubs, a mother bear Sleeps in a snug and snowy lair. Bees in their drowsy, drifted hive Sip hoarded honey to survive Until the flowers come alive. ...

I've been a fan of the Flashbacks feature in this magazine since it began.(Editorial)
February 1, 2003... I've been a fan of the Flashbacks feature in this magazine since it began. I especially like Janet Evans's piece on page 9 of this issue. Janet gives us a nugget that can apply to all of our pursuits: believe in yourself; do not be intimidated....

How bread gets full of holes. (Try This!).
February 1, 2003... Bread is full of something we don't usually pay for: holes. In fact, the more little holes there are in a slice of bread, the more we like it. After all, holes make the bread light and fluffy. How does bread get so many holes inside it?...

The prize.(Short Story)
February 1, 2003... Blake guided his dogsled past us toward the starting chute. Thor, his black lead dog, lunged and snarled at Kenai. Thor was a little too wild for my liking, but he was good. Almost as good as Kenai. I knelt down to pat Kenai. My hands shook...

For wee folks.
February 1, 2003... * Which might live in your home? * Which might live in a barn? * Which might live in the wild? * Who is happy? * Who is sad? * Who is sleepy? * Which taste sweet? * Which taste sour? * Which taste spicy?

How to beat the unbeatable. (Flashbacks).
February 1, 2003... I had just turned seventeen the week before I swam in my first Olympics, in Seoul, South Korea, in 1988. I was five feet one and about 95 pounds--the smallest swimmer in the competition. At the time, the East Germans had been dominating in...

Groundhog day.
February 1, 2003... A furry little groundhog went to fetch his Daily News, Saw a shady character and jumped out of his shoes! He scurried back inside his hole and in the headlines read: "Bundle Up, for Six More Weeks of Winter Lie Ahead."

Goofus and gallant[R].
February 1, 2003... "I'm not eating that! Cook me a hot dog instead." Gallant eats a variety of foods, even if they aren't his favorites. Goofus spreads rumours. Gallant doesn't repeat unkind things he hears about people. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Better than ever.(Short Story)
February 1, 2003... "My jeans have a hole in the knee," said Carlos. "I can't wear them anymore." "We'll fix them," said Mom. "First, I need a square." Carlos cut a square from cloth. Mom sewed the square over the hole. "Next I need a triangle," she said. ...

Painting hope.(Jacob Lawrence )
February 1, 2003... Thirteen-year-old Jacob Lawrence stood shyly in a doorway in the Harlem section of New York City. It was 1930, and his family had just moved to Harlem from Philadelphia. Jacob looked out at the crowds of people. Harlem was so big, so...

Hidden pictures[TM]: lunch for spot.
February 1, 2003... In this big picture find the ghost, hat, paintbrush, crescent moon, ice-cream cone, flashlight, pie, tea bag, ring, mallet, tack, needle, lollipop, crown, cap, pennant, toothbrush, and snake. Can you find these Hidden Pictures[TM] on...

Have a laugh.
February 1, 2003... A man bought a parrot at an auction after some spirited bidding. "I hope this bird can talk," the man said to his friend. "Talk?" said the friend. "He's been bidding against you all this time!"

Riddles.
February 1, 2003... 1. When is a dog's tail like a farmer's cart? Katrina Schultes, Montana 2. What are the solar system's three favorite days of the week? Talia Burton, Arkansas 3. What happened to the eel that got loose in the mall? ...

Everella's wand.(Short Story)
February 1, 2003... Once upon a time there was a fairy named Everella. After many failed attempts, she finally passed the wand test and was given her own wand. "Prettier than a peppermint stick!" said Everella. Her wand was long and straight and shiny, and it...

I wonder ... why pigs roll in mud. (Science Corner).
February 1, 2003... On hot days, pigs can't cool off by sweating the way people do. Their skin cannot make very much sweat. But mud cools their bodies. It also protects against sunburn. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Raise your hand. (Science Corner).
February 1, 2003... Let one hand hang down and raise your other hand over your head for about fifteen seconds. Then put the two next to each other. Why is one hand a different color from the other? ANSWERS: Raise Your Hand More blood collects in the...

What will happen? (Science Corner).
February 1, 2003... Through siphon A, gravity is drawing water from the first glass into the second. Siphon B is empty. Where will the water be when the siphoning stops? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ANSWERS: Siphon B cannot draw water into the third glass...

Dinosaur days. (Science Corner).
February 1, 2003... Can you train a dinosaur? Amanda Bushong, Age 11 Oregon If you trained a Brachiosaurus (BRACK-ee-uh-SAW-rus), you could ride it and be taller than your school. And if dinosaurs could be housebroken, your parents would be happy that no...

A valentine by very special delivery: how do you deliver a valentine to a sick friend?
February 1, 2003... Mom! Look at the pretty balloon and all the valentines I got!" called Ann as she rushed into the apartment. "They're beautiful," said Mom. "Did you enjoy the party at school?" "Yes," said Ann. "But I'm sorry Tina had to miss it. I...

Baby-sitting for the Lincolns: as a teenager, Julia Taft took care of Tad and Willie Lincoln and her brothers at the White House.
February 1, 2003... When Abraham Lincoln and his family moved into the White House in March 1861, they knew few people in Washington, D.C. The young Lincoln boys, Willie (ten) and Tad (seven), were particularly lonely. They had left all of their friends behind in...

Fox and the chickadees.
February 1, 2003... One cold morning Fox opened his refrigerator. "Yuck! Just stale bread and an old stalk of celery. Maybe Bear is cooking something good." He thought of Bear's specialties--apple pie, chocolate pudding, honey-nut cupcakes. "Maybe he will...

Dogs' belly buttons. (Science Letters).
February 1, 2003... Do dogs have belly buttons? Jessica Henderson, Age 8 Ohio I am sure they do. But now that you ask, I realize I have not often seen them. Most dogs have enough fur that it's hard to find their belly buttons. If you have a dog that...

Cloud shapes. (Science Letters).
February 1, 2003... Why are most clouds flat on the bottom? Chuck Pargett, Age 12 California I think you are talking about the puffy cumulus clouds, which have interesting shapes above and are flat on the bottom. They are formed in rising air. As...

Check ... and double check.
February 1, 2003... There are at least twelve differences in these two pictures. How many can you find? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Thinking.
February 1, 2003... * What type of music do you think these kids are playing? * How did they prepare for the concert? * How is playing in a band different from playing alone? * Would you be nervous if you were going to perform in front of an audience?...

The timbertoes.
February 1, 2003... On an island sat a girl. She was thinking about the Timbertoes. "I will write to them. Maybe they will visit me." She found a leaf. She wrote with berry juice. "Please deliver this letter." The little bird flew and flew. She gave the letter to...

How many ways?
February 1, 2003... There are three doors in this building. Al, Bob, and Carl wish to enter at the same time. No two men can pass through the same door together. How many ways can they enter the building at the same time, each using a different door? There...

Shadows.
February 1, 2003... Shadows I don't mind seeing shadows when they're smaller than I am, when they're hiding by my saucer or behind a jar of jam. I don't mind stepping on shadows when they're of familiar things like telephone...

What is it?
February 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Answer: An elephant swimming.

Matching.
February 1, 2003... Look at each flower on the left. Find one like it on the right. Tiger orchid Poinsettia African violet Geranium Christmas cactus [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

It's Hot. (Our Own Pages).
February 1, 2003... It's Hot Tonight I have a bite of Uncle Willie's chili.... Oh, wow, it's hot! And how my eyes start to sting, my ears start to ring--it's hot! I gasp and I wheeze, I cough and I sneeze--it's hot! My...

My Grandpy. (Our Own Pages).
February 1, 2003... My Grandpy My Grandpy was special. He used to play guitar for me. He would sing, "Tyler goes round, and round, and round, and round, and stop!" He used to eat baloney sandwiches, play guitar, sing, and...

Tracks. (Our Own Pages).
February 1, 2003... Tracks My dog Buddy left tracks of mud. I got angry. He got sad. Rylee Young, Age 8 Texas

Every Day. (Our Own Pages).
February 1, 2003... Every Day Every day is like a soft song, so soft you can hardly hear it. Sometimes you can hear a whole symphony, but you have to pay attention. Every day there is something new-- to hear, to say, even something...

The Monster. (Our Own Pages).
February 1, 2003... The Monster The monster says grrrrrr. The girl says eeeeeek. A man comes running to help her sleep. The monster says grrrrrr. The girl says eeeeeek. A woman comes running to help her sleep. The...

Big and Small. (Our Own Pages).
February 1, 2003... Big and Small To a worm, an elephant's toenail is as big as a sofa. To a whale, an elephant is tiny. I am between a coyote and a wolf. Katie Koza, Age 6 Wisconsin

Insignificant. (Our Own Pages).
February 1, 2003... Insignificant 4.5 billion people in the world. Trillions of stars in the universe. I'm just one person in the gigantic universe. It makes me feel insignificant, as if I'm just a grain of sand on the...

The Dominoes Are Falling. (Our Own Pages).
February 1, 2003... The Dominoes Are Falling The dominoes were in a line, And everything, it seemed just fine. Then one of them began to tip. The other ones, they took a trip. Peter Blencowe, Age 11 Connecticut

Winter. (Our Own Pages).
February 1, 2003... Winter Rain, rain, rain, the sky went. Good-bye, snowy fields and wintry sports and snow days. Good-bye, cozy fireplace. For now we don't need you. Good-bye, short winter days I will miss all of these...

My Space Journey. (Our Own Pages).
February 1, 2003... My Space Journey If I could travel with the stars, I'd fly to Neptune, Saturn, and Mars. I'd bring along a satellite, and take pictures of planets day and night. You could read on my spaceship in big, bold letters, ...

Cloud Sounds. (Our Own Pages).
February 1, 2003... Cloud Sounds I hear the clouds moving. Cloud sounds? No, airplanes. I hear the clouds moving. Cloud sounds? No, just the wind. I hear the clouds. Nope, just fireworks. I hear the clouds moving. ...

Phantom of the plains.(Short Story)
February 1, 2003... Koikai lived on a cattle ranch in southern Kenya, one of the most beautiful parts of Africa. It is a land of vast open plains, golden sunlight, and quiet meadows. Many wild animals live there but not many people. Koikai was a Maasai, and...

Valentine flowers sweet enough to eat. (You Can Make It!).
February 1, 2003... 1. Cut flower shapes from craft foam or construction paper. 2. Cut an X in the center of each flower shape, and insert a lollipop. 3. Place floral foam or clay inside a flowerpot and plant the lollipop flowers. 4. Cut out hearts...

Get a kick out of tabletop soccer. (You Can Make It!).
February 1, 2003... 1. Trace around a small plastic cap onto a white adhesive label. 2. Draw a soccer-ball pattern in the circle, cut it out, and stick it onto the cap top. 3. Cut a plastic cup in half, and use the two halves as goals. To Play:...

Create cool coasters from old CDs. (You Can Make It!).
February 1, 2003... 1. Apply tacky glue to the top of an old compact disk. Press the CD into the center of a 5-inch square of craft foam and wipe away any excess glue. Let it dry completely. 2. Trim the foam around the CD. 3. Leave it plain or decorate it...

Hats off to favorite things! (You Can Make It!).
February 1, 2003... 1. Cut two 6-inch circles from construction paper. Glue them together to form one stiff piece. Fold the circle in half to form the hat brim and front. 2. Cut a 1 1/2-inch-wide strip from construction paper. It should be long enough to...

Nothing fishy about this valentine. (You Can Make It!).
February 1, 2003... 1. Draw a fishbowl in the center of a 6-inch square of red paper, and cut it out. 2. Place a 6-inch square of white paper under the red square, and decorate inside the bowl. 3. Cut out two paper goldfish. Cut out two small hearts for...

Jokes.
February 1, 2003... Marsha: "Want to hear a joke?" Sasha: "OK." Marsha: "Two men were sailing in a boat. Their names were Pete and Repete. Pete fell out of the boat. Who was left?" Sasha: "Repete." Marsha: "OK. Two men were sailing...." ...

Find the twin snowmen.
February 1, 2003... Find the two snowmen that match exactly. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Numbers 2 and 5 match.

Oh brother.
February 1, 2003... What relation to you is * your mother's father? * your father's mother? * your mother's brother? * your cousin's mother? * your uncle's daughter?

Even money.
February 1, 2003... Each day Joel put a quarter, a dime, and a penny in his bank. He did this every day until the bank contained an exact number of dollars, not a cent more or less. How many days did it take? How many dollars were in his bank? It took Joel...

Busy business.
February 1, 2003... I put on my fire fighter's hat... I put on my fire fighter's hat and pick up a baseball bat... I put on my fire fighter's hat, pick up a baseball bat, and grab a rubber duck... I put on my fire fighter's hat, pick up a baseball...

Your wise words.
February 1, 2003... In our August 2002 issue, we asked you to tell us about a lesson you've learned through experience. Thank you for such wonderful responses! Here are just a few. First impressions are not always right. When I was seven, my family and I...

Show us!
February 1, 2003... What makes you happy? Share it with other HIGHLIGHTS readers! Create a painting or drawing of your favorite place or thing, then send it to us. It must be done on white unlined paper. In a future issue, we'll publish some of the artwork we...

Nuthatch. (Nature Watch).
February 1, 2003... Did You Know? Nuthatches climb trees. In fact, they use their sharp claws and strong toes to walk upside down on trunks and branches. These small birds are rarely found away from trees. They nest in old woodpecker holes and other cavities. In...

A tall tale.(Short Story)
February 1, 2003... An old horse and a young horse were talking about an upcoming race at the county fair. "I hope I can win the race," said the older horse. "If I do, I will probably retire from racing and spend my days in the pasture." The young horse...

Headwork.
February 1, 2003... Start at the beginning and see how far you can go, thinking of good answers from your own head. Point to something round. What things are delivered by trucks? Can you sing in the dark? Can you read in the dark? By holding your...

James Ernest, the tiger salamander. (Jennifer's Journal).
February 1, 2003... James Ernest is a wild and mysterious creature. Wild because the wet wilderness is his home; mysterious because he mystified me with his strange amphibious ways. James Ernest was rescued from a horse trough, where he was swimming in a...

Our first issue. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2003... When did you make the first issue of HIGHLIGHTS? Christian M., Massachusetts The first issue was dated June 1946. HIGHLIGHTS was started by Dr. and Mrs. Garry Cleveland Myers, who were specialists in family living. They were former...

Kid interferes. (Letters).
February 1, 2003... This kid tries to stop me from playing with my best friend. It annoys me. What should I do? David M., Missouri Maybe this boy is in need of friends but doesn't know how to make them. He may not understand that a person can have more...

Fighting on the bus. .(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2003... I have two friends who fight on the bus to school. I don't want to take a side because I think the other one may get mad at me. What should I do? Samatha H., Arkansas You might explain to these two friends that you wish they could get...

Almost to the top. .(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2003... I am trying very hard to climb to the top of the rope in gymnastics. Whenever I try, I am only a few inches away! My arms always get tired. I am determined. Can you help me? Rachel S., New Jersey If you keep practicing, you'll find...