Highlights for Children articles from February 2004

Highlights for Children archives from February 2004

Dear readers.
February 1, 2004... Spider-Man climbs up walls. Superman has X-ray vision. The Powerpuff Girls zoom around at super speed. The stories of how these characters use superhuman powers for good can be a lot of fun. But real heroes don't wear superhero capes. And...

What's in a Web name?
February 1, 2004... Have you ever used a computer to look for information on the Web? If so, you may have wondered how a computer finds a Web page when you type in a name with dots in it, such as www.Highlights.com. Every computer on the Internet has its own...

Not-so-helpful Goose.(Short Story)
February 1, 2004... Goose hurried to Duck's house. Her flat feet went slap, slap, slap along the dirt path, sending up tiny puffs of dust. "We have to go shopping!" said Goose as soon as Duck opened the door. "There is a big sale at the mall." "I have to...

This tongue gets a grip.(the chameleon possesses advantages that favour survival)
February 1, 2004... Chameleons may look grumpy and their skin may feel bumpy, but scientists can't take their eyes off them. Why? Because chameleons are such interesting lizards. Not only do chameleons have an amazing talent for changing colors, they also...

How snow falls.
February 1, 2004... Not all snow is quiet. Some makes a tiny shush Before it melts on a metal pail Still warm from the sun. Some snow pelts; Some is almost hail, Banging a riot On the windowsill. But some is a hush, Falling still on still Without a word to anyone....

Goofus and Gallant[R].
February 1, 2004... "That club sounds dull! Come on, Karen, sign up for chess club with us." "We miss having you on our hockey team, Angelo. But science club sounds like fun, too." Goofus doesn't watch where he's going. Gallant pays attention.

Thinking.(statues and monuments)
February 1, 2004... * Why do you think the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., is such a popular place to visit? What did Abraham Lincoln do to deserve such a lasting tribute? * Are there any statues near your home? Who would be a good subject for a new...

Treasure in the field: a Vietnamese folktale.(Short Story)
February 1, 2004... Once there was an old man who lived with his two young sons on a farm in Vietnam. The mother of the boys had died. Since the old man had to tend the field, the boys took care of the house. That is, they were supposed to take care of the house,...

Matching.
February 1, 2004... Look at each puppy on the left. Find one like it on the right. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Hidden pictures[TM].(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... In this big picture find the boot, bell, canoe, magnifying glass, jet, mug, toothbrush, pen, ice-cream bar, parrot, eyeglasses, and slice of cake. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Bird'-eye view.(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... This is the overhead view of a stack of blocks. Which stack below would look like this from above? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Riddles.
February 1, 2004... 1. What did one broom say to the other? Matthew Jennings, Illinois 2. What is gray, has big ears, and squeaks? Alyssa Jones, Florida 3. Why do yon always find what you're looking for in the last place you look? Tiffany...

Sap's running!
February 1, 2004... The Coleman brothers--Nelson, Ralph, and Harold--step out their front door in Vermont. They feel the wind. They feel the sun on their faces. "Sap could be running this morning," says Nelson. As they pass 75-year-old sugar-maple trees, they...

For Wee folks.
February 1, 2004... * If you were making a card for someone, how would you make it special? * Would you rather be given a card that was made by hand or one that was bought at a store? Which do you think your mom or dad would like better? * What are other...

Nose woes.(Science Letters)
February 1, 2004... Why does it hurt when water goes up your nose? Ellen Sweeney, Age 11 California I understand your question. I am not a very good swimmer, and sometimes I get water up my nose. Most of your body is covered with skin, which is almost...

Shocking experiences.(Science Letters)(static electricity)
February 1, 2004... I always get shocked when I touch light switches, people, my pet, and other things. What do I do? Ian Grow, Age 11 Ohio The electric shocks you are talking about are discharges of static electricity. They are "attention getters" but...

Check ... and double check.(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... There are at least sixteen differences in these two pictures. How many can you find? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

You illustrated the poem!(Poem)
February 1, 2004... Last July, we asked you to illustrate this poem. Thanks for your great drawings! We wish we had room to print them all. Here are just a few. Zoe Larson Age 4 Michigan [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jeremy Moorman, Age 8 Pennsylvania ...

Jokes.
February 1, 2004... Alexandra: "Mr. Pink lives in the pink house. Mr. Yellow lives in the yellow house. Mr. Green lives in the green house. Who lives in the white house?" Rachel: "Mr. White?" Alexandra: "No, the President." Alexandra Duggan,...

Sassy noodle hair.(Short Story)
February 1, 2004... "Sass, you should be thankful for that head full of pretty curls. Now, would you please get your little self over here?" My Aunt Ella Louise held a hairbrush in one hand. In the other, she held the silver tiara that I had to wear at my...

Alike and different.(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... How are the things in each pair alike? How are they different? "I learned something very important at school today" "What was it?" "I learned that when I'm not bossy, lots of kids want to play with me." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Striped skunk.(Nature Watch)
February 1, 2004... Did You Know? Skunks can eat almost anything and live almost anywhere. They feed on everything from bird eggs and mice to berries and insects. Most meat-eating animals do not try to eat skunks because of the skunks' smell. But some predators,...

The bear family.(Short Story)
February 1, 2004... Woozy: Oh, Piddy, you said a bad word! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Poozy: That word just doesn't sound nice, Piddy. Woozy: And Mom and Dad wouldn't want us to get into the habit of using it. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Woozy:...

Marvin's museum of magnificent things.(Short Story)
February 1, 2004... Marvin stood next to the sign in his front yard and waited for customers. None came. He looked up and down the street. No customers. Marvin's sister Kristen was sitting under a tree, drawing in her sketchbook. "Want to come to my museum?"...

Fly high, Bessie Coleman.(Biography)
February 1, 2004... Two thousand people sat with their faces turned to the sky. High above the airfield, a pilot had just finished carving a crisp figure eight in the air. Suddenly, the plane seemed to stumble. Twisting and turning, it began to fall from the sky....

I wonder ... where that icicle came from.(Science Corner)
February 1, 2004... Snow on the roof melted, and the water dripped down. At the corner of the roof, the air was cold enough to freeze the water. More and more water dripped down, so more ice was added, a little at a time, until an icicle formed. [ILLUSTRATION...

The steaming lake.(Science Corner)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... One day was warm and sunny. The next morning was much cooler. But steam seemed to be rising from the lake. How could that happen? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ANSWER: The Steaming Lake--During the day, sunlight warmed the water in the...

Take this challenge.(Science Corner)
February 1, 2004... Can you make a piece of modeling clay float? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Dinosaur days.(Science Corner)
February 1, 2004... Did dinosaurs eat at special times? Kelsey Spainhoward, Age 9 Kentucky Dinosaurs ate whenever they could find food. Some giant plant eaters may have eaten nearly all the time to get enough energy to grow and move such large bodies. ...

Riddles.(Science Corner)(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... 2. What is the name of the musical dinosour group? Matthew Kreichman Florida [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

A little soap and water.(Short Story)
February 1, 2004... Mama Bear and Little Bear moved into a house on the hill. Mama Bear said, "This house is dusty. It needs a little soap and water." Mama Bear filled a bucket. She and Little floor and the cupboards. Little Bear washed the floor and the cupboards...

Pioneer days.(Our Own Pages)(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... Coddi Cummings, Age 10 Louisiana

A lullaby to Pochaco, My Bunny.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2004... A Lullaby to Pochaco, My Bunny Go to sleep, go to sleep, Go to sleep, Pochaco. Go to sleep. Have some peace. Sweet dreams and stay asleep. Good night. Sleep tight. Be a star in the sky. Wake up with a smile...

My Portrait.(Our Own Pages)(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... Libby Marcus, Age 10 Minnesota

Horse at the River.(Our Own Pages)
February 1, 2004... Dylan Hartwig, Age 5 South Carolina

If I Had a Dog.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2004... If I Had a Dog If I had a dog, Mom, I tell you what he'd do. He'd bring in the paper, just for you. If I had a dog, Dad, I tell you what he'd do. He'd bring your slippers, right to you. If I...

Dragonfly.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2004... Dragonfly, dragonfly, what do you hear? I heard a butterfly fluttering in my ear. Hannah Seidl, Age 6 Wisconsin

Snow.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2004... Snow Snowflakes swarm around me Like petals falling to the ground. Then they skip through the air As if they were being chased By the wind. Genki Marshall, Age 8 Washington

My Dog, Rusty.(Our Own Pages)(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... Rebecca Davidson, Age 8 New Mexico

My Little Brother.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2004... My Little Brother His hair is always messy. (He doesn't like it combed.) He doesn't like to take a bath; He'll cry and whine and moan. He tries to be a cowboy "Like in the movies," he says. And when he wants...

Tractors in My Backyard.(Our Own Pages)
February 1, 2004... Percy Galvan, Age 8 Arizona

Small.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2004... Small a single flower and a single blade of grass on a rock on a planet in a galaxy in a universe so small so alone so gone from sight so understanding so caring but nothing to...

Wind.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2004... Wind The wind blew hard. Tree branches scraped my window like giant hands. Leaves danced to the howling song. Wheat fields swayed to the moon; the crackle sounded like a fire. Grandpa lit a fire in the...

Trees.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2004... Trees In the spring they're green, A green color like you've never seen. In the summer when you swim, They give you shade, a precious gem. In the fall you rake their leaves, And jump in piles as much as you...

Sadness.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2004... Sadness Sadness, sadness, such a painful thing. Memories of someone going through my mind. Happy times chasing sadness away. Connor Murnane, Age 9 Texas

Woman from India.(Our Own Pages)(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... Woman from India [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jaya Knuth, Age 4 Wisconsin

In My Garden.(Our Own Pages)
February 1, 2004... In My Garden [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MingNa Zhou, Age 7 New Jersey

Good Morning, Sun.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2004... Good Morning, Sun Good morning, Sun. Good morning to you. I love your golden rays. You fill the morning sky. You're shining and yellow, and you're bright. Good morning to you on this happy day. Good...

George Washington near a Cherry Tree.(Our Own Pages)(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... George Washington near a Cherry Tree [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Nicholas D'Angelo, Age 6 New York

Killdeer Protecting Her Eggs.(Our Own Pages)(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... Killdeer Protecting Her Eggs [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jon Farris, Age 11 Virginia

I Like Trains.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2004... I Like Trains They go on tracks. They go on rails. Sometimes they look like they have tails. Some look like they have beards. A train having a beard is weird. Some look like they have one eye....

Be Happy Every Day!(Our Own Pages)(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... Be Happy Every Day! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ebony Preston Age 6 Mississippi

Sierra's triathlon.(Our Own Pages)
February 1, 2004... It wasn't as if I had plans. But if I did, they wouldn't be to watch my little brother, Spence, and three of his buddies. "Just give the boys a snack after school. I'll be home in time to handle the sleepover." That's what Morn had said...

Nothing but net!(You Can Make It!)(making a doorknob basketball net)
February 1, 2004... 1. To make the backboard, cut out an 8 1/2-inch-by-inch cardboard rectangle. Cover it with white paper. Draw a 4-inch-by-3-inch rectangle in the middle of the lower half of the backboard. 2. To make the hoop, paint the cardboard ring from a...

Say "thank you" with a bookmark.(You Can Make It!)
February 1, 2004... 1. Cut out a 2-inch-by-5-inch strip of colored poster board. Punch a hole at the top. 2. Sharpen a pencil with a manual sharpener. Try to make a long unbroken shaving. 3. Glue the shaving in a circle at the bottom of the bookmark. If...

Have a heart.(You Can Make It!)
February 1, 2004... 1. Braid together three different-colored chenille sticks (see diagram). 2. Slide several beads onto them, if desired. 3. Twist the ends together to form a circle. Bend it into a heart shape. 4. Cut a piece of ribbon for a...

How long until spring?(You Can Make It!)
February 1, 2004... 1. Glue brown construction paper around a short cardboard tube. Draw lines to make it look like bark on a hollow log. Punch a hole at each end of the tube. 2. On poster board, draw and color a groundhog that will fit inside the cardboard...

Going batty for you.(You Can Make It!)
February 1, 2004... 1. Cut out a heart from wrapping paper or construction paper. Roll the heart lengthwise around your finger. Glue the edges of the heart in place to make the bat's body. 2. Cut out four identical paper hearts. To make wings, glue pairs of...

Headwork.(children's quiz)
February 1, 2004... Start at the beginning and see how far you can go, thinking of good answers from your own head. Purr like a kitten. Now roar like a lion. What flavor is white ice cream? Name some animals that have shells. Can you see your...

The Timbertoes.
February 1, 2004... Pa was a good juggler. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mabel wanted to learn. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] She started with one apple. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] She added an orange. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Then a pear. ...

Who is a hero? Maybe it's you.
February 1, 2004... The word hero means different things to different people. For some, it's the fire fighter who enters a burning building to save lives. For others, it's the baseball player who clears the bases with a game-winning home run. Recently I spoke...

Disappointed dog.(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... My dog always begs for food at the dinner table. I really want to feed him, but my mom says I can't, I'm afraid he won't like me anymore. What should I do? It can be hard to say no to someone that you love. But you care about your pet, so...

Name-calling.(Letters)
February 1, 2004... There is a kid in my class who is always making fun of me and calling me names. This hurts my feelings. What should I do? Usually, the best thing to do when someone teases is to ignore what they say. People who tease often view what they...

Left waiting.(Letters)
February 1, 2004... One day at school my best friend and I asked someone If he wanted to play basketball the next day. He said "maybe." Then when tomorrow came he just went off and played football. He didn't even tell us. He admitted that he didn't forget. What...

Construction confusion.(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... This big drainage ditch made a construction worker see spots! Stare at the open end of this tunnel for a full minute, as he did. Then look at the white block to the right of it. Do you see flecks that seem to move in a clockwise circle? ...