Highlights for Children articles from February 2008

Highlights for Children archives from February 2008

Same animal, different name.(Fun This Month)
February 1, 2008... Which is not another name for a groundhog? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Woodchuck Hedgehog Whistle Pig Answer: Hedgehog

Speedy Valentine delivery.(Fun This Month)
February 1, 2008... Vick Valentino must deliver chocolates to Vivian Vale before she leaves the veterinary office. What's the fastest route his truck can take? [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Words and art for kids!(Fun This Month)
February 1, 2008... During the first week of February, celebrate children's authors and illustrators. Send them letters. Share your favorite books with other kids.

Ways to enjoy an extra day.(Fun This Month)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... This year is leap year, which means that February has 29 days rather than 28. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. Create a puppet from an extra (unmatched) sock. 2. Add an extra verse to your favorite song. 3. Preparing a snack? Make an...

Pay-a-compliment day.(Fun This Month)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] February 6 is a day to say nice, unexpected things to friends, family members, and the people you meet.

Monumental mystery.(Fun This Month)(Drawing)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Can you identify the two pictures below? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hint: February 18 is Presidents' Day, which honors George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln Memorial [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Washington Monument

Find the pictures.(Fun This Month)
February 1, 2008... Can you find each of these 10 pictures at another place in this magazine? [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Find the humor.(Dear Readers)
February 1, 2008... Last weekend, I burned a griddle full of pancakes and set off the smoke alarm. At first, I felt frustrated with myself. But then my kids and I laughed about it. ("Oh no! Not again!" they said.) And right away, I felt my frustration melt away....

I Asked the Little Boy Who Cannot See.(Poem)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I asked the little boy who cannot see. I asked the little boy who cannot see, "And what is color like?" "Why, green," said he, "Is like the rustle when the wind blows through The forest;...

The mystery of the ghost in the wall: from the notebooks of Alice Jones, general math whiz and numbers detective.(Short story)
February 1, 2008... Billy Morgan found me in my office in the school computer lab. I'd just finished hanging a new sign on my desk: Alice Jones: Numbers Detective I can solve all your problems. No homework. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Billy was a shy kid...

Goofus and Gallant[R].(Cartoon)
February 1, 2008... "I'm not giving her one. She never talks to me," Says Goofus. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Goofus has to be reminded to brush his teeth. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I feel like Goofus when I yell at people when I'm just cranky." ...

Time slipping by.
February 1, 2008... Put the hourglasses in order to show the correct passage of time. A B C D E F [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] C, B, A, F, E, D [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

E.J. Richardson: there's some of Goofus and Gallant in us all. When the Gallant shines through, we show our best self.(Gallant Kids)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Snakes first drew E.J. Richardson to the Orange County Natural History Museum. He wanted one for a pet, but his parents said no. E.J. had to be content with visiting them at the museum down the street from his home in California. Museum...

Can dolphins do math? Yes, they can ... more or less.
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] After humans, dolphins have the biggest brains for their body size. But are those big brains any good at math? It's a tough question to answer--after all, you can't just give a dolphin a pop quiz. Or can you? ...

No more allowance.(Short story)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Here's your allowance," said Mom. "Do I have to have an allowance?" asked Todd. "You don't want your allowance?" "I want a commission," said Todd. "A commission?" Morn looked puzzled. "We learned...

The groundhog predicts ...(Hidden Pictures[R])(puzzle)(Drawing)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In this big picture, find the boomerang, eyeglasses, bird, feather, party hat, paper clip, wishbone, artist's brush, ice-cream cone, pencil, bottle, banana, orange slice, mug, slice of pie, domino, and tulip. ...

Jokes.(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Hugo: Why do sea gulls fly over the sea? Kimmy: Because if they flew over the bay, they would be bagels! Hugo Kessler, Virginia Jill: Do you have your hen-way, Joe? Joe: What's a hen-way? Jill: Oh, about three or four...

A Loving Poem.(Poem)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Loving Poem When you're feeling kind of sad And don't know what to do, Find someone you Care about and Just say, "I love You."

The great snow-sculpture contest: 14 teams ... 65 hours ... 5 days--get ready to sculpt!
February 1, 2008... Every winter, people travel to the tiny mountain town of Breckenridge, Colorado, to play in the snow. Some ski or snowboard. Others snowshoe or ride snowmobiles. And some come to carve giant snow sculptures. These are not your average snowmen...

Science letters: can animals get a fever?
February 1, 2008... Do insects sneeze, cough, or hiccup? Miranda Roehrick, Age 12 California That's funny to think about, but the answer is no. All of those reactions take place only in breathing systems that are similar to ours. Insects breathe...

Homemade maple syrup.(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Dad and I found a maple tree. Dad used his drill to make a hole in the tree. First I pushed a spout into the hole. Then I hung a bucket beneath the spout. The sap dripped out of the tree and into the bucket, drop by drop. Dad heated a pan over...

The copycat crisis.(Ask Arizona)(copying what other do)
February 1, 2008... Dear Arizona, My friend always tells me to quit copying him. What I don't get is why it bugs him so much. If I were him, I'd take it as a compliment! --Confused Copycat in Colorado [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear CCC, ...

All about Arizona.(OFFICIAL GUIDE)(fictional character)(Interview)
February 1, 2008... Who came up with Arizona? What's in The Arizona Zone? What do Cow's meows and purrs mean? Find answers to these questions and more in this handy guide. Meet Lissa Lissa Rovetch is an author and... the clever person who...

Skydiver.(Your Own Pages)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jayda Brunkan, Age 4 Iowa

Art.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2008... Art Art is like making your imagination into something real. It's like putting what you see onto canvas so others can see from your perspective. Art is my life. Madalyn Fiala, Age 11 New...

My sister Kalina is nice.(Your Own Pages)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] My sister Kalina is nice and I love her. Kendra Sikora, Age 9 New Mexico

Family.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2008... Family My brother's hair is red. Both his eyes are blue. He is not as old as me. I have to tie his shoes. He loves me and I love him, and Morn and Dad, too. We all help each other learn 'cause that's...

Roosters on the farm.(Your Own Pages)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Annalise Michaelson, Age 7 Maryland

Rubber Ducky.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2008... Rubber Ducky My ducky--My little Santa Claus ducky, with his foamy beard and his long white hair. Oops! I wiped it off again. Jenny Granston, Age 8 Colorado

Beautiful Nature.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2008... Beautiful Nature Beyond the sky, to the mountaintops, in the streams, under the rocks. I sit under a shady tree, with just me. All nature is beautiful. Stephanie Goglia, Age 6 New York

Towing to the ocean.(Your Own Pages)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jonathan Collett, Age 7 Maine

I remember the sun.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2008... I remember the sun, and it remembers me. At sunrise. At sunset. It is quiet, but it is talking. Daniel Mamane, Age 8 California

My Dog, Lucy (a Sheltie).(Your Own Pages)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Leah Baines, Age 11 Montana

Slippery Soap.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2008... Slippery Soap Sometimes in the shower the soap slips from my hands. It's banging and it's clanging against the bathtub as it lands. Boy, one of these days that slippery soap is gonna smash...

Lambs in the Sky.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2008... Lambs in the Sky Did you know that lambs live in the sky? You see them when the clouds go by. If you love lambs the way I do, then you would see them, too. Clare Kendall, Age 7 Nebraska

I Love You More Than ...(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2008... I Love You More Than... I love you more than eating ice cream on a hot, sunny day. I love you more than snowboarding on Buck Hill. I love you more than playing with my friends. I love you more than...

Masquerade.(Your Own Pages)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Emma Korengel, Age 6 Connecticut

Flowers.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2008... Flowers The flowers blossom and bloom. When life seems hopeless, all you have to do is gaze at their silky petals, and all your misfortunes vanish into thin air. As you gaze in awe, they blossom ...

Baseball.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2008... Baseball Hitting Catching Pitching Fun Triple Out Strike one Grounder Single Home run! Luke Hamilton, Age 9 Ohio

King on alert.(Your Own Pages)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rachel Halbersma, Age 10 Minnesota

Find the crescent moon: have you ever seen the Moon like this?
February 1, 2008... Sometimes the Moon is big and bright. But I like to see it when it's a really thin crescent. Then it looks super beautiful--eerie and exotic. You can see the crescent Moon, too. You don't need a telescope. All you need is to know when and...

The Timbertoes[R].(Cartoon)
February 1, 2008... The old shop had to go. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It was full of holes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Down came the walls. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Everyone helped. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Pa cut down trees. ...

A prickly adventure: a baby porcupine is lost in the woods. How does he stay safe?(Short story)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It is a warm day. A baby porcupine, or porcupette, sleeps in the hollow of a tree. Porcupines are awake at night and asleep during the day. The porcupette's mother loves to climb trees. She is sleeping many feet...

That funny bend.(Science Corner)(the sink pipe)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The pipe under each sink has a funny little bend. Why do you think it might be useful? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The U-shaped bend in a drain pipe is called a trap. Each time water runs down the drain, a small amount of water stays in the...

The green in winter.(Science Corner)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Which plants near you stay green through the winter? Which ones drop their leaves?

Computer store.(Science Corner)(Cartoon)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I can't believe they suggested a laptop!"

I wonder ... what makes hail.(Science Corner)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hailstones begin as raindrops. The wind blows them upward into very cold air overhead, where they freeze into little balls of ice. Layers of water keep freezing over the hailstones, making them bigger. Finally, they...

Dino days.(dinosaurs)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... I have been watching television, and it has said that T. rex is related to the chicken. Is this true? Adam Hellman, Age 10 Illinois Scientists think that T. rex was related to the chicken. Birds have many features in common with...

The skating lesson.
February 1, 2008... Before we go out on the ice, Morn helps me lace up my skates. She says it's important to lace them up really tight for ankle support. After helping me with my skates, she puts on her own. Mom and I have been coming to the rink every Sunday...

A rocket ship that flies.(Crafts)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. Cut an 11-inch-by-14-inch rectangle from poster board. With markers, draw a design on one side. 2. Cut two slits in the rectangle, as shown, and roll them up to create wings. 3. Cut flames along one long...

Quill curls for cards.(Crafts)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. Tape two flat toothpicks back to back. Leave about a half inch free of tape at the end. 2. Cut strips of colored paper 1/4 inch wide and 8 inches long. 3. Slip one end of a paper strip between the...

Make a gumball-machine magnet.(Crafts)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... 1. Trace a small jar lid onto cardboard. Draw a square connected to the circle. Cut out the shape as one piece. 2. Trace the shape onto felt. Glue the felt to the cardboard. 3. Glue the jar lid to the circle shape. Glue pompoms inside...

Go on a treasure hunt!(Crafts)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Make a treasure chest 1. Paint the outside of a shoebox to look like a treasure chest. Let it dry. 2. Paint the inside of the lid. Let it dry. 3. Glue felt to the inside bottom of the box. 4. Paint...

Create a treasure map.(Crafts)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. Cut off one side of a paper grocery bag. Cut wavy or jagged edges around it. 2. Crumple the paper into a small ball several times to make it look wrinkly and aged, Smooth it out. 3. Decide where you want...

Guess who, Valentine!(Crafts)(Valentine mask)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. From card stock or poster board, cut a heart shape large enough to cover your face. 2. Draw two eyeholes and cut them out. 3. Decorate the heart using items such as glitter g1ue, markers, or paper-doily...

Sound it oh-you-tea (out).(Crafts)
February 1, 2008... Read the signs out loud for clues. Which way should the boy go? What about the girl? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Wintry word hunt.(Crafts)(Drawing)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Can you find a word in each sentence that is related to the winter season? Example: The ground is now covered in white. Is Kate coming to the ice rink with us? It is hard to see the view of Lake Superior through the flurries. ...

Matching.
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Look at each state shape on the left. Find one like it on the right.

Thinking: street markets attract many visitors.(Drawing)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... * What is the purpose of each item being sold? * Which items do you think people made by hand? Which might have been made by machines? * Where might people find markets like this one? * What kinds of markets can be Found near your...

Stopping for Olympic gold.(In memoriam)
February 1, 2008... The torch is lit and the summer Olympics begin. The year is 1936, Berlin, Germany. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler watches from the stands. John Woodruff and eight other runners crouch on the track, ready to race. Bang! The starting pistol fires...

Your best self.(Cartoon)
February 1, 2008... Hey, Tyler, join me in line up here! No, thanks. We'll wait our turn. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Riddles.(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... (1) What has three feet but no toes? Kai Breeden, Ohio (2) What do you call a crate of ducks? Cody Chang, Texas (3) What days are the strongest? Halley Cleary, South Carolina (4) Why did the kids eat their math...

Brain play.(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Start at the beginning and see how far you can go, thinking of good answers from your own head. START In what ways are you more like a grown-up than like a baby? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Name some things that are shaped like a...

Trina's unusual day.(Short story)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When Trina tried to eat breakfast, she knew it was going to be an unusual day. The stool grumbled as she sat on it. The cereal jumped in and out of the bowl. The orange juice clung to the glass. Trina decided she...

Dear Highlights.
February 1, 2008... I need a little help with jumping rope. I can't jump high enough. Enrique S., Florida [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Learning to jump rope is more about timing than about jumping high. E.J. Boillot, a member of the board of USA Jump Rope,...

Picture puzzler.(Drawing)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The last names of fifteen U.S. Presidents are in this scene. Which names are they? Adams, Carter, Cleveland, Ford, Garfield, Grant, Harding, Hoover, Jefferson, Johnson, Lincoln, McKinley, Truman, Washington,...