Highlights for Children articles from February 2009

Highlights for Children archives from February 2009

Make it a lively Valentine's Day!(Fun This Month)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. Leave surprise notes for your family to find. 2. Draw hearts randomly on paper, then work them into a picture. 3. Jump rope For your heart's health. 4. For a pink drink, mix strawberries and milk in a...

Which way, worm?(Fun This Month)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... February is Library Lovers' Month. Figure out the missing word in the rhyme below. Once you have the word, help the bookworm work his way down the stack of books, eating only the letters to spell out that word. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Find the pictures.(Fun This Month)
February 1, 2009... Can you find each of these 10 pictures at another place in this magazine? [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

February 12 is the bicentennial, or 200th anniversary, of Abraham Lincoln's birthday.(Fun This Month)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] February 12 is the bicentennial, or 200th anniversary, of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. Presidents' Day, on February 16, honors Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Batter up!(Fun This Month)(National Pancake Week)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] National Pancake Week is February 22-28. With your family, have a pancake party! Get creative with pancake toppings. Come up with pancake-related tongue twisters, like the one below. Say this five times fast. ...

Parade for the Year of the Ox.(Fun This Month)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... On February 7, San Francisco will hold its annual Chinese New Year Parade to ring in the Year of the Ox. (Chinese New Year is on January 26 this year.) The parade is known for its elaborate, colorful puppets and costumes. [ILLUSTRATION...

Shapes of shadows.(Fun This Month)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... On Groundhog Day, the groundhog looks for its shadow. Gather some friends, and head outside to trace your shadows using sidewalk chalk. What do your shadows look like at different times of the day?

Happy 200th Birthday, Mr. Lincoln!(Dear Readers)(Abraham Lincoln)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Of all our U.S. Presidents, I know the most about Abraham Lincoln. I think I started learning about him when I was in first or second grade. As a kid, I thought it was neat that I had two things in common with him: we both loved to read and we...

What's for breakfast?(Poem)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... "What would you like for breakfast?" I heard my mother say. "Some scrambled eggs and wheat toast will help you start your day." "I'll just have an apple with a slice of cheddar cheese. Or maybe some bananas, with cereal, if you please. ...

Your backpack buddies!(Super Craft Challenge)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... A few months ago, we challenged you to make backpack buddy using a clothespin and other materials. Here are some of the creative creatures you invented! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Elizabeth Cochran, Age 10 Texas [ILLUSTRATION...

Create your own superhero!(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Ten-year-old David Judah Beauchamp wrote to us from Texas with a great idea. He said that he enjoyed making up his own superheroes, and he suggested that we ask kids to send in their own superheroes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What kind of...

Matching.
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Look at each lizard on the left. Find one like it on the right.

Break that press.(Short story)
February 1, 2009... Luis wiped the sweat from his brow as he walked off the court. He looked up at the scoreboard to make sure his team still had the lead. They did, but just barely. The Hawks huddled up. "Those guys are all over me," Luis said. "Every time...

Goofus and Gallant.(Cartoon)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Who cares about class elections?" says Goofus. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gallant thinks about what's best for the school. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Goofus uses his lunch money to buy snacks. ...

Tongue twisters.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Zenith the zebra zipped zero zippers. Sohini Bagewadi, Age 9 New Jersey Which witch watched while Willy washed watermelons? Kinner Patel, Age 7 Arizona Ronald Rooster wrecked his really red roadster in Worcester at...

The lost mittens.(Short story)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Matt wanted to go out and ride his new sled. Where were his mittens? Matt looked on the table. The mittens were not on the table. He looked by his boots. The mittens were not by his boots. Matt looked in...

Louis and the king: jazz great Louis Armstrong learned from the best.(Biography)
February 1, 2009... Here are some of the many songs Louis Armstrong made famous. You may have heard of a few of them. "What a wonderful World" "Lazy River" "Sleepy Time Down South" "When You're Smiling" "Ain't Misbehavin'" "Stardust"...

Safari onstage.(Hidden Pictures[R])(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In this big picture, find the key, slice of pizza, boot, mug, pencil, comb, golf club, candle, banana, heart, snake, ring, ruler, toothbrush, and tack. Can you find these Hidden Pictures[R] on page 14? ...

Jokes.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Turtle: Which way did the cow go? Cow: I don't know. Which way? Turtle: The Milky Way! Shania Driggs, Ohio A book never written: Healthy Eating by Kara Mell. Chase Hyatt, Michigan Erin: What is the quietest sport? ...

Friendship.(Poem)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Friendship Friendship is a magic tie that reaches past the last good-bye, past the miles and past the years, past the laughter, past the tears. Nothing breaks this golden strand spun by heart and not by hand. ...

The Valentine swap.(Short story)
February 1, 2009... Mary Miller pulled a red box covered with pink hearts from her closet. Inside were unused valentines left over from last year. One by one, Mary reached in, took out a valentine, and wrote a name on it. On the last one, she carefully printed...

Who passed here?(Science Corner)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Which kind of animal do you think made these tracks in the snow? Answer: A rabbit, hopping from left to right.

Trapped water.(Science Corner)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fill a glass with water. Use a rubber band to hold a handkerchief tightly over the top. Over a sink, quickly turn the glass upside down. The water should stay in the glass. Answer Trapped Water--The water...

I wonder ... what horsepower means.(Science Corner)(Definition)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Horsepower is a measure of how Fast a machine can do work. Someone once measured how fast a horse could work. The horse pulled a rope hard enough and fast enough to lift a weight of 550 pounds one foot high in one...

Dino days.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Is there any other very good meat eater than T. rex? Jonathan Liu, Age 8 Illinois There were other effective meat eaters. Giganotosaurus (JIH-guh-NO-toe-SAW-rus) and Mapusaurus (MAP-uh-SAW-rus) were...

Lexi's Central American adventure.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Lexi's class is traveling through all seven countries in Central America. Lexi has a list of what she is going to see, but her map isn't labeled with the names of the countries. Using the clues, can you help Lexi label her map? Panama, the...

Presidents in disguise.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The last name of an American President is hidden in each sentence below. That President's first name is used in the same sentence. Can you figure out each President's name? Example: John's hairstyle reminded us of the crest of a cockatoo....

Secret cipher disk.(Crafts)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Crafty Tip: Make postcards from old greeting cards. 1. With a paper fastener, attach a 9-inch paper plate to a 6-inch paper plate, as shown. 2. Cut 52 half-inch squares of colored paper. 3. Arrange 26...

Monkey door hanger.(Crafts)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. Using decorative scissors, cut out a monkey's head, body, arms, and legs from craft foam. 2. Using regular scissors, cut out hands, feet, ears, a face, and leaves from craft foam. 3. Glue the pieces...

Heart warmer.(Crafts)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. Cut two identical heart shapes from felt. 2. Using embroidery thread and a large-eyed needle, sew around the edge of the heart, as shown. Leave one inch open. 3. Fill the heart with uncooked rice. Sew the...

Gear-rific Valentine.(Crafts)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... 1. Cut gear shapes from craft foam. 2. Use paper fasteners to attach the paper. 3. Glue paper over the fastener backs. 4. Write a Valentine's Day greeting. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Shadow-box sports frame.(Crafts)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... 1. Trace a 9-inch paper plate onto poster board. Cut it out. 2. In the center of the circle, trace the outer edge of a shallow pop-top can, such as a tuna can. Cut out the circle. 3. Decorate the frame like a sports ball. 4. Tape a...

Super Bowl surprise.(Ask Arizona)
February 1, 2009... Dear Arizona, My best friend who moved far away is finally coming back to visit. My parents said I could throw her a welcome-back party, and I want it to be perfect. Do you have any tips on how to throw a great party? --Planning in...

Skydiver.(Your Own Pages)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Karan Patel, Age 6 Georgia

My Bike.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... My Bike My bike runs when I'm on it. It jogs when I get tired of pedaling. It plays when I go down a hill. When it's really tired, it walks to the garage door and lies down on its side. Chris Yae, Age 10 ...

Once upon a castle.(Your Own Pages)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Olivia Te Kolste, Age 6 North Carolina

I have a stuffed toy.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... I have a stuffed toy called Admiral. He is a penguin boy. He is very cute and goes everywhere with me. If you came to my house, a cute penguin you would see. Kevin Duffy, Age 5 Illinois

Snow.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Snow The flurries flutter from the sky onto the cold ground where they lie. They tickle my face as they fall. I look to the sky and see them all. David Senter, Age 9 Tennessee

A Bad Time.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... A Bad Time Everybody in this world has had a bad time. I had a bad time. You had a bad time. When a bad time comes, you will start thinking it will never end. But after every bad time comes a good...

Cars on a sunny day.(Your Own Pages)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Griffin Hobbs, Age S North Carolina

Stripes.(Your Own Pages)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hannah Cheng, Age 8 Louisiana

Sunflower.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Sunflower At winter I found a seed. At spring I planted it. At summer I have a big, beautiful sunflower. I know at fall I will get a lot of seeds. Every seed contains my work and my hope. Jeanette...

Me, skiing.(Your Own Pages)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ally Larson, Age 7 Minnesota

Silence.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
February 1, 2009... Silence Stars winking above deep rich velvety black night warm under covers Zoe Guarnaccia, Age 9 Massachusetts

Ice-cream cone.(Your Own Pages)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Eric Jeffries, Age 7 Pennsylvania

This Is the Ocean.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... This Is the Ocean Ocean bright, ocean delight-- lots of ocean in sight! Lots of animals of the sea, lots of dolphins staring back at me! The ocean is a busy place, and a good place to stay. ...

Hockey highlights.(Your Own Pages)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gavin Rudderham, Age 7 Nova Scotia, Canada

Flowers.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Flowers As I walked through the meadow in summer, the flowers smiled at me happily. Now I am wondering where they are in winter, under the white blanket of snow. Zhongqi Cai, Age 9 Kansas

Rocket leaving earth's atmosphere.(Your Own Pages)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Darian Howard, Age 10 Utah

Wetlands.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Wetlands A soft breeze gusts to the wetlands, a water wave slightly moves by, a coot starts a morning song, all I need. Will Edgar, Age 8 Washington

Dancing girl.(Your Own Pages)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ashlie Hull, Age 6 Oregon

Cabin House.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Cabin House The cabin house so dense and green where misty sunlight comes down through the woods to where I play beneath the towering trees. Ruth Furukawa, Age 8 China

Lunch Is ...(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Lunch Is... Murmurs and voices Ice cream and choices Milk and straws Lunchroom's laws Chairs and tables Cans with labels Silverware and trays Gravy lakes and bays Pleases and pleads Broken...

Mr. Lincoln's dog.(Short story)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jumping up and yipping, Fido chased his tail. He looked like a pinwheel going round and round. The family laughed, but soon Abraham Lincoln's eyes grew sad. He treasured rolling on the floor with his yellow dog. ...

The Timbertoes[R].(Cartoon)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "It's time to get ready," said Pa. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Let's practice again !" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I'll go first." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Now Tommy." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Science letters.
February 1, 2009... Do any planets show signs of past volcanic activity? Matthew Sampson, Age 10 Georgia [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Yes. In fact, our solar system has had more volcanic activity than we can describe here. In addition to Earth, the...

The Hedley Kow: an English folktale.(Short story)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Long ago, near the village of Hedley, there lived a strange and playful trickster. Sometimes it looked like an ordinary object. Sometimes it looked like a donkey or a goat or even a cow. It was known as the Hedley...

The stowaway fox.
February 1, 2009... Imagine spending two weeks locked in a garbage container. You have little to no food or water. When the container opens, you are about three thousand miles from home. That was Feliks's experience. Feliks is an arctic fox. In the spring of...

The bear family.(Cartoon)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Woozy: Why the long face, Poozy? Poozy: The science fair is coming up, and my teacher wants me to work with a new kid. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Woozy: So what's the problem? Poozy: Ernie's different....

Thinking: visitors travel back in time at Mount Vernon.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... The first U.S. President, George Washington, lived at Mount Vernon in Virginia. His home looks much as it did when he lived there in the late 1700s. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * What do you suppose Washington used this room for? * Can...

Putting their best foot forward.
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tiny footprints in the wet sand lead to the water's edge. There, they disappear. Those small marks tell us that a bird has been here. Those tracks give important clues about how the bird lives and eats. Each...

Your best self.(Cartoon)
February 1, 2009... Will you pass this note to Christy? [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] No, I'd better not.

Riddles.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... (1) Why is lettuce so smart? Camryn Rogers, Washington (2) What do you call a sleeping dinosaur? Brennen Ross, California (3) What's at the end of everything? Amber Williamson, West Virginia (4) What do detectives do...

Brain play.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Start at the beginning and see how far you can 90, thinking of good answers from your own head. START [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Name something that feels soft. Name something that feels rough. How would you line these up from the...

Macaroni and fleas.(Short story)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Everyone has a weakness. For me, it's chocolate ice cream. If I had to choose one thing to eat for the rest of my life, that's what it would be. My little brother, Andrew, likes peas. He's only two years old and...

Dear Highlights.
February 1, 2009... My friend has been making Fun of me For things I don't do right. Can you help? Michael R., Washington [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It might help to talk with your friend. You could say, "I have fun when I hang out with you, but it...

Picture puzzler.
February 1, 2009... Find at least ten things that look the same in these two pictures. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

What's wrong?
February 1, 2009... How many silly things can you find in this picture?