Highlights for Children articles from January 2002

Highlights for Children archives from January 2002

The common cormorant.(Poem)
January 1, 2002... The Common Cormorant The common cormorant or shag Lays eggs inside a paper bag The reason you will see no doubt It is to keep the lightning out. But what these unobservant birds Have never noticed is that...

Chris Clark and I were talking about the great tributes we received from readers about their heroes (pages 20 and 21 of this issue).
January 1, 2002... Chris Clark and I were talking about the great tributes we received from readers about their heroes (pages 20 and 21 of this issue). It heartened her to see that so many kids understand what makes a person truly admirable. While we got some...

Sailing forever--inside a bottle.
January 1, 2002... Look closely... this bottle has a sailing ship inside. It's a tiny ship, floating over white-tipped waves. Sails puff from masts held into the wind by ropes of thread. On deck, a tiny sailor navigates. It's a day at sea captured in...

Dino Don's dinosaur days.
January 1, 2002... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] David Schulze, Age 7 Minnesota Did sea reptiles and dinosaurs get along, and if not, in a fight which one would win? Cindy Mathieu, Age 10 New York Marine reptiles and dinosaurs probably met only...

For sure.
January 1, 2002... For Sure If the male is called peacock, And the female, peahen, And together they are peafowl, Then obviously The young would be peewee.

Some actor.
January 1, 2002... "What's this--Ben Caruthers is trying out for Mr. Zuckerman?" My ears burned at hearing my name. It was Lindsey Stanton, the most popular eighth-grader in Bellworth Middle School, talking to her friends. I held my breath. She...

Thinking.
January 1, 2002... * You won't find these fish where you swim. They stay miles underwater. How do you think people first learned about them? * Why is it hard for people to study deep oceans, frozen lands, deserts, and outer space? What inventions help us...

One, two, three, four.(Poem)
January 1, 2002... One, two, three, four... One, two, three, four teddy bears sitting on the floor... One, two, three, four teddy bears sitting on the floor, reading words like ball and bat... One, two, three, tour teddy bears sitting on the...

The snow sculptor.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Parker Seiler has made more than three hundred huge statues, but he's lost every one of them. Mr. Seiler makes his statues from snow. Many people have the chance to see them, but of course the statues melt when warm weather comes. That...

Snow twins. (Hidden Pictures[TM]).
January 1, 2002... In this big picture find the slice of bread, snake, shoe, mushroom, pliers, wishbone, slice of pizza, handbell, book, tack, pie, spoon, carrot, two fish, piece of cake, ice-cream cone, glass, hatchet, cup, and pennant. [ILLUSTRATION...

Winter.(Poem)
January 1, 2002... Winter When Winter sneezes the river freezes. When Winter sighs the North Wind cries. When Winter laughs a blizzard blasts. When Winter sleeps then in Spring creeps

Jokes.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Anne: "I have been seeing purple monsters with pink spots." Doctor: "Have you seen an eye doctor?" Anne: "No, just purple monsters with pink spots." Margaret Smiley, Michigan Eddie: "Why are you wearing your winter coat?" ...

Another set of tracks.
January 1, 2002... "Come on, Lacey. Let's ski this trail." Gavin pointed his pole down the one marked EXPERT ONLY. The trail cut across the meadow and disappeared under snow-shouldered fir trees in the distance. "Absolutely not! When Mom said we could ski...

Who owns the red backpack?
January 1, 2002... Six friends have different-colored backpacks. The six colors are blue, red, greens yellow, black, and purple. Use these clues to figure out who owns the red backpack. 1. Allison ate an apple that matched the color of her backpack. 2....

Goofus and Gallant[R].
January 1, 2002... "I'm skipping choir practice tonight. I want to watch this show." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When Gallant joins an activity, he tries to attend all the meetings. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Goofus doesn't tell the clerk that she...

Your heroes.
January 1, 2002... In the July 2001 issue, we asked you to tell us about your heroes. Thank you for sharing your wonderful tributes to so many influential people. We wish we could publish all of them. Here are just a few. My hero is Helen Keller. I admire her...

The tortoise, the hare, and the penguin: it was a great day for a race ...(Poem)
January 1, 2002... One warm afternoon, a tortoise, a hare, and a penguin sat on the sandy beach of Dassen Island. On the other side of the island stood a lighthouse. "Let's have a race to the lighthouse," said the hare. "Sounds like fun!" brayed the...

A reading lesson. (Flashbacks).
January 1, 2002... When I was young, I had a problem learning to read. There were several reasons for this: I changed schools several times, I was not a fast learner, and the way reading was taught in those days didn't have much meaning for me. I was nine before...

For wee folks.
January 1, 2002... * Which of these things can you do? Was it hard to learn how to do them? If so, are they still hard for you to do? Why or why not? * Name something you are learning how to do. How can you become better at it? Do you think it will ever be...

The Quilt. (Our Own Pages).(Poem)
January 1, 2002... The Quilt The world is a quilt and we are the patches. Without everyone it wouldn't be whole. The more colors we have, the more beautiful we are. How would we look if all the patches were the same--...

Pencil. (Our Own Pages).(Poem)
January 1, 2002... Pencil Lean and still Slightly moving when someone writes Like a cornstalk in November Blowing in the wind. Maddie Sutton-Smith, Age 8 Pennsylvania

My Mother's Garden. (Our Own Pages).(Poem)
January 1, 2002... My Mother's Garden Radishes are hot and tingly, Bean pods are long and stringy, Tomatoes are slushy, squash are mushy, Potatoes hide in the ground, Cabbage heads are high and round. Carrots wear their hair up...

Grief is dark blue. (Our Own Pages).(Poem)
January 1, 2002... Grief is dark blue It smells like a dead flower It looks like people crying It tastes like a teardrop on my cheek It sounds like people sniffling Grief feels like part of my heart is missing Ryan Miracle, Age...

Winter. (Our Own Pages).(Poem)
January 1, 2002... Winter Winter is the snow falling through the trees, getting all cold while I am getting warm inside. Tyler Hobar, Age 6 Connecticut Laura Ibarra, Age 13 Washington

A Hero. (Our Own Pages).(Poem)
January 1, 2002... A Hero Isn't just a person Who saves the world On some TV show A hero is anyone Who shows bravery When things get tough Someone who falls Only to get back On their feet again Someone who has a...

New Year. (Our Own Pages).(Poem)
January 1, 2002... New Year I love the New Year! It is finally here with confetti all over the place. The party is fun and the music is loud. Snow is outside, the moon is out. The balloons are big and it is almost...

You Won't Like Being an Eraser. (Our Own Pages).(Poem)
January 1, 2002... You Won't Like Being an Eraser You won't like being an eraser. Used and bruised. Turned into a zillion pieces. Used and bruised. All tossed and turned. You won't like being an eraser. My feet fall off. ...

First it is a little sprout. (Our Own Pages).(Poem)
January 1, 2002... First it is a little sprout, Then it grows some leaves. Then it gets some petals And grows up with the trees. Jordan Lenning, Age 7 California The Mountains and Two Bears Kaitlin Hill, Age 7 Alabama ...

The Old Barn. (Our Own Pages).(Poem)
January 1, 2002... The Old Barn Down by the old barn I went, into the hay bales that smelled musty and old, birds above my head flapping their wings, shaking dust. I lift up my head and see sunshine shining through...

Anything Is Possible. (Our Own Pages).(Poem)
January 1, 2002... Anything Is Possible When you can't see you can still read When you can't hear you can still talk When you have no hands you can still be artistic When you have no feet you can still be athletic As...

My Dog Needs a Bath. (Our Own Pages).(Poem)
January 1, 2002... My Dog Needs a Bath My dog needs a bath. She smells like a giraffe. I told my mom I would But I don't think I could. She keeps running from me Because she can see She is getting a bath. I guess she'd...

Artificial vision.
January 1, 2002... In science fiction, a character may go blind but then use a pair of ultra-high-tech artificial eyes to see again. In laboratories, researchers are working to make that fiction a reality. Here's the plan: A blind patient will have a tiny...

Cat tracking.
January 1, 2002... Heather and Dad went outside to look for Stripe. "I hope Stripe is not lost in the snow," Heather said. Heather looked all around for Stripe. Then she saw tracks in the snow. "If we follow the tracks, we may find Stripe," Dad said. ...

Dog-show puzzle.
January 1, 2002... Find the two columns that include the same five dogs. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ANSWERS: Columns 2 and 6.

Riddles.
January 1, 2002... 1. Why did Beethoven get rid of his chicken? Kayla Patterson, Colorado 2. What did the tree say to the beaver? Dana and Alex Edwards, Kentucky 3. What is so fragile that if you say its name, you break it? Bryan Cruse,...

Make a New Year's wish on your own fountain. (You Can Make It!).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... 1. Trace the bottom of a clear takeout-container lid onto blue paper. Cut out the shape, and glue it inside the lid. 2. Glue a smaller clear container, such as a single-serving pudding container or several film canisters, onto the middle of...

Indoor croquet--fun for everyone. (You Can Make It!).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... 1. To make each mallet, trace around the end of a paper-towel tube three times onto thin cardboard. Cut out the circles. Glue one circle to the end of the paper-towel tube and one to each end of a toilet-tissue tube. 2. Cut two 1...

A snowman who won't melt away. (You Can Make It!).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... 1. With an adult's help, cut a hole in the bottom of a one-gallon plastic container. Place the hole over the spout of another one-gallon container. 2. To make the arms, flatten two cardboard tubes and cover them with felt. Cut four mitten...

This little bird will brighten up the winter scenery. (You Can Make It!).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... 1. With an adult's help, cut the bottom off a plastic half-gallon milk or juice container about 1 1/2 inches from the bottom. 2. For snow, glue cotton balls inside the bottom piece. Add star stickers. 3. Cut a bird from paper. Add a...

Keep your thoughts straight with a bookmarked journal. (You Can Make It!).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... 1. On an old greeting card, measure 1/4 inch from each side of the center fold and lightly mark the lines with a pencil. Use your fingernail to make an indentation along these lines, then crease them completely. This will be the spine of your...

You may recognize this puppet's face. (You Can Make It!).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... 1. To make the head, remove the flaps from a gelatin or pudding box. Cover the box with construction paper. Glue on a photograph for the face. 2. Braid yarn around a chenille stick. Glue it over the top of the box and down the sides to...

Craft challenge! (You Can Make It!).
January 1, 2002... Look out your window and, from memory, paint a picture of what the scenery will look like once summer comes.

Peter pays, the price.
January 1, 2002... Peter glanced around the living room. Empty moving crates sat in one corner. The television blared in another. For one whole week he had lived in this house with nothing to do but watch TV while his parents worked. If only I had some friends,...

The Timbertoes.
January 1, 2002... Ma looked outside. It was a fine winter day. Everyone was playing. "I want to have some fun!" Ma found a cookie sheet. Up the hill she went. Ready, set, go! Uh-oh! Look out, Spot! Sorry, Tommy! Oh, my!...

Chester Greenwood's ears.
January 1, 2002... Chester Greenwood had a problem. His ears got very cold in winter. When they got cold, they changed color, from red to blue to white. In the frigid temperatures in the hills of western Maine, near the town of Farmington where he lived,...

Science corner.
January 1, 2002... Boy: Why does the car need oil? Dad: Oil is slippery stuff. It lets the inside parts of the engine turn round and round without getting stuck. If you put a drop of oil between your fingers, you can feel how slippery it is.

Headwork: start at the beginning and see how far you can go, thinking of good answers from your own head..
January 1, 2002... Why might sports teams have coaches? How tall would you like to grow up to be? Why? Where do you often hear music? Why do people learn to count? Sue looked at her plant and said, "Hmmm, you need water." How did she know? ...

A cobra in the garden.(author shares her backyard with a cobra)
January 1, 2002... From the sky, parts of Borneo look like the top of a giant broccoli. Much of the island is tropical rain forest. It is the world's third largest island, and it lies in Southeast Asia, on the equator. I lived on Borneo in a small town...

A loan or a gift? (Dear Highlights).
January 1, 2002... My friend gave me something for my bike. She said I could have it. Now she says she only let me borrow it. What should I do? Rebekah R., North Carolina It sounds as if a misunderstanding occurred. Talking about it may be the best way...

Wanting to wrestle. (Dear Highlights).
January 1, 2002... At school they won't let us wrestle. We want to wrestle like the wrestlers we see on TV. Kevin C., California Many people do not realize the dangers of this kind of wrestling. (It used to be called "studio wrestling" because it was...

Friends fight. (Dear Highlights).
January 1, 2002... Sometimes my friends get into fights and separate. I want everyone to be happy. David V., Arizona This kind of thing happens often. Try not to take sides. Let your friends know that you want to remain friends with everyone. If they...