Highlights for Children articles from May 2005

Highlights for Children archives from May 2005

Snail.(Poem)
May 1, 2005... Snail No one writes a letter to the snail. He does not have a mailbox for his mail. He does not have a bathtub or a rug. There's no one in his house that he can hug. There isn't any room when he's inside. And...

Find the pictures.(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... Can you find each of these pictures at another place in this book? [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Dear readers.(Editorial)
May 1, 2005... She has a cat named Cow. She loves her friends, especially her pal Ollie, a skateboarder and an artist. She gets into lots of embarrassing and silly situations, but she learns something new about herself every time. As the saying goes, when...

Tap, tap, tap! Pounding plants onto paper.
May 1, 2005... If you've ever had grass stains on your knees, you already know that the color, or pigment, in plants can end up on other surfaces. Now you can transfer that color onto paper! Getting Started You'll need a hammer, a hammering surface...

Lunchtime loyalty?(Ask Arizona)
May 1, 2005... Dear Arizona, Last week, this girl Serena from my soccer team asked me to eat with her group, so I did. The good part is that Serena and her friends were really nice. The bad part is that now my old lunch group says I have to choose...

I wonder ... what those long hairs are for.(Science Corner)
May 1, 2005... Those long hairs are called whiskers. A cat uses them to feel things that get close to its face.

A steaming-hot question.(Science Corner)
May 1, 2005... See the white steam coming out of the teakettle? Now look closely at the photograph. Why is the steam right above the spout clear--almost invisible--before it turns white? Steam is water that is so hot it has become a gas. Near the spout,...

Make a parachute.(Science Corner)
May 1, 2005... Tie together string, a paper napkin, and a clothespin. Use one hand to pinch the center of the napkin. With the other hand, pull the four corners downward and together. Lay the napkin and the clothespin side by side in your hand and toss the...

Dinosaur days.
May 1, 2005... Were today's flowers (like daffodils) alive during the Dinosaur Age? Molly Galbreath, Age 9 Michigan Daffodils belong to the flowering-plant group. Some flowering plants did appear, such as flowering trees similar to magnolias....

Knot? Or not?
May 1, 2005... Sailor Taylor was practicing knot tying. When Taylor pulled on the ends of the ropes in each figure below, which formed knots? Which did not? [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] B, C, and D will form knots. The others will not.

Hummingbird.(Nature watch: from the Roger Tory Peterson Institute)
May 1, 2005... Did You Know? The hummingbird spends most of its time feeding at flowers. It uses its long beak and tongue to drink the flowers' nectar. This bird has to keep drinking nectar almost all the time. Nectar contains sugar, and sugar gives the...

Calvin's cock-a-doodle-do.(Short Story)
May 1, 2005... "Not again," said Calvin. "I slept through the cock-a-doodle-do." "Sometimes one just isn't a morning animal," said the horse. "I'm a rooster! I'm supposed to wake up Farmer Fred," said Calvin. "It's still morning, sort of," said...

Arctic vs. Antarctic: poles apart: use the cold facts to tell one from the other.
May 1, 2005... Imagine that someone put a blindfold on you, spun you around, and took you to either the North Pole or the South Pole. When you arrived and took off your blindfold, how would you know where you were? Aren't both poles alike? No, they're...

Building a clubhouse.(Hidden Pictures[R])
May 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In this big picture, find the candle, ice-cream cone, pen, giraffe, fishhook, pot, mug, fish, carrot, shoe, ring, cupcake, slice of pie, key, toothbrush, and spoon. Can you find these Hidden Pictures[R] on page...

Jokes.
May 1, 2005... Arnold: "Will you remember me in ten years?" Jacob: "Yes." Arnold: "Will you remember me in twenty years?" Jacob: "Yes." Arnold: "Knock, knock." Jacob: "Who's there?" Arnold: "See? You already forgot me!" Gary...

Tock-Tick.(Poem)
May 1, 2005... Tock-Tick Tock-tick, rock-tick! It must be sick! Why won't my clock tick-tock, tick-tock? Its arms rotate from nine to eight. They're in reverse and getting worse! If they don't turn the...

The magnificent key.(You Told the Story!)(Short Story)
May 1, 2005... "This key opens the door to the magical, mythical world of Lizipian," explained Child, showing the key to the twins, Roberta and Roberto. The twins stared with awe at the magnificent key that Child held before them. The fairies in...

Door to paradise.(You Told the Story!)(Short Story)
May 1, 2005... "Oh no!" Mary Lee said to herself. "It's Gullidan, and he's got the key to paradise!" Mary Lee peeked around a far corner at her two friends. "Alley has the golden gifts! And Andy has the offering bird! This is not good." Gullidan's...

The third wish.(You Told the Story!)(Short Story)
May 1, 2005... Dave and Keri were very curious kids. One day, while on vacation in Egypt, they got permission from their parents to go on a hike to see what mysteries they could find. Their little sister, Sarah, snuck away to follow them. They walked to...

The magical boy.(You Told the Story!)(Short Story)
May 1, 2005... Once upon a time there was a boy with a tail. He was a magical boy. A girl and a boy came along and said, "Hi-dee-ho!" They had a parrot and a big lollipop. Another girl, who was hiding behind a rock, said, "Oh no!" She was worried about...

The world of Liembien.(You Told the Story!)(Short Story)
May 1, 2005... "Hurry, our time is short," whispered Niko as Zach and Lisa struggled to keep up. Their bare feet made a dull patter as they ran through the dirt corridors of the palace. Finally Niko stopped in front of them, his tail flicking absently....

The isle of peace.(You Told the Story!)(Short Story)
May 1, 2005... The city of Juran was under a spell. For three thousand years, King Lando ruled. His evil kingdom was growing. One day, four kids--Eren, Joanna, Neen, and Pinko--found a key. In the center of the city was a rock. There was a keyhole there....

Making plastic.(Science Letters)
May 1, 2005... How is plastic made from petroleum? Nicholas Singletary, Age 10 Georgia To answer your question, we have to think like chemists. That means thinking about things that are very, very small. It means thinking about atoms and how...

Check ... and double check.
May 1, 2005... There are at least sixteen differences in these two pictures. How many can you find? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Thinking.
May 1, 2005... These people and animals have something in common. When they're hungry, they eat! * Are the people having meal or a snack? How do you know? * Do any of the foods they're eating seem healthier than others? * Which animals are wild?...

Six seconds of lightning: how long could six seconds be?(Short Story)
May 1, 2005... I have a problem, I thought as I grabbed the rope and settled down on top of the bull. I'd never ridden a bull before. What made me think I could do this? We had come to Wyoming to visit family and to watch my cousin compete in the junior...

Fallingwater.(Frank Lloyd Wright designed Fallingwater in 1935)
May 1, 2005... A waterfall swirls beneath it. Huge boulders rest at its feet. Forests surround it, and wild animals live near it. It's not a mountain... it's a house! Its name is Fallingwater. An architect named Frank Lloyd Wright designed Fallingwater...

Act up!
May 1, 2005... Imagine that you are in a play. Without using words, show that your character feels embarrassed shy excited loving sleepy content

Picture pairs picture pairs.(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... How many words can you make by combining words pictured below? [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Goofus and Gallant[R].
May 1, 2005... If Goofus makes a mess, he leaves it there. Gallant cleans up after himself. "Will you please stop sneezing?" "Bless you again, Sam!" [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

The right sign.(Short Story)
May 1, 2005... One day Cary saw walking people walking across her garden. They were stepping on the flowers. Cary put up a sign. It said "Please go around the garden. Save the flowers." But people kept walking across the garden. One night, Cary heard...

Jaguar.(Our Own Pages)(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... Jaguar [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Emi Nakashima, Age 4 Washington

Swimming.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
May 1, 2005... Swimming When I leave the board I don't stay straight-- I do a dive. Down I go, to the bottom, Swimming like a fish to the top. When I break the surface, I feel so alive. Destiny Wall, Age 10 ...

Imagine and Dream.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
May 1, 2005... Imagine and Dream Dream a stream Of magic and love; Imagine summer On a star above. Andrew Folan, Age 10 Illinois

Red.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
May 1, 2005... Red Red like a cherry falling from a cherry tree. Red like Santa Claus coming down the chimney. Red like a cardinal laying her eggs. Red like a pepper burning your mouth. Red like a ladybug ...

My Grandmy.(Our Own Pages)(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... My Grandmy [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dominic Frabutt, Age 6 Michigan

The Sun.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
May 1, 2005... The Sun The sun shines all over the place. I love it when it shines on me. Rose Roy, Age 7 Rhode Island

Why Me?(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
May 1, 2005... Why Me? Why is it that I always get in trouble? All I was doing was talking; Everyone tells me to shush! I ask why; nobody dares to reply. So I just wonder if I'll ever find out What everyone's shushing about! ...

The Alamo.(Our Own Pages)(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... The Alamo [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kiefer Odell, Age 10 Texas

Chester.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
May 1, 2005... Chester When I was gloomy, there was my dog. When my heart shattered, there was my dog. When I was frolicking, there was my dog. When my tears spilled out, there was my dog. When I needed my...

Apollo, Greek God of the Sun, Light, Music, and Poetry.(Our Own Pages)(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... Apollo, Greek God of the Sun, Light, Music, and Poetry [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Matty Bernstein, Age 7 California

Sunset to Sunrise.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
May 1, 2005... Sunset to Sunrise A sunset is a raging fire, a furnace of color, a stove of burning brightness. Sundown is the ashes of the fire, the coals extinguished, the flames no more. The stars in the...

Bobcat.(Our Own Pages)(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... Bobcat [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Christina Woolpert, Age 14 Oklahoma

Raindrops.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
May 1, 2005... Raindrops Raindrops on the windshield sound like popcorn-- Pop! Pop! Pop! Raindrops kind of look like teardrops. Drop! Splat! Pop! Emily Orr, Age 3 Missouri

Apple Orchard.(Our Own Pages)(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... Apple Orchard [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Frankie Deleo, Age 10 New York

My Mom.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
May 1, 2005... My Mom A gentle woman, full of peace, A soothing love that will not cease. Her love is comfort to my soul; To pay it back, an impossible goal. Time again through the years She's been there to wipe away my tears....

Blue Jay at the Feeder.(Our Own Pages)(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... Blue Jay at the Feeder [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Matthew Sprague, Age 9 Pennsylvania

The Voice.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
May 1, 2005... The Voice Just one--that is what it takes to redirect fate, and all was changed on a famous date-- the day of freedom, the day of peace, the day that time appeared to cease. That instant, one voice was heard...

Peace.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
May 1, 2005... Peace Peace is like a waterfall. Peace looks like a starlit sky. It sounds like the waves in the sea. Peace can be anywhere, but peace is always with me. Samantha Driver, Age 9 Mississippi

Happy Moose.(Our Own Pages)(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... Happy Moose [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Skighe Bennett, Age 6 Alberta

A Poem.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
May 1, 2005... A Poem A poem takes you to another world, flowing on the river of thought, into the roots of the tree of a magnificent creation. A poem. Michael Wright, Jr., Age 8 Wisconsin

My Dad.(Our Own Pages)(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... My Dad [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Wyatt Lohran, Age 9 Arizona

How lobsters make "music": they're not just fiddling around.(Science In Action)
May 1, 2005... Dr. Sheila Patek is a scientist who studies how animals talk to one another. She is curious about spiny lobsters. These lobsters make a noise to scare away predators. One day, Dr. Patek watched a lobster rub its antenna on its head to make...

Riddles.
May 1, 2005... 1. How much did the crab pay for the sandcastle? Christine Adkins, Nevada 2. What song was played when the cookie got married? Steven Arterburn, Michigan 3. What is strong on the outside and sweet on the inside? Melissa...

Matching.(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... Look at each picture on the left. Find one like it on the right. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

The chimney riddle: could Detective Jim solve this case?(Short Story)
May 1, 2005... "What goes up the chimney down, but can't come down the chimney up?" asked Dad. Jim smiled. Solving Dad's riddles made him feel like a detective. He paced back and forth. He rubbed his chin. "Up the chimney down," he mumbled. "Down the...

A kite with a motor: Glenn Martin started making flying machines when he was just a young boy.(Biography)
May 1, 2005... The floor was crunchy with scraps of paper, and the open glue pot filled the room with a heavy, stale odor. Glenn Martin didn't notice. All the six-year-old thought about was finishing his kite. Made of brown paper and thin twigs, the...

Coming back from defeat.(Flashbacks)(basketball player, Val Ackerman's story)
May 1, 2005... When I was growing up, I loved playing sports, partly because my dad was a high-school athletic director who passed his love of sports down to me. The problem was that in the 1960s there weren't any organized sports for young girls. I was left...

Play Uffangali--a game of Uff from India.
May 1, 2005... India is a tropical country, and most homes--especially those in the southern part of the country--are not carpeted. The cool flooring feels good, and it's useful for playing many games. One such game is Uffangali. To play, all you need is a...

Kite flying.
May 1, 2005... All it takes to fly a kite is upsy gusts and "Hold and tight!" and oopsy loops and "Watch it fly!" and smiley miles and miles s k y !

Where might you hear the following? What might be happening?
May 1, 2005... "Can you help me? I keep hitting it into the net!" "That's all for today, class. Don't leave without taking home a permission slip." "Who's next?" "These four keys are sticking. Nothing happens when I tap them." "Did anyone...

It's a mystery!(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... Can you identify the everyday item shown in this close-up photo? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] An artist's brush.

Have fun with these baby-bird buddies!(Quick Crafts)
May 1, 2005... 1. For each bird, cut the bottom half from a Styrofoam cup and paint it. 2. Turn the cup upside down. Glue on a large pompom for the head. 3. From felt, cut out eyes, wings, a beak, a tail, and feet. Glue them in place. ...

Put on some bird "specs".(Quick Crafts)
May 1, 2005... 1. Ask an adult to pop the lenses out of an old pair of plastic sunglasses. 2. Glue craft feathers along the top of the glasses. 3. Cut a diamond-shaped beak from paper. Add nostrils with a marker. Glue the beak onto the nose bridge of...

Decorate for spring with this hat wreath.(Crafts You Can Make)
May 1, 2005... 1. Cut six 3-inch circles from cardboard. Cover one side of each circle with fabric. 2. Glue a juice cap to the center of each circle. Cover the top with matching fabric. 3. Glue a band of felt around the edge of each cap. Glue a...

Celebrate mom's "heart of gold".(Crafts You Can Make)
May 1, 2005... 1. Fold a piece of paper in half to make a card. 2. Draw and color a large heart shape on the front of the card. 3. Cut pictures of gold jewelry from old catalogs and magazines. Glue the pictures onto the heart. 4. Use markers to...

Share a smile with a crocodile.(Crafts You Can Make)
May 1, 2005... 1. Carefully take apart a large cracker box and a small pasta box. Turn them inside out and re-glue them. 2. For the neck, cut a 1 1/2-inch-by-6-inch strip of cardboard, and fold it accordion-style. Glue one end to the cracker box and the...

Toss these bugs!(Crafts You Can Make)
May 1, 2005... 1. Use red paint to paint five small, flat, clean stones. Let them dry. 2. On each stone, paint a ladybug's head, a line down the back, spots, and eyes. To Play: Make a large ring with string or yarn. Each player tosses all of the...

The Timbertoes[R].(Comic)
May 1, 2005... Pa's workshop was a mess. "May I help?" What a lot of weeds! "May I help?" Tommy's wagon lost a wheel. "May I help?" Mabel wanted to bake. "May I help?" Baby Robin fell. Spot barked for help. ...

Brain play.
May 1, 2005... Start at the beginning and see how far you can go, thinking of good answers from your own head. START Do animals make music? What is your favorite snack? Which toys are more fun to share than to play with alone? Name as...

Rattlesnake rescue.(Short Story)
May 1, 2005... Rebecca straightened up and stretched her tired back. "That's the last seedling, Pa. Have we planted enough?" Pa walked to the end of the row of cottonwood seedlings. "Nope," he said. "We have to plant trees all the way to that rock over...

Roller-coaster chills.(Dear Highlights)
May 1, 2005... My big sister wanted me to get on a roller coaster, but when I saw it, I didn't want to. Should I get on it next time? Sarah F., Texas Roller coasters and other amusement-park rides are meant to be a little scary. That's part of the...

School fad.(Dear Highlights)
May 1, 2005... There's a trading-card fad at my school. I want some cards because I know they're fun. Mom said that it is my choice. What should I do? Alex R., Pennsylvania If you have played with these cards and think that they're fun, then you...

Exchanging good-byes.(Dear Highlights)
May 1, 2005... My family hosted an exchange student from Korea. She will be leaving soon, and I'll be sad when she leaves. How can I feel better? Marleese P., Nova Scotia One way to feel better is to realize that your friendship doesn't have to end....

Saving money.(Dear Highlights)
May 1, 2005... I spend all my money on things I don't need. How can I save more money? Marlee K., Illinois You might want to divide your money into envelopes with labels such as spend, save, gifts, charity, and college. Your parents can help you...

What to do?(Dear Highlights)
May 1, 2005... I have friends I want to play with, but they want to do different things. What should I do? Zane M., California Perhaps there are some games that you and your friends all enjoy. You might make a list of those games and agree to take...

Picture puns.
May 1, 2005... What common word or phrase does each picture represent? [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] 1. High temperatures. 2. Halftime. 3. Rolling pin. 4. The White House. 5. The day before yesterday. 6. Round up. 7. Distant...