Highlights for Children articles from October 2007

Highlights for Children archives from October 2007

National Carry a Tune Week.(Fun This Month)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Move to the beat of National Carry a Tune Week (October 7-13, 2007). During this week, ask an adult to teach you a favorite tune from America's past. Share the fun by teaching the tune to your friends.

Zip! Zap!(Fun This Month)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Thunder rumbled. Lightning flashed. The power went out. When the lights came back on, what had changed? ANSWERS: Zip! Zap!--The mouse has stolen some cheese and is eating it beneath the chair. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Woolly worms.(Fun This Month)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Some folks think that woolly-bear caterpillars (sometimes called "woolly worms") can predict winter weather. Scientists say that's not true, but in North Carolina, these black and brown caterpillars have their own October festival. Here are a...

Find the pictures.(Fun This Month)
October 1, 2007... Can you find each of these 10 pictures at another place in this magazine? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Shivery fun.(Dear Readers)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... A few days ago, I was in a restaurant with friends when a storm knocked out the power. Oh, was that dining room dark! The chef couldn't cook without electricity, but he did make us cold sandwiches. As we ate by candlelight, my friend...

Theme in Yellow.(Poem)
October 1, 2007... Theme in Yellow I spot the hills With yellow balls in autumn. I light the prairie cornfields Orange and tawny gold clusters And I am called pumpkins. On the last of October When dusk is fallen Children...

Thinking: join the parade!(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... * Who is wearing a costume? * Who is dressed for work? * Which costumes are based on things in the real world? * Which costumes are based on imaginary things? * Why might businesses put signs in a parade? * Who do you...

Secret code: a secret code from El Salvador.(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Try this "bat code" for yourself! Which mammal flies at night and has a secret code of its own? If you lived in the Central American country of El Salvador, you'd know the answer: a bat. In Spanish, the word for bat is murcielago...

Afraid of the dark.(Short story)
October 1, 2007... "Let's shut off the lights and tell ghost stories," Dylan said. "Yeah!" the other kids shouted. "Not yet," I said. "Show us that magic trick again, Dylan. The one where you make the quarter disappear." "Come on, Quinn," said...

The Oak Hotel.(Poem)
October 1, 2007... The Oak Hotel Beneath the roots of our old oak, a mouse curls up to nap and rest, and in the branches high above, a blue jay builds her cozy nest. Upon the bark all gray and brown, a moth is hiding while it...

You illustrated the poem! Your pictures brought the Oak Hotel to life.(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Kate Dieda, Age 8 California [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Emelia Alflen, age 8 Michigan [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hannah Frasier, Age 11 Nebraska [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Olivia La Bianca, Age 13 Pennsylvania [ILLUSTRATION...

Oops I Goofed!
October 1, 2007... We all make mistakes Luckily, most mistakes aren't serious, and some are even funny. Have you made a silly mistake that you'd like to tell us about? We'd love to hear from you. Please keep your story shorter than 100 words, and send it to...

Upside down.
October 1, 2007... "You sure look silly," said his mother. "Why do you sleep like that?" "But, Mother, I am copying you," replied her baby bat.

Your best self.
October 1, 2007... I could've played better Want to practice with me after school?

Matching.
October 1, 2007... Look at each moon phase on the left. Find one like it on the right. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Clouds.(Poem)
October 1, 2007... My dog and I lie on the grass. I watch the clouds change as they pass. One cloud looks like a parachute. The parachute becomes a boot Then it's a lamb with soft white ears. The lamb blows on and disappears. As rows of...

Fish for dinner.(Hidden Pictures[R])
October 1, 2007... In this big picture, find the fishhook, nail, shoe, seal, fish, heart, millipede, sailboat, iron, spoon, cockatiel, balloon, toothbrush, and toy top. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Jokes.(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Amanda: "How do you warm up a room after it has been painted?" Jess: "Give it a second coat." Amanda Guinta, New York Agnes: "What did the mother buffalo say to her son when he was leaving?" Chester: "I don't know. What?" ...

Spare Change.(Poem)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Spare Change You reach in your pocket, And what do you find? Three quarters, two nickels, four pennies, a dime. For your favorite snack, you need one penny more. It's your lucky day--there's one on...

Baby Dolphins in Shark Bay: in shark-filled waters, how do mother dolphins help their babies survive?
October 1, 2007... Bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Australia, have a hard life. Almost half of the babies die while they are still little. Dr. Janet Mann and Dr. Jana Watson-Capps are scientists who study these dolphins. They wanted to know why the baby...

Have you heard the one.(Ask Arizona)
October 1, 2007... Dear Arizona, I have a funny problem, which I'm sorry to say is that I'm not very funny at all. Every time I try to tell a joke, I mess up! Do you have any tips on how I can get better at making people laugh? --Hopelessly Humorless ...

Monster mold.
October 1, 2007... When I was in high school, my classmate Steve and I teamed up to repeat a famous experiment. We had read how Alexander Fleming had discovered a medicine called an antibiotic in 1928. His laboratory experiment had been contaminated with a...

The Timbertoes[R].(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... "Let's put on a play." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mabel hung a curtain. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tommy helped with scenery. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] They invited Ma and Pa. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The curtain opened....

The Halloween copycat.(Short story)
October 1, 2007... On Halloween morning, Squirrel started decorating her house. First, she carved a funny jack-o'-lantern and set it on her porch railing. Then she scampered inside to stuff a scarecrow. When Squirrel brought her scarecrow outside, she saw a...

Goofus and Gallant[R].(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... "That was easy!" says Goofus. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Goofus think it's funny to scare little kids. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gallant sits quietly while others are still working. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "It's just me,"...

It sounds like ...(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Which sound matches each picture? When you bite down on ice, it makes a crunch. When you blow through your teeth, it makes a hiss. rattle clink pop crackle drip bang

Emily Stupi: there's some of Goofus and Gallant in us all. When the Gallant shines through, we show our best self.(Gallant Kids)
October 1, 2007... Race time: 7:00 A.M. The starting gun blasts, Emily Stupi dives into the Olympic-size pool. Cold water hits her, and it's hard to catch her breath. Pulling her arms through the water, Emily begins her first of eight laps. She's determined to...

Space junk.
October 1, 2007... The astronauts living and working in the International Space Station were worried. Two hundred and forty miles above Earth, the space station was on a collision course-with a runaway tool. Three days before, on March 11, 2001, astronaut...

Clown.(Your Own Pages)
October 1, 2007... Clown Alexis Johnston, Age 6 Pennsylvania [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Slippers.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
October 1, 2007... Slippers are just like a car. They can travel very far. They can even take you to Mars! Slippers are just like a car. Slippers are just like a truck. They can carry lots of stuff. They never really get stuck....

Turtle.(Your Own Pages)
October 1, 2007... Turtle Constanza Pena Vitienes, Age 8 Dominician Republic [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

What is Wind.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
October 1, 2007... What is Wind? Wind is a wolf, howling night and day. Wind is an eagle, soaring through the sky. Wind is an elephant, big and strong, yet gentle and nice. The wind is like a fox, swift and...

Tat, my cat.(Your Own Pages)
October 1, 2007... Tat, My Cat MacGregor Reed, Age 11 Oregon [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

All is quiet.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
October 1, 2007... All is quiet. Only small sounds, like the scratch of a pencil, or the turn of a page. All is quiet. "Shh!" I hear someone say. No teachers walking down the hall. All is quiet. Madison Bailey,...

The Big, Big Poem.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
October 1, 2007... The Big, Big Poem In a big, big world, In a big, big sky, Tiny birds fly by. Maximillian Chow-Gillette, Age 5 Texas

My Special Train.(Your Own Pages)
October 1, 2007... My Special Train Edwin Lin, Age 7 North Carolina [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

My Fish, Cart.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
October 1, 2007... My Fish, Cart I have a fish named Cart. I met him when I was riding in a shopping cart at the pet store, so I named him Cart. He lives in a green tank. I feed him four food pieces twice every day. Sometimes ...

Fall.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
October 1, 2007... Fall Days getting shorter Leaves falling, dancing, twirling Rainbow on the ground. Lance Sheeley, Age 9 Oregon

Emily.(Your Own Pages)
October 1, 2007... Emily Breana Franks, Age 12 Arizona [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

A Cursive Discursive.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
October 1, 2007... A Cursive Discursive Cursive is fun. I've just begun. My favorite is G, then B, S, and T I hate the Q's. They give me the blues. When my hand gets sore, the letters look poor. (I'll give you a hint:...

Me with My Piano.(Your Own Pages)
October 1, 2007... Me with My Piano Jordyn Benn, Age 5 Wisconsin [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

A Day at the Ballpark.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
October 1, 2007... A Day at the Ballpark Hitting balls into outer space. Outfielders begin their chase. The ball sails freely through the sky. Pitcher's hoping that it would die. It lands on the other side of the fence. My muscles...

Weather.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
October 1, 2007... Weather Thunder bangs. Lightning crashes. The whirling wind makes its path along the street at night. Macallan Penberthy, Age 6 Washington, D.C.

Cartoon of Myself.(Your Own Pages)
October 1, 2007... Cartoon of Myself Kallie Roger, Age 9 Michigan [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Strawberries.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
October 1, 2007... Strawberries Strawberries are my favorite things to eat. They are very, very sweet. They're juicy and red-So my mom won't let me eat them in bed. Justin Rhines, Age 6 Texas

The Toucan and the Parrot.(Your Own Pages)
October 1, 2007... The Toucan and the Parrot Samuel Ng, Age 9 California [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Dragons.(Your Own Pages)
October 1, 2007... Dragons Angela Leeper, Age 5 Georgia [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Little Piggy.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
October 1, 2007... Little Piggy Little piggy in a hutch. He never does very much. Catherine Brothers, Age 6 New Jersey

The Lighthouse.(Your Own Pages)
October 1, 2007... The Lighthouse Ryan Crandall, Age 9 Kansas [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The cupboard.(Short story)
October 1, 2007... Rupert Jackson Wilkey stood next to his tall silent grandmother and watched his parents drive off, leaving him behind. The old station wagon disappeared down the dark gravel road. The road vanished into a mass of trees, mostly pines. ...

Tongue twisters.
October 1, 2007... Sally steps on stepping stones every seven seconds. Georgia Filler, Age 9 Idaho Captain Curdle captures cream-colored crabs. Dana Head, Age 10 Missouri

Peanut-Butter Balls.(Recipe)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Peanut-Butter Balls By Anne Ginsberg and Monica Hay-Cook Ingredients: 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/2 cup jam or jelly 1/4 cup raisins 4 graham crackers 1. Crush the graham crackers. 2. Mix together the peanut...

Riddles.(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... (1) What does spider do on a rainy day? Jeremy Bossert, Ohio (2) Where do movie stars go on Halloween? Morgan Satermo, Colorado (3) Why did the crab cross the wave? Matthew Selle, Texas (4) What did the scarf say to...

What makes wind?(Science Letters)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... What makes wind? Jessica Wilcox, Age 9 Maryland Wind is a bunch of air, all moving in pretty much the same direction at once. What makes so much air move in this way? Sunlight warms the surface of Earth. But our world is not...

What is earwax made of?(Science Letters)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... What is earwax made of? Samantha Swaney, Age 9 Texas The proper name for earwax is cerumen. It is made up of two substances produced by glands in the ear. One of these substances is sebum--thick, oily stuff made mostly of fat and...

Check ... and double check.
October 1, 2007... There are at least thirteen differences in these two pictures. How many can you find? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Make a canoe and stand.(Crafts)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... 1. Fold a piece of construction paper. With the folded edge as the bottom, cut out a canoe shape. 2. Unfold the paper. The shape will look like two canoes bottom to bottom. Trace the shape onto cardboard. Cut it out. Fold it and staple the...

Sew your scarecrow.(Crafts)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... 1. Cut pieces of craft foam to make the scarecrow's hat, face, collar, patches, shirt, top of pants, legs, arms, hands, and feet. 2. To sew the pieces of your scarecrow together, gently poke a chenille stick through the layers of foam, pull...

Play fire up the soup!(Crafts)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... 1. For soup bowls, paint the insides of four cardboard bowls, each a different color. 2. Cut out twenty 2-inch-by-3-inch cards from poster board. Use markers to draw and label two cards for each of ten vegetables. 3. Draw each...

Create a spooky haunted house.(Crafts)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... 1. Glue colored paper to cover a clean milk carton. 2. Cut a door, windows, and shutters from paper, then glue them to the house. Add details with markers. 3. For a spooky effect, add cotton cobwebs and cut-paper bats and ghosts.

Finger clappers are festive.(Crafts)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... 1. For clappers, trace two large buttons or checkers onto colored paper, and cut out the circles. Glue a circle to each button. 2. Cut two 1 1/2-inch pieces of thin elastic. Glue one piece to each paper circle, forming a loop just large...

This broom sweeps the moon.(Crafts)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... 1. For a broom, trace one end of a cardboard tube twice onto cardboard. Cut out the two circles. Glue a circle to each end of the tube. 2. Use markers to decorate the tube to look like wood. 3. Cut a 1-foot square from a black trash...

The fastest kid on Albert Street.
October 1, 2007... "I'm the fastest kid on Albert Street!" yelled Matt. "Oh, really?" said Kelsey. "You think so?" It was Saturday afternoon. Matt and Kelsey were chasing each other around Kelsey's big backyard. Talia and John watched them from up in the...

Science corner.(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... How You Tear It Ask for permission to tear a sheet of newspaper. Tear it from the top edge. Then tear it from a side edge. Was one tear straighter than the other? How You Tear It--Newsprint (the kind of paper used For newspapers) is...

Dino days.(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Could a small T. rex defeat a grown-up Spinosaurus in a fight? John Bolgiano, Jr., Age 10 Louisiana A young T rex was the most dangerous kind of T rex, even though it was not the largest. That's what one leading paleontologist, Dr....

Brain play.(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Start at the beginning and see how far you can go, thinking of good answers from your own head. START How many ankles do you have? Name something that's soft. Name something that's hard. A button, the Moon, a pumpkin--which is...

Dolls and dance: Navarathri, a Hindu festival that means "nine nights," is celebrated throughout India.
October 1, 2007... Navarathri falls in September or October, according to the Hindu lunar calendar. During the Festival, people of the Hindu Faith seek the blessings of three powerful goddesses for nine nights and ten days. On the First three days, people pray to...

Dear Highlights.
October 1, 2007... How do you make "Check... and Double Check"? Jumana (by e-mail) We asked Martin Filchock, who has drawn "Check... and Double Check" since 1973, how he does it. He told us that he draws the picture on the left, inks it in, and then...