Highlights for Children articles from October 2008

Highlights for Children archives from October 2008

Smile wide and wacky.(Fun This Month)(World Smile Day)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... In honor of World Smile Day[R] (October 3), make a mix-and-match smile game. Draw large faces on paper, leaving the mouth parts blank. On a separate piece of paper, draw funny smiles and cut them out. Try the smiles on different faces. How...

It's all about pumpkin!(Fun This Month)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... 1. Use felt and paint to turn a pumpkin into a pal. 2. With an adult, roast pumpkin seeds with oil and seasonings. 3. Write tales set in a pumpkin patch. 4. For a ring-toss game, cut holes into plastic lids, and toss them over a...

Mystery photo.(Fun This Month)
October 1, 2008... Identify the picture below. Hint: October 11 is Universal Music Day. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Answer: Flute keys.

Be a word whiz.(Fun This Month)(Dictionary Day)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Noah Webster developed the first American dictionary. His 250th birth anniversary is October 16, a day that's come to be known as Dictionary Day. Choose five letters (perhaps the letters of your name), then use a dictionary to learn a word that...

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

Staying close after moving.(Dear Readers)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... My family never moved when I was a kid, but I remember the first time I had to say good-bye to a friend who was moving. Her name was Yvette, and I cried all the way home after the last time we played together. We wrote letters to each other,...

A good play.(Poem)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We built a ship upon the stairs All made of the back-bedroom chairs, And Filled it Full of sofa pillows To go a-sailing on the billows. We took a saw and several nails, And water in the...

Goofus and Gallant.(Brief article)(Cartoon)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Go bother someone else. I'm busy," says Goofus. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Nice car! Thanks for showing it to me," says Gallant. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Goofus blames Max for chewing the glove he left...

Aha! A puzzle.(palindrome)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Anna, Alexa, and Ava are triplets. The girls look the same and act the same, but Anna and Ava have something in common with Mom and Dad that Alexa doesn't. Just by looking at their names, can you tell what's unique about Alexa? ...

A wise old owl.(Poem)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A wise old owl sat in an oak. The more he heard, the less he spoke; The less he spoke, the more he heard. Why aren't we all like that wise old bird? --Anonymous

Jon Thomas "JT" Robertson: there's some of Goofus and Gallant in us all. When the Gallant shines through, we show our best self.(Gallant Kids)
October 1, 2008... It all started when JT Robertson's mom treated him to a ride aboard the Arcade and Attica Railroad. His stomach jumped when the whistle blew. His heart raced as the railcars chugged through farmland near his home in Cuba. New York. JT enjoyed...

A giant panda: starting out tiny.
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Little Tai Shan came into the world in the usual giant panda way--kicking and yelling! At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, he was also a welcome surprise. There was no easy way for zookeepers to know Tai Shan's...

What's your favorite sound?(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sounds can be exciting, relaxing, or satisfying. They can remind you of a particular person or place. Here are some of the Highlights editors' Favorite sounds: an infant "talking"; bacon sizzling; waves breaking; the...

Photo fiasco.(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] News photographer Lex Lubberly is putting together a photo essay about Sutherland School's fall play. He spilled soda on his notes, and now he can't remember what order the pictures go in. Can you put them in order?...

Matching.
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Look at each sock on the left. Find one like it on the right.

Rattle snake crossing: this snake helps people cross the street!(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] People rely on a snake every day in Tucson, Arizona. It's really a bridge that looks like a rattlesnake. It takes walkers and bicyclists across one of the city's busiest roads. You are "swallowed" when you walk...

Pets at the vet's.(Hidden Pictures)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] kite [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] shark [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] button [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] domino [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] shovel [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] carrot ...

Friends forever.(Ask Arizona)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Arizona, My friend is moving in a month--and not just to a different neighborhood, but to a whole different country! I'm so sad, I can hardly think about anything else. I know you can't make my friend's...

A gift for farmer Ben.(Short story)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It was Farmer Ben's birthday. Goose, Sheep, and Cow each had a gift for him. Goose said, "I saved my feathers to make a pillow." Sheep said, "I have wool to make a warm sweater." Cow said, "I have milk for Farmer Ben...

Jokes.(Brief article)(List)
October 1, 2008... Teacher: Joe, can you tell us the name of the mythical creature that is half-human, half-beast? Joe: Buffalo Bill! Justin Firpo, California "Knock, knock." "Who's there?" Howard "Howard who?" Howard I know?!"...

Playing in the leaves.(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Four different trees have shed their leaves. Within the grid are patterns of four leaves that match the patterns below. The first one has been found for you. Can you find the rest? Playing in the Leaves [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

My favorite guitar.(Your Own Pages)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] John Robertson, Age 11 North Carolina

Lights Off!(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Lights Off! I can't find my mitten. I can't find my shoe. I can't find my scarf, and the cat is lost, too. I can't find my pencil. I think I'll ask Mom. She said, "Grace, if you lost these, just turn...

"Salem" the black cat.(Your Own Pages)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Phillip Fuller, Age 7 Tennessee

Ice-Skating with My Socks On.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Ice-Skating with My Socks On I was ice-skating with my socks on. I was right in the kitchen door, when suddenly my morn said, "Watch out, you're on a hardwood floor!" "What! Are you kidding?" I said, when suddenly...

For My Guinea Pig, Dusty.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... For My Guinea Pig, Dusty If you were still alive, I wouldn't cry anymore. I remember when you used to squeak and run around and chase me. If you were still alive, I wouldn't leave you alone, and I would never...

The biggest bubble.(Your Own Pages)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Brooke Boyd, Age 8 Alabama

The Markets of Bangkok.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... The Markets of Bangkok Seas of people, desperate to see delicious foods. A display of brilliant colors. A layer of hats, golden like the fiery ball above. Filled with bargaining, as people do when they buy...

I Like Gym.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... I Like Gym Gym is fun. In gym we run. Gym is loud. Feet running, feet skipping, feet jump roping. We play games in gym, like Mr. Whale and Mr. Fox, and we volley balloons. I like gym....

Road trip to San Francisco.(Your Own Pages)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Simmy Vig, Age 10 Mississippi

If Could Eat the Planets.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... If Could Eat the Planets If I could eat the Moon, would it taste like cheese? Would the Sun taste of sweet nectarine? Would Saturn have a crispy ring? Would Pluto be like cold ice cream? Would Mars burn like chili...

A Poem Is like a Puzzle.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Poem Is like a Puzzle A poem is like a puzzle. You need utensils to begin. You need pieces for a puzzle. For a poem you need paper and pen. A poem is like a puzzle. It can be...

Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere Soapsuds in the water, soapsuds in the air. Soapsuds in the bathtub, soapsuds in my hair. Bubbles, bubbles in the air. Bubbles, bubbles everywhere! Kara Buckner, Age 5 ...

Tree.(Your Own Pages)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sierra Carroll, Age 8 Indiana

Open Your Mind.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Open Your Mind A crane to us is just one of our things. It grunts and moans, but never sings. But go past that and you will see the crane is more than it seems to be. To me it's a giraffe so...

Camping out.(Your Own Pages)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Nicholas Zhang, Age 7 New Jersey

I Love Nature.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... I Love Nature I love the sky, I love the trees, I love the winter and fall breeze. I love beehives and much more. I love sitting by the seashore. Annalisa Cripps, Age 8 Ontario, Canada

Crazy laughter in the wind.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
October 1, 2008... Crazy laughter in the wind A haunting sound Is the loon's laughing call. Silva Baiton, Age 10 Alberta, Canada

My new puppy, Max.(Your Own Pages)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Morgan Thomas, Age 5 Michigan

Bad pudding.(Short story)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It was big. It was bad. But it was no wolf (although it was hairy). No, what I was dealing with was... Dessert. My aunt had presented me with a bowl of something lumpy and gelatinous, the exact...

Pinecone mystery.(Science Corner)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] This pinecone from a lodgepole pine is closed tightly. Only fire will let it open and drop its seeds. What good do you think that trick might do? [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Pinecone Mystery--The lodgepole pine...

Seesaw moment.(Science Corner)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tape a quarter to one end of a craft stick and a penny to the other end. Lay the stick across a pencil and find a spot where the stick balances, as shown. Notice that the lighter coin needs a longer part of the stick...

I wonder ... who invented the wheel.(Science Corner)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] No one knows. The first wheel was made so long ago that the inventor has been forgotten. The oldest picture of a wheel that anyone has found was drawn more than five thousand years ago.

Questions about Utahraptor.(Dino Days)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... from Shashank Rawale, Age 12 Ohio Did Utahraptor have feathers? Scientists think that dinosaurs' feathers were useful mainly for keeping warm. Well-preserved fossils show that some small dinosaurs related to Utahraptor...

The Timbertoes.(Brief article)(Cartoon)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tommy was digging. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Spot was helping. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "What are you doing?" asked Pa. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Looking for treasure--but I haven't Found any."...

Tie-dye leaf mobile.(Crafts)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. Use newspaper to cover your workspace. Squeeze drops of food coloring onto flattened coffee filters. Let them dry. 2. Collect leaves and trace them onto the coffee filters. 3. Cut out the leaf shapes, and...

Double Sukkot puzzle.(Crafts)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Sukkot is celebrated by people of the Jewish faith. It is the last harvest festival before winter. 1. Tape paper around six empty gelatin boxes. 2. Lay the six boxes together--three in a row--on a sheet of...

Halloween sign.(Crafts)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... 1. Cut a Halloween shape and letters from craft foam. 2. To decorate the shape, glue on the letters and other materials, such as wiggle eyes and craft-foam pieces. 3. Glue the shape to a paint stirrer, and stick it in the ground. ...

Finger puppets.(Crafts)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... 1. For a finger puppet, cut two matching shapes from craft foam. 2. Use chenille sticks to sew the edges closed, leaving an opening at the bottom. 3. Decorate one side of the puppet with markers, wiggle eyes, craft-foam pieces, or...

Build-a-monster.(Crafts)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. For the monster's head, glue felt around a round cardboard container. 2. Cut out felt features such as hair, beards, eyebrows, eyes, ears, noses, and teeth. 3. Smooth the features onto the monster's head....

Mosaic picture frame.(Crafts)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... 1. Cut a 4-inch-by-6-inch window in the center of a cardboard rectangle. 2. Paint the cardboard and let it dry. 3. Cut small pieces from colored paper. Use a glue stick to glue them to the frame. 4. For a hanger, punch two holes...

The crooked pumpkin: Nicholas found the perfect pumpkin. Its name was Andy.(Short story)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Where's a pumpkin for me, Barney?" Nicholas said, following his dog through the pumpkin patch. His older brother, Jake, already had two pumpkins. Then Nicholas spied a pumpkin all alone. "Just right!" he told...

The bear family.(Brief article)(Cartoon)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mom: Is everyone here? Poozy, Woozy, Piddy, Dad. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dad: Good job! Our fire-safety plan worked. Woozy: I remembered to touch my door before I opened it. It felt cool. ...

Monsters on the menu: create a creature or two, and munch a monster lunch!
October 1, 2008... Chef's Tips: 1. Wash hands. 2. Ask an adult to help with appliances and anything sharp or hot. 3. Clean up. 4. Enjoy!

Two-headed snack.(Recipe)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Serves two. 1. Spread peanut butter on each half of a graham-cracker rectangle. 2. Add banana-slice eyes to each half. 3. Add an apple-slice mouth to each. To make teeth, add raisins or cut the apple slice.

Sea-serpent salad.(Recipe)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Serves four. 1. Ask an adult to mix a 4-serving box of blue Jell-O with 3/4 cup boiling water. Stir until dissolved. 2. Stir in 3/4 cup frozen blueberries until mixture starts to thicken. 3. Combine half of the mixture with 1 cup...

Cyclops bread.(Recipe)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Serves one. 1. Use an upside-down juice cup to cut a hole in a bread slice. (Remove the circle.) 2. Melt butter in a frying pan over low-medium heat. Put the bread slice in the pan. 3. Break an egg into the hole. Cook 1 minute....

E.B. white and his spiders.
October 1, 2008... "I didn't like spiders at first," E.B. White wrote, "but then I began watching one of them, and soon saw what a wonderful creature she was and what a skillful weaver." How to Save a Pig It all began in 1949, when Mr. White wrote to one...

What is glass made of?(Science Letters? What makes popcorn pop?)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Emily Snyder, Age 9 Georgia [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Glass is made from a mixture of sand and other materials. Just plain sand can be made into glass, but it must be heated to about 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. It's both difficult and...

Why do big empty trucks go faster than full trucks?(Science Letters? What makes popcorn pop?)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Andrew Matveyenko, Age 4 California [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Try this. Put one or two heavy books into a small cardboard box. Set the box on a smooth, flat surface and give it a single push. Now empty the box. Put it back on the...

Is it true that the left side of the brain moves the right side of the body?(Science Letters? What makes popcorn pop?)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Michelle Smith, Age 11 Michigan [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We asked Patricia Landry, M.D. She wrote: "It is true that each side of the brain controls the opposite side of the body. The brain is set up to do this. The brain cells that...

Thinking: head to the stadium and enjoy the game!(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... * Which fans are cheering for the Blue Jays? * Which are cheering for the Wolves? * Who had to pay to attend this game? * Who gets paid for doing a job here? * Which team do you think will win? Why? * What is your favorite...

Pasha's first Yom Kippur.(Short story)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Rooshky, pooshky, gooshky!" Pasha heard David shout from across the lawn. Pasha sat on the front steps, making a list of people he would apologize to before his first Yom Kippur. Pasha didn't like David, who had...

The Rain Cloud and the Camel.(Poem)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... The Rain Cloud and the Camel Said the rain cloud to the camel, "Why don't you move away? The desert's such a prickly place. Why would you want to stay? "Come with me and you will see Where dandelions grow, ...

Sweet noodle pudding.(Recipe)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... During the month of Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink from dawn to sunset. When Ramadan ends, Muslims everywhere celebrate Eid ul-Fitr, the festival of fast breaking. They prepare special foods for friends and family. One dish common in...

Key-coded composers.(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... The names of five classical composers are written in a musical code. Using the key, can you figure out the names of these masterful maestros? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. Mozart. 2. Beethoven. 3. Bach. 4. Handel. 5. Brahms.

Last-Minute Ghost.(Poem)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Last-Minute Ghost A sheet with two eyeholes is the world's most boring Halloween costume. Maybe I'm too old for that kind of thing anyway. And besides, the school play has kept me very busy, my dog ate...

Your best self.
October 1, 2008... I dare you to knock his hat off. No. I don't want to make him mad. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Riddles.(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... 1 What is a ghost's favorite ride at the amusement park? Elizabeth Cole, Pennsylvania 2 What did the boy use to keep track of his mother> JonCatherine Doolittle, Texas 3 What do you call a really big ant? Zachary Fong,...

Which is heavier, a cookie or a box of cookies?(Brain Play)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Name something that is often cold. Name something that is often hot. Who wears a uniform? How many different foods are needed to make a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

How can I have a good life?(Dear Highlights)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Taylor (by e-mail) That's a great question. One way is to appreciate the good things you already have in your life. Some people like to make a list of things they are grateful for and keep adding to it. Start by thinking about the...

Why do you have a Web site?(Dear Highlights)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Savannah (by e-mail) We wanted to offer kids a place online where they could enjoy features from Highlights as well as interactive games, puzzles, and activities. So we formed a team of editors and Web designers, and they created...

I really want to skateboard, but I'm afraid of getting hurt. Please help!(Dear Highlights)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Ricardo R., California It's good that you're thinking about safety. Before you begin to skateboard, ask your parents if you can get some protective gear. You'll need a helmet, kneepads, and elbow pads. The right equipment will reduce the...

I am gifted in acting and comedy. Do you have advice for getting an acting and comedy career?(Dear Highlights)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Giovanni V., Wisconsin It's wonderful that you have those talents. If you combine them with persistence and hard work, you have a good chance of succeeding. Get to know the people who can help you. If you...

Picture puzzler.(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... It's a pizza and a puzzle! Find your way from start to finish. Stay on the cheese! Bonus 1: Find your way rough this slice from e crust to the point by avoiding the black olives. Bonus 2: Whose Piece of the Pie? Using...