Highlights for Children articles from September 2003

Highlights for Children archives from September 2003

Little bits of soft-boiled egg.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Little bits of soft-boiled egg Spread along a table leg Annoy a parent even more Than toast and jam dropped on the floor. (When you're bashing on the ketchup Keep in mind where it might fetch up.) Try to keep the food you eat Off your clothes...

Find the Pictures.
September 1, 2003... Can you find each of these pictures at another place in this book? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Dear readers.
September 1, 2003... Not long ago, I listed my favorite things. I discovered that many of them have to do with beginnings. One of my favorite things is the beginning of a good story, when new characters are introduced and the plot unfolds. I also love the...

Pose like the animals.
September 1, 2003... Would you like to lumber like an elephant, stand like a flamingo, or pose like a seal? Now you can! These animal poses can teach concentration, strength, balance, and flexibility. At first, you may find some of the poses difficult....

Rafiki means friend.(Short Story)
September 1, 2003... When she was twelve years old, Raha earned a scholarship to study at a boarding school in England. She kissed her little sister's round cheek. She patted the cow's brown shoulder. She hugged Mama's wide waist. Then Raha and Baba, her father,...

A spaghetti tale.
September 1, 2003... I visit schools often and talk with children about my job. Once in a while they'll ask personal questions, such as "What's your favorite food?" and "What are your hobbies?" Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite food. Why? Because it tastes...

Building a house.
September 1, 2003... A Story Without Words

Thinking.
September 1, 2003... * Which items are bought one at a time? By the pound? By the dozen or half-dozen? By the pint, quart, or gallon? * Which of these items are good for only a few days? Which might last a week or two? Which will last for years? * Why is a...

People puzzle.
September 1, 2003... Find the two columns that include the same five kids. Columns 1 and 5 have the same five kids.

Who said it?
September 1, 2003... "Shall I trim your sideburns, too?" "It will take about thirty minutes to fill your prescription." "Would you like regular gas or premium?" "We'll be right back with the local weather report." "We have two soups today: clam...

Matching.
September 1, 2003... Matching Look at each puppet on the left. Find one like it on the right. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

A race to the White House.
September 1, 2003... One hundred years ago, Theodore Roosevelt became President of the United States. But Roosevelt didn't win an election like most other Presidents. Instead, he raced to the Presidency in a buckboard, a horse-drawn wagon. It all started in...

Checkup time.(Hidden Pictures[TM])
September 1, 2003... In this big picture find the ax, pencil, banana, cherry, fishhook, wishbone, book, flag, plunger, pancake turner, toothbrush, key, and two mushrooms. fishhook [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] book [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] banana ...

The ant and the dove: an old fable.(Short Story)
September 1, 2003... An ant went to a fountain for a drink of water. He tumbled in and almost drowned. A dove, sitting in a nearby tree, saw the ant in danger. She plucked off leaf and dropped it into the water in front of the ant. The ant climbed onto it and...

Jokes.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Mother: "Did you thank Mrs. Smith for the lovely party she gave?" Audrey: "No, Mother. The girl leaving before me thanked her, and Mrs. Smith said, 'Don't mention it.' So I didn't." Rita Nerney, Rhode Island Sy: "I've invented...

Aliens!(story)(Short Story)
September 1, 2003... When the snack factory went bankrupt, they threw all the snack foods they had left into the sea. One day, Igor the elephant was swimming in the ocean when suddenly he noticed snack foods floating nearby. He swam back to his home island with...

Four strange pals.(stories )(Short Story)
September 1, 2003... Jan the spotted sandpiper was mad. All of the other spotted sandpipers had migrated... WITHOUT HER! She couldn't believe that they didn't wake her up that morning when they flew away. The beach in front of her stretched away, lone and empty....

The friends.(You Told the Story!)(Short Story)
September 1, 2003... The bird wanted to trade the popcorn and peanuts for the shell that the mice had. The mice didn't want to trade their shell. The elephant wanted the popcorn and peanuts, too. No one could decide who should get them. So the starfish said,...

Afraid of the water.(You Told the Story!)(Short Story)
September 1, 2003... "Hiya, Tucker," George and Marty called to the elephant. Tucker swam to shore. "Hi, guys. Want to swim with me?" "No, thanks," said the mice. As they scurried away, Sidney Sea Gull flew over. "They haven't changed their minds about...

Problem with peanuts.(story)(Short Story)
September 1, 2003... Eli decided he and his friend Sandy should go to the beach. He went to her house to ask her. When he got there, he rang the doorbell. Sandy answered it. "Hey, Sandy! Do you want to come to the beach?" asked Eli. Sandy answered, "I'd love...

Unlikely friends.(You Told the Story!)(Short Story)
September 1, 2003... Once upon a time there was a bird that found some peanuts and seeds on a beach. She was going to eat them. Some little mice came along and said, "Can we have some?" Then an elephant came and said, "Can I have some?" After they ate,...

Ouch! a mosquito mystery.(Science Letters)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Why do female mosquitoes need to take our blood before they lay their eggs? Robby O'Connell, Age 5 Virginia It's true that the female needs a drop of blood before she can lay eggs. (For the needs of the female mosquito, the blood...

Bright light.(Science Letters)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Why do you see yellow or orange when you have your eyes closed and you are facing something bright? Adriann Bennett, Age 8 North Carolina The eyelids are not perfect shutters. A little light comes through that thin layer of...

Steaming volcano.(science letters)
September 1, 2003... What happens when water from rain gets into the cone of a volcano? Minnie Morco, Age 10 California If the volcano is active and hot inside, the water will come back out as steam. I think most active volcanoes have some steam coming...

Rat-a-tat Copycat.
September 1, 2003... "I painted ponies on my mat." "So did I," says copycat. "I named my goldfish Nick and Pat." "I did, too," says copycat. "I bought a book about a bat." "So did I," says copycat. "I can stomp this puddle." Splat! Splat! Splat!...

Cheche the rhinoceros.
September 1, 2003... At Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage in Zimbabwe, I met Cheche the rhinoceros. He is one of the first black rhinos to be brought up in a captive-breeding program. Why did I want to see a black rhinoceros? Because this animal is very dangerous...

No food names!(Short Story)
September 1, 2003... "This is getting to be a desperate situation!" said Joe, turning on the computer. "My baby sister keeps calling him Woof. If I don't get him a name soon, everybody will be calling him Woof." Sam watched Joe's brand-new puppy go around and...

Moo magic.(Poem)
September 1, 2003... Moo Magic Hey, cow. Moo, cow. How do you do, cow? What do you chew, cow? Grass soft as silk? Hey, cow. Moo, cow. Few are like you, cow. When you are through, cow, Grass becomes milk!

Goofus and gallant[R].
September 1, 2003... Goofus wants to do all the talking. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "It landed on the line. I'll take the six." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gallant wants to hear what his friends have to say, too. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I crossed...

Perfect timing.
September 1, 2003... Will looked out the window as the rain came down. "I'm sorry it's too rainy to go to the zoo today," said Grandpa. Will had an idea. "We can make our own animals," he said. "Good idea!" said Grandpa. "What do we need?" "We need our...

This is a happy face.(Our Own Pages)
September 1, 2003... This is a happy face. I like happy faces! Olivia Hall, Age 6 Kentucky

Fox.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
September 1, 2003... Fox Senses keen, tail clean. Black nose, white toes. Quick eyes, no lullabies. Sharp ears, eyes filled with tears, but still with no fears! Foxes rule! Jesse Ross, Age 9 Alberta

Night activities.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
September 1, 2003... As the moon climbed its starry steps, The leaves gossiped among themselves. The birds stopped their songs As the nightingale started its own. The songbird took flight, And dreams did the same, Christine Colligctn, Age 12 New York

A Rain Shower.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
September 1, 2003... You get inside and turn it on. Water comes down from the metal cloud. When you get out, you're clean. Jimmy Hildreth, Age 8 Missouri

Roses ... Such Beautiful Roses.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
September 1, 2003... Roses... Such Beautiful Roses Jared Brown, Age 9 Oregon

Once I saw little bluebird.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
September 1, 2003... Once I saw a little bluebird, and it flew away. The farther it flew, the smaller it got--smaller and smaller and smaller, until it looked like a little black dot. Monica Ratcliff, Age 8 West...

Fish and bird couplet.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
September 1, 2003... Fish through water fly, birds swim through the sky. Caleb Billman, Age 11 Pennsylvania

My Fourth-Grade Teacher.(Our Own Pages)
September 1, 2003... My Fourth-Grade Teacher Briani Jackson, Age 10 Illinois

Things I Love ...(Our Own Pages)
September 1, 2003... Zesty hot sauce of a taco Waking up to the smell of coffee Pepperoni pizza burning up my mouth Slime gushing through my hands Being united with my friends and family "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the World Series Silky petals on flowers Snow...

School.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
September 1, 2003... School School, encouraging. School, exciting. School, challenging. School, a hello to life. Julia Calder Age 9 Maine

Fall Leaves.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
September 1, 2003... Fall Leaves Fall leaves turn golden brown, Fall leaves heaped in piles that seem to touch the sky. Fall leaves are fun to jump in and play in. Fall leaves. Winter comes. Morgan Shelor, Age 8 ...

In the Barn.(Our Own Pages)
September 1, 2003... In the Barn Heather Perry, Age 13 Texas

Outbound Train.
September 1, 2003... Outbound Train Austin Cupp, Age 9 Georgia

I like to come upon a rose.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
September 1, 2003... I like to come upon a rose and smell it with my nose. If a bee lands on it, it is prettier than ever. Samuel Thomsen, Age 7 Nebraska

My Sunshine.(Our Own Pages)
September 1, 2003... My Sunshine Sydney Schneider, Age 8 Florida

Summer.(Our Own Pages)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Sprawling on warm grass, The shade of a whisp'ring tree On my book's cover. Alice Ya, Age 14 Pennsylvania

My Horses on Vacation.(Our Own Pages)
September 1, 2003... My Horses on Vacation Rachel Cotner, Age 10 Arkansas

Lunch Is Served.(Our Own Pages)
September 1, 2003... Lunch Is Served Niloofar Entezari, Age 11 Ontario

I like hamsters.(Our Own Pages)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... I like hamsters, all shapes and sizes, because they are cute and full of surprises. Emily Hart, Age 6 Japan

Colorful Zinnias.(Our Own Pages)
September 1, 2003... Colorful Zinnias Allie Ball, Age 8 Connecticut

How do you know ...
September 1, 2003... That the dog does not want to be led? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] That the wind is blowing? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] That the water is boiling? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] That the pail is heavy? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Name the mouse!
September 1, 2003... Last April, we asked you to suggest names for the mouse who tells readers about HighlightsKids.com, our Web site. Thanks for your ideas! The three most popular names were Webster, Link, and Seymour (as in "see more" on our Web site). We...

I wonder ... how porcupines throw their quills.(Science Corner)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Porcupines can't throw their quills. But the quills are loose and come off easily If any people or animals come too close, a porcupine can stick some quills into their skin just by slapping them with its tail [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Spin the propeller.(Science Corner)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Which way must this propeller spin to make the airplane go forward? Clockwise

Make tiny crystals.(Science Corner)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Crystals come in many shapes. You can make little salt crystals by evaporating salt water. Dissolve three or four teaspoons of table salt in a glass of water. Then pour some of the salt water into a shallow glass bowl or dish. Put the bowl in a...

Dinosaur days.(Science Corner)
September 1, 2003... Why did Ankylosaurus have thick hard stuff on his back? Ethan Courey, Age 5 California Ankylosaurus (angk-EYE-luh-SAW-rus) had thick armor all over its body, even its eye-lids, to protect it from predators such as T rex. The thick...

Riddle.(Science Corner)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... In dinosaur times, who had the best manners? Kathryn Jorgensen, Age 3 Michigan Answer: The please-iosaw What was the deadliest dinosaur that ever walked the earth? Jennifer Artman, Age 10 Ohio For overall...

Neighbors, friends, and canaries.(Short Story)
September 1, 2003... Mrs. Riley and I always shout at each other. I shout because she can't hear me, and she shouts because she can't hear herself. "What do you need from the store?" I'll yell. "Bananas," she'll yell back. You don't realize what a...

The timbertoes.
September 1, 2003... Pa was in his workshop. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "It's a whirly-copter!" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It went around and up and down. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Jump, Pa!" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] He was making something...

For Wee folks.
September 1, 2003... * Show with your hands how each item is used. * Make a sound like each of these animals. * Who is tallest? Who is shortest? Who is probably oldest? Who is probably youngest?

Let the sun shine in.(You Can Make It!)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... 1. Cut half-inch squares from different colors of tissue paper 2. Glue the tissue squares onto a clear plastic lid, overlapping the colors, 3. Mix equal parts of glue and water. Paint three coats of the glue mixture over the...

Where's the other half?(You Can Make It!)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... 1. With a parent's permission, cut out pictures from old magazines, catalogs, newspapers, and greeting cards. Cut each picture in half. 2. Glue each picture-half to an index card. To play: Shuffle the cards, then place them face-down,...

Send nature's greetings.(You Can Make It!)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... 1. Fold a piece of construction paper in half. This will be the card. 2. Tear a square, rectangle, or diamond shape from construction paper. Be sure the shape fits on the front of the card. 3. Lightly coat the veined side of a real...

The early bird catches the bookworm.(You Can Make It!)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... 1. Cut a strip from a large index card. 2. Cut out head feathers at the top of the strip. 3. Fold the strip in half lengthwise. Starting from the folded edge, cut a long beak. 4. Unfold the strip, then draw the bird's eyes. Color...

Create a clever caterpillar.(You Can Make It!)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... 1. Using a marker, color a craft stick. 2. Cut six chenille sticks in half. Tightly twist each half together just one time around the craft stick, bending the ends down to make legs. 3. Glue pompoms across the top of the craft stick,...

Having a ball: for soccer player Jenny Benson, working hard is fun.
September 1, 2003... When Jenny Benson was eight, her mother took her to soccer practice for the first time. "She's never played soccer before," Mrs. Benson told the coach. "I'm not sure how she'll do." Jenny ran onto the field and joined the other...

Riddles.
September 1, 2003... 1. What kind of tool do you need to fix a broken ape? Jeanette Alcazar, Texas 2. How do you make a hot dog stand? Jacob Hahn, Wisconsin 3. What did the tie say to the hat? ToniAnn Mackey, New York 4. Who went into the...

Hand-me-down crayons.(Short Story)
September 1, 2003... Molly frowned at the stack of school supplies on her desk. Her older sister's lunch bag, her older brother's half-used notebooks, last year's folders, and a huge plastic bag of old crayons. Couldn't she have gotten something brand-new?...

Can tableware float in the air?(Try This!)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... In the photograph, the spoon and forks seem to be floating. But this trick really has to do with balance, not magic. Try it yourself. Use one hand to hold a teaspoon in position over the rim of a glass. Stick one fork onto the spoon handle,...

Check .. and double check.
September 1, 2003... There are at least twelve differences in these two pictures. How many can you find? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Headwork.
September 1, 2003... Start at the beginning and see how far you can go, thinking of good answers from your own head. Make a noise like a lawn mower. How many knees do you have? How many elbows? Name something that tastes sour. Without looking, can...

Sharing a chore.(Dear Highlights)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... My sister and I always fight over who's going to feed the cat. What should I do? Catherine B., Georgia If feeding the cat is a responsibility that you and your sister share, then you might easily take turns with the duty. You can mark...

In need of a friend.(Dear Highlights)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... My best friend is not going to be in my school this year. I am worried that I won't have a best friend. Max S., Rhode Island You obviously have the qualities it takes to be a good friend because you had a strong friendship before....

Memorizing.(Dear Highlights)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... I am home-schooled, and my morn makes me memorize poems. I have a lot of trouble remembering them. Please help! Robin G., Washington Breaking a large task into smaller steps often helps. Try learning only two or three lines at a time....

Likes to brag.(Dear Highlights)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... I like to brag about my arm when we play football. Can you help? Joshua P, Ohio It's great that you would like to learn not to brag about how well you throw the ball. If you are really good at it, then the other players will notice...

More than meets the eye.
September 1, 2003... In this big picture find the puppet, armchair, two clowns' faces, four sneakers, cake slice, mask, watermelon slice, chicken, shoe, crayon, toy top, spoon, strawberry, lime, three fish, two pencils, pitcher, broom, house, leaf, numeral 5, four...

Fall hayride.(Hidden Pictures[R])
September 1, 2003... mop [ILLUSTATION OMITTED] golf club [ILLUSTATION OMITTED] banana [ILLUSTATION OMITTED] straight pin [ILLUSTATION OMITTED] coat hanger [ILLUSTATION OMITTED] piece of candy [ILLUSTATION OMITTED]...