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Health

Habits for a Healthy Brain

October 12, 2018

A new study shows that meeting three benchmarks for health can strengthen kids’ brains. The benchmarks are getting nine to 11 hours of sleep each night, exercising at least 60 minutes a day, and spending less than two hours a…

Science

Fossil Find

September 28, 2018

Scientists have found that a mysterious type of 500 million–year-old fossil, found in Australia and Russia, was formed by an animal. It was one of the earliest creatures on Earth. The first fossil of this kind was described in…

World

Trade Battle

September 28, 2018

China and the United States have been trade partners for decades. They have bought and sold each other’s goods. These have included technology, food, and steel. Now China and the U.S. are in a trade war. On September 24,…

World

Muppet Helpers

September 27, 2018

When Hanadi was 4, a bomb destroyed her school. Soon after, her family fled their home, in Syria. They went to nearby Lebanon to live as refugees. Hanadi enrolled in school there. But she was scared to go. Her experience…

United States

8 Questions for Mandy Manning

September 26, 2018

Mandy Manning teaches immigrant and refugee children in Spokane, Washington. She is the 2018 National Teacher of the Year. TFK’s Lina Mai spoke with her about Manning’s goals as an educator. 1. How does it feel to be named the…

Time Off

Girl-Powered

September 26, 2018

Girls Think of Everything was first published in 2000. At the time, author CATHERINE THIMMESH didn’t even have Internet access. To do research, she combed through library books, searching for history’s overlooked female inventors. Two decades later, women and…

Time Off

Dancing Duos

September 26, 2018

ABC’s Dancing with the Stars: Juniors debuts on October 7. The show pairs 12 celebrity kids with professional junior ballroom dancers. Each duo has an adult mentor. These seasoned pros guide the young dancers through choreographed routines showcasing different dance…

Environment

Rising Waters

September 21, 2018

Flooding continues in the southeastern United States after Hurricane Florence. Hurricane Florence barreled in from the Atlantic Ocean. It landed in North Carolina on the morning of September 14. It wasn’t 90-mile-an-hour winds that officials feared most. It was water. The…

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Spanish

United States

8 Questions for Sonia Sotomayor

September 21, 2018

Sonia Sotomayor is the first Latina Supreme Court justice. She spoke to TFK’s Kio Herrera about her childhood, her career, and her new book. 1. What inspired you to write The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor? I wanted to make…

Time Off

Going Home

September 20, 2018

Louisiana’s Way Home opens in the middle of the night, when Louisiana Elefante’s grandmother rouses her from sleep, puts her in the car, and drives. At first, Louisiana isn’t worried. As she says, “Granny has many middle-of-the-night ideas.” But soon,…

Time Off

A New Legend

September 20, 2018

North American folklore tells of the mysterious Bigfoot. The apelike creature is towering and hairy, and leaves large footprints. In the animated film Smallfoot, opening September 28, the folklore is reversed: Snow creatures known as yetis talk about the mysterious…

Opinion

Should Plastic Straws Be Banned?

September 20, 2018

People are taking a stand against plastic straws. On July 1, they were banned in Seattle, Washington. Then Starbucks announced plans to phase out plastic straws by 2020. More plastic-straw bans have followed. Plastic is harmful to the environment.…

World

Jailed for the Truth

September 14, 2018

A court in Myanmar has sentenced two journalists to seven years in prison. The judge ruled that Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo got hold of secret government documents. The journalists pleaded not guilty. Many think the ruling is unfair.…

Community

Teacher's Pup

September 14, 2018

“Hi, Brody! Hi, Shelby!” Abby Walker says as she enters her principal’s office. Brody is a mix of Labrador retriever, Great Dane, and German shepherd. He runs toward Abby. Shelby is a border collie mix. She is also eager to…

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Spanish

Community

Fish for Lunch

September 14, 2018

Salmon burgers. Salmon mac-and-cheese. These items are on the school-lunch menu in Sitka, Alaska. Thanks to Sitka’s Fish to Schools program, the fish is fresh and locally sourced. Sitka is on an island in the Pacific Ocean. Nearly 20% of…

Time Off

Time for Magic

September 13, 2018

Halloween comes early this year in The House with a Clock in Its Walls. The movie is based on the book by John Bellairs. It follows 10-year-old Lewis (OWEN VACCARO, center) who goes to live with his uncle Jonathan (Jack…

Time Off

A Historical Adventure

September 13, 2018

What do you get when you mix orphans, the Civil War, and dinosaurs? Dactyl Hill Squad. In this mash-up of historical fiction and fantasy, orphan Magdalys Roca and friends escape the 1863 New York City draft riots on the backs…

Health

Hooked on Games

September 7, 2018

Playing video games can be a fun way to unwind or spend time with friends. In schools, teachers use games like Minecraft to encourage teamwork and critical thinking. But for some players, gaming is an unhealthy habit. At night, they…