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MARCH 2021
Highlights.com

What’s
That
SMELL?
Why
Some
Things
Stink Page 14

A Supe
r
Sniffer
Page 20
 MARCH
The Timbertoes 3
Now: Flying Cars 4 22
Plus, Earth Hour, luck, and more 12
About You 6
Hidden Pictures 7
Euladean 8
A goat with a dream
Bleep
bloop
Spare Part Sidekicks 12 blop
Creatures from the junk drawer

What’s That Smell? 14

Science explains stinky stuff

Spotlight 20
What makes a dog’s nose super
8
Shamrock Swirl Fudge 22
5 Questions for . . . 24 I want
U.S. Supreme Court justice to be an
Sonia Sotomayor
artist.
Goofus & Gallant 25
Create 30
Ever Wonder? 32
Ask Arizona 34
BrainPlay 37
Laughs from You 39
Our
Lucky
Charms
When I was a kid, I once when someone else takes the
found a four-leaf clover in our time to give us the help we need.
backyard. I knew that four-leaf It’s fun to find a four-leaf
clovers are rare, but I didn’t clover and hope for good luck.
know how “lucky” I was to find But it’s more fun to think of
one until I read “What Are the ourselves and the caring people
Odds?” (page 4). Had I known, in our lives as lucky charms.
I might have been more careful When we work hard and do
with it. I lost it soon afterward— our best—and when we lend
along with a lucky key chain a helping hand to others—
and a lucky coin. we can make true magic.
It’s fun to pretend that things WHO IN S
HA
like four-leaf clovers can bring Your friend, YOUR LIFE UR
BEEN YO K
us good fortune. But I believe
“GOOD LUC
that we make our own good luck CHARM”?
with hard work. Sometimes our
hard work pays off in ways we
don’t expect. And often we owe
WRITE TO McoEm
some of our good fortune to the Christine@Highlights.
help of others. We are “lucky”

I would want to
I wish others knew tell people that
that I love to sing. I had to have
What do you Zachary
(by e-mail) appendix surger
wish others Leah
y.
knew about you? Age 7 • Penn
s ylvania

1
 What’s
That
Word?
By Lindsay Bayer • Art by Lirios Bou

There’s a word I can’t remember

for when something slips your mind.
I’ve searched my brain all over,
but this word I still can’t find.
I’ve used the word so many times,
but now I’m filled with doubt.
The word was there inside my head.
It must have oozed right out!
It’s like my brain has busted,
like someone pushed “reset.”
How could I forget this word?
Oh wait! That’s it! FORGET!
2
 I’m
By Rich Wallace • Art by Ron Zalme
tired of
climbing.

Tommy chose a sunny place to rest.

I’ll wait
here.

He went too fast. The family hurried after him.

Whoa!
Help!

Spot got there first.

I’m
not tired
anymore!

3
 What Are th Four leaves:
for faith,

eO
hope, love,
According to Irish & luck

dd s ?
tradition, finding a four- Want better odds?
leaf clover will bring you Some people believe that
good luck. But just how finding a heads-up penny
hard is it to find one? is good luck. The odds
In a typical group of that a found penny will
the plants, the estimated be heads up are 1 in 2.
LET ’S
odds of finding a four- Good-fortune seekers FLIP
leaf clover on your first can also break a FOR IT!
try are 1 in 10,000. That wishbone. Two people
means that for every hold a wishbone, make a
10,000 clovers you look wish, then break it apart.
at, the odds are that one It is said that the person Ancient
of them will have four who gets the bigger piece Etruscans
leaves instead of three. will get his or her wish.
believed
The odds of getting the
bigger piece are 1 in 2.
chickens
could predi
ct
OA ! Some ancient people the future.
W H
thought metal was a gift
from the gods.

ONE LUCKY LADY

In 2014, Suzi Mekhitarian found 21 four-leaf clovers in her
front yard in Australia. Now that’s beating the odds!
4
 COMIN
THROU G
GH! MORE
STINKY
STUFF ON
PAGE 14!

HEADS
UP!
Flying cars
may be here SORRY
sooner than ABOUT
you think!
Japan’s SD-03
THAT.
flying car
made its first
successful
test flights in
One Stinky Planet
August and March 13 is the 240th anniversary of the
September. discovery of the planet Uranus. According
The company, to a recent study, the seventh planet from
SkyDrive, is the sun might be the stinkiest. In 2018,
aiming for scientists studied the light reflected off
a release in clouds over Uranus. The researchers found
2023 after that the clouds contain hydrogen sulfide—
YUCK!
more safety the same molecule that makes rotten eggs
testing. so stinky!

Earth
IT
On March 27, people around the world will STARTS
turn off their lights for an hour to spark AT 8:30

Hour conversations about protecting our planet.

WHAT CAN YOU DO IN THE DARK?
LOCAL P.M.
TIME.

WOOF!

Turn on Reenact your Make Pretend your Write a poem

some music favorite movie a luminous flashlight is a in the dark. Can
and do a scene with self-portrait with lightsaber and you read it when
wacky dance! shadow glow-in-the- make your own the lights come
puppets. dark paint. sound effects. back on? 5
 So
fun! Once on a cruise
trip, I saw some
cargo ships. When
COVID-19 is over, I
hope my family can
My favorite subjects do another trip and
are science and art. see more cargo ships! I love karate! I kick,
When I grow up, I Eric I punch, I practice
want to go to London my routines, and
Age 7 • Virginia

TOOT
and be a painter. TOOT! I earn belts.
Savine Gillian Newby
Age 8 • Indonesia Age 11 • Wisconsin

My favorite book Every night, I listen

series is to the podcast Wow
Elephant ABOUT in the World on my
Echo Dot.
& Piggie YOU Ethan
by Mo Age 9 • Ohio

Willems.
Here is my
drawing of Stuff you love, things you
tried, and what you wish
Gerald. other kids knew about you.
Lizzy
Age 6 • Washington SEND US YOURS!
SEE PAGE 38

When I’m looming, it My sister and I were

makes me so happy. arguing. But then we
I get creative, hugged it out! I learned
and I tell myself from that experience.
I love sports and not to get frustrated. Leah Newman
California
Vasari Fazio
staying active! Age 8 • Arizona

I especially enjoy
exercising with friends
when I can.
Aniyah
Age 10 • Tennessee
6
Playin’ Horse mushroom
needle
BONUS!
Can you f ind ring crown
spoon banana
the sailboat,
heart, pencil,
and feather? ice pop ruler
ladle
pennant
bowl envelope
hockey
stick
crescent pointy ladder
moon hat key golf club carrot fishhook
By Gary LaCoste. Answers on HighlightsKids.com. PLAY ONLINE! Head to HiddenPictures.com. 7
 A Goat with a Dream
By Jill Nogales • Art by Kyle Beckett

Euladean’s job was to eat weeds.

All day. Every day. Her brother, Bill,
thought eating weeds was the perfect Goats don’t
job for a goat. But Euladean dreamed make things.
of being an artist. They nibble-
chomp-chew
If I were an things.
artist, I’d
make the
most fabulous
things.
Chew. Chomp.

Nibble.

Art school? Then I’ll

One morning, Goats don’t be the
Euladean saw a go to art first.
life-changing ad.
school.

8
Lesson One
was painting.

I was
born to
paint.

The other students painted lovely pictures.

But Euladean? She nibbled the handle off her
paintbrush. She chomped away at the canvas.

Lesson Two
was drawing.
Easy
peasy.

The other students drew lovely still-life pictures of the

fruit arrangement. But Euladean? She nibbled the pears,
chomped on a pineapple, and chewed up two pomegranates.

Lesson Three I guess

was sculpting. I’m not an
Piece of artist.
cake.

Gulp.

The other students sculpted lovely

clay sculptures. But Euladean?
(Continued on next page)
9
 (Continued from page 9)

Without Meanwhile,
thinking . . . Euladean’s
classmates and
Nibble, teacher were
worried. They
chomp, went outside
looking for
Euladean.
chew.

When they
found her, What a
everyone lovely
was sculpture!
surprised.
Euladean
was the
most
surprised What an
of all.
amazing
artist!

Not long
after that,
Euladean
was hired
as a sculptor
of shrubs.
She thought
it was the
perfect job
for a goat.
And it was.

10
Sprinkle
Search
These sprinkles are
hiding 19 crayons.
CAN YOU FIND
THEM ALL?
Answers on page 38.

11
 Wingsto
n

Helloooo

Bleep
bloop
blop Zippy

Zapper

Spare Part
Gather materials. With a
parent’s permission, look in
junk drawers and toolboxes.
Items could include cans, Corks
corks, wood, hooks, hangers,
handles, brackets, washers,
nuts, bolts, nails, springs,
tacks, screws, paper clips,
and yarn. Use tools, glue,
or adhesive glue dots to
assemble your creature. Cans
12 Crafts by Kimberly Stoney. Art by Mike Lowery.
Photos by Jim Filipski, Guy Cali Associates, Inc.
 Mrs.
Pine 30
Minut
rly
y
y

Pam

Oh,
hello
there!

Springzy

Sidekicks Odds and

Ends
Don’t forget
to name you
creature! r

Yarn
Adhesive
Glue Dots
Wood
SEND US YOURS! SEE PAGE 38 13
 t’s

M
Science explains

The nose helps us

a lot. It tells us when
dinner is almost ready
and leads the way to
cake. It also steers us
away from rotten eggs,
rancid meat, stinky
feet, and other nasty
stuff. We sniffed out
the facts about some
real stinkers. (Spoiler:
the culprit is often an
element called sulfur.)
14
 That
ELL?
why some things stink.
By Andy Boyles, Contributing Science Editor
Art by Ana Duna

Skunk
Never scare a skunk! But if you do, don’t
freak out. You can still avoid a stinky squirt.
Stay at least 10 feet away. That’s how far
it can spray. The skunk usually warns you
first. It will hiss, arch its back, raise its tail,
and stamp its feet. If you don’t back off, it
will point its rear end at you. The sight of its
built-in squirt gun is your last warning. If you
haven’t backed away already, do it now! That
terrified skunk is about to hit you with a spray
that will sting your eyes, make you sick to
your stomach, and even cause vomiting.
What’s in it? Chemicals that contain sulfur.
15
 Fish
You might have noticed that fish smell, um . . .
fishy. Fish from the ocean smell the strongest.
These saltwater fish have a chemical called TMAO. water out of a fish’s body. If the fish loses too
While we prepare fish for cooking, TMAO is already much water, it will die. The right amount of TMAO
breaking down into other things. balances the salt and keeps the fish alive.
One is called TMA. It smells Chefs cut down this smell by rinsing off most
super fishy. Saltwater of the TMA before cooking and then neutralizing
fish have a lot of TMAO the rest with mild acids during and after cooking.
because they need it. That’s why fish is often served with lemons.
Salt in the sea can draw Lemon juice has mild acids.
A seashore during low tide also smells fishy.
When the sea pulls away, it leaves behind dead
fish and other sea life. As bacteria feed on them,
they give off a brew of bad-smelling products.
Rotting fish have a super-fishy odor. That’s because
Bad bacteria quickly break down a lot of TMAO. So TMA
is a major ingredient in that awful recipe.
Breath
Anyone can have bad breath sometimes.
Bacteria in the mouth are often to blame.
As these little living things feed on bits of food
on the tongue and teeth, they give off a mixture
of smelly chemicals. Most of those chemicals
contain sulfur. To starve those germs, floss
and brush your teeth, then brush your tongue.
Some foods have a lot of sulfur. In large amounts,
they can cause bad breath for a long time. When
you digest the foods, the smelly chemicals enter
the bloodstream, which carries them back to the
mouth. In cases like this, brushing and flossing
won’t help much. But don’t worry that you have
bad breath. A lot of people think they have
it when they really don’t. Until someone
you trust mentions it, you can
breathe easy.

16
 Stinky
Cheeses
Why does Limburger
cheese smell kind of
like . . . feet? Many of the
bacteria that make the
sulfur-loaded odors of both
things are the same, or at
least related. Of course,
stinky cheeses are safe
to eat. When it comes to
cheese, the bacteria are
feeding on milk. But when
the bacteria live on feet,
they’re eating dead skin cells
and waste products from the
body. (Eww!) The odors are
related, but some people
can tell the difference.

Stinking
Bishop
5 Tasty Limburger

Stinky
Cheeses Stilton
Camembert Roquefort
17
 We
Think
They Rotten
Stink Stink
Eggs
But th
ey don’t Bug
seem to mind. “Eww. What smells like rotten eggs?”
It could be a lot of things. But a bad egg gives off
the most famous stink of all. It grabs our attention
because it contains hydrogen sulfide (which
contains—yup! sulfur). And your nose is not lying.
Lesser Hydrogen sulfide doesn’t just smell bad; it’s also
Anteater
poisonous in large amounts. Hydrogen sulfide
forms in the white part of the egg, which contains
Musk Ox sulfur. When we cook an egg, a little sulfur binds to
hydrogen, forming the smelly gas. In tiny amounts,
it’s OK. It helps make an egg taste like an egg. But
when an egg rots, bacteria feed on the egg white
and bind lots of sulfur and hydrogen. Then the
Millipede nose warns us away from the toxic gas and
the germs that made it.
Opossum

Feet
Foot sweat itself does not Sadly for our noses, these
have a bad smell—well, not bacteria are just the right types
at first. But it does have food to give off at least six foul-
and water that bacteria use smelling chemicals. Different
to make some pretty stinky types of bacteria give off
stuff. Most shoes seal in sweat. different odors. That’s why feet
That makes shoes and may smell like spoiled cabbage,
socks warm and moist— vinegar, or a stinky cheese. One
a place where bacteria key ingredient in foot odor is
can feed on dead sulfur. It delivers the punch of
skin and the a chemical from feet (and from
chemicals in stinky cheese): methanethiol.
sweat.
So let’s respect sulfur and
other strong odors that keep
us safe. There’s no
reason to raise
a stink!

18
 W hat ’s
in the
Wash?
Art by Jamie Co
e

o c le a n up!
Time t ess, can you
m ,
In this ncil, 4 shoes
pe
find a a g lo b e, a
na ,
a bana nglasses,
su
pair of y o - yos, a
, 3
a truck y, 4 gloves,
ke ,
fork, a urs, 4 books
sa clock,
2 dino p e , a
r o
a jump e sock, and
ng
an ora
s?
a cactu

BONmUanSy!
How
tennis balls
can you find?

Answers on page 38. 19

 DOG
NOSE
What makes it so powerful?
By Andy Boyles, Contributing Science Editor

Dogs are famous for their super nose, it’s as big as a DVD. That huge
snouts. Those sensitive noses are surface has lots of folds that help
good for finding food and checking it fit inside the dog’s snout. Like a
out new dogs, people, and places. crumpled sheet of paper, it has a lot
For thousands of years, hunters have of surface packed into a small space.
trained dogs to track prey. During a sniff, air flows over the
Today, dogs do many jobs. They lining. Nerve endings in the lining
find injured people after earthquakes detect odor chemicals in the air.
and other disasters. They help fight The nerves send signals to the brain,
crime by sniffing out illegal drugs telling it which odors they detected.
and explosives. And because of the The dog’s large lining may have
dog’s nose, stinkbugs, bedbugs, two billion smell detectors. That’s
and termites have nowhere to hide. up to 167 times more than our
Studies show that dogs can even 12 million to 40 million. And
detect some diseases in humans. the smelling part of a dog’s
How does a dog’s nose perform brain is three times bigger
these feats? It’s 10,000 to 100,000 than the same part of the
times more sensitive than the human human brain. The dog’s
nose, at least for some odors. As in brain has to process IS THAT
our nose, the airway in a dog’s nose a lot of smell data BACON?
has a lining that senses odors. In a coming in from the
human nose, the lining is the size of nose—but it can
a quarter. In a German shepherd’s handle the job.
20
 The part of SNIFFER
the brain that Two air
pockets trap
DIFFER S
handles smell • Human
s have a
is extra large. sniffed-up nose tha better
n pigs an
• Polar b d rats.
odors, giving ears can
smell
food fro
more time for m miles
away,
but shar
smelling. ks can t.
THAT
STINKS!

Nerve cells inside

detect odors
and send signals
to the brain.

A wet nose
catches lots of
odor chemicals.

SHARE A DOG STORY! SEE PAGE 38 21

 Ask an adult for help with anything hot or sharp.

15 Serves Fairly

swirl
Minutes 36 Easy
(Chill 2 Hours)

it up
Make easy
shamrock
swirl fudge!

1 Line an 8- or 9-inch pan

with parchment paper.
2 Put 16 ounces of white chocolate
chips into a microwave-safe bowl.
3 Microwave for 90 seconds at half
power. Stir. Add 30 seconds, if necessary.
4 Add 14 ounces of sweetened
condensed milk. Stir until smooth.
5 Put the mixture into the pan. Add a few drops YUM!
of food coloring. Use a metal skewer to swirl it.
6 Top with cereal bits and sprinkles. Chill for 2 hours.

SEND US YOURS!
22 SEE PAGE 38 Photos by Jim Filipski, Guy Cali Associates, Inc.
 ns
’ Fa ves During

ha at do
COVID-19,
6-year-old
g Wh Callaghan
Calla
you call McLaughlin
a lazy cheered
Want
kangarcoho?
people up.
to hear
A pou
potato. a joke?
What is
a pirate’s
favorite
hobby?
Aaaaaaar t!

What do
you call a bug
who drops the
football?
A fumblebee.
What is
red, white,
and blue?
A sad candy
cane.
How do
you know
the ocean is
friendly?
It waves.

Sharing a Smile
By Sara Matson

Callaghan McLaughlin has When someone came by, the people. He was able
held lemonade stands in Callaghan gave out some to visit with his neighbors
past summers—but not in cheer by sharing a few and friends at a safe
2020. Because of COVID-19, jokes—for free. distance, and he made
people had to stay distant. “I wanted people to save new friends. Putting a
Since Callaghan loves their money,” he says, to use smile on others’ faces
jokes, his mom suggested for things they might need made him feel great.
having a joke stand instead. during the pandemic. “Everyone had to stay
Callaghan liked that idea. Many visitors told him home or apart. People were
He set up a table and chair jokes in return. He learned a lonely,” he says. “Jokes can
in his driveway. lot of new jokes that way! make sad people happy.”
For an hour each morning The best thing about the Highlights is proud to
and afternoon, he waited. stand, Callaghan says, was know this Gallant Kid.

Photo by Kelsea McLaughlin. 23

 Sonia Sotomayor
This U.S. Supreme Court justice talks

4
about books, heroes, and detours in life.

3
By Marty Kaminsky
AT AGE 7, WHAT CAN

1
YOU FOUND YOU TELL
AS A CHILD, OUT YOU KIDS ABOUT
WHAT DID HAVE FACING
YOU WANT DIABETES. HAS CHALLENGES?
When I hit a detour
TO BE WHEN IT BEEN AN in life, I think, What
YOU GREW UP? OBSTACLE IN

2
is the way around
I wanted to be a YOUR LIFE? I have this? No matter
detective like Nancy WHAT never thought of what challenges
Drew. Reading books MADE YOU diabetes as a burden. you face, they don’t
opened the whole WANT TO BE It is just a small part ever have to stop you
world to me. I’m a A LAWYER of who I am. It has from succeeding.
Supreme Court justice
because of books.
AND A JUDGE? I helped me to be Disappointment and
grew up in a housing more disciplined, failure don’t define
project, and I had determined, and you as a person.
little opportunity to persistent.
learn about the law. In
college, I read about
judges in the South
who were helping
integrate our society.
I wanted to be like
them. Laws help
people live together.
I wanted to be a part
of that.

5
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN’S
BOOK JUST ASK! BE DIFFERENT,
BE BRAVE,
BE YOU. It
celebrates the many ways
we do things differently.
The world is richer, not
lesser, because of our
differences. It’s a book
about how to make the
world a better place.

24 Photo by Steve Petteway, Collection of the

Supreme Court of the United States.
 “Where’s one with lots Gallant touches only the
of chips?” says Goofus. food he’s taking.
Idea by Dylan, Age 11, Washington Idea by Dylan, Age 11, Washington

“I don’t want to study now. I’ll “I’ll clean up now, then I can play
do it on the bus,” says Goofus. with Erik after lunch,” says Gallant.

YOUR Goofus and Gallant Moments

“I felt like Goofus “I felt like Gallant “I felt like Goofus
when I lied to my dad when I helped feed my when I didn’t hold
about my homework.” neighbors’ cat when the door open for my
Grayson they wereSoopuhtieof town.” little sister.”
Sofia
Age 12 • Illinois
Age 9 • Oregon Age 11 • New York

Art by Leslie Harrington. SEND US YOUR MOMENTS! SEE PAGE 38 25

Big New
sBy Arle
Ar t by n e M ar
Erika M k
edina

Little
News
,
26
 Heading back
he tossed the last downtown on Maple,
Henry read the headline: newspaper onto the Henry glanced at the
North America Sees porch at 15 Birch Street. porch of number 26. He
Total Solar Eclipse. He If he pedaled fast, had put the paper where
was happy he had used he’d get to The Gazette Mr. Grady could get it
his homemade shoebox offices by 8:30. Must be without struggling to
viewer yesterday to something important the sidewalk. Across the
experience three minutes for the editor in chief to street, Henry’s toss had
and ten seconds of meet with an 11-year-old landed perfectly too. Mrs.
darkness in the middle paperboy. Maybe he’d be Burke, with twin babies
of the day. He finished getting a longer route. and two other little kids,
rolling copies of the probably liked having her
March 8, 1970, issue of Must be something paper within easy reach.
The Gazette, filled his important for the Henry parked his bike
canvas bag, slung it over near the office building
his handlebars, and took
editor in chief to meet and bounded up two
off to deliver the news. with an 11-year-old
It was 8:15 A.M. when paperboy. (Continued on next page)
27
 “No
good way
to deliver
bad news.”

(Continued from page 27) reporters pecking away Saturday is the last issue.”
on typewriters. Henry forced his head up
flights of stairs to the editor “Local papers are the to say good-bye.
in chief’s door. A sign said first to close.” Mr. Trotta As he rode past the
Come In. So Henry did. shrugged. “You won’t have houses he knew so well,
Mr. Trotta reached across to get up early on weekends. Henry saw Mr. Grady on his
his desk. “Hello, Henry. That’s good, right?” porch holding a broom. “Mr.
Wow! Strong handshake.” “Um, no,” said Henry. “I Grady, wait,” Henry called,
“Thanks. It’s from rolling like waking up early. I’ve setting down his bike. He
all those newspapers.” met so many people on my led Mr. Grady to a chair and
“So, about those papers.” route. It’s sad. People won’t took the broom. In minutes,
Mr. Trotta paused. “No good get their neighborhood the porch was clean.
way to deliver bad news.” news anymore.” “Mighty kind of you,
Henry’s smile faded. Mr. Trotta nodded and Henry,” said Mr. Grady.
“We’re closing shop, sighed. “We held out as Mr. Grady clicked off the
Henry. Advertising is down. long as we could,” he said. radio. They sat for a while
Last July, the whole world “You were terrific, Henry— as Mr. Grady recounted how
saw the moon landing on always dependable.” happy he’d been moving
TV—live. Television is how “When will you tell the his family to 26 Maple.
people get their news today.” customers?” He sounded lonely.
Henry glanced at several “Today’s Gazette. Next Henry spoke as he got up.
28
 As Henry made more she needed a teenager to
As Henry made more notes, an idea started help clean her basement.
forming in his head. Maybe Mr. and Mrs. Watson wrote
notes, an idea started he could create a newsy a story called “Our 40 Years
forming in his head. page for the neighbors. But at 18 Pine.” The new family
how would he print it? He who lived at 30 Chestnut
“Now, Mr. Grady, anytime pedaled to the library and invited neighbors to a “Meet
you have chores, call me explained everything to the Johnsons” party. Henry
and I’ll help, OK?” Miss Ginger, the librarian. added: Stories told by friendly
“Follow me,” she said. gentleman at 26 Maple. Stop
*** Seconds later, in front of by to chat.
A week after his last a machine, Miss Ginger Henry typed the news,
deliveries, Henry wondered cranked a handle and a mimeographed purple copies,
if his customers missed purple-printed sheet rolled and delivered the first Tree
The Gazette as much as he out. “Will mimeographed Streets News on Saturday.
did. He thought of a way copies work?” she asked. After that, neighbors
to find out. “Perfect.” wrote recipes and stories.
He started out on his old Henry had a plan. They advertised giveaways
route with a notebook. First and help wanted, and they
stop: Mr. Jonas, 17 Oak. *** requested books and music.
When Henry asked him Customers cheered Henry missed his old
about the paper, Mr. Jonas Henry’s idea. They were Gazette job, but he had
was quick to answer. “I sure happy to help supply the launched something too.
liked reading the week’s news. Miss Roberts, from He was making news and
happenings. By the way, I 25 Birch, advertised that connecting neighbors.
have a pile of comics from
old copies of The Gazette.
Think someone would
want them?”
“Maybe. I’ll ask around.”
Henry made a note in his Henry delivered
notebook. the first Tree
He stopped at Mrs. Streets News.
Burke’s, 27 Maple. She
opened the door holding the
two babies. Her other two
kids held on to her legs.
Henry stared. “You could
use a babysitter.”
“Definitely. I was going
to put an ad in The Gazette,
but . . . Know any neighbors
with experience?”
Mr. Simon was next door,
carrying his banjo out to his
car. “Hey, Henry. My band
is having a concert in the
park the last Friday of this
month. Tell all your friends.”
29
 Oak Tree
Owen Langdon
Age 9 • Mar yland

SMELLS GO
OD!

Maddie Wiese
Age 6 • Iowa

Q UA C K , Q U
ACK

Th e Girl Smelling a Rose

Wood Sabrina Strauss
Duck Age 6 • New Jersey

Sara Gregory I am a pencil.

Age 11 • California
I make things anew.
I plant seeds of imagination
Here in Wisconsin, the snow is in my users’ heads—
Dancing Days lo ve W is co ns in . It ’s beautiful. seeds that grow
Me and my friends fa lli ng. I
In our little village, the snowpl
ows go into trees of creativity.
like to dance to the be ds are I create on one side
We shake our hips
at. up and down the roads, and ki
playing in the snow. I love W
isconsin and erase on the other,
and move our feet.
and our little village! a side I almost never use.
Ann Vaughn
Age 6 • Virginia Sarah Robertson I am a pencil.
Age 8 • Wisconsin Elle Bergan
30 Age 10 • Michigan
 Banjo Player
en
Canaan Popp Craig Schilling
akota
EE T ! Age 7 • South D Age 9 • Washington
SO S W

Cherry Blossoms
Sujana
Age 9 • New
Yo rk
Cats
At Home Making Dinner Cats, cats, love to purr
Anna Walsh Cats, cats, and their fluffy fur
Mostly red Age 10 • Idaho
Cats love to take naps
Aliens? Cats love to steal snacks
Robots Pets If I had a cat, I would name it Max
Silent Rogers Little dogs sniff logs. It would be very chillax
Taylor Cats, cats, purr so much
Age 8 • No
r th Dakota
Talking birds can say words.
Happy cats chase rats. I love them so much
Small fish go swish. Siamese, Russian blue, tabby, Maine coon
Cardinal Watch them play every day.
I hope we can get one soon
Bird, bird, Juilianna Van Winkl
e Cats, cats, cats, cats, cats, cats, cats!
I love it when you sing to me Age 10 • Arizona Betsy Yuan
(with help from big brother Sam)
in nature’s harmony! Age 4 • Wisconsin
Abel Russell
Age 8 • Florida SEND US YOURS! SEE PAGE 38 31
 s ou r b o d y ’s Your body’s energy

Where d o e comes from foods you

c o m e f ro m , eat. They’re your fuel.

en e rg y e
Your body digests and

w e h av breaks down food,

like when e? changing it into forms

that give you energy
caffein Addison
and grow your muscles,
bones, and more.
Age 8 • In
d iana Caffeine is in some
foods, including coffee,
tea, some sodas, and
chocolate, but it’s really
a drug—not a nutrient.
It does not provide any
more energy for the
body. Instead, it tricks
the body into quickly
using energy it already
has. It blocks a chemical
that naturally helps your
body and brain wind
down when you need
some rest. And it speeds
up your heart rate and
ups your blood pressure.
All of that puts extra
stress on your body and
can make you feel more
tired in the long run.
Anytime you artificially
change what’s going on
in a part of your body,
that can cause other
problems.
So while nutrients
from foods feed our
bodies so they can
perform their usual
duties, drugs like
caffeine work like a car’s
glitchy GPS: they take
your body in directions
it wouldn’t naturally go,
using your body’s fuel
in the process.
32 ASK A QUESTION! SEE PAGE 38 Art by Jim Bradshaw.
 Find the Faces
Find the two columns that have all the same emojis.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

BONUS! Which emoji OUR INSPIRATION

appears in every column?
Answers on page 38. FOR THIS PUZZLE

Tongue Tw isters Leo loves lovely

lemon leaves.
The So this Lucy
globby glob is the Age 11 • Louisiana

gobbled. sushi chef?

Ryder Lizzie
Age 10 • Alabama Age 8 • California

33
 when I’m grumpy,” said
my dad. “Come on. I’ll get
you started on the kitchen
junk drawer!”
“I like getting out the
Sometimes I get so stuck in a toolbox and fixing stuff
when I need a change in
bad mood that I can’t cheer up! mood,” said my mom. “Want
Do you have any suggestions? to give me a hand with the
drippy bathroom faucet?”
—Grumpy in Guerneville I knew everybody was
trying to help, but every
time someone suggested a
way to make me feel better,

A Case of
I felt even worse!
Just then, my friend Ollie
stopped by.
“Abuela bought this

the Grumpies
brand-new soccer ball for
two dollars at the rummage
sale!” he said excitedly.
“Want to try it out at
By Lissa Rovetch • Art by Amanda Morley the park?”
I stepped outside and sat
on the front stoop. I sighed.
Dear Grumpy, Indi climbed onto my bed.
“Can you read your book
“I’m too busy being in the
world’s worst mood to do
“Stuck” is the right word! out loud?” anything at all.”
Sometimes my bad mood “I don’t want to read out “What happened?”
feels like quicksand, and loud,” I huffed. he asked.
the harder I try to climb “Are you in a bad mood?” “Tex and Indi interrupted
out, the more stuck I get! Tex asked. my reading, and for some
That was true last week. “I know something reason, it made me really
I was reading a book and that will help!” Indi said, cranky,” I said. “Then
had just come to the most running out of my room. A everyone started offering
suspenseful part of the minute later, she returned suggestions for how to cheer
mystery when my little and dumped a basket of up. But I wasn’t asking
brother and sister charged stuffed animals all over me. for help.”
into my room. “A teddy-bear picnic!” “When I’m in a bad mood,
“We made paper “Thanks, Indi, but not I move,” said Ollie.
airplanes!” Indi shouted. today.” I got up, dragged “I’d love to move,” I said.
“Aren’t they cool?” asked myself down the hall, and “To a tropical island!”
Tex, sending his plane flopped into the living- “Not that kind of move!”
directly into my head. room chair. Ollie said. “I move my body.
“Excuse me. I would “What’s up, honey You know, skateboard, kick
appreciate a little peace and bunny?” asked my dad. a soccer ball, go for a walk,
quiet so I can read,” I said. “I’m in a terrible mood!” do jumping jacks. Exercise
“Ooh! I want to read!” I grumbled. makes me feel better.”
said Tex. “I like organizing things I groaned. “You’re
34
 “I’m in a
terrible
mood!”

offering suggestions too?” It rolled and rolled, and we “Definitely.” I giggled.

“Sorry,” Ollie said. ran and ran until it was “I’d love to watch
“No, I’m sorry. You’re just finally stopped by a tree. squirrel gymnastics.”
trying to help.” I shook my That’s when we spotted a “Hey!” said Ollie.
head. “Maybe I need to feel cute little squirrel grabbing “That noise you just made
miserable for a while.” snacks from a bird feeder. sounded a lot like a laugh.”
Right then, a gust of wind “Whoa!” said Ollie. “I I smiled. “Possibly. But
blew Ollie’s soccer ball never knew squirrels could you’re not allowed to say
off the steps and onto the hang upside down like that. you told me so!”
sidewalk. We ran to catch it I bet that guy is a famous
before it went into the street. squirrel gymnast.” (Continued on next page)
35
 (Continued from page 35) of it. Moving around, as could write down your own
Ollie suggested, really list of ideas and take a look
“You mean because I told helped me. And even though at it when you need to.
you that moving works great I was too grumpy to listen And if you really can’t get
for taking your mind off to my family’s suggestions, unstuck, it’s important to
your problems, even though they had some great ideas. talk about it with an adult
you didn’t want to hear it?” Playing, organizing, and you trust. It’s OK to ask for
Ollie laughed. “OK, I won’t fixing things are all good help when you need it.

Ciao for now,

mention it!” ways to get your mind off
So, dear Grumpy, just what’s bothering you.

Arizona
when you think you’ll be in If you’re like me and find
a bad mood forever, you’re it tough to take advice when
suddenly on the other side you’re grouchy, maybe you

“That noise you

just made
sounded a lot
like a laugh.”

36
 What
START!
Take you
do you own
the most of?
brain onr
a hike.
W hat is
your favorite
Socks?
What thing about
is the RIGHT
first dish NOW?
you learned Crayons?
to make

by yourself?
e
How ar arts Blocks?
nd
sports arent?
YUM! diffe they Something else?
e
How arame?
the s
What’s something
your friends think
is ordinary
Which BUT YOU
emotions THINK IS
do you fee
l REALLY
WHAT WOULD during INTERESTING?
YOU DO IF YOU most
STUMBLED ON school
SOMETHING TH days?
AT
LOOKED LIKE A
DINOSAUR FOS
SIL?

OUCH!

“That hit the IF PENCILS

nail on the head!” COULD TALK, THE

WHAT WOULD
END
What does this
expression mean?
YOURS SAY?
37
 Share
WHAT
IS YOUR Your Work
MARCH 2021 • VOLUME 76 • NUMBER 3 • ISSUE NO. 833
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Life During COVID-19

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channels, and in the Highlights@Home segments on Highlights.com.
Covers: What’s That Smell? by Ana Duna
What’s Wrong? by Mitch Mortimer Keep sharing how you feel, talking with loved ones, and taking
Illustration credits: pages 1, 5, 6, 22, 24, 30–31, 38: Sebastian Abboud; 5: (girl) Ana Duna;
11: Rich Powell; 33: Find the Faces by iStock/Getty Images Plus/DStarky, Tongue Twisters by
good care of yourselves. And write to us anytime you’d like!
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Photo credits: page 1: Andrea Behrends; 4: (clover) iStock/Getty Images Plus/cglade, (Suzi
Mekhitarian) Robert Pozo/newspix, (penny) iStock/Getty Images Plus/peterspiro, (wishbone) PAGE 33
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Answers Find the Faces
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PAGE 11 Columns 1 and 6 have all the
PAGE 19
Images Plus/flyingv43; 17: Getty Images/ Tetra Images, (bottom, from left) iStock /Gett same emojis.
Images Plus/ Yulia Buzaeva, iStock/Getty Images Plus/Dmytro, iStock/Getty Images Plus/
Bozena_Fulawka, Stephen Shepherd/Alamy Stock Photo, iStock /Getty Images Plus/
Sprinkle Search What’s in the Wash? BONUS!
Juanmonino; 18: (stink bug) iStock/Getty Images Plus/epantha, (anteater) iStock/Getty Images
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This emoji appears
Plus/Mumemories, (opossum) iStock/Getty Images Plus/irin717, (egg) iStock/Getty Images in every column.
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PAGE 41
Images Plus/chas53, (block) iStock/Getty Images Plus/Yevhenii Orlov, (basketball) iStock/ Who Knows the Nose?
Getty Images Plus/GenchoPetkov, (paint splash) iStock/Getty Images Plus/leonello, (hammer)
iStock/Getty Images Plus/EHStock, (dog) iStock/Getty Images Plus/damedeeso; 39: iStock/ 1. Cat. 2. Horse. 3. Cow. 4. Koala.
Getty Images Plus/Sonsedska; 41: (1) iStock/Getty Images Plus/YakubovAlim, (2) iStock/Getty
Images Plus/BigRedCurlyGuy, (3) iStock/Getty Images Plus/JazzLove, (4, 6, 7, 11) iStock/Getty
5. Hamster. 6. Leopard.
Images Plus/GlobalP, (5) E+/Getty Images/Kerrick, (8) E+/Getty Images/pjmalsbury, (9) iStock/ 7. Rabbit. 8. Hippo. 9. Deer.
Getty Images Plus/Ben Wehrman, (10) E+/Getty Images/Freder, (12) iStock/Getty Images Plus/
Damocean, (13) E+/Getty Images/jane, (14) iStock/Getty Images Plus/photomaru, (15) iStock/
10. Monkey. 11. Sea lion. 12. Sloth.
Getty Images Plus/Sonsedska, (16) iStock/Getty Images Plus/DrPAS, (17) iStock/Getty 13. Camel. 14. Goat. 15. Pig.
Images Plus/GSom. TWVUQU\V[WZ
16. Walrus. 17. Hedgehog.
38
 Your
PATIENT: Doctor,
Doctor, I feel like
a deck of cards. Wacky YOUR
Captions
DOCTOR: I’ll deal PACKAGE OF
with you later.
Caleb Blalock CUTENESS HAS
Texas
ARRIVED.
Soph ie
A book never written: Age 9 • New York
Everything You Need
to Know About Felines
A - B OX !
by Kit E. Kat.
LuLu Chatham
PEEK- ter
Dex fo r nia
• C ali
California Age 7

BROOKE: Want to
hear a joke about
paper?
VIVIAN: Sure.
BROOKE: Never mind.
It’s tearable.
Brooklyn Miller
Minnesota

What is the
difference between
an ant and a moose?
KEEP OUT, H
T H I S B OX L U M A N.
doesn’t have moosle
rs.
A moose has antlers,

CATLAND, W EADS TO I’LL STICK

t an ant bu

Joanna Yoder
Ohio
PROHIBITEDHERE YOU ARE TO THINKING
. ALSO, MAY INSIDE
A book never written: HAVE SOME I
Lord of the Dice by
Ro b i n
TUNA? THE BOX.
Here R.R. Tokens. Ag Mary
e 9 • Cali
John Paul fornia Age 11 • Pennsylvania
Louisiana

Why did the bee get

a pink slip?
My dad thought he could
four-wheel-drive in snow,
Funny But True
but he got stuck . . . so a
For bad bee-havior!

Caleb Ferguson
One time, I was at a party and I could
California little tiny truck pulled us not find my backpack. I was searching
out! It was so funny. everywhere. Then I realized I had it on
Why can’t bask Isabella
my back the whole time!
etball
players go away Age 10 • California
on Evie
vacation?
d for traveling. Age 9 • New York
They’d get calle
Grant Jertson
Arizona THAT ’S
SNOW 39
F U N N Y! SEND US YOURS! SEE PAGE 38
 id s a t s c h o o l
Some k li t t le
don’t l i ke m y
a u s e h e ta l ks
I love mermaids, brother bec him not to,
but my friends a lot. I tell ad at me.
say they’re but he geMtasttm hew
babyish. How California

can I tell them

I like mermaids? You sound
Rub y like a caring
Washington
older brother,
and that’s
It’s fine to like something important to
your friends don’t. People him. But talking
have different interests. with others about
Be yourself. Share what their behavior can be tricky.
you like when you want to. What you think is helping
But don’t expect that they might sound to him like
should agree. Let them bossing or criticizing. If you
have their own opinions, offer a suggestion, be sure to
just as you do. do it in a kind way.
If you already know that You can help your brother
they don’t like mermaids, most by letting him know
you might decide to talk that you love and accept him
with them about other just as he is. If these kids
topics that you all enjoy. don’t like things about him,
If they tease you about then he may not want to be
mermaids, ask them to friends with them anyway.
stop. Good friends will But if your brother wants to
treat you kindly, even if be less talkative, ask him
they disagree with you. how you can help.

c a n b e h a rd for
Maybe you It
ADVICE FROM YOU could set a p e o p l e to s h a re .
timer. Everybo a y b e y o u a l l can
I want to play dy M u l e.
gets the same u p
set Grace a s c h e d
video games, amount of TV la homa
Age 12 • Ok
but my siblings Brielle
.
Age 9 • Ne
w Hampshir
hog the TV. e HAVE A QUESTION?
Kain
Write to us at [email protected]
California or by postal mail (see page 38).

40 Art by Keith Frawley.

 Sniff
1 2 3 4

Snuffle 5 6 7 8

WHO KNOWS
THE NOSE?
Can you identify each animal by its nose?
9 Answers on page 38.
10

11 Snore 12 13 14

15 16 17 What
do you call
a flying
skunk?
A
smell-
Snort icopter
WHAT’S
WRONG?
It’s up
to you!