Highlights for Children (December 2019)

WhyWinterPage 1616PSO COLD?MBERDECEMBERDECE20192019Highlights com.mPage 32HIGHLIGHTS STORYBOOKS FOR ALEXANEW !

FunThis MonthWhat s the Word’?4 Ways toGive Gifts and Compliments—!Add something to your gifts that your friends andfamily are sure to love: kind words. Wrap your giftsin solid-colored paper, and use a marker to writecompliments or thank-yous on the paper. Youmight thank your mom for helping you withyour homework. Or let yourbrother know he’s great attelling jokes. A thoughtfulnote is a valuable gift!Tongue TwisterChloe collects clean coins.Find the PicturesCan you find each of these 12 pictures at another place in this magazine?Paint scenes of outerspace using glow-in the dark paint--.Grab a flashlightand a friend Put .on a shadow puppet show.With permission ,drape string lights on your bed frame.Sit in a circle with friends or family For .a campfire use “,”battery powered -candles Sing songs .or tell stories.1 .2 .3 .4 .Answers on page 38.A n sw e ro n p a g e 3 8 .M y s t e r yP h o t oBrighten Dark Winter Nights1. ail + l--2 w + w + a.--3 i + h + e.--4 ue + n.--5 an + r + nt + r.---Use the clues to figure out the winter words.

By Christine French CullyEditor in ChiefDear ReaderWrite to me!Christine Highlights [email protected] part of our mission to help make the worlda better place for the children of today andtomorrow, Highlights is committed tomaking responsible business decisionsthat will protect our natural resourcesand reduce our environmental impact.AWARDSHighlightshas beengiven awards by The Associationof Educational Publishers, TheEducation Center, LLC, Family ChoiceAwards, Freedoms Foundation, Graphic ArtsAssociation, iParenting Media, Magazine Design and Production,National Association for GiftedChildren, National Conference ofChristians and Jews, National Parenting Center, National SafetyCouncil, Parents’ Choice, Parent’s Guide to Children’s MediaAwards, and Printing Industry Association.HighlightsKids.comis a participant in the Kids Privacy Safe Harbor program of theChildren’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) of the Council of BetterBusiness Bureaus.PARENTS:If your child isnot quite readyforHighlights,callto switch toHigh Fiveatany time.Photo courtesy of Hanh Bui.HO1219_182736DECEMBER 2019 • VOLUME 74 • NUMBER 12 • ISSUE NO. 818Founded in 1946 by Garry C. Myers, Ph.D.,and Caroline Clark MyersEditor in Chief: Christine French CullyVP, Magazine Group Editorial: Jamie BryantCreative Director: Marie O’NeillEditor: Judy BurkeDesign Director: Patrick Greenish, Jr.Senior Editor: Joëlle DujardinAssociate Editors: Allison Kane, Linda K. RoseAssistant Editor: Patty CourtrightCrafts and Activities Editor: Lisa GloverCopy Editor: Joan Prevete HymanSenior Production Artist: Dave JusticeProduction Assistant: Susan Shadle ErbContributing Science Editor: Andrew BoylesEditorial Offices: 803 Church Street, Honesdale, PA 18431-1895. E-mail: [email protected]. To submit manuscripts, go to Highlights.submittable.com. (Writers younger than 16: please use the postal address above.)CEO: Kent S. JohnsonSVP, International and Global Content Licensing: Andy ShafranBusiness Offices: 1800 Watermark Drive,P.O. Box 269, Columbus, OH 43216-0269.Copyright © 2019, Highlights for Children, Inc. All rights reserved.HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHILDREN is published monthly.Cover price: $5.99ISSN 0018-165X (print); ISSN 2330-6920 (online)Printed by LSC Communications, Glasgow, KY.Designed for home and classroom use.Periodical postage paid at Columbus, Ohio; Toronto, Ontario; and at additional mailing offices.U.S. Postmaster: Send address changes to Highlights for Children, P.O. Box 6038, Harlan, IA 51593-1538.Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement No. 40065670. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to P.O. Box 99 Stn. Main, Milton, ON L9T 9Z9.Sometimes we make our list of customer names and addresses available to carefully screened companies whose products and services might be of interest to you. We never provide children’s names. If you do not wish to receive these mailings, please contact us and include your account number.To order, make a payment, change your address, or for other customer-service needs, such as changing your contact preference, please contact us:• Online: Highlights.com• Call: 1-800-255-9517• Write: P.O. Box 5878, Harlan, IA 51593-1378Gather Round . . .When I was a kid, our family lived hundreds of miles from our relatives. When we got together twice a year, it wasn’t long before my grandparents, aunts, and uncles started telling family stories about growing up together. All of us kids would gather around.The stories—funny or sad, new or told often—helped us cousins feel closer to one another. The stories showed us who our parents were as people, what they were like as kids, and why they said and did certain things.When nine-year-old Lauren Bui asked her mother about her childhood, Lauren heard a story that started with danger, hunger, homesickness, and fear. But it ended with safety, plenty, the kindness of strangers, and a lifelong friend. Don’t miss “From Vietnam to America” (page 33).The holiday season is the perfect time for storytelling. This year, as your family gathers to celebrate, ask a grown-up you love this question: “Will you tell us a story from when you were a kid?” Then gather round, listen, and enjoy. You might be surprised at what you learn.Your friend,This magazine of wholesome funis dedicated to helping children grow in basicskillsandknowledge,increativeness,in ability tothinkandreason,insensitivityto others in high,ideals and worthy ways of living—forchildren are the world s most important people’.

• NUMB81816LeaningToward WinterWhy does it get so cold?18CraftsFind items like these in theSnowdrift Detective Game.20A Kind LieWill Nadia become less shy about speaking Arabic?Dear Highlights,Build It!December 12is NationalGingerbreadHouse Day.201Take a deepbreath and say,“I can solve this.”2See whetherthe pieces arein the right spots.3Ask for help.A little teamworkmay do the trick!e mber2216We understand how you feel Laszlo Try these tips,!.—Laszlo Washington,6 Souped Up Sled-There s just one problem’.7 The TimbertoesIt s a jigsaw puzzler ’! 8 Making Christmas WarmerMargaret gives surprises to soldiers far from home. 10 Goofus and GallantGuess who asks before trying out a guitar. 11 Gallant KidsDylan and Jesse Clay help feed people in need. 12 My SciNanika asks why some animals go south in winter. 14 Hidden PicturesHard hats on It s a candy ! ’construction zone. 15 JokesWhat rhymes with orange?Winter No ?problem!

22 Chanukah Lights TonightIt s a warm and wonderful ’prairie Chanukah party.24 Check and . . .Double CheckDoggy game night!25 Paws and ThinkCreating at the maker space.26 You Finished the Story!Discover what was in the package from Aunt Zadie. 28 Otterly ImpossibleWill Ollie succeed in pulling off an outrageous feat? 32 How To . . .Build a snow fort. 33 From Vietnam to AmericaA former refugee sharesher story. 34 Your Own PagesSee art and poetry from creative kids like Dasa.36Christmas inPuerto RicoPut out the grass andwater for the ThreeKings horses’!38RiddlesWhat do you call a tree covered in glue?39BrainPlayThinking about toast.Think You re ’Chilly?Visit Utqiagvik (oot KAH the veek ---),Alaska home of the —coldest winters in the U S A. . .!Dasa KvamAge 10 • California DECEMBER 2019 5

Souped Up Sled-My sled was sliding way too slow,but Dad said he could help it go.He took it to his backyard shopand built some batwings for the top.He welded on a steering wheel,two foot brakes, and some sides of steel.By Ginny Neil Art by Garry Parsons•He made a windshield, bolted tight,and mirrors angled left and right.I thanked my dad when he was done,then took it out to have some fun.Now, sliding down would be a thrillif I could pull my sled uphill.6 DECEMBER 2019

By Rich Wallace • Art by Ron ZalmeTheTimbertoesThere were hundreds of pieces.They worked hard.Splinter kept busy.They were nearly done.Pleasepass theblue ones.Let s take’a break.Back towork!Where didthey go?Let s do ’a puzzle.OK And .I m doing ’greens.They must be here somewhere. DECEMBER 2019 7

Making Christmas Eve, 1777.Six soldiers waited outside a shop in Boston. They would soon leave with their supplies to meet up with other members of the Continental army.Margaret peeked out her kitchen window. She watched the soldiers blow into their hands and stomp their feet. It was already cold, but Margaret knew it would get colder as night came on.Margaret and her mother had been knitting socks for months in case they came across soldiers who needed them. And now the soldiers were here.“Let’s pack the socks into a bundle and give them to the men before they leave,” Margaret’s mother said.Margaret thought about the soldiers. Tomorrow, on Christmas, they would be far from their families, without gifts or anything special to eat.All morning, Margaret had been baking gingerbread cookies to serve to guests on Christmas Day. The baking made the kitchen smell so good.“Mother,” she said, “don’t you think gingerbread cookies would make a nice gift for the soldiers?”Her mother smiled. “I do.”Margaret quickly stuffed warm cookies inside each sock. It turned out she had just enough to fill every one. Her mother packed the socks into a By Debbra A Collins Art by Dave Szalay.•Tomorrow on Christmas ,,the soldiers would be far from their families.Christmas Warmer8 DECEMBER 2019

“These are for you and your friends.”bundle and tied them with string.Margaret ran outside as the soldiers were adding the final supplies to their wagon. They were waving good-bye to the shopkeeper. Margaret lifted the bundle up to a soldier on a tan horse. “My name is Margaret,” she said. “These are for you and your friends, from my mother and me. There’s a Christmas surprise inside.”The soldier was in a hurry to catch up to the others, who were leaving. But he smiled and said, “Thank you. I’m Thomas. Merry Christmas, Margaret.”“Merry Christmas,” Margaret called as the soldiers rode into the gray day. She thought about the warm socks and was glad she’d hadthe chance to help.That night, the windhowled as the soldiers stood around thefire. Thomas brought out the bundle.“We were given a gift from a girlnamed Margaret and her mother.”Cheers went up when everyone sawthe socks. More cheers went up whenthey found the cookies inside. “MerryChristmas, Margaret!” they said.The soldiers put on their new drysocks and stepped into their boots.Then they huddled around the fire,eating cookies made in a small kitchenin Boston. Somehow, Christmas Evefelt a little warmer, and it seemedChristmas Day would be brighter too.Margaret was glad she d ’had the chance to help.FIGHTING TO BE A FREE COUNTRYFrom 1775 until 1783 Americans ,(the Continental soldiers fought )the British in the American Revolutionary War When the .Americans finally won they were ,free of Great Britain s control’. DECEMBER 2019 9

YOURGoofus and Gallant Moments“I feel like Goofusif I call myself stupidafter a mistake.”Sophia Age 5 Florida,,“I felt like Gallantwhen I did the disheswithout being asked.”Aidan Age 13 Pennsylvania,,Tell us whenyou ve’felt likeGoofus or Gallant Visit!HighlightsKids com or write to.Goofus and Gallant Moments803 Church StreetHonesdale PA 18431,Art by Leslie Harrington.“I can t decide You decide’.for me says Goofus,”.“I decided to join the roboticsclub says Gallant,”.“Hey look I m a drummer,! ’!”says Goofus.“May I try out the guitar?”says Gallant.GoofusandGallantThere s some of Goofus and Gallant in us all ’.When the Gallant shines through we show our best self,.10 DECEMBER 2019

Gallant K dsDylan and Jesse havethe same FAVORITE. . .FOODHOBBYSPORTBuilding aAs volunteers at a soup kitchen,Dylan and Jesse Clay realized thatthere were many hungry peopleright in their own community.Their grandma told the boysabout a mini food pantry in hertown. Someone had set out abox with food in it so that peoplecould take what they needed. “Wethought it was a great idea. So wedecided to make one,” says Jesse.Pantry on a PoleThe boys asked their dadto sketch out a design. Theirmom bought the wood and othersupplies. Together, they built andpainted the box and added cleardoors so people could see inside.They attached the box to apole, then sank the pole intoconcrete between their fence andthe sidewalk. That way, everyonewalking along their busy streetwould see it. They added a signthat readsThe Blessing Box:Give what you can. . . .Take what you need.The brothers filled the box withfoods that don’t spoil quickly—things like bottled water, chips,juice boxes, and cans of soup.Empty Then Full Again,Soon, the box began to empty.People who were hungry stoppedby to take out things they needed.Jesse and Dylan were happythe box was being used. And theywere surprised and excited to findothers pitching in to stock it!“People see that there’s food init and that homeless people canget it, and they stop to put foodin,” says Dylan. From the start,neighbors and strangers havehelped keep the pantry stocked.Everyone WinsNow Dylan is 11 and Jesseis 8, and their Blessing Boxcontinues to benefit people intheir community—both those who need food and those looking for a way to help out.“I feel good about it because I want kids to have food and to be successful in life,” says Jesse.The boys hope that other people will be inspired to put up boxes in their own communities. “Then everyone would have food,” says Dylan.Highlightsis proud to know these Gallant Kids.At ages 8 and 5 ,Dylan and Jesse Clay built a mini food pantry for people in need.By Robert LeroseBox of Blessings DECEMBER 2019 11

MYSCBy Dougal Dixon • Art by Robert SquierDakotaraptorMost dromaeosaurs DRO me oh sawrz were about the size(---)of a modern day wolf Compared to them-.,Dakotaraptorwashuge Researchers found fossils from its arms legs tail and.,,,claws Knobs on its arm bones show that it probably had long.feathers like those on a bird s wing Modern birds evolved from’.the dromaeosaur group but,Dakotaraptorwas too big to fly.dah COAT ah RAP tor----“Dakota s hunter’”Feathered wings ,possibly used for display or balancePowerful ,nine inch long --killing claws on its feetHow Does It Etch That Sketch?●1 The frame and clear plastic screen hold the toy together and protect it.●3 Silvery aluminum powder clings to the underside of the glass because of static electricity.●5 A stylus moves against the powdered side of the glass As it .wipes away powder lines ,appear.As you turn a knob on an Etch A Sketch ,a line appears But .how The secret is ?in its name.To etch glass “”means to carve into it and leave a mark .With this toy you ,“carve into powder ”that coats a glass screen The line .that appears shows where the powder was cleaned from the glass The line looks . (dark because it lets you see into the dark inside of the toy.)12 DECEMBER 2019

25220114566PresentTriassicJurassicCretaceousCenozoicWHEN:66 million years agoWHERE:South DakotaHOW LONG:20 feetWHAT IT ATE:Other dinosaursThree long fingerswith clawsLikely a fast runner with ,its long muscular hind ,legs and lightweight feet● 4 Thepowder ismixed withtiny plasticbeads tokeep it fromclumping.Why do some animals leave in winter to go someplace warm?Nanika by e mail(-)When weather turns cold humans ,can turn up the furnace and find food at a grocery store But what can animals .do Many of them can t find their usual ?’foods when it s cold Plants die off or stop’.growing leaves and fruit Animals they.might prey on leave for warmer climates orsnuggle down in dens.Animals solve these problems with one of two basicstrategies Either they have bodies and diets adapted to.colder climates or they go somewhere warmer—.SQUIRRELSstore nuts toeat when foods are scarce.BEARSeat lots of foodin the fall giving them fat,to live on as they go intolight hibernation.BIRDSwith wings capableof long flight leave to findfood in warmer climates.RED FOXESwill eatdifferent foods depending,on what s available’.Come south with me!I stay put ,even when it s cold’!I say just sleep through it.I can t ’ .I d get too ’hungry.Make and play the “Snowdrift DetectiveGame” onpage 19 .Are all of the objects easy to find ?Why might some like a ,flat penny ,be harder to spot than others Think ?of your own best answer ,then read our explanation on page 38.Salt and Seek●6 A pulley system of thin wires connects the knobs to two steel bars .As the wires move the bars ,the bars move the stylus.●2 The middle layer is a glass screen.

Want a challenge?Fold back page 15 to hide the picture clues.Visit HiddenPictures com for more puzzling fun.!In this big picture find the mug bat carrot tack drinking straw hockey stick hatchet magnet pine tree ,,,,,,,,,,crescent moon closed umbrella ice pop chili pepper lightning bolt flag balloon ladle and hiking boot,,,,,,,,.Building Home Sweet HomeBy Pat Lewis14 DECEMBER 2019

Picture CluesAnswers on HighlightsKids com..$5 60.$4 80.$3 60.$4 40.$5 20.$4 40.The total cost of the artsupplies in each row andcolumn is given.Can you figureout the price of each item?Answers on page 38.A r t f u lA d d it io nJ O K E SNaomi Dwyer California,Librarian 1# :Want to go tothe movies on Saturday?Librarian 2# :Thanks but my,weekend is all booked.Haylee Snyder Utah,A friend said to me What, “rhymes withorange?”I said No it doesn t, “,’ .”Emery Aven Illinois,Kate:Your Dalmatian doesn t’seem to want a bath.Nate:I guess he doesn t want ’to be spotless!Cora McGovern California,A book never written:50 Variations of Noodles and How to Cook Them,written by Mack O .Roni and illustrated by Indi Potts.Taylor May Texas,Make us laugh!Send a joke or riddle along with your ,name age and address to,,,803 Church StreetHonesdale PA 18431,“Knock knock,.”“Who s there’?”“Butter.”“Butter who?”“Butter get ready for the party It starts .in 10 minutes!”BONUSCan you also find the toothbrush ,fishhook heart ,,and necktie?mugdrinking strawcarrotcrescent moonlightning boltchili pepperbatpine treehatchetclosed umbrellaladleballoonhockey stickice pophiking bootflagtackmagnet DECEMBER 2019 15

Leaning Earth s Orbit’The Sun makes light that shines on Earth.The northern half of Earth is leaning away from the Sun and grows cold.16 DECEMBER 2019

Earth s tilt causes the cold season’.By Ken Croswell Ph D,. . •Art by Josh LewisIn December, Earthis more than a millionmiles closer to the Sunthan usual. In earlyJanuary, we’re theclosest we ever get.That’s why theweather is so hotright now.What’s that you say?The weather’s not hot?It’s freezing cold?With snow on the way?Hmm . . . There mustbe more to winterthan our distancefrom the Sun.Indeed there is. AsEarth spins, it’s notstraight up and down.Instead, it’s tilted. AsEarth goes around theSun, the North Polealways points thesame way in space,toward a distant starcalled the North Star.This tilt of Earthcauses the seasons.During the halfof the year we’re innow, the northern halfof Earth points awayfrom the Sun. Thatmakes the weathercold for two reasons.First, the time fromsunrise to sunsetis shorter. So thenorthern half hasfewer hours to soakup heat from the Sun.Second, the Sundoesn’t rise as high inthe sky as it does insummer. As a result,winter sunlight isweaker, spread overmore area. So eventhough Earth is closerto the Sun in winterthan it is in summer,the planet’s tiltreduces sunlightenough to bringcold weather.December 21 is thefirst day of winter.That’s when thenorthern half of Earthleans the most awayfrom the Sun. ButEarth’s northern halfstarted leaning awayfrom the Sun monthsago. So wintryweather often arriveslong before the officialstart of winter.Don’t like the cold?Head to the southernhalf of the planet.Down there,summerstartson December 21because that’s whenthe southern half ofEarth leans the mosttowardthe Sun.HOW COLD IS YOUR WINTER?1COLDEST IN THE U S A . . .Utqiagvik oot KAH the veek Alaska(---),Average January Temperature: 8°F -Shortest Day Amount of Daylight(): 0 hours(Last year, the Sun set in November 2018 and didn t come up until January 23 2019’, .)2COLDEST CONTINENTAL U S A ,. . .International Falls Minnesota,Average January Temperature: 0°FShortest Day: 8 hours 17 minutes,3WARMEST IN THE U S A . . .Honolulu Hawai i,‘Average January Temperature: 76°FShortest Day: 10 hours 50 minutes,Toward WinterNorth StarNorth PoleDECEMBER 201917

Peppermint Candy BoxBy Edna Harrington1.Use felt to decorate a round containerand its lid. Fill the container with treats.2. Wrap the container inplastic wrap or cellophane. Tie the ends with ribbon.Shining-Bright CandlesBy Carol Davis1.For each candle, tape cardstock and ribbon around a cardboard tube. Glue a felt strip around a battery-powered candle.Chanukah MenorahCraftsPhotos by Jim Filipski Guy Cali Associates Inc,,.18 DECEMBER 2019

2.Cut out a basefromcorrugatedcardboard. Gluecardstock on it.Glue on the tubes.Add decorations.3.Place the candlesinto the tubes.AdventWreathSnowdriftDetectiveGameBy Carmen SpillerTO PLAY:Gently shakeand turn the jar to find allthe objects hidden in thesnowdrift Time yourself then.,challenge a friend!Choose a variety of colorful objects.Check out the science behind this! See page 13.Fill with gifts ,sweets or ,treats!1. Collect small objects .List them on a cardstockcircle.2. Glue the circle to thelidof a plastic jar.3. Add kosher saltand the objects to the jar. Leave an inch of space at the top.4. Put the lid on the jar. Glue a second lid to the bottom. Add ribbon to each.CRAFT CHALLENGE!Make a snowman using anyt ing but cotton balls h.Make This Next Month ! DECEMBER 2019 19

“ Nadia,aji,” Muy called.Come here,Nadia translatedin her head. She followed thesound of her grandmother’svoice to the kitchen.Muy was up to her elbows inpulp as she squeezed oranges.She fired off a set of instructionsin Arabic. Nadia caught thewords foroilandsugar.“Let me guess,” Nadia said.“You want me to buy groceries?”Muy smiled. “Yes. Will you useyour Arabic?”Nadia sighed. “You know Idon’t speak Arabic.”“Try.”“I talk like a baby.”Nadia had come to Moroccoevery year for as long as shecould remember. Her father’swhole family lived here in asmall seaside town. Everyoneseemed to argue and kiss andtalk at once. She could understand most of what her relatives said, but every time she opened her mouth, her tongue stuck on the words. “Try,” her father would say. “You won’t learn unless you try.” But Nadia didn’t want to try. It was too frustrating.“OK,” she said to her grandmother. “You want me to buysukerandzit laoud.” Sugar and olive oil.Muy kissed Nadia on both cheeks, pressed 50 dirhams into her hand, and let her go.The old town wasn’t big, but it was confusing. The narrow streets twisted into each other like snakes. Nadia loved how kids could move freely here, playing outside or running errands until dark. The adults watched out for “Howcome youdon t speak ’Arabic?”Nadia had cometo Morocco everyyear for as longas she couldremember.A Kind LieBy Anna Ouchchy Art by Devon Holzwarth•20 DECEMBER 2019

all children, her father said, not just their own.Nadia weaved past blue doorways, whitewashed walls, and tiny shops until she spotted one that looked familiar. She had been here before with her father, she remembered. Behind the counter stood a boy a few years older than Nadia.Nadia’s palms started to sweat. “Salaam alaikum,” she greeted him. (“Peace be upon you.”) She opened her mouth to say more, then just pointed to the oil and sugar. The boy took the items down from the shelf.As she paid, the boy asked in Arabic, “Are you Moroccan?”“My father . . . ,” she began.He nodded and switched to English. “Half and half. How come you don’t speak Arabic?”Here we go again. She shrugged and backed out of the shop, cheeks burning.She kicked at a pebble. The Arabic words flooded her head now that she no longer needed them. Why did she get nervous?She came to the end of the street where it emptied into another one. She should be getting home. But which way to go? The sun beat down, making her feel dizzy and confused.She turned right, but the street dead-ended in a courtyard. She backtracked and ended up in a small square where she had been a few minutes before. Or had she?With rising panic, she watched people hurry past. She swallowed hard. If she wanted to find her way home, she would have to ask someone for directions.Before she could talk herself out of it, Nadia hurried toward a young woman in a greenheadscarf. She pointed to herself, then to a nearby house and shook her head.The woman’s forehead creased in confusion. “What is it?” the woman asked in Arabic. “Where are your parents?”Nadia’s heart pounded as if she’d just run a race. “My grandma,” she said in English, “I can’t find her house.”The woman looked around for help. A few passersby drifted over, then a few more. Before long, a small crowd had gathered, giving advice and asking questions. The world seemed to close in. Think, Nadia told herself. Think. What can you say to them?“M’arafsh fin darna,” she blurted loudly. (“I don’t know where our house is ”).Looking around at the crowd, Nadia’s eyes rested on the face of an older woman who had joined the group. The woman smiled, stepped forward, and enfolded Nadia in a hug.“You must be Wardia’s granddaughter. I have heard all about you. She’s my good friend. My name is Fatima.”Tears of relief flooded Nadia’s eyes.“I am going that way, my daughter,” said Fatima. “Come, we will walk together.”As they walked, Fatima asked questions in Arabic and Nadia found herself answering. When she didn’t know a word, she acted it out.They stopped outside Muy’s apartment, and Fatima said, “You speak good Arabic.”“Chokran.” (“Thank you.”) Nadia was grateful for Fatima’s kind lie. And now she was determined to make it true.Which way to go ?Nothing looked familiar.“I am going that way my ,daughter.”

Chanukah Lights TonightOur annual prairie Chanukah party—latkes, kugel, cherry blintzes.Friends arrive from nearby townsand dance the twist to “Chanukah Lights Tonight,”spin like a dreidel to a klezmer hit.The candles flicker in the window.Outside, ponderosa pines are tied in red bows.If you squint,the neighbors’ Christmas lightslook like the Omaha skyline.The smell of oil is in the air.We drift off to childhoodwhere we spent our gelton baseball cards and matinees,cream sodas and potato knishes.No delis in our neighborhood,only the wind howling over the crushed corn stalks.Inside, we try to sweep the darkness out,waiting for the Messiah to knock,wanting to know if he can join the party.By Steven Schneider Art by Anna Chernyshova•22 DECEMBER 2019







Oh Deer,!By Kristen BrowningCan you answer these riddles with reindeer rhymes?For example ,a reindeer that grows rice and wheat is a GRAIN-deer.WHAT DO YOU CALL A REINDEER ... 1 . who is very smart? 2 .with an antler ache-? 3 .with fluffy hair like a lion? 4. who moves materials at a construction site? 5 .who lives in Madrid? 6 .in a cockpit? 7 .in a caboose? 8 . with a twisted ankle? 9 .with food spilled on its shirt?10 .wearing a necklace of links?Answers on page 38.BONUS!What do you call a reindeer who likes peppermint?A __ __ __ __ __-__ __ __ __deer.Find each reindeer rhyme in the scene!Check and Double Check...Compare these two pictures Can you find at least 18 differences.?24 DECEMBER 2019

Maker SpacePaws andThinkWhat different tools do you see here What kinds of ?projects are kids working on?Why might it be helpful to have a space set asidefor different kinds ofcreative projects?If you were to create a maker space in your home ,school or library how would ,,you go about it?Does that printer make Frisbees?Art by David Coulson.

Aunt Zadie s’Zany PackageDING-DONG!“Owen, guess what just arrived!”Dad called.Owen put down his actionfigures. Today was Package Day!Aunt Zadie always sent himsomething from her travels. Herpackages often were filled withthings Owen had never seen before.What was inside the box was alwaysa mystery.Owen found the big package onthe kitchen table. He peeled back thetape. He reached inside and . . .You Thanks for all your creative responses Here are just a few!.Plenty of Packages. . . felt another package. He opened it, and inside was another package! After about three more packages, Owen thought, How many more of these are there?!Finally, he got to the last package and opened it. Inside was a new train set! Owen said to himself, I spent all my time opening packages just to get a new train set? It’s a fair bargain.Luke Kelly Age 9 • MarylandSqueals and Purrs. . . Owen’s hand brushed something silky. “Eek!” he shouted.“Eep!” the silky thing squealed. A kitten with gray-spotted silver fur and oasis-blue eyes hopped out.“Wow!” Owen gasped. The kitten held a note:Dear Owen,I was in Egypt and I saw this kitten called an Egyptian Mau. Take good care of her. Her name is Oasis.Love, Aunt Zadie“I love you, Oasis,” Owen said.Oasis purred.Signe Clausen Age 14 • ColoradoMailing Mix Up-. . . Aunt Zadie herself popped out of the box! She stretched and yawned. “I was supposed to be mailed to England!” she exclaimed. “It looks like I forgot to write ‘Send to England’ on the box, and instead I wrote ‘To Owen.’” Aunt Zadie stayed with Owen’s family for four weeks and told them of all her amazing adventures. Then Aunt Zadie had to go home—this time, on an airplane.William Forester Age 9 • Hawai i‘A Dream Come True. . . found a jetpack! He was hoping to have one at some time in his life. He put on the jetpack and blasted up into the sky. It was such a fun day!Silas Turner Age 6 • VirginiaFinished the Story!26 DECEMBER 2019

Space Surprises. . . found treasures from other planets. There was a box of clouds from Venus. There was a cup of hardened volcano lava from Mars. There was a bottle of wind from the Great Red Spot on Jupiter. There was a rock from Saturn’s rings bundled in tissue paper. And the last thing he saw was ice from Pluto in a mini cooler.Henley James Age 8 • PennsylvaniaJust a Toy?. . . found a little bag with a note. The note said: Add water. In the bag was a little toy dinosaur. Owen went to the sink and put water in the bag. He left the bag in the bathroom and went to bed. The next day, when he went into the bathroom, he almost fainted. There was a dinosaur standing in his bathroom!Ezra Schwarz Age 11 • California“Help Me!”. . . it was a monster! It had three pink eyes, green hair, six short hands, a square head, and six long legs. It said, “Help me! Help me!” Owen was scared. Suddenly, a person woke Owen up. The monster was not there—it was just a dream!Hailey Cheung Age 7 • Hong KongA Feathered Friend. . . he felt a feather. He heard a “caw!” A falcon flew out. It was rainbow-colored.Joah Tisdel Age 7 • New MexicoA Gift from Albania. . . he pulled out something that looked similar to a guitar. There was a little note behind the strings. It said:Dear Owen,I went to a country called Albania. It is near Italy. There, I saw people playing the çifteli (CHIFF-teh-lee). It had a great sound I had never heard before. I thought you would like playing and learning about this interesting instrument. Enjoy!Love, Aunt ZadieSaranda Krasniqi Age 8 • New YorkMagical Rocks. . . felt rocks. But what he didn’t know was that the rocks were very powerful! Aunt Zadie found them at the mountains in a deep cave. Owen picked up a rock. He wished he could be with his aunt on her adventures. The next thing he knew, he was standing beside her in the cave!Aniyah Eaton Age 7 • South Carolina DECEMBER 2019 27

Ollie the Otter was a member of the Magnificent Motioneers a ,troupe of performers He performed .feats of skill in between the dance and comedy routines.On the second to last night at - -the Furladium Theater Ollie noticed ,that the applause wasn t as loud as ’on other nights So he made a .boastful proclamation.Thank you,everyone Don t miss!’tomorrow s show’.You ll be wowed like’never before!What are you going to do Ollie,?By John SamonyArt by Gladys JoseOtterly Impossible28 DECEMBER 2019

Well ust,jbecause t ey sayhit s impossible’doesn t mean it’can t be done’.Ollie blurted out the firstthing that came to him.The Leaping-Somersault Hop --Skip Jump Roll Triple----Toe Cannonball --Half Jackknife -Handstand!Ollie wondered whathed gotten himself into’.Later that night Ollie s manager Oscar,’,,found Ollie in his dressing room.I can t believe ’I told them I d do the ’Leapin Somersaultg --Hop Skip Jump Roll----Triple Toe Cannonball---Half Jackknife -Handstand!True Long a o .g ,people thoug t hairplanes were impossible.Ollie and Oscar worked hard to prepare The next day after Oscar triple checked Ollies.,-’safety net Ollie climbed the tall ladder and perched atop a small platform,.Here goes nothing.That feat is impossible! Prepare to witness the impossible made possible! DECEMBER 2019 29

So Ollie made calculations on a whiteboard.If I adjustthe distancehere it might,work. . . .Rememberwhen you fixedthe stage lights?And nothing is what happened—Ollie did not perform the feat.I m only a’somersault a,hop and half,a skip away.On his next try Ollie got worse He missed,.the cannonball and jackknife.See Oscar ,?This feat is impossible.Or maybe ou yjust haven t ’found the solution yet.Or when you reworked the pulleys so dancers could fly onstage How ?did you do it?Of course .I used my noggin!30 DECEMBER 2019

A few hours later,onstage Ollie,performed the feat.Flawlessly The roar.of the crowd wasdeafening.How will you ever top yourself?I m thinking ’about a Quadruple-Somersault Twist into a Double Handshake.They say that feat is utterly impossible.But not otterly impossible.

BuildArt by Kevin Zimmer. Photo by iStock/Getty Images Plus/Octavian Lazar.Pack and stack a cozywinter hideaway.Snowa How To. . .FortADD SOME COLOR!Fill asquirt bottlewith water Add drops .of food coloring,then spray paint“”the fort.  ADD A WINDOW!1. Draw the fort s outline ’on the ground using a stick.2. Place a row of snow bricks along the outline.3. Stack a row on top placing ,each brick across two bricks below it.4.Keep adding rows to make the fort taller .For safety avoid ,snow roofs.How to Make a Snow Brick1.Using a watering can, pour a small amount of water into a plastic container.2. Pack the container with snow.3. Pour some water on top of the snow .Use more water if the snow is light and fluffy.4. Add extra snow to create a smooth top.5. Turn the container upside down to release the brick.Gently twist a can through a wall.32 DECEMBER 2019

A former refugeeshares her storywith her daughter.By Lauren Bui Age 9,,and Hanh Bui her mom()Hanh Bui was eight years oldwhen she and her family leftwar-torn Vietnam in 1975 witha dream of reaching the UnitedStates and being granted asylum(protection from danger in theirhome country). Their journey onan overcrowded ship was one offear, hunger, and seasickness. Thatchanged to hope when they wererescued by a U.S. Navy ship. Hanhlater became an American citizenand a teacher. Her nine-year-olddaughter, Lauren, interviewed her.What was it like at the refugee camp?I was there for six months. Peoplewere kind to us. We lived in buildingscalled barracks, where U.S. soldiersnormally stayed. We slept on cots orbunk beds with many people in oneroom. We could go to the mess hall forthree meals a day. No matter what mybrothers, cousins, and I were doing, wealways knew when it was mealtime.We loved trying new American foods.What was your firstEnglish word?The first words I heard werehelloandapple. But the firstEnglish word I learned to saywasreindeer. At the refugeecamp, I was given a sweater witha cute animal on it. I couldn’twait to ask my American teacherwhat it was. I pointed to mysweater. She understood and said“reindeer.” After school, I practicedsayingreindeerover and over again.What did you like to do at the camp?I liked school. We had classes outside.The teachers taught us Americansongs to help us learn English. Myfavorite was “This Land Is Your Land.”When I heard the words translatedinto Vietnamese, it made me feelwelcome. Sometimes the soldierswould join us in singing songs andplaying games. My brothers learnedhow to play American baseball.Who was your first American friend?We moved into a house, and a girlnamed Pam lived across the street.Because my family was different,some people were unkind to us.But Pam smiled at me and said hi.I couldn’t speak English, but we hadfun playing. We’re still friends today.Photos (top) courtesy of Hanh Bui.Foods on theNavy ShipToys at theRefugee CampHanh age 9 ,,in AmericaLauren and Hanhto AmericaFrom Vietnam Your Family StoriesWhat questions would you ask your parents or grandparents Ask if ?you may interview them .You may be surprised at what you learn! DECEMBER 2019 33

Your Own PagesBlue and Yellow Macaw--Liam LindsayAge 8 • MassachusettsCaroline GraberAge 9 • MissouriAlissa BrownAge 12 • PennsylvaniaMy Homebuilt N128SPJosiah RabeAge 9 • NebraskaAnimal TalkOh, how I wish I could animal-talk.The dog says woof and the chicken says balk.Lions growl and horses neigh.How do I know what the animals say?Animal sounds are all around me, but what do they mean?Sometimes animals are heard but not seen.Neko TienAge 10 • OhioMy DragonFriendly and tallPlays with a ballNot small at allEverett RoloffAge 7 • CaliforniaHeroHeroes save the world by day,flying in the sky, “a lifesaver,” some say.X-ray vision, laser eyes,moving things with just their minds.Big long cape soars through the air,they save us because they really do care.You might not have superpowers too.But trust me, you can find a superhero in you.Angelina MuneraAge 9 • KansasWindyIciclesNose drippingThe snow is so cold!Every day is colderRetreat next to the fire.Maggie HarperAge 9 • South Carolina34 DECEMBER 2019

Share YourCreative WorkWe d love to see it’!Art must be on unlined paper.Poems must have fewer than75 words All submissions.must be created by you.Include your name age,,and address Mail to.Your Own Pages803 Church StreetHonesdale PA 18431,We cannotreturn yourwork so you ,might want to keep a copy.The Big CityMatt CurranAge 8 • WisconsinKaisa BaileyAge 8 • IllinoisIsla HaugheyAge 6 • North CarolinaPerfect HomeBrek PriceAge 9 • ColoradoThe sunrises like a birdhatching from its egg,first seeing the daylight.The moonis like the eye of an owlwinking at the earth.Nile TurnerAge 8 • New YorkDragonflyOn silver wings he gently soarsthrough meadows and past shores.Once, he landed on my noseuntil, ACHOO!! Off he goes.Sarah EggersAge 9 • TennesseeLeavesLeaves are falling all around,Leaves are falling to the ground.And because it’s such nice weather,My friends and I are getting togetherWhile leaves are falling without a sound.Henry HouseAge 10 • TexasMy BirdA bird lives in a maple tree.I look at it and it at me.The colors are so bright and bold.They are green, blue, silver, and gold.But now, it must leave its treeTo migrate all across the sea.Oh, how I miss that little birdAs I look out at the snow.I wait and wait and waitJust for it to return home.Lucy BerraAge 7 • Virginia

Christmas For many kids ,Three Kings Day ’is the best part of the season.By Marie M Rodriguez.Every year, on the night of January 5, many kids in Puerto Rico are still celebrating Christmas. On Christmas Day, they opened a few gifts from Papa Noel, or San Nicolás. On this night, they fill shoeboxes with grass and pour water into bowls. They place the grass and water under their beds.They are too excited to sleep. They lie in bed, listening for the footsteps of three special visitors bringing gifts.As they wait, they hear “koh-KEE, koh-KEE!” That’s the song of a tiny tree frog called the coquí. (The name of the frog sounds just like its call.) In January, the weather is warm on this island in the Caribbean Sea, and the frogs often sing at night.The children are waiting for three wise men to come. The kids hope the visitors will take the grass and water for their hungry, thirsty horses, then leave presents behind. (Other versions of the story say the wise men rode camels, but not this one!)According to the Christmas story in the Bible, the three wise men, or kings, followed a bright star to the town of Bethlehem. There, they gave gifts to the newborn baby Jesus.In Puerto Rico and many Kids lie in bed ,listening for three special visitors bringing gifts.inother places around the world, January 6 is celebrated as Three Kings’ Day. And in some places, including Puerto Rico, the Three Kings’ festival lasts for three days.The Celebrations BeginWhen the children wake up on January 6, they peek under their beds. The grass is gone. The bowl is dry. In their place are presents! The kids open their gifts—dolls, skateboards, or other surprises.The rest of the day is full of celebrations with music and holiday foods. In the town of Juana Díaz, children wear colorful costumes and act out the three kings’ story at the town plaza. Adults dress as shepherds and other figures from the Bible, then march down the streets. Thousands of people gather from around the island to watch. After the parade, many people attend Mass, a Catholic religious service.Soon, it’s time to feast! Families and friends get Crowns on cameras ready,! Puerto Rico36 DECEMBER 2019

BAHAMASATLANTICOCEANCANLICRTOCOtogether to share deliciousChristmastime dishes, such aspasteles(rectangular pies madewith plantains and meat andwrapped in banana leaves) andarroz con dulce(rice pudding).Later, families sing carolsabout the three kings and playinstruments such as thecuatro,a small four-stringed guitar.Miguel Ángel Rodríguez says,“During the Three Kings’ festival,we go house to house, visitingfriends and family unannounced.We sing carols and play ourmaracas,güiros(percussioninstruments), and guitars.We won’t stop theparranda(noisy fun) until the host invitesus in for food and beverages.”Three Feast DaysFor three days, people on theisland feast, pray, sing, and danceas each king is honored with hisown day. January 6 is for KingGaspar, January 7 honors KingMelchor, and January 8 belongsto King Baltazar. They representthree different parts of the world.The celebrations are morethan just fun for family andfriends. They have deep meaningto many Puerto Ricans like AlmaIris Cabeza. She says, “I makegoodwill promises to the threesaintly kings in exchange forgood health and prosperity inthe new year.”Photos page 36 by ANDRE KANG El Nuevo Día de Puerto Rico: ()//Newscom page 37 EFE Newscom Map by Josh Lewis; ()/..For three days ,people feast pray ,,sing and dance,.ens in the CaribbeanPuerto Rico an island in ,the Caribbean Sea has been ,a United States territory since 1898.Kids have their photo taken with one of the kings during the “”Three Kings festival’.HOW BIG?Puerto Rico is about three times bigger than Rhode Island. DECEMBER 2019 37

Answers124853976Covers: Sing It! by Howard McWilliam; What’s Wrong? by Josh ClelandIllustration credits:Page 2: Kevin Zimmer; 15: Jokes by Rich Powell, Artful Addition by Joel and Ashley Selby, except red paint splotchby DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images/-cuba-; 24: Oh, Deer! by Neil Numberman, Check . . . and Double Check by Paula J. Becker;26: MacKenzie Haley; 39: Erin Mauterer except (motion graphic) iStock/Getty Images Plus/Tori Art.Photo credits:Page 2: iStock/GettyImages Plus/AlexLMX; 3: Gina Lenz; 4: iStock/Getty Images Plus/Michael Burrell; 4–5: Accent Alaska.com/Alamy Stock Photo; 11: AmyClay, except (pizza) iStock/Getty Images Plus/aluxum, (game controller) iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus/klausbalzano, (soccer ball)E+/Getty Images/angelhell; 12–13: (Etch A Sketch) The Voorhes; 13: (kosher salt) iStock/Getty Images Plus/vikif, (penny) E+/GettyImages/TokenPhoto, (game) Jim Filipski, Guy Cali Associates, Inc., (hummingbird and hat) E+/Getty Images/Birdimages and iStock/Getty Images Plus/Vitalily73, (squirrel and hat) iStock/Getty Images Plus/Saddako and iStock/Getty Images Plus/LeventKonuk, (bearand hat) iStock/Getty Images Plus/GlobalP and iStock/Getty Images Plus/Issaurinko, (fox and hat) iStock/Getty Images Plus/GlobalPand iStock/Getty Images Plus/Vitalily73; 33: (apple) E+/Getty Images/t_kimura, (chewing gum) Felix Choo/Alamy Stock Photo,(chocolate bar) Ian Dagnall Commercial Collection/Alamy Stock Photo, (crackers) iStock/Getty Images Plus/dlerick, (canned meat)iStock/Getty Images Plus/4kodiak, (jacks game) iStock/Getty Images Plus/jkennedy561, (doll) Chris Willson/Alamy Stock Photo;39: (cookies) E+/Getty Images/DarrenMower, (headphones) iStock/GettyImages Plus/kunchit2512, (submarine) iStock/Getty ImagesPlus/ZargonDesign, (plant) iStock/Getty Images Plus/AndreaObzerova, (top hat and wand) E+/Getty Images/AndyL, (toast) iStock/GettyImages Plus/bunditinay, (chicken) iStock/Getty Images Plus/Sonsedska.Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation(Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685)1. Title of Publication—Highlights for Children2. Pub. No. 244–6003. Date of Filing—September 2, 20194. Frequency of Issues—Monthly5. Number of Issues Published Annually—Twelve (12)6. Annual Subscription Price—$39.967. Location of Known Office of Publication—1800 Watermark Drive,Columbus, Franklin County, OH 43215-1060. Contact: Rick Schordock,614-487-27578. Location of General Business Office of the Publisher—1800 Watermark Drive, Columbus, OH 43215-10609. Publisher—Highlights for Children, Inc., 1800 Watermark Drive, Columbus,OH 43215-1060; Editor in Chief, Christine Cully, Highlights for Children,803 Church St., Honesdale, PA 1843110. Owner is Highlights for Children, Inc., 1800 Watermark Drive, Columbus, OH43215-1060. The names and addresses of stockholders owning or holding1 percent or more of the total amount of stock: Myers Family Voting Trust,1800 Watermark Drive, Columbus, OH 43215-1060.11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning orHolding 1 Percent or More of the Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages,or Other Securities: NONE12. Tax Status: Not applicable.13. Publication Name—Highlights14. Issue Date for Circulation Data—September 201915. Extent and Nature of Circulationa.Total Number Copies Printed819,1531,013,751b. Paid Circulation(1) Mailed Outside-CountyPaid Subscriptions695,372683,390(2) Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions00(3) Paid Distribution—Outside USPS11,84212,382(4) Paid Distribution—Other Classesof Mail Through USPS5780c.Total Paid Distribution707,792695,772d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution(1) Free/Nominal Rate Outside-CountyCopies68,634277,555(2) Free/Nominal Rate In-County Copies00(3) Free/Nominal Rate Copies—OtherClasses of Mail Through USPS00(4) Free/Nominal Rate Distribution—Outside USPS20,3586,991e.Total Free/Nominal Rate Distribution88,992284,546f.Total Distribution796,784980,318g. Copies Not Distributed22,36933,433h.Total819,1531,013,751i. Percent Paid88.83%70.97%I certify that 50% of all my distributed copies (electronic and print)are paid above a nominal price.I certify that all information furnished above is true and complete.KENT S. JOHNSON, Chief Executive OfficerAverage Number Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 MonthsNumber Copies of Single Issue Nearest to Filing DateR DID L E SWhat did the human say to the sea monster after it told a funny joke?Alyssa Alieva Hill California-,Which dogs don t bite’?Hunter Lindley Oregon,A girl is in a locked room with a piano and no windows .How does she get out?Morgan Daughton Nebraska,How do you count cows?Conner Maxwell Washington,What do you call a treecovered in Andrew Nunziata Vermont,Why was the broom late for school?Kaylee Jackson Massachusetts,Where are you when you fall asleep reading a book?Max Nichols Maine,What do you get when you cross a cow with a tree?Kiersten Reinhold South Dakota,What is red and smells like blue paint?Caiden Smith Ohio,1 . You are kraken me up Hot dogs “!”2 ..3 . She unlocks the door with a piano key .4 . With a cowculator Sticky It overswept .5 ..6 ..7 . Under the covers A cattle log .8 .-.9 . Red paint.glue?page 2Fun This MonthWhat s the Word?’1 . Snow Cocoa Skate .2 ..3 ..4 . Glove Sweater.5 ..Mystery Photo—Snow globe.page 43Picture Puzzlerpage 12My SciSalt and Seek—The salt grains are jammed together Only those near .the top have room to move Grains .deep inside stay jammed and keep —the objects among them from moving too.Try the game again in the same jar but with less salt it will be easier ;.Try it again but ,fill the jar with salt ;the tighter it s packed the less the ’,grains can move.Grains also slide more easily over some surfaces than others They slip .along the flat sides of the penny for ,example making it harder to find ,.The shape weight and texture of ,,objects affect whether grains are more likely to push the objects or to move around them.page 15Artful AdditionBox of crayons = $2.00Paintbrush = $1 20.Paints = $1 60.page 24Oh Deer!,1 . BRAIN deer -.2 . PAIN deer -.3 . MANE deer -.4 . CRANE deer -.5 . SPAIN deer -.6 . PLANE deer -.7 . TRAIN deer -.8 . SPRAIN deer -.9 . STAIN deer -.10 . CHAIN deer -.Bonus! A CANDY CANE deer-.38 DECEMBER 2019

Which WhatWHY DOPEOPLE TOAST BREAD?When do you like to hear music with a fast beat ?WHY?People eat rest ,,and bathe .Which of those things are also done by plants?Why might it be hard to count two things at once?Of everything around you right now ,WHAT IS MOVING THE FASTEST?Is your FAVORITE family story one you REMEMBERor one othershave TOLDyou?Can you tell by looking at something whether it will float ?Why or why not?WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT CHANGE?What are some that don t’ ?Take your brainon a hike!STARTWHY DO YOU LIKE IT?favorite sound?THE ENDanimaldo you think is FUNNIEST ?Why?Imagine you can grant just 3 WISHES for other people .HOW WOULD YOU DECIDE WHICH WISHES TO GRANT?I made cookies!is your DECEMBER 2019 39

Ask izonaSo Hardto Choose!By Lissa Rovetch • Art by Amanda MorleyDear Can t Decide’,Ugh! I just had to make an impossible choice like that!Every year, I look forward to going to the winter party at my aunt Jen’s farm. It’s pretty much the world’s most magical event, and up until a few weeks ago, I could never imagine missing it.I was walking into school one morning, daydreaming about decorating Aunt Jen’s homemade gingerbread houses and hanging out with the cutest little goat family, when my friend Mareya ran up to me. She started talking a million miles an hour!“You’ll never guess what I’m going to say!” she exclaimed. “You know how we’ve been dreaming about going to a Jasmine Thunder concert? But we can’t go because the tickets cost a gazillion dollars? Well, guess what! She’s performing in San Francisco this Saturday, and it just so happens that my mom’s boss knows the person who makes the costumes. My mom ended up with three free tickets, and she said she could take me and a friend. And, of course, that friend is you!”I shrieked. “Are you kidding? This is so amazing! An actual Jasmine Thunder concert? I’ll have to ask my parents. But since it’s free and your mom is taking us, I’m sure they’ll say yes. Of course they’ll say yes!”That afternoon, I burst through my front door. “Mom! Guess what! Mareya’s mom has free tickets to the Jasmine Thunder concert this Saturday, and I’m invited. Can I pleeease go?”“Well,” she said, “if Mareya’s mom is chaperoning, I’m fine with you going. But did you remember that Aunt Jen’s winter party is also this Saturday?”My heart dropped. “I completely forgot. I guess that means I can’t go to the concert.”“Actually, Zonykins,” she said, “what it means is that you have a difficult choice to make.”Right then, we heard a knock at the door. It was my friend Ollie. “It’s not raining for once,” he said. “Do you want to go skateboarding at the park?”“Did you remember that Aunt Jen s winter ’party is also this Saturday ?”40 DECEMBER 2019

“I can’t,” I said. “I’m in the middle of trying to make one of the hardest decisions of my life.”“Have you made a pros-and-cons list yet?” asked Ollie. “They really help. I’m the king of pros-and-cons lists!”I laughed. “How did I not know this very important fact about you?”“I don’t know. I always write lists when I have big decisions to make—like when I had to choose between the soccer camp of my dreams and a fun trip,” he said. “Want me to help you?”“Sure, King of Pros-and-Cons Lists,” I said, giggling. “Would you like to put on a crown before we get started?”“No.” He smiled. “But I wouldn’t mind a royal glass of water if you have one.”In the end, we had a list for Party Pros and Cons and a list for Concert Pros and Cons. And I have to say, it was incredibly helpful to see my thoughts written down instead of having them just spin around in my head.When I called my aunt Jen to tell her how sorry I was to miss the party, she said, “No worries! If I were in your shoes, I would have made the same choice. Have tons of fun, and we’ll find another time for you to come visit the goats.”So, dear Can’t Decide, even though a couple of things on my Concert Cons list did come true (the big crowds stressed me out, and it took forever to get out of the parking lot afterward), the Jasmine Thunder concert was one of the best experiences of my life so far. I think you should try becoming a King or Queen of Pros-and-Cons Lists too. Writing stuff down can really help you figure things out.Ciao for now,ArizonaIt was incredibly helpful to see my thoughts written down.“An actual Jasmine Thunder concert?”“I always write lists when I have big decisions to make.”

Dear HighlightsWhenever I have a guest at my house ,I want to show off my piano skills .How can I avoid showing off?Jessica by e mail(-)We re proud of you for not wanting to show off You might start ’.by thinking about why the guest is visiting If a friend is coming .to work on a school project with you then it might not be the ,best time to share your piano skills But if friends or relatives are .coming just to visit then perhaps you can offer to play for them ,.Your parents can help you decide when it would be appropriate .And if you know that others have a talent you might invite them ,to share it or talk about it A good way to avoid showing off is to .invite your guests to shine too.One day on the bus ,my friend kept pulling my hair and pinching me .How can I make him stop?Max New York,It s upsetting when a friend acts this way You might try firmly ’.saying something like Stop doing that I don t like it That may “.’.”help him understand that you don t think it s funny Or you can ’’.choose to sit somewhere else with other friends.If he s still being unkind and you re not allowed to change ’’your seat it s important to tell your parents what s going on , ’’.Doing that is not tattling You are protecting yourself from .being hurt Your parents might decide to talk privately with .the bus driver or a school counselor.Sometimes I feel very upset But. I m scared to ’tell my feelings because I know I shouldn t get ’angry with my friends and family.Jaydlyn Pennsylvania,It s almost impossible for ’people to share their lives with others without sometimes feeling angry sad or upset ,,.These feelings are normal and OK The healthy way to deal .with them is to express them in a calm mature way This ,.helps the people around you understand how you are feeling .By talking and listening to one another you can work through ,the problem together What s .’not healthy is bottling up these feelings or lashing out and saying hurtful things.When you re feeling upset ’,take some time to cool down .You might do this by writing in a journal doing some artwork ,,exercising listening to music ,,or just having some quiet time to yourself Then once you ve .,’cooled down you can talk ,things through in a calm way.Write to us!Please include your name age ,,and full address Mail to.Dear Highlights803 Church StreetHonesdale PA 18431,Or e mail us at Letters Highlights [email protected] by Keith Frawley.42 DECEMBER 2019

Picture PuzzlerArt by Jennifer HarneyMake your way around the paintings from START to FINISH.Answers on page 38.BONUS!Find 8 paintbrushes.

What s ’Wrong?Which things in this picture are silly ?It s up to you ’!Visit our website!