Far and Away

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3 Check It Out! 4 Far and Away from Montana 6 Around the World 10 Celebrate Holi in India 11 Chinese New Year 12 Your Lunch for a Bento Box? 14 Puzzles 16 Fishing in West Africa 17 Max & Gracie 18 10 Far and Away Places 20 Dancing Embera Girls 22 Smell a Rainforest 24 Goo-Ten-Tag! 25 Samburu Herd Boys 26 Animals from Far Away 28 Far Away Winter Celebrations 29 Kids Corner 30 Puzzle Solutions 2

Congratulations! You’ve just won a trip that will take you to far and away places. Don’t worry about packing a suitcase. We’ll have you home before dinner. Just settle back in a comfortable chair or get cozy in your warm bed. Be prepared for exciting adventures. All you have to do is read and turn the pages.

But WATCH OUT! BE CAREFUL! This could be habit forming! You may decide to explore more far and away places when you finish this magazine. Whether you travel by car, train, plane, bicycle, or book, we want to hear about your trip! Send us a postcard, a photo, or a letter. We will publish it and send you a thank-you gift. Safe travels!

Yuganov Konstantin/Shutterstock.com

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Last summer, my brother, Parker, and I took a trip that was far and away from our house. We had to travel on an airplane. We flew from Montana to Ohio to visit our grandparents. We had a fun time doing things and seeing places that we don’t have near our home.

Before our plane took off, we were invited to sit up in the cockpit with the pilot and copilot. We took turns wearing the captain’s hat.

We visited the Ohio Caverns. Parker and I had never seen stalagmites and stalactites. We enjoyed walking through the lighted passages from one room to another. Outside it was very hot and humid. But we wore sweatshirts because it was 54 degrees inside the caverns. We were told they stay at 54 degrees all year round, no matter what the temperature is outside.

Next, we spent a day at the Columbus Zoo. We rode on a camel. It was called a dromedary because it had only one hump. Its legs didn’t move like a horse’s legs. Instead, both legs on one side would move together, and then the other side would move. It was a bumpy ride. I had to sit in the front because I was the biggest.

We also fed lettuce leaves to a giraffe. I always knew a giraffe had long legs and a very long neck. I never realized it had such a long gray tongue. It liked the lettuce we gave it.

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Montana does not have lighthouses. We visited Marblehead Lighthouse on Lake Erie.

After we learned about how the lighthouse worked, we climbed a circular staircase to the top. It was a little scary to walk around the outside. It was up high and looked out on the lake.

Large amusement parks our not found in our state. Two of the biggest parks in the country are in Ohio. We visited both: Cedar Point and Kings Island. We liked the rides we could go on by ourselves. We could usually get on those without much waiting-in-line time. Our all-time favorites were the big roller coasters. Even though we had to have an adult with us, and stand a long time in line, they were worth the wait.

We were always busy while we were in Ohio. Soon, our visit was over. We were headed back home. Our far and away trip was awesome. And it didn’t seem so far, after all.

Have you been on a trip that was far and away from your home? Write and tell us about it or draw a picture and send it to Kids Corner!

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by Chris Sabatino

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Pretend for a minute that you’re walking down a street in India. Watch out! Someone is sneaking up on you. Before you know it, the air is filled with colored powders, and now you’re a sticky mess of green and orange. But you don’t mind at all. It’s Holi!

Every year, the people of India look forward to Holi (pronounced “holy.”) This is an exciting and sometimes wild celebration to welcome spring. The festival can last for days. On the last day, kids and adults alike throw neon-colored powder on anyone in sight! They throw dry powder by the fistful. Sometimes kids use sprayers and even throw balloons filled with colored water to get their targets.

This sounds like fun! But why do they do this? The colors signify that the world is bursting with brightness after the gloomy winter. By the time the fun is over, colored powder is everywhere, and people are covered in blue, yellow, pink and other bright shades. It’s no wonder this celebration is also called the Festival of Colors!

The festival of Holi has been celebrated in India since ancient times. It takes place during the full moon in late February or early March. Huge bonfires are lit at night. Groups dance to traditional folk music, and people sing special Holi songs. Sweet foods and drinks prepared only during this time are eaten. People visit each other. If they have disagreements, they forgive and forget.

Holi is the only time Indian children have permission to get filthy! People from all over the world come to India to be part of Holi. Maybe someday you’ll be there during Holi. Then YOU can walk around looking like a paint-splattered canvas!

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Chinese New Year

“Happy New Year! I just got my red envelope!”

“I did too! Come eat dinner with us. We’re having a big feast with niangao. Then we can go to the parade together.”

“Yum! I love those sweet rice cakes, and I can’t wait to see the dragon!”

Does this conversation sound strange? It wouldn’t if you lived in China.

In western countries, a new year always begins on January 1. The Chinese use the lunar calendar, which is based on the phases of the moon. A new year in China can begin any time between January 21 and February 21.

Chinese New Year festivities go on for days. People have fun with traditions that began thousands of years ago. The color red is everywhere during this special time.

It stands for good fortune, joy, and success. Red lanterns glow at night. Homes are decorated with red paper cutouts. Red scrolls with lucky messages are hung on front doors. People wear new red clothing. Elders even give children “lucky” money in red envelopes!

Does your family eat certain New Year foods? Chinese families do! Very long noodles symbolize long life. Little round dumplings shaped like the full moon are shared to bring family togetherness. Golden round tangerines represent fullness and wealth.

The highlight of the festivities is the parade. Floats, acrobats, drums, gongs, and cymbals fill the streets with noise and color. Then the dragon appears! It’s really just a giant puppet. Dancers hold up its flexible body with poles and snake their way through the crowd. People shriek when the dragon comes near, but it’s all in fun.

Some dragons are more than 60 feet long! The longer the dragon, the more luck the town will have in the coming year.

Tam Nguyen/Shutterstock.com

So Happy New Year, Chinese style. Watch out for the dragon!

China

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by Jeanne Litt

Are you adventuresome in your eating? Are you willing to try new tastes? The Japanese are.

Many students in Japan have cold bento box lunches. If you traded your lunch for a Japanese bento box, you would probably get a very different meal from the one you brought from home.

Bento can mean the box that the lunch is put in, or it can mean the lunch itself. The foods in a bento box are arranged very beautifully. If you went to school in Japan, your mother would spend almost an hour preparing and arranging your bento lunch. She might put it in a lacquered wood box that you carefully bring back home. Some people use plastic boxes or baskets instead. Bento boxes can be rectangular, square, or even round.

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Inside the box is a variety of foods and colors. The Japanese encourage eating 30 different foods a day and 100 different foods a week. They do this for enjoyment. If you eat one or two bites of many different foods, your taste buds are kept interested throughout the entire meal.

A Japanese meal will include all kinds of flavors – salty, sour, bitter, and sweet. You will find different textures. Crispy foods might include fried chicken or shrimp. There will be chewy textures, like grilled fish and seaweed. You will have soft food, such as custard, steamed rice, and boiled vegetables. And you will likely have something slimy, like okra.

Some things will delight you. You may find soft play dough-like gluten formed in the shape of a leaf. It will be colored with food coloring: green in the summer and red and yellow in the fall. A slippery, smooth egg custard will surprise you with a bite of tasty white fish in the center and a ginkgo nut. What looks like a perfectly formed mushroom turns out to be a potato, carved and colored brown. Pine nuts stuck into the center of bean paste make it look like a pine cone. A few grains of rice still clinging to their stalk are cooked until puffed, like popcorn.

Pickles are often included. A sour-salty umeboshi plum will leave your mouth bursting with flavor, and you’ll be reluctant to spit out the pit!

There will be seaweed, often strips of dark black-green nori. You scoop up a bite of rice with the nori. This paper-like seaweed softens on your tongue. It tastes and smells slightly fishy. Some seaweed is thicker and chewy, with a stronger flavor.

A bento box meal can be as simple as fried rice balls enclosing a bite of fish or bean filling with pickled ginger. Some bento are very elaborate. What would be in your lunch if you traded? Your lunch would probably seem as strange to Japanese Japan students as theirs is to us.

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WORD SEARCH PUZZLE

by Gertrude Knabbe

Look forward, backward, up, down, and diagonally to find the following words in capital letters. Cross the word off the list.

After all the words are found, the remaining letters will spell something relating to countries and customs.

ADVENT CALENDAR BALTIC sea BAVARIAN ALPS BEER BERLIN BLACK FOREST CHRISTMAS DUMPLINGS FARMERS market

FEHMARN island FUN GINGERBREAD house HAPPY HARD workers HONESTY kiel BAY LEBKUCHEN MARZIPAN

MAY DAY MUESLI OKTOBERFEST PICKLED beets PUMPERNICKEL bread SAUERBRATEN SKIING SOCCER STOLLEN

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P I C K L E D I N N U F P G O G A E H R H O N E S T Y U M K A N D N R Y A H C H R N M I T S T I V M I C P H A R D P A O G D Y I E U S S P A I T E N B I U M A K N S T M Y S T R E E N M U B B S T H M E H B N T R G P E E A L E C R A A E I A F E L S Y L F N O A R S R C R E R I L A T G F E R L E L K B S B N I D I K S T L E E I E R T R G H Y C O L I D L C N L E B E S F A R M E R S A O C D U E A Y L M A R Z I P A N T O A E D B A V A R I A N A L P S S R

Countries and Holidays Logic Puzzle

by Julie Truesdell

Each of these four children lives in a different country and celebrates a different holiday. Read the hints to find out what country each lives in, and what holiday each boy or girl celebrates. Put an “x” in the boxes you know doesn’t go with a child or a holiday. Put an “o” in the boxes that do go with a child or a holiday.

Hints: 1. Anka lives in Poland, but she does not celebrate Fastelavn.

2. Erntedankfest is celebrated in Germany, but Abby does not celebrate it.

3. Anders celebrates Vappu, but he does not live in Denmark.

Where in the World?

by Stephanie Kelley

Country

Anka

Kids Anders Abby

Alder

Denmark Finland Germany Poland

Holiday Andrzejki Erntedankfest Fastelavn Vappu

How much do you know about what goes on in different countries? Test your knowledge with this brainteaser. Choose from these countries: China, USA, Australia, Greece, Germany, Mexico, Ukraine, Great Britain.

1. Have an Easter Egg Hunt on the lawn of the President’s house!

2. Fill a cardboard cone with candy on treats for the first day of school.

3. Spend more than two weeks celebrating the New Year, with special foods, festivities, and parades.

4. Piñatas are filled with small toys and candy as part of the Christmas celebration.

5. Whole, empty eggshells are ornately decorated to celebrate Easter.

6. In this country, people celebrate Pancake Day! It involves contests including pancake races and the pancake toss.

7. The Olympics originated in this country in ancient times.

8. The didgeridoo is an instrument made from a hollow tree branch. It is used to create music during festivities and celebrations in this country.

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Roman Around the World

Mystery Puzzle

by Juliana Lewis Read the dialogue out loud and try to think of the double meanings!

©Liz Ball www.hiddenpicturepuzzles.com

Flight Attendant: Welcome to our fun flight! Hawaii? Ready to go?

Passenger: Yes, Siam. Venice the plane taking off?

Flight Attendant: We’re in no Russia, but Italy’ve right away. Here, I’ll Alps you get Oriented. Yukon sit by a window if you like.

Passenger: I don’t Caribbean about that, but I’d like something to drink.

Flight Attendant: How about a Malta or Minnesota?

Passenger: Kenya bring me a China cup of Java? And can you Sweden it, please?

Flight Attendant: Of course. Here’s a Cuba sugar, and I’ll leave Samoa in case you need it. Let me know when you’re Hungary, and I’ll Serbia a Hamburg or a bowl of Chile.

Passenger: That’s a little too much Greece for me. Idaho lot rather have Turkey if you have some.

Flight Attendant: I Congo and Czech. I guess you know our first stop is Morocco. It will be Nice. Don’t Juneau we’re going to have fun?

Passenger: I Bolivia. I never Mediterranean I didn’t like!

WHICH PLACE, WHICH COUNTRY?

by Susan C. Hall Certain sights or words make us think of certain countries. For example, the Statue of Liberty and the Grand Canyon make us think of the United States. Read the clues below.

Think of what country or state in the US each one brings to mind. Then see if you can fit that place into the grid.

ACROSS 3. dingos and koalas 1 7. Ruhr and Rhine Rivers 4. Rio de Janeiro 18. Vikings and fiords 6. Mohandas Gandhi 7. Parlez-vous francais?

10. pagodas and kimonos 11. bagpipes and kilts 13. shaped like a boot 14. Great Wall 1

2 3

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DOWN 1. tulips and wooden shoes 2. has provinces, not states 5. poi and pineapples 8. Siberia 9. Queens and Kings 12. a mountain named Denali 15. Budapest 16. piñatas and enchiladas

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Where Are We?

by Julie Truesdell

Unscramble each group of letters to get the name of a country.

Write the letters on the blanks. Then read the hidden message in the circled letters and write that answer in the blanks below.

1. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

YATIL

2. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ MANYRGE 3. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

NAAPJ

4. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

ZUVEELNEA

5. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

WEENDS

6. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

LIFANND

7. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

STOUH

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ARFCIA

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8. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ NAPIS 14 16 17

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9. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

RACENF

10. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ LIASAUATR 11. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Answer: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

DIAIN ___ ___

___ ___ ___ !

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Travel to page 30 for answers.

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by Patricia Richards

Many kids like to take fishing trips. Gene and Randal got to fish in the Black Volta River in the country of Côte d’Ivoire, in West Africa. You see, these brothers grew up in Africa. Their family was miles and miles from running water and electricity.

Packing for the annual fishing trip took days.

Everything the family might need was included, from fresh water to first aid supplies. They packed very strong fishing line for the large Nile perch living in this amazing river.

Nile perch can grow to be more than 200 pounds. The largest one the boys’ dad ever caught weighed over 70 pounds and was more than 6 feet long! The family and many villagers feasted for days.

Once loaded up, the excited family drove on dusty roads. Through village after village, chickens and herds of goats scattered at the sound of the unfamiliar car. They traveled until all signs of civilization were left behind. The boys saw enormous snakes stretched across the road, no head or tail in sight.

They finally reached the campsite on the riverbank.

Tents were set up, a cooking fire was made, and fishing lines were prepared. Gene loved looking up at the trees while he helped because monkeys were playing in the branches.

When the long metal boat was on the river, Dad searched for the perfect fishing spot. Gliding along, the boys could see the flicker of hippos’ ears. Caiman, a crocodile cousin, floated secretly just below the water. Then the fishing began. Hour after hour, fishing lines were cast. Sometimes the boys were rewarded with a strong fight from an unwilling fish.

Mother was waiting for them at camp at the end of each day. After a supper of fresh fish cooked over an open fire, the boys climbed into their tent and listened to the sounds of the jungle. They fell asleep and dreamed of more adventures to come on the banks of the Black Volta.

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Ivory Coast

Paris, Kentucky 11:52 AM A bit of a chill in the air Max and Gracie and their owners, Linda, Craig, and their seven-year-old son, Ed, are driving the back roads of America. Perhaps you have seen Max and Gracie with their heads out the window. If not, here is a letter describing their most recent adventure.

a way of saying “hello.”

“Bonjour, Max,” Gracie says, as ” I ask her.

“Why are you speaking French?

I would speak Dutch. we were in Holland, Michigan, “If ies. repl cie Gra y,” tuck Ken “We’re in Paris, speak Arabic.”

If we were in Cairo, Illinois, I’d ch or Arabic?”

I laugh. “Do you even know Dut “Well, no, but I could learn.” bonjour?” know any French words other than “True, Gracie. Very true. Do you ing her nose in the air.

“Oui,” she says, standing and rais g the answer already.

“Any other words?” I ask, knowin k. “If stion. It’s a good ole Gracie tric t’s her way of avoiding my que Bee, ble Bum “In .

Gracie changes the subject. Tha says I’d quack,” she cluck. In Duck, North Carolina, we were in Chicken, Alaska, I’d Arizona, I’d buzz.”

I roll my eyes. “Oh, Gracie.”

Kentucky. I’d celebrate , Wyoming. Pigeon, Michigan. Pig, ose “Mo es. tinu con cie Gra , Excited now uage.” them all by speaking their lang uage in Monkey’s Eyebrow, y? How would you speak the lang tuck Ken w, bro Eye ’s key Mon d “An Kentucky?” I ask. e to . “You know where the best plac brow and gives me a wide grin “Like this.” Gracie furrows her Max?” visit in the whole wide would be, to tell me.”

I answer, “I’m sure you’re going room, barking. f! Woof!” Gracie runs around the “Dog Town, California. Woof! Woo “Oh, Gracie.”

Max

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by Shirley Anne Ramaley Deep in the Darien Rainforest, in the country of Panama, the soft sound of a drum is heard.

Tap. . . tap. . . tap, tap, the cadence continues.

The drumbeat comes from an Embera village. Wearing brightly colored skirts, girls from a very young age to early teens line up in single file. Playing the hand drum, the lead girl starts the dance. The other girls immediately pick up the beat. They begin to dance to the tap. . .tap. . .tap, tap.

They move in rhythm together with the drumbeat. Lightly touching the waist of the girl in front of her, each dancer keeps in step as the line of six to ten girls weaves around in a large circle.

Often mimicking the actions of forest Anton_Ivanov/Shutterstock.com animals, the girls sometimes swing their arms like the monkeys that are common in the rainforest. The steps are simple, but rhythmic, and the girls move in perfect time.

The girls’ bodies are painted in intricate designs with natural dyes made from forest plants.

The paintings fade, and new ones are added.

Dances are performed during gatherings and special ceremonies. They are also performed to welcome visitors to the village.

The men often play drums and flutes, but it is the girls and women of the village who are the primary dancers. When the girls are finished, a group of women lines up, and the lead woman plays the drum and starts the dance.

Who are the Embera people? Gentle and friendly, they are the native people of the Darien Rainforest. They still hunt with bows and arrows and spears, and they set traps for small animals.

Panama 20

A large part of their diet comes from jungle plants and fruits. The rivers in the Darien are full of fish, and the Embera people are expert fishermen.

Embera men collect tagua nuts that fall from palm trees. After drying, the nuts are ready for carving with hand tools. When finished carving, the men polish the nuts and color them with natural dyes. The men also carve with wood. All of these items earn money for the village.

Embera women are known for the beautiful baskets they weave. The tightly woven baskets are made from palm fiber. Sale of the baskets brings income to the women of the village.

Many of the dancing girls help prepare the marketplace for the sale of carvings and baskets. Someday they, too, will weave beautiful baskets and sell them to visitors who come to their village.

For now, the girls are dancing, mimicking the animals of the forest in which they live.

Tap. . . tap. . . tap, tap. The drumbeat is heard in the forest.

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A tropical rainforest is a faraway place filled with strange creatures, plants, and smells. You may think that you will never be able to go to one. But you can find a bit of a rainforest right now in your kitchen or at a grocery store! All you have to do is look and SMELL. Close your eyes and think of a rainforest as you sniff any of these things:

BANANA – Bananas don’t really come from trees. They grow from very big plants. Banana plants once grew wild in the West African rainforest. Now they are grown in tropical areas around the world.

The first banana was brought to the US in 1804.

COCONUT – Coconuts come from trees that grow in the world’s rainforests. These trees need a LOT of water to grow and make coconuts, so a rainforest is perfect for them. Each coconut tree produces about 60 coconuts each year. Besides being good to eat, coconuts are used to make soap!

CINNAMON – Do you like cinnamon?

It comes from the bark of a rainforest tree. The bark is peeled from the tree when it is about two years old. Then it is dried and curled. Many people have powder or stick cinnamon in their spice rack.

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GINGER – This is a common rainforest plant all over the

world. This is another popular kitchen spice. You probably have tasted ginger in ginger ale or gingerbread. In a grocery store, fresh ginger looks like a root.

CLOVES – These are the dried flower buds of a

tree native to the rainforests of Indonesia. The buds are picked by hand and dried in the sun. They are used as a spice.

PEANUTS – Although peanuts are now grown all over

the world, they first grew in Brazilian rainforests. They are used to make salad oil, soaps, and even plastics. And, of course, peanut butter!

VANILLA – Vanilla comes from an orchid flower that first grew

in the rainforests of Southern Mexico and Central America. The plant’s long vines are trained to climb posts, where they produce long pods. These long pods are where we get vanilla.

These are just a few of the smells and tastes of the rainforest that you can find in your kitchen and grocery store. Maybe one day, you’ll be able to take a trip to a real rainforest.

Then you can pick these things for yourself right off the trees, plants, and vines.

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by Mellissa Cassel Guten Tag! This is how people in Germany, a country in Europe, say “Good day.”

German families have lived in North America for more than 400 years. Their skills helped build new countries.

German culture, history, music, and food are celebrated during German festivals, like Oktoberfest, in the US and Canada. During Oktoberfest, we parade in costumes like the ones worn by our German ancestors.

When the weather turns cold, we eat thick stews and sausage, such as bratwurst and knackwurst. For breakfast, apple pancakes are a favorite. Hamburgers are named after the city of Hamburg, Germany, where the people there ate a steak made of ground beef. A German named Henry John Heinz made pickles, ketchup, and other Germanprepared foods popular in North America.

We enjoy music. Traditional German bands, called Bavarian Bands, are named after the area in Germany where they first began. These bands have horns, clarinets, and accordions.

German customs have changed the education of North American children. The word kindergarten is German for “children’s garden.” A German woman started North America’s first kindergarten in 1856.

One of our most well-known traditions is the Christmas tree. Some people believe this tradition began over 1000 years ago. Germans used fruits, nuts, and lighted candles as tree decorations. In Germany, mothers decorate the tree on Christmas Eve. Only then do the children get to see it.

The custom of the Easter bunny that hides colored eggs was also brought to North America by the Germans.

Our language is very old. Many words in German and English, including winter, wind, hand, and finger, sound the same. Today German is spoken only in a few places in North America, including areas of Pennsylvania, Texas, and Iowa.

The next time you decorate a tree or eat a hamburger, say Danke (dahng-kuh) to thank Germany!

Oksana Trautwein/Shutterstock.com

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by Cynthia Jenson-Elliot Taking care of pets, like walking the dog, feeding the cat, or cleaning the cages of small pets, is an important chore. But can you imagine taking care of 100 animals every day?

If you were a Samburu (sam-BOO-roo) herd boy in Kenya, East Africa, your daily chore might be just that. Most Samburu families don’t have much money. All their riches are in the form of animals: cows, goats, and sometimes even camels. The more animals a family has, the wealthier they are. So, guarding the animals means guarding the family’s treasure.

Samburu boys from 3 to 12 years old herd as many as 100 goats and cows to grasslands and water holes. All day long, while the animals eat and drink, the boys watch over them. They make sure the animals don’t stray or get hurt. Then at dusk, the boys bring the animals home.

Watching over a herd in East Africa isn’t easy. If the water holes are dry, the boys must dig in the mud to find water. Danger is always close by. Lions live in the grasslands. Snakes may strike at water holes. But the herd boys are not alone. Teenage warriors called moran (more-AHN) help protect the herd with spears and sticks.

Herd boys practice the skills they’ll need when they become moran. They bend a long, flexible tree branch into a hoop. The ends are tied together with string. Then the boys take another slim, stiff branch as tall as they are. This is their “spear.” The herd boys roll the hoop across the ground and try to throw their spear through the middle of the fast-rolling hoop. It’s not easy! When they’ve mastered that, they toss the hoop in the air. When they can get a spear through an airborne hoop, they’re on the way to becoming a moran!

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by Shirley Anne Ramaley

Such a Devil!

Oooo! Ark! Grrr! What are those sounds? It’s a Tasmanian devil! It lives in the wild in only one place in the world: the island state of Tasmania, just south of Australia.

Years ago, early Tasmanian settlers heard those strange noises in the night and investigated. They saw bright red ears and a big mouth full of teeth. The settlers thought it looked like the “devil” and ran back into their houses.

About the size of a small dog, the Tasmanian devil looks more like a little bear. It has a large head with 42 teeth, perfect for ripping, grinding, and crushing. When it gets scared or upset, its ears do turn bright red!

Devils are very timid. They would rather escape from people and large animals than fight. Because they are cautious, devils make dens in places like hollow logs, where they sleep during the day. If they feel safe, they might lie out in the sun. Nighttime is when they usually hunt for food.

Tasmanian devils are scavengers. They prefer to eat animals that are already dead. They’ll eat everything – meat, bone, and even fur. Nothing is left to pollute the environment. In this way, devils help to clean up the land.

They also catch and eat mice. This helps the Tasmanian farmers because mice eat some of the crops.

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The farmers once thought devils attacked their livestock. They shot many of the little animals, and the number of devils dropped very low. Now we know devils rarely attack anything. Nature parks, like zoos, keep a few of the Tasmanian devils safe. If you ever travel to Tasmania, visit a nature park and see these animals. You might find you like the little devils!

moose’s antlers are Look closely. This bull growing near his ears.

A moose

cow and h

er calves

The Mighty Moose In Alaska, there is a soft rustle in the leaves in the forest. A moose slowly walks out into a meadow, followed by two young calves. The mother moose, called a cow, grazes on grass as her two calves look about. Everything is new to them, and they stay close to their mother.

Moose are the largest members of the deer family. They may look awkward, but they can run at speeds up to 35 miles per hour. This is faster than the fastest human, who has run 28 miles per hour, but only in a short sprint. Moose are also excellent swimmers and learn quickly, swimming well when only a few weeks old.

A big adult male moose, called a bull, can be six feet tall, as tall as a human. But the bull can weigh up to 1600 pounds, while a big man will weigh 200 pounds. So is a bull dangerous to a man? Not usually. During the breeding season, though, a bull moose will attack almost anyone or anything. It’s always best to stay away from any moose.

The cow is protective of her calves. While she will weigh a lot less than the big bull, she’s still about 800 pounds. She won’t like anyone or any other animal getting near her calves, either. It’s always wise to not go near.

In summer, moose like lakes and ponds with tender aquatic plants. Winter is harder, and moose will eat twigs and bark from trees. Winter can be cold, but their long brown and gray hairs are hollow, adding insulation and keeping them warm.

If you see a moose, enjoy watching this amazing animal. But remember to do it from a distance.

Alaska

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by Shirley Nelson • illustrations by Pamela Harden All around the world, people celebrate special times at the end of the year.

In Sweden, Saint Lucia Day is December 13. On Lucia Day, the oldest girl in a family wakes up early and puts on a white robe. On her head is a crown of greens with six lighted candles. She walks very carefully as she takes breakfast in bed to her parents.

December 16 is the first night of Las Posadas (the inns) in Mexico. People carrying lighted candles go from house to house, asking to be let inside the “inn” so the baby Jesus can be born. After they try several times, a door is opened.

They have a party with food, drink, games, a piñata, and maybe fireworks. Las Posadas lasts for nine nights, ending on Christmas Eve. Hanukkah is a special time for Jewish people. Long ago, an army spoiled the temple in Jerusalem. The people cleaned it up and made repairs. They lit the holy lamp. There was oil for just one day, but the lamp burned for eight days. Jews remember this happy time with eight candles in a special holder called a menorah. They light a candle each night for eight nights, eat special foods, and give each other gifts.

African-Americans observe Kwanzaa from December 26 until New Year’s Day. Kwanzaa means “first fruits” and is a harvest festival. Seven candles are lit, one for each day, with its own special color and meaning. It’s a time to give thanks for the past year, wear special clothes, tell stories, play music, and give handmade gifts.

In Australia, December comes during the summer. People there like to have Christmas candlelight carol services outdoors! There might be a barbeque first. Then, when it gets dark, candles or flashlights are lit and singing begins.

The World 28

ATTENTION READERS!

HEY, KIDS, send us a photo of your dog, and you’ll see it in our upcoming Dogs issue!

Include your dog’s name, as well as your name and age.

Write to us and tell us what you think about Fun For Kidz. Then watch for your letter in Letters to the Editor! Also send us your drawings, poetry, jokes, and riddles for publication! Be sure to include your name, age, and address. We’ll send you a surprise just for sharing. We’ll also send you the issue your submission appears in.

Email to: kidscorner@funforkidz.com or mail to: Kids Corner, PO Box 227, Bluffton, OH 45817-0227.

We can’t wait to see what you send in!

by Hunter, age 8

by Parker, age 6

Dear Editor, Hi! I’m 9 and going into 4th grade. I have one pony, one dog, and four barn cats. My dad and my mom each have a horse. I am new to Fun For Kidz, and I love it.

Your newest friend, Rachel Scott Matthews, NC

Dear Editor, I am glad you made a Nighttime issue (Sept./ Oct. 2018). You asked to tell you our favorite part. I like the bats! My sister likes the lightning bugs. We both really like A Boy, His Dog, and a Falling Star cartoon and 10 Good Night Facts.

Your fans, Brady (age 10) and Sara (age 8-1/2) Cote Athens, AL

Jokes and Riddles

by Emeka Ilochonwu, age 9 Q: Where do rivers sleep?

A: on their river beds!

Q: Why did the girl spread peanut butter on the road?

A: to go with the traffic jam!

Q: When do soldiers fight?

A: at knight time!

Q: Why did the truck go to the doctor?

A: because it had the pickups!

Knock, knock!

Who’s there?

Lettuce.

Lettuce who?

Lettuce eat.

29

Puzzle Solutions Mystery Puzzle on page 15 P I C K L E D I N N U F P G O G A E H R H O N E S T Y U M K A N D N R Y A H C H R N M I T S T I V M I C P H A R D P A O G D Y I E U S S P A I T E N B I U M A K N S T M Y S T R E E N M U B B S T H M E H B N T R G P E E A L E C R A A E I A F E L S Y L F N O A R S R C R E R I L A T G F E R L E L K B S B N I D I K S T L E E I E R T R G H Y C O L I D L C N L E B E S F A R M E R S A O C D U E A Y L M A R Z I P A N T O A E D B A V A R I A N A L P S S R Answer: In Germany, Christmas is the largest holiday.

Where Are We? on page 15 1. ITALY 7. SOUTH AFRICA 2. GERMANY 8. SPAIN 3. JAPAN 9. FRANCE 4. VENEZUELA 10. AUSTRALIA 5. SWEDEN 11. INDIA 6. FINLAND T ___ R ___ A ___ V ___ E ___ L I ___ S F ___ U ___ N! Answer: ___ ___ ___

Which Place, Which Country? on page 15 1

H C O A U S T R A L I A N L B R A Z I L A H D I N D I A F R A N C E D W E U J A P A N S C O T L A N D I G S L I T A L Y I A A A S C H I N A

M K U D G E R M A N Y N X G I A C R N O R W A Y Y 2 3

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Countries and Holidays Logic on page 14

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Where in the World? on page 14

30

ANSWERS: 1. USA 2. Germany 3. China 4. Mexico 5. Ukraine 6. Great Britain 7. Greece 8. Australia

Photo Credits: Group of Embera girls photo by Shirley Ramaley 21; Tasmanian Devils by Shirley Ramaley 26 (right); moose photos Shirley Ramaley 27. Wikimedia Commons: Veggie pasta bento by megan from new york [CC BY 2.0] 13 (left); Domo lunch by myu_myu [CC BY-SA 2.0] 13 (right); Lates_niloticus_2 by smudger888 [CC BY 2.0] 16; Samburu Moran Lifestyle by Sangonda [CC BY-SA 4.0] 25.

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V i s i t U s O n l i n e ! F a c e b o o k . c o m / F u n F o r K i d z • w w w. F u n F o r K i d z . c o m Vol. 17 No. 6 • NOV/DEC 2018 Publisher: Thomas M. Edwards Editor: Marilyn Edwards Associate Editor: Diane Winebar Graphic Design: Gaurakisora Tucker Marketing Director: Jonathan Edwards

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Tick-Tock

Alarming Clocks

Time Travel

Make a Sundial

Largest Clocks

Inventing the Calendar

What Time Is It?

Daylight Saving Time

Timekeeping Trivia

Field Trip Through Time