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3 Check It Out! 4 The Mysterious Owl 6 10 Smart Facts About Owls 8 Going on an Owl Prowl 10 10 Pizza Ollie Owl 12 The Great Horned Owl 14 Puzzles 16 A Snowy Search 18 18 Create an Owl 19 The Burrowing Owl 20 20 Ninjas of the Night 22 22 Owl Funnies 23 23 Barley’s New Friend 24 24 No Hoots Here 26 26 See Like an Owl 27 Cowboy Clark & Larry 28 28 Ziggy’s Mail Zone 29 29 Kidz Corner 30 30 Puzzle Solutions

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Chase D’animulls/Shutterstock.com

It’s a fall evening in September. I am walking home from my grandparents’ house. They only live three doors down. I have pleaded with my mom and dad to let me walk home by myself. After all, I am not a baby. I am 11 years old. Nothing is going to happen. I just want the freedom to be on my own.

I notice it seems darker than normal. The moon is out, but no stars. We live on the edge of town. There are no streetlights. Suddenly, I hear an odd noise. I can’t tell what it is. The sound is getting louder! Then I see something coming right at me. It’s big and has huge eyes. It’s getting closer! I take off running as fast as I can. If I can just make it home . . . Then this huge shadow is right over me. I almost faint. Is it going to eat me or grab me? It flies by. It is the biggest owl I have ever seen in my life! It is heading toward something, but I am glad it’s not me. Now I’m home. I see my new issue of Fun For Kidz. It’s all about owls. Cool! I grab my flashlight, climb into bed, and get under the covers. Before I start reading “The Mysterious Owl,” I make a decision. Tomorrow I will write a letter to Ziggy and tell him what happened tonight. I can hardly believe it!

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The Mysterious Owl

by Ellen Ramsey

On a moonlit night, go outside and look for owls. If you’re lucky, you may spot one perched high in a tree or swooping through the sky.

Owls, both in real life and in books, are mysterious and intriguing creatures. They can hide in plain sight, fly on silent wings, see in the dark, and hear creatures moving under the snow. These characteristics make them effective birds of prey.

The feathers on some owls are speckled with streaks and stripes of gray, black, or brown. This makes them hard to see as they perch in trees.

Soundless flight is one of an owl’s secret weapons for capturing prey.

Their feathers muffle the sound of the air flowing over their wings. Their prey can’t hear them coming! They also fly fast, up to 50 miles per hour. Like eagles and hawks, they hunt for mice, voles, rabbits, and squirrels. They also catch fish, frogs, snakes, and lizards.

An owl can’t move its eyes, but they have very flexible necks. Even though they don’t have eyes in the back of their heads, they can turn their heads to see what is behind them. Their superior vision lets them see a mouse a mile away by the light of a match.

Northern long-eared owls have squarish heads.

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Eurasian eagle owls have orange eyes.

An owl’s ear openings are in slightly different positions on each side of the head. This helps them pinpoint the exact location of their prey.

The feet of owls and their strong talons contribute to their ability to hunt. As they strike their prey, the toes grip and lock onto the animal.

Owls usually eat their prey right after they capture it. However, they sometimes save it for later. In the winter, if stored food freezes, an owl may fluff its feathers and sit on it.

They use their body heat to thaw their meal.

On a moonlit night, go outside.

You might see one of these remarkable birds in motion. Be forewarned – they may see and hear you before you are aware of their presence.

spotted owl

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by Debby Shade Would you like to add some adventure and excitement to your evening? Then an owl prowl might be just right for you! Owl prowls involve observing owls within their natural habitats, anytime from late evening up until early morning.

There are steps you can take to make your observation more successful.

Before You Go If possible, visit a bird or nature sanctuary in your area.

Many of these sanctuaries offer experts who will train you how to observe owls. Some may serve as guides to lead you to wooded areas to search for them.

Many birders like to listen to recorded owl calls to familiarize themselves with the unique sounds of different owl species. Memorizing and imitating these calls helps to attract owls and identify a particular type when it is found.

Internet websites and phone apps provide recorded owl calls. Some of the recommended calls to memorize are those of the barred owl, horned owl, and screech owl. You can find these common species in many areas of the US.

What You Need For safe and productive owl prowling, you will need a parent or a nature guide to accompany you. Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather. Try to wear clothing that doesn’t include metal fasteners, which can make noise and reflect light. Owls can be spooked easily! Take a flashlight. It will help you see much better while walking in the dark. If you own a set of binoculars, these will give you a much closer and clearer view when an owl is spotted.

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great gray owl

Eastern screech owl

barred owl

Best Times to Observe Certain times of day and year can be best for owling. Owls are more active and easier to spot during dawn or dusk. Moonlit nights provide great natural lighting and are ideal times to search for owls. Midsummer to early autumn are good times to observe. So is late winter, when owls are calling more to attract mates.

Where to Find Owls Owls tend to inhabit areas in which they can conceal themselves well and find food, such as rats and sparrows. Owls can be found in wooded areas, fields, and near creeks and other water sources. Even if you live in a city, owls could possibly be within hooting range of your home. They also can be found in treed city parks, tree-lined neighborhoods, or maybe even your backyard!

What to Do A good way to search for owls is by locating pellets, which are indigestible items, such as bones, fur, feathers, claws, and teeth. These extra items are formed into masses inside the owl and later are spit up. Sometimes you can find pellets near a tree where an owl roosts or sleeps. Look for pellets that are tightly formed, gray in color, and damp and shiny.

This usually indicates that an owl is nearby. If you locate an owl, keep your distance, and remain still and quiet. Use your binoculars to observe the owl’s details. Tell us here at Fun For Kidz what you saw. Happy owl prowling!

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Pizza Ollie Owl

by Bette Killion • illustrated by Chris Sabatino

Mom and Pop Owl found a hole in a tree Just right for their nest and a new family.

It was back from the highway in a quiet green glade.

So a fine nest was built and three eggs were laid.

Then before their babies could even hatch out, Some builders moved in and surveyed about.

They began a building, worked a very fast pace.

Soon beneath the owls’ tree stood a PIZZA PLACE! “OH, MY!” cried Mom Owl. “What shall we do, dear?”

“Nothing!” said Pop Owl. “Our family is here!”

And they were! Three balls of fuzzy, buff down.

“We can’t rear them here,” Mom said. “We’re almost uptown!”

Said Pop, “We must just do the best that we can.”

So they named them Winston and Ollie and Jan. All went pretty well, but it was different, all right!

Cars zoomed in and out. Music blared half the night.

The days were more quiet. The owls could sleep then, But the great smell of pizzas came up on the wind.

Ollie, especially, loved that good scent.

He saw dropped bits below where the people went.

He begged Pop Owl, when he went out for food, “Just bring me some pizza. It must be SO good!”

So Pop brought up a piece – pepperoni and cheese.

Ollie gobbled it up and said, “More pizza, please!”

From that day on, while Winston and Jan Ate field mice and insects as little owls can,

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Ollie ate pizza scraps – sausage, onions, and sauce.

When Pop couldn’t find bits, poor Ollie was cross.

Pizza or nothing. He’d not eat – just pout!

Jan and Winston were growing and filling out.

Their brown and buff feathers were starting to sprout.

Time came for the owlets to learn to fly.

Jan and Winston soon followed Pop off in the sky.

But Ollie flew down where he saw the crowd, Where the cars whizzed and screeched and the music was loud.

He captured the scraps, each bit and each bite, To fill himself full with the pizza at night.

“Oh, just look,” sighed Mom Owl. “You’re a terrible sight!

Your feathers are growing all crooked and few.

You’re so thin! You need owl food. All good owls do.”

Ollie just laughed and then slept the day through.

That night when he woke and looked all about, He saw Mom and Pop Owl and the owlets were out, Probably flying through trees, searching for food, But he, Ollie Owl, would go find something good!

He perched on his nest edge, looked down, and OH, MY! A thousand round pizzas caught his eye.

All the car wheels were round pizzas, every window and door.

The trees hung with pizzas, everywhere more and more.

Ollie blinked, rolled his eyes, but the pizzas stayed.

Just too many! thought Ollie, and he was afraid.

He crept back into his nest and covered his head.

When his family came home, he excitedly said, “Did you see all those pizzas? What happened, Pop? I think they are growing. Can you make them stop?”

“What pizzas?” asked Pop Owl. “What pizzas?” asked Jan. And Winston – “What pizzas?”

Then Mom Owl began, “I knew it! Why did we build here – why?

It was bound to end badly!” She started to cry.

Pop Owl was thinking. Pop Owl was wise.

He leaned down and squinted in Ollie Owl’s eyes.

“Like a virus,” said Pop, “I can easily tell You have developed a Pizza Eyes Spell.

The cure is quite simple. This soon will be gone If you eat mice and insects – owl food from now on.”

Ollie Owl nodded, and Pop was in flight To find him some owl food that very night!

Ollie Owl gulped it down fast – every bite!

Next evening when Ollie woke for the night, He heard music, smelled pizza, and saw the bright lights, But he did not SEE pizzas, and that was good!

He flew off with the others to search for OWL FOOD! Mom Owl said, as she brushed off a tear, “Let’s build our nest somewhere quiet next year.”

Pop Owl said, “Surely, we’ll do that, my dear!”

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The Great Horned Owl It has a piercing, yellow-eyed stare and a deep hooting call. When people think of owls, they usually picture the great horned owl.

These owls are named for their famous ear tufts that look like horns. They can lower these tufts like an upset dog would lower its ears. Its length is 18 to 26 inches, it weighs 3 to 4 pounds, and it has a huge wingspan of 49 to 62 inches.

The great horned owl is the most common owl in North America.

Great horned owls usually lay 2 or 3 dustywhite oval eggs in early winter, but they do not generally build their own nests. Instead, they often use a nest of the red-tailed hawk, which is about 40 to 70 feet above the ground. They also nest on rocky cliffs or use hollows in trees.

Sometimes they lay their eggs on the ground!

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The great horned owl has huge eyes.

To understand how large, if these owls were the size of humans, their eyes would be the size of oranges. Those are big eyes!

They mainly live on rabbits, mice, and voles. Other mammals also make a tasty meal: squirrels, skunks, raccoons, armadillos, shrews, and bats. If there is a choice, they will take the prey that is the biggest. They are not picky eaters. They will eat snakes and sometimes will even wade in the water to snatch a frog or a fish.

Of all the owls of the Americas, this owl lives in the most habitats. It eats the widest variety of prey and has many different nesting sites to choose from. When you are out at night, listen for a far-carrying hoo-HOO-hoo-hoo. A great horned owl is advertising that it is nearby!

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Draw a Picture

by Donna Lugg Pape

Fill in the correct lines in the corresponding pie wedge, and discover an animal.

Night Flier

by Michelle Benjamin Owls are nocturnal. Most of them sleep in the daylight and fly by the moonlight. To get the answer to the riddle below, first match the moon picture from the clue grid. Then move down the grid to the clue number. Write the correct letter in the box. The first one has been done for you.

by David Lindo

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Find the letters described by each fraction in the statements below. Write the letters you select, in the order given, into the boxes to answer the question.

Which unique owl is rather quiet and likes cold weather?

Question: What happened when the night owl got a sore throat?

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The first 2/6 of SNORTS The middle 1/5 of HOOTS The first 1/8 of WHISTLES The first 1/4 of YAWN The middle 3/5 of BOWLS

A.Maze.ing Owls

Start

by Guy Belleranti

Find your way through the maze by connecting letters to spell: OWLS ARE NOCTURNAL BIRDS OF PREY. THEY HAVE GREAT NIGHT VISION AND HEARING. You may move any direction, but no letter may be connected more than once. Write the unconnected letters, in order, in the blank spaces to spell out another amazing owl fact.

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by Evelyn B. Christensen

As their name implies, barn owls often live in barns and other buildings, but they also nest in trees and caves.

They are able to find their prey by hearing alone. That means if it is totally dark, they can still locate that mouse or vole they want to eat.

Fill in the squares so each row, column, and 7-square section has the letters B-A-R-N-O-W-L. W O

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by K. MacLeod • photos by Kris MacLeod

I’m Matthew. On a cold, bright day in March, my mother and I stood in a field. Snow blanketed the ground. It sparkled in the distance. We pulled our hats over our ears and stomped our feet for warmth. With our cameras set, we scanned the field and waited. We were searching for snowy owls.

These special owls spend most of the year in the cold Arctic. In winter, they migrate to southern Canada and the northern United States. The best places to see them are in open fields or near treetops, roofs, or telephone poles. Snowy owls are diurnal. That means they are active during the day. This makes the snowy owl easier to find than most other owls, which are nocturnal and active at night.

Our patience was rewarded when a snowy owl landed nearby. It looked like a female. It was white with dark markings on her body and wings.

Males are often all white. After a short stay, she opened her huge wings and took off. The snowcovered field camouflaged her well. We understood then why this raptor is nicknamed the “ghost owl.”

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“Snowy” is a female snowy owl.

Snowy owls have a 4- to 5-foot wingspan.

We walked back along the trail and stopped in our tracks. Another snowy owl was perched on a tree stump.

We were so close that we could see the sharp black beak poking through white facial feathers. Her legs and feet were covered with warm, thick feathers. Strong black talons gripped the tree stump. We barely moved as we admired her.

“Snowy” on a stump

The owl turned her head almost all the way around, searching with luminous yellow eyes. From her perch, she scanned the field for prey, such as mice or voles. She didn’t seem to mind us being there. We carefully kept our distance.

We will never forget our day with these Arctic raptors.

Before their long flight home, we will keep a lookout. Perhaps they will visit our neighborhood again.

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These wise snowy owls say you-HOO will love making this craft and eating these cupcakes too-HOO.

Paper Owls

by Anne Renaud

To make your paper owl, you will need:

1

Cut out center from 4 cupcake liners.

Fold in the top of a bathroom cardboard tube.

• bathroom cardboard tube

2 Slide each liner onto the cardboard tube, and tape into place to make up body of your owl.

• paper cupcake liners • craft paper • small piece of orange felt • tape • markers or felt pen • googly eyes (optional) • scissors

3 Cut small slits on the front half of your cupcake liners, and fold upwards to give appearance of feathers.

Cut one cupcake liner in half, and tape at back of your tube to make owl’s wings.

Cut small slits in wings to give appearance of feathers.

4 Cut two large circles from craft paper for eyes.

Color in eyes with felt pen, or use googly eyes, if you like. Tape into place.

Cut out triangle from orange felt for mouth. Tape into place.

Snowy Owl Cupcakes You Will Need: 6 muffins or cupcakes 1 can ready-made or homemade

white cake frosting 12 jellybeans 12 round colored candies or jujubes

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shredded coconut

1. With a butter knife, cover the top of your muffin or cupcake with a thin coat of frosting.

2. Cover frosting with shredded coconut.

3. Make owl mouth with a jellybean, placed vertically.

4. Make owl eyes with two round candies or jujubes. Cut jellybean in half and place in center of each eye. Use frosting for “glue.”

5. Repeat steps 1-4 for remaining 5 cupcakes.

6. Put cupcakes in refrigerator, and let set for about 20 minutes.

7. Store in air-tight container.

Most owls fly around at night and make nests in trees.

Burrowing owls build their nests in the ground. They usually take over holes that were dug by other animals, like prairie dogs, ground squirrels, desert tortoises, and badgers.

These owls live in hot, dry climates. But because their homes are underground, burrowing owls stay cool when the sun is scorching hot.

Burrowing owls are little, about the size of a robin. They like to sit near their burrow entrance, ready to duck inside and hide in the twisting passages if they sense danger. Because they sit quietly for long periods of time, people can often walk quite close to them.

Newly hatched owlets live with their parents for about six weeks.

They learn how to fly and hunt insects and rodents. Owlets learn to avoid predators that might want to eat them, like hawks and larger owls. When owlets are ready, they leave the nest and find their own burrows.

If you see a burrowing owl, you are seeing an owl that is the opposite of most owls. It lives in the ground, not a tree.

It hunts during the day, not at night. And it is much smaller than most owls. As open spaces are taken up by houses, golf courses, and farms, there are fewer places for these owls to live. Hopefully, ways can be found to provide enough room for both burrowing owls and people.

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Ninjas of the Night

by Jean Kuo Lee

perfectly camouflaged

a tiny elf owl

What meat-eating bird is a ninja of the night, able to carry out its mission undetected? Once the sun goes down, it flies in the dark shadows secretly and silently, striking its prey before anyone knows what’s coming.

Ka-pow! Sharp talons grip an unsuspecting mouse rustling in the leaves on the forest floor. Just as quickly, the mysterious bird flies off again, disappearing into the night with the mouse like a ghost in a dream.

Here’s a hint: It has big round eyes, and it can see you, but you can’t see it.

Some of these special birds make a hoo-hoo-hoo sound. Did you guess owl? That’s correct!

These night hunters are truly amazing birds of prey. Their large eyes give them the ability to see in the dark. Normally, when it’s pitch dark, we fumble around.

Not so with owls! They use even the smallest glow of light from the moon or the stars to see. But even on the darkest nights, when the moon is hidden, such blindfolded owls could still catch mice. That’s because owls have ninja hearing.

They can catch mice just by listening for scampering footsteps on the forest floor.

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Owls have a trick they use to stay silent while waiting for critters to come out. They keep their bodies still on their perches as they scan the forest. They can turn their heads nearly all the way around in a full circle – and even upside down! This helps them see everything without moving their bodies.

Since their eyes are fixed in their heads, this head-turning trick is a very important ability.

Eurasian eagle owls are the world’s largest owls.

Jan_Broz/Shutterstock.com

Spotted wood owl

Owls are everywhere in the world. There are about 240 different kinds. They are hard to spot because they blend in with the trees they sit in. And they are so still, you would not know they are there. Sometimes the best way to identify an owl is by hearing one and recognizing its call. With your parents’ help, you can visit www.allaboutbirds.org to listen to the calls of the most common owls in your area.

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Solve the

Owl Riddles

by Guy Belleranti

First, read the riddle. Then solve it by decoding the answer. To decode the answer, write the letter that comes before the letter given.

1. Why are owls quiet at night?

Coded Answer: TP UIFZ EPO’U XBLF VQ UIFJS TMFFQJOH CBHT

by Patrick Hardin

“It’s not what you know, but rather, whooo you know.”

2. What do you call an owl that isn’t quiet?

Coded Answer: UIF I-PXM

A Job for an Owl It’s said that owls are very wise.

Is it because of big round eyes?

Or is there something more owls do, Like seeing what’s behind them too?

Their heads can swivel far around To take in sights from air to ground.

My teacher also has the knack Of seeing things behind her back, A trait a substitute would need To teach our class and to succeed.

So if my teacher’s ever sick, An owl would be the perfect pick.

by Elizabeth Glann

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by David Sung

by Elizabeth Suneby Lena and her family had five cats. One was named Barley. This is his picture.

Lena wanted to make sure her feline pets could safely enjoy the fresh air. She built an outdoor run that her cats could access through a window.

Occasionally, one of the cats would return to the house with a friend. It might be a bird, mouse, salamander, or a baby rabbit. One day, Lena heard Barley meowing with a mouthful of something. I’d better to see what’s up, she thought. When Lena looked down, looking up at her was a tiny Northern Saw-whet owl dangling from Barley’s jaws.

Lena knew not to scold Barley. That would make him run away. Instead, she repeated, “Good boy, Barley.” Finally, the cat smiled with pride and let go of the owl. It immediately took flight and led Lena and her cats on a merry chase around the house. Lena managed to catch the little owl with a towel.

She quickly checked the owl for injuries. There were none, so she took it outside. Clutching Lena’s finger, the owl shook itself to straighten out a few feathers. It looked around and then gazed at Lena with bright yellow eyes.

The owl was likely wondering what had happened. Maybe, as a night creature, it was stunned by all the light. It was certainly relieved that the cats were nowhere in sight!

Within a few minutes, the little owl flew off to a nearby tree. Lena watched it fly from the tree into the woods. She was glad that Barley’s friend was fine.

The Northern Saw-whet is one of the smallest owls in North America. They are commonly found in forests. Since they are nocturnal creatures, their catlike faces with bright yellow eyes are not often seen by humans.

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by Merry Bradshaw • photos by David Boyarski You hear wheezing, twittering, screeching, and hissing. What could it be?

It’s a barn owl. You won’t hear hooting from these odd-looking birds. They make many unusual sounds, but hoots are not one of them.

Barn owls look very different from other owls. They have heartshaped faces, longer legs, short tails, and small dark eyes. Although they are called barn owls, they also like living in caves, hollow trees, and empty buildings. They generally prefer to roost by themselves.

They are among the best owl hunters, enjoying animals like mice, gophers, snakes, and rabbits. When they spot their meal, they fly silently over their prey, ready to strike. Wings pulled back, feet pushed forward, the barn owl grabs its prey using its sharp talons. Like other owls, they usually swallow their prey whole. Then, after about 12 hours, they throw up owl pellets that contain the bones and fur they cannot digest.

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Barn owls have a stern and scary look. Their white face, white chest, and tan body create a ghostly silhouette as they fly through a moonlit sky. Farmers welcome these owls because they keep down the rodent population. A barn owl can eat 1000 mice a year.

If you hear an owl some night, listen to its call. If it hoots, it’s not a barn owl. If it screeches or hisses, look up. You might see a heart-shaped face looking down at you.

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See Like an Owl Owls are different from most birds. Most birds eat seeds. Owls eat mice and other small animals. Most birds are active in the daytime. Owls are active at night. Most birds have straight beaks. Owls have hooked beaks. Most birds tip sideways.

Owls stand straight up. Most birds have their eyes on the SIDES of their heads. (If you were like most birds, your eyes would be where your ears are!) Owls’ eyes face forward like your eyes. BUT an owl’s eyes cannot do something your eyes can. And that is our experiment.

What You Need: • an empty spool from a roll of toilet paper or paper towel • scissors • sticky tape

What You Do: • Cut two pieces off the spool. Make each one about 3 inches long.

• Hold them side-by-side and tape them together.

• Hold them up to your eyes so each eye is looking through ONE of the tubes, like a pair of binoculars.

The Science Secret

• Look around.

You can roll your eyes from side-to-side. Look in a mirror and try it. Owls cannot roll their eyes like you.

Owls’ eyes can look only straight ahead.

This is the way an owl sees what is around him or her. An owl can see only exactly what is in front of its eyes. Even though your eyes are in front of your face, like an owl’s, YOU can see a lot more. WHY?

How can an owl see what is beside it? It must turn its head! But if you tried the experiment, you already learned this. When you hold the “owl binoculars” up to your eyes, the ONLY way you can see what is beside you is to turn your head. That is exactly what owls must do to see what is beside them!

Aren’t you glad you are not an owl?

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Cowboy Clark stuck a long blade of grass between his teeth, rolled onto his back, and leaned up against the fence that separated his yard from Larry’s. “It’s a fine night, little buddy,” he said.

On the other side of the fence, Larry wagged his tail. He was happy to be out on a crisp, clear night spending time with his good friend. “It’s a super night,” Larry said. “Do you want to play ‘I smell with my little nose?’”

“Nah, let’s just enjoy this,” Cowboy Clark softly said.

Sashaying across the top of the fence, Mrs. Whiskers joined them. “Hello, boys.”

“Hi, Mrs. Whiskers.” Larry smiled.

Hoot-hoot Cowboy Clark sat up. Mrs. Whiskers scanned the horizon. Larry’s eyes grew big. He asked, “Is that a ghost?”

“Sshh, Larry,” Cowboy Clark said.

Searching the surrounding trees, Mrs. Whiskers said, “It’s an owl.”

Cowboy Clark rolled onto his back again. “No clouds, perfect moon, and an owl to get us going on sharing camp stories. I’ve got one . . .”

Hoot-hoot “Sshh.” This time, Mrs. Whiskers shushed Cowboy Clark. “I’m trying to figure out which tree the owl is sitting in.”

“Why?” Larry asked.

Before she ran off, Mrs. Whiskers said, “Let’s just say that owls and cats have unfinished business.”

Confused, Larry asked, “What does that mean?”

“Since the dawn of time, cats and owls have been warring,” Cowboy Clark said. “She gets a bead on that owl, and who knows what will happen. I’m not about to let a good night get ruined by those two fighting.” He began to howl.

Larry started to howl too. An owl flew overhead, giving them a wink as it went by.

Cowboy Clark smiled. “Now, let me tell you about the day of the big squirrel hunt.” He told his stories long into the night.

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ATTENTION READERS!

Write to Ziggy, the Fun For Kidz dog. If you write to Ziggy, he will write back to you! Send letters to: Fun For Kidz, Attn. Ziggy PO Box 227, Bluffton, OH 45817-0227

Dear Ziggy, Hi. I am Jeannie. I am homeschooled. We have a dog. Her name is Snuggley. I have two brothers named Paul Stefan and Ian. I like to write poetry and sing. I am 9 years old. My brothers are younger and have a room together. I read Fun For Kidz to them. We love all the magazines and all the themes. My favorite is Up Close to Nature. We just received our magazine Busy, Busy Bees. It is very good!

Your reader, Jeannie Sidle Regina, SK, Canada

Dear Ziggy, Here are my favorite jokes.

1. Why did the boy throw the clock out the window? He wanted to see time fly.

2. Why do fish like to eat worms?

Because they get hooked on them.

3. What is gray, has four legs, and a trunk? A mouse on vacation.

Sam Moser Boston, MA

Dear Ziggy, I have been getting Fun For Kidz for three years. I am 11 years old. I have a sister who is 8. My sister and I share our Fun For Kidz. Her name is Kelly and my name is Kristy. We enjoy all the different themes. Kelly’s favorite theme was Native Americans. I loved the one about gardening. Our family always has a garden. Before Kelly learned to read, I read everything to her. We are homeschooled by my mom.

Your #1 fan, Kristy Harris, Richmond, VA

Dear Ziggy, My name is James. I am 11 years old. I liked the magazine on Rocks. My family, which is my mom and dad and one younger brother and sister, and I have traveled on vacation to see Mount Rushmore. It was awesome. I would like to visit Arches National Park in Utah and see all the rock formations. My favorite subjects in school are history and geography. We have a border collie for a pet. His name is Max. I share my magazine with my brother and sister.

Sincerely, James Collier Wooster, OH

Dear Ziggy, My hobbies are reading and playing the piano.

I have two cats. Their names are Tuffy and Taffy.

I have a goldfish named Oscar and a dog named Alex. He is a golden retriever. We have a big fenced-in backyard. Alex likes to retrieve balls that I throw to him. I have read your magazines about dogs and big and little cats. Can you do a magazine about different kinds of fish? I am in fourth grade.

Bye, Susie Foley Alpine, WY

Dear Ziggy, My favorite things to do inside when the weather is bad is building structures with my Legos, working on jigsaw puzzles, and reading. I am always outside almost every day. I ride my bike, camp and hike with my family, ski in the winter, and swim in the summer. This summer I am allowed to mow some of my neighbors’ yards and get paid. I also like to go to amusement parks, dig for special rocks and crystals, and fish with my family on our float boat. I read Fun For Kidz all the time and keep some older issues in the car to reread when we are on a car trip. I am 11 years old and will be in sixth grade in the fall.

Your fan and reader, Adam Steinmetz Bozeman, MT

Dear Ziggy, I live out in Colorado. I am 9 years old. I enjoy gymnastics and practice every week. I also enjoy bike riding, fishing, and camping. I have one brother who is 12. We each get our own subscription to Fun For Kidz. It is a gift from our grandparents. We love reading the magazine.

My favorite animal is a dog. That was my favorite issue, but I like the others also. We are visiting our grandparents this summer in Baltimore, Maryland. We go to the beach on the ocean with our cousins. It is a great time.

Sincerely, Seth Weisenbarger Denver, CO

Hi Ziggy!

I have one older sister and two younger brothers. I am 10 years old. My sister is Christy, and she is 13. My brothers are Hank, who is 9, and Ivan, who is 7. I share my Fun For Kidz magazines with Hank and Ivan. Sometimes my sister reads it also. We all like the Astronomy issue. My brother, Hank, got a telescope for his birthday in June. Ivan likes animals. He liked Up Close to Nature. I like all the issues. We also have two cats named Violet and Pearl and one dog named Moby. My mom is a chef. She is really good at it.

Your biggest fan, Sarah Truman Crawfordsville, IN

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Dear Ziggy, My name is Rachel and I am 12 years old. I check Fun For Kidz out of the library. They save all the issues, so I have read many from a few years ago. I like them all. My family has a dog named Rosy. My grandpa’s friend gave her to us because he could not keep her any more. She is a sweet dog and lets us put socks on her and dress her up.

Love, Rachel Gupta Irvine, CA

Dear Ziggy, My name is Anna. We live on an orchard in Michigan. We grow lots of fruit, apples, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, and plums. I am 9 years old. I have a sister who is 5 and a brother who is 3. My sister is named Grace and my brother is Donnie. I love Fun For Kidz and can’t wait for the next one to come.

Love, Anna White Boyne City, MI

Dear Ziggy, Hi! I am 7 years old. I really like your magazine!

My favorite colors are purple and pink. We have a cat, a dog, a hamster, and some fish. They are great pets and I love them a lot.

I like to read and write stories, collect stickers, and read Fun For Kidz.

Love, Ashley Linley Palm Springs, CA

Dear Ziggy, How are you? I am 8 years old. I just had a birthday.

I like getting Fun For Kidz in the mail. Sometimes I share it with my neighbor. His name is Rowan and he is also 8. We like to play together. He has a younger sister. He likes to come to my house because we have two dogs. One is named Wilbur and one is named Toby.

I am enjoying the summer. My family is going on a vacation to Ohio. We are going to Cedar Point and Kings Island. They are two big amusement parks.

Your friend, Todd Sterling Bellingham, WA

Hey, Kids!

Send us your stories, poems, drawings, photos, and jokes & riddles for publication.

EMAIL TO: kidscorner@funforkidz.com

OR MAIL TO: Kids Corner, PO Box 227 Bluffton, OH 45817-0227

From Houston ISD Students

A Japanese Haiku Poem Our life is like a thorny rose, Not perfect, but always beautiful.

by Rachel H., age 8

Bird Beautiful Intelligent Ridiculously cute Delightful

Saida H., age 9

My younger brother and I love Fun For Kidz. I read it to him. When we saw that the next issue was on owls, I had to send this picture. When we were at the zoo recently, we both loved looking at the owls and eagles. I took this photo of my brother Cecil, who is five years old. This shows how big his wingspan is compared to some birds’ wingspans. We know some owls have very big wingspans also. This was very interesting.

Virginia

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A-Maze-ing Owls on page 15 Start

O W T R

Fraction-nition on page 14

SNOWY OWL

E N H E P A T N

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Night Flier on page 14

P R S E Y O W C G L S G C A N N O U T T V

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B A A R E E

R M E D I

It didn’t give a hoot!

E D H

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Barn Owl Sudoku on page 15

D O A P Y E L N A N L E

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P R T U H E P N G Finish

Another amazing owl fact: THE PARTS OF PREY OWLS CANNOT DIGEST ARE FORMED INTO A PELLET AND SPIT UP. Solve the Owl Riddles on page 22 1. SO THEY DON’T WAKE UP THEIR SLEEPING BAGS 2. THE H-OWL

R

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Draw a Picture on page 14

Photo Credits: Barred Owl, Charlotte, NC by Gareth Rasberry [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons 9 (top-right); Burrowing Owl by Frederick Ramsey 19 (top-left); Elf Owl by Bureau of Reclamation [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons 20 (top-right); Strix seloputo – Pasir Ris (spotted wood owl) by JJ Harrison [CC BY-SA 4.0] via Wikimedia Commons 21 (top-left); Northern Saw-whet owl by Brendan Lally from Delta, Canada [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons 23 (bottom-left).

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Gift Giving for Friends & Family Don’t forget to let us know where to send your magazine!

Give the kids on your gift list

Fun For Kidz magazine and they’ll run to the mailbox all year long!

Contact us:

Kids love mail!

by email customerservice@funforkidz.com call 419-358-4610 (9 AM - 5 PM E.T.) US Post PO Box 227, Bluffton, OH 45817 US POSTAL SERVICE STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION (Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685) Date of Filing: September 10, 2021 Title of Publication: FUN FOR KIDZ Publication #: 20286 Frequency of Issue: Bi-monthly No. of Issues Published Annually: 6 Annual Subscription Price: $32.95 US Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: FUN FOR KIDZ, 190 Sunset Dr, PO Box 227, Bluffton, OH 45817.

Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Offices of the Publisher: FUN FOR KIDZ, 190 Sunset Dr, PO Box 227, Bluffton, OH 45817.

Full Names and Complete Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Publisher: Thomas M. Edwards, 190 Sunset Drive, Bluffton, OH 45817.

Editor: Marilyn Edwards, 190 Sunset Drive, Bluffton, OH 45817.

Managing Editor: Marilyn Edwards, 190 Sunset Drive, Bluffton, OH 45817.

Owner: Thomas M. Edwards, 190 Sunset Drive, Bluffton, OH 45817.

Known Bondholders, Mortgages, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages or Other Securities: None Extent and Nature Avg. No. of Copies No. Copies of Single

Each Issue During Issue Published

Preceding 12 Months Nearest to Filing Date A. Total No. Copies 3000 3000 B. Legitimate Paid and/or Requested Distribution 1. Outside County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions

2028 1659 2. In-County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions 15 12 3. Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid or Requested Distribution Outside USPS 0 0 4. Requested Copies Distributed by Other Mail Classes Through the USPS 0 0 C. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation 2043 1671 D. Nonrequested Distribution 0 0 E. Total Nonrequested Distribution 0 0 F. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and e) 2043 1671 G. Copies not Distributed 957 1329 H. Total (Sum of 15f and g) 3000 3000 I. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation 100% 100% Electronic Copy Circulation Avg. No. of Copies No. Copies of Single

Each Issue During Issue Published

Preceding 12 Months Nearest to Filing Date A. Paid Electronic Copies 0 0 B. Total Paid Print Copies + Paid Electronic Copies 2043 1671 C. Total Print Distribution + Paid Electronic Copies 2043 1671 D. Percent Paid (Both Print & Electronic Copies) 100% 100% I certify that 50% of all my distributed copies (electronic & print) are paid above a nominal price.

I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete.

Marilyn Edwards

Get a NEW subscription for only $16.48 when you buy one subscription at the regular price of $32.95.

(Additional postage cost outside US)

Request a gift card and FREE puzzle poster delivered with the first issue of each subscription.

Order on our website, www.funforkidz.com, using coupon code GIFT, or call us at: 419-358-4610 (9 AM - 5 PM E.T.).

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. 20 No. 5 • SEPT/OCT 2021 Publisher: Thomas M. Edwards Editor: Marilyn Edwards Associate Editor: Diane Winebar Graphic Design: Gaurakisora Tucker Marketing Director: Jonathan Edwards Circulation Manager: Mark Studer Science Editor: Larry White Science Illustrator: Alan Wassilak Cowboy Clark & Larry Editor: Lisa Rehfuss Cover Artist: Geoff Hassing

FUN FOR KIDZ (ISSN 1536-898X) is published bi-monthly by the Bluffton News Publishing and Printing Company, P.O. Box 227, 190 Sunset Dr., Bluffton, OH 45817.

Telephone: 419-358-4610. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fun For Kidz, P.O. Box 227, Bluffton, OH 45817-0227. Periodical postage is paid at Bluffton, OH and Preston, ID.

Subscriptions: All subscription inquiries and changes of address should be addressed to FUN FOR KIDZ at P.O. Box 227, Bluffton, OH 45817. Telephone: 419-358-4610.

Subscription rates are six issues (1 year) $32.95; twelve issues (2 years) $55.90; eighteen issues (3 years) $68.85. Canadian postage - first class - $18 per year, all other foreign countries first class airmail - $37.50 per year.

FUN FOR KIDZ, INC. accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any Replacement Issues: We will replace one damaged or lost-ininjuries arising out of the use or misuse of ideas, materials, and the-mail issue per year. Your request must be made within 45 activities featured in its publications or products. days of the specific issue’s date: January 1, March 1, May 1, July Copyright © 2021 by the Bluffton News Publishing and Printing 1, September 1, or November 1.

Co. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. FUN Attention Readers: Send in your letters, short stories, FOR KIDZ™, and the FUN FOR KIDZ logo™, are trademarks of FUN poems, jokes & riddles, and drawings for publication. Send to: Kids Corner, PO Box 227, Bluffton, OH 45817.

FOR KIDZ, The Bluffton News Publishing and Printing Co.

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Helping Wild Baby Animals Make the World a Better Place Samantha Makes a Difference Backpacks for New Beginnings

Trouble with the Trucks The Good Samaritan 10 Ways to Help Others Pets That Became Heroes

Plus – Poems, Puzzles, Cartoons, Contests, Cooking, Science, Drawing, Fiction and Nonfiction, Jokes & Riddles, Kidz Corner, Ziggy’s Mail Zone, and MUCH MORE! $7.95