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3 Heidi: Rescue of the Lynx and Ed’s Bit
4–5 KA! JAM 6 Bumper Bible Breakdown 7 Kiddo 8–9 Giggle in the Middle 10 Heartfuls Competition 11 Colouring Corner 12–13 KA! World 14–15 Your Space
16 Patch’s Pals: Pirate Pete and His Jolly Crew
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EDITOR Cara Mott
DEPUTY EDITOR AND KA! JAM CO-ORDINATOR Ibukun Baku
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Jacob Adams and Louis Gregory
INTERNATIONAL LEADERS General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham
TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Major Julian Watchorn
Published weekly by The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory. The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity. The charity number in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 214779, in Scotland SC009359 and in the Republic of Ireland CHY6399. ISSN 1363-5662.
HHeidi Rescue of the Lynx IN CINEMAS NOW
eidi is an eight-year-old girl who lives near a small village with her grandfather. When she’s not at home, she’s playing with Peter – a young goatherd (that’s like a shepherd, but with goats instead of sheep).
Heidi lives a calm and happy life, until one day a strange man called Mr Schnaittinger sets up traps in the village! He wants to get rid of the lynxes (which are a type of wild cat) because they’re scaring the village’s chickens. Heidi soon finds herself rescuing and taking care of a trapped lynx kitten that she names Pepper. She feeds the kitten and even says no to the opportunity to go on holiday with her best friend, Klara, so that she can take care of Pepper. Once Pepper is strong enough, Heidi and Peter go on an adventure, journeying into the mountains to find Pepper’s family. But this isn’t an easy mission –they have to deal with scary weather and a mischievous (and very hungry) eagle. After finding Pepper’s family, the friends come back to the village and discover that Schnaittinger is up to no good! He wants to take over the village and get rid of the lynxes once and for all! That means Heidi, her grandfather and Peter must work together to protect the lynxes and her village from danger.
You can watch ‘Heidi: Rescue of the Lynx’ in cinemas now
When Heidi goes off up a mountain with her friend, her grandfather follows her to make sure that she’s safe. He must love and care for her so much to go on such a risky adventure! If you were in trouble, who do you think would help and protect you? Maybe your parents or carers, your best friend or your big brother or sister.
Have you ever read Psalm 121? If you haven’t, find a Bible or search online to have a read. It’s a beautiful bit of writing and it’s all about how God will always help, love and protect us.
Just like Heidi’s grandfather loved and cared for her, you can trust that God will love and care for you. You might not be climbing mountains, but whatever adventures or challenges you’re facing, God will always protect you and keep you safe! I hope that makes you feel as happy as it does me!
What a Change!
Have a read of this week’s Bible cartoon –what do you think of the old man character? When I first read it, I thought, ‘What a grump!’ Then I got a bit annoyed – he doesn’t think much of kids, does he? Unfortunately, some people are like that – they think kids aren’t as important as grown-ups, and that children should keep quiet!
This month, we’re going to look at some Bible stories that feature children doing amazing things. The first child is a little girl that lived in the house of a soldier called Naaman. Here’s some information that you should know about the little girl. She was from Israel and was taken from her family and her home. She was also forced to work for a woman she didn’t know. That must have been so scary, and it could have made her think, ‘I’m glad Naaman is ill – he deserves it for taking me away from my home.’ But it didn’t! She was full of kindness and love for God, and she wanted to share that with Naaman.
If the little girl hadn’t spoken out and shared her faith in God with others, then none of the wondrous things that happened after could have taken place! Thanks to one brave little girl, a man was made better, and he came to know God! She achieved such a big change with just one small decision – to talk about God.
Read the comment on the right about talking to others about God
You’ve got the power to make big changes happen too! Yes, you reading this right now! Is there someone that you think needs to know about God? Why not make it your mission this week to tell them about God and see what change you can make?
by Cara Mott
Spot the Difference
The little girl made a big difference in Naaman’s life, so see if you can spot the five differences between the two pictures of Naaman being healed below.
Bumper Bible Breakdown
Did you know the Bible isn’t one big book? It’s actually 66 books put together to tell one big story of God’s great love. Join us as we look at each Bible book and discover why God made the world, what went wrong and how in the end God saved the world through his son, Jesus.
Year Three
The final year of Jesus’ mission was quite similar to the first two years. For a start, it was full of amazing miracles. Jesus fed two enormous crowds with just a few loaves of bread and some fish. He walked on water, continued to heal people who were sick and even brought a man called Lazarus back to life!
Jesus also told his followers plenty of fantastic parables. These parables included stories about a lost sheep, a missing coin and a son who ran away from home – all of which taught Jesus’ followers something about him.
However, Jesus’ three-year mission was coming to an end. As he journeyed towards Jerusalem, Jesus warned his disciples (three different times) that he was going to die and then come back to life! And as Jesus got nearer to the city, the Pharisees put together plans to kill him!
KA! JAM is the coolest Bible activity club around. As a member you’ll go on amazing adventures through the Bible learning about Jesus. Each activity sheet is filled with lots of great stuff about being a Christian. You’ll also receive our mini-mag, Chatterbox which is filled with jokes, games and much more. And to top it off, there are loads of awesome prizes to be won!
To join KA! JAM and complete the Bible activity courses online, go to salvationist.org.uk/kajam.
Or if you would like to receive the postal version, simply fill in the coupon below.
To join KA! JAM just fill in the application form and send it – along with two first-class stamps – to: KA! JAM, 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ. Applicants must be between 7 and 17 years old to join.
Name:
Address:
Date of birth:
Postcode:
Boy or girl: Do you attend a church, and if so, which one?
I, (signature)
apply for membership of Kids Alive! Jesus And Me. I understand that joining KA! JAM doesn’t mean I have joined The Salvation Army and that it is not a free subscription to Kids Alive!
PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS.
Unbelievable Animals
Forget cats and dogs – there are some animals that are so strange that it’s hard to believe they actually exist! Over the next few weeks, we’ll discover some of the wackiest!
Glass Frogs
At first sight, glass frogs probably look like any other frog you’ve seen before. That’s because glass frogs have bright green backs. However, there’s something about glass frogs that really makes them stand out – they have see-through bellies that look as if they’re made of glass! This makes it easier for them to camouflage.
If you ate around 10 carrots every day for a few weeks, you’d probably be so fed up of carrots that you’d never want to see another one again. More interestingly, your skin might turn a little bit orange – especially the palms of your hands and your nose! This condition is called carotenemia – but it isn’t anything to worry about, as it’s completely harmless.
Patch’s Problem...
Hello, readers, i’M PATCH AND I’VE GOT A PROBLEM I THINK YOU MAY BE ABLE TO HELP ME WITH. i’VE LOST A VERY IMPORTANT OBJECT SOMEWHERE IN THIS ISSUE. WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO HELP ME FIND IT? i HAVE A CLUE OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE HERE.
You might know the date that Valentine’s Day is on or the name of the current king of the United Kingdom. However, there are also plenty of strange facts we reckon you haven’t got stored in your noggin! So here are a couple of random facts that you definitely (and by definitely, we mean don’t really) need to know.
Imagine that you suddenly became the king or queen of the United Kingdom. You’d probably be a bit too young to be in charge. However, we have had some young rulers in the past. In fact, Henry VI became the king of England when he was only eight months old! Since he was still just a baby, his uncles ruled the country for him.
What’s a lynx’s favourite day of the week? Caturday! What do you call a girl wearing camouflage? Heidi! Hoho,haha,hehe! Why was the lynx so bad at hide and seek?
Timer Challenge Clues
Because it was always spotted!
The answers to the clues in this puzzle are anagrams of the answer immediately above or below, plus or minus one letter. The first one is filled in to give you a start.
by Neil Locker
Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Heidi! Heidi who?
No, hi-dee-hi!
What bird needs to wear a wig?
A bald eagle!
What’s a lynx’s favourite game? Pounce and seek!
What do you call an eagle that lands on a church steeple? A bird of pray!
What do you call a group of musical lynxes? A purr-cussion band!
Crossword Clues
by Neil Locker
across:
3 Motor vehicle. 5 Vegetable often mashed, chipped or roasted. 6 Income or wage. 7 Happening or occurrence. 8 Within one’s immediate area. 11 Type of tree. 12 Journey by aeroplane. 13 Organ of sight.
down:
1 Imitate. 2 Superhero’s item of clothing. 3 Cipher or secret language. 4 Music’s tempo. 6 Law enforcement officers. 9 Small restaurant. 10 Animal’s den. 11 Sound reflection.
Find the ‘Heidi: Rescue of the Lynx’-related words in the grid
mission chickens goats lynxes
What makes you feel happier than anything else? It might be playing outside with your friends or watching a film with your family. Maybe it’s turning to the competition page of Kids Alive! every week (it’s got to be that, right?). You might find it hard to pick what makes you feel the happiest because so many things put a smile on your face!
This week’s prize is all about how brilliant happiness is! Heartfuls are adorable dolls – they have silky, long hair and they wear awesome outfits. However, they’re also made to support and encourage you to be positive, and to celebrate feeling happy. There are six Heartfuls to choose from, each based on a different positive theme, such as playfulness and cheerfulness. Plus, each doll comes with a Heartfuls Happiness Toolkit, which includes a happiness journal and heart bracelet. If reading about Heartfuls has made your heart feel happy, then this is a prize you won’t want to miss! For your opportunity to win your own Heartfuls doll, answer the question below and email your full name, age, address and answer to kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk. Remember to put ‘Heartfuls Competition’ in the subject box. Your entry needs to reach us by Friday 29 August when the winners will be chosen. You can also enter by filling in the details on the coupon below and posting it to: Heartfuls Competition, Kids Alive! 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ.
Name:
Address:
How many Heartfuls dolls are there to choose from?
Six Four Two
THE HUNDRED CRICKET COLOURING
Are you ready to be bowled over by some truly wicket … we mean, wicked cricket? The Hundred is a spectacular cricket competition, in which eight cities go head-to-head to take home The Hundred trophies! The first games of The Hundred 2025 take place this Tuesday (5 August), so why not celebrate this awesome cricket competition by adding a splash of colour to the design below? If you’d like to share your artwork with other readers, email your colouring to: kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk. Make sure you write ‘The Hundred Cricket Colouring’ in the subject box and give us your full name, age and address. Alternatively, you can post your colouring to: Your Space, Kids Alive! 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ. One last reminder, if you’re sending by post remember to fill in the details below so we know who you are. We send a gift to everyone whose colouring we publish, so don’t miss out!
Name: Age:
Address:
Postcode:
Living a healthy and an active lifestyle and caring for your physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
Playday 2025
When we do a chore or job, there’s often a reason for doing it. We might tidy our bedroom because it’s really messy, or we might brush our teeth to keep them clean.
However, it’s also fab to sometimes do things for no other reason than because they’re fun! When we take part in an activity just because we enjoy doing it, this is called playing.
A Day to Play
If you were to take part in Playday, you might play on your own, or you might join in with a Playday event. Kids from all around the UK will take part in hundreds of events. Some events might include going to a street party or a festival in a local park. There’ll definitely be a few events focused on going on adventures – whether that’s exploring the woods or searching for shells on a beach.
To find events near you, you can ask your parents or carers to search for #Playday2025 on social media sites.
Have you heard of Playday before? Playday is a special day that takes place every year, and it’s all about encouraging kids to play. This year, Playday 2025 is on Wednesday 6 August – that’s this week, in case you haven’t been paying attention to your calendar! ?
Why Play?
Did you know that playing isn’t just great fun? It’s also really good for us! When you play, you develop lots of different skills, such as your physical, writing and language skills. Playing also helps your imagination to develop, and –if you’re playing with friends – it can also improve your ability to communicate with others.
? ? ?
Playing Nicely!
When we do play with our friends, it’s important that we play nicely. That means that we’re kind to each other, and we include others who might feel left out. It also means being willing to share what we’re playing with, and listening to one another as we’re playing. Sometimes, when we’re playing with friends, we might fall out with them – so learning to play nicely means learning when we need to say sorry!
Get Playing
For an article that’s supposed to be all about playing, there’ve been a lot of words and not a lot of … well, fun! So here are a few suggestions for activities that you might get up to on Playday, whether you’re on your own or with your friends.
Creative Play
If you want to put your creative skills to the test, you could…
Write your own comic strip and share it with a friend.
Build a castle out of old cardboard boxes.
Start a band with some of your friends and come up with a song.
Invent your own board game.
Make your own jewellery out of recyclable materials.
Create a short film with some pals.
Design the poster for your own film in this box.
Active Play
If you love getting active outside, you might enjoy…
Using chalk to draw a hopscotch grid on the ground.
Creating an obstacle course out of items from your home.
Meeting friends in a local park to play tag or ‘What’s the time, Mr Wolf?’
Going on a scavenger hunt or building a den.
Inventing your own sport to play with your friends.
Draw what your newly-invented sport might look like in this box.
We hope you have lots (and lots) of fun on Playday 2025!
Age? 8.
Nathan
Favourite colour? Green.
Favourite food? Cherry Bakewells.
Favourite sport? Basketball.
Favourite bit of Kids Alive!? Colouring.
Favourite Bible story and why?
Jesus fed the 5,000.
Favourite TV programme? Deadly 60.
What do you want to be when you’re older? YouTuber.
Pets? Cat and cockatiel.
Hobbies? Playing four square. Tell us a joke. Why couldn’t the Stone Age man send birthday cards? Have you ever tried sticking a stamp on a rock?
What special skill or talent do you have? Playing the guitar. Tell us something interesting about yourself. I like telling jokes.
Cool Colourings
What a beautiful butterfly colouring! It was sent to us by Prevail, aged 7, to celebrate the start of 30 Days Wild. Great work, Prevail!
G e t I n T o u c h !
The Kids Alive! team loves to hear from its readers. And guess what –other readers love reading your news! So why not get in touch? You can email or post your own colourings, drawings and letters. Or you could ask your Sunday school, church or corps leaders to email us or write to us with any news about the fun stuff you’ve been doing at your church or corps.
Email: kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk
Post: Kids Alive! 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ
This brilliant butterfly was coloured in by Zara, aged 13. The purple and pink theme looks really nice!
Dot, aged 6, has added so much colour to her World Ocean Day Colouring.
Emily, aged 9, has sent us this cool colouring to celebrate World Ocean Day. We love the colourful fish!
There’s barely any white space left on Dot’s colouring –it’s ‘turtley’ awesome!
H a p p y
B i r t h d a y t o y o u !
To see your name and birthday printed in a future issue of KA! email your full name and date of birth to kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk
5 August
Lucas Frost – age 10
6 August
James Tulloch – age 12
Harley O’Donovan-Troth – age 10
Look at the amazing rainbow rocks that Zara, aged 8, has included in her colouring! What a fab idea!
Why the glum face, pirate?
because
What’s the problem with that?
...and used a long-handled mop to do it. cap’n Pete asked me to clean the main sail of our ship.
