Kids Alive! – formerly The Young Soldier – Issue No 7537
31 october 2026
The world's longest-running publication for children!
salvationist.org.uk/kidsalive
50P/60c
Illustrated By Philippa Elliott
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE Kids Alive! is available online – go to salvationist.org.uk/kidsalive KA - p1 - 31 October.indd 1
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What’s Inside?
Puzzle Answers Turn this page upside down to read the answers
3
KA! JAM
6
Bible Beasts and Where to Read About Them
7
Kiddo
8–9
Giggle in the Middle
10
MindFrames Competition
11
Colouring Corner
DOWN: 1 Calendar. 2 Pit. 3 Rung. 4 Rifle. 5 Mountain. 9 Lemon. 11 Slow. 14 Bat. CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1 Cap. 3 Rare. 6 Latin. 7 Fro. 8 Nile. 10 Mean. 12 Arm. 13 Libya. 15 Snow. 16 Tin. WHICH PATH?: C. MATCHING FLAMES: D and I.
12–13 Uncountable 14–15 Your Space
PYRAMID PUZZLE: 1 On. 2 Nod. 3 Done or Node. 4 Noted. 5 Tendon. SPOT THE DIFFERENCE 1 The hat has a yellow ribbon on. 2 The scarecrow has a sad face. 3 The scarecrow’s patch has moved to the left-hand side of its jacket. 4 Three loops of rope on the left trouser leg. 5 Missing straw from the right trouser leg. GIGGLE IN THE MIDDLE PATCH’S PROBLEM: Page 4.
Go to salvationist.org.uk/radio to get your morning started with half an hour of music, prayer, a thought and lots of giggles. Or listen any time you like with the podcast, which is available on our website and all major audio platforms.
e Availabl online!
Patch’s Pals: Percy the Penguin
Subscribe* to
Kids Alive! – formerly The Young Soldier – Issue No 7537
31 october 2026
The world's longest-running publication for children!
salvationist.org.uk/kidsalive
50P/60c
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE
Illustrated By Philippa Elliott
4–5
16
Love our comic? Check out Morning Praise with Kids Alive! on Salvationist Radio every Saturday and Monday at 7.30–8am and every Sunday at 9–9.30am.
Let Your Light Shine and Ed’s Bit
Kids Alive! is available online – go to salvationist.org.uk/kidsalive
for £4.33 a month
Hey there, readers! We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this issue of Kids Alive! If you would like to get your own copy of Kids Alive! delivered to your home every week, why not ask your parents or carers to take out a subscription* for you? Every week, Kids Alive! includes a cartoon Bible story, a competition, puzzles, jokes, comic strips and topical activities and articles for you to enjoy. Ask your parents or carers to go to sps-shop.com/kids-alive, call 01933 445445 (option 1, option 1) or email subscriptions@satcol.org to set up a subscription. *A subscription costs just £4.33 a month (or a one-off payment of £52). This subscription offer applies in the UK and Republic of Ireland, with 51 copies delivered over 12 months. Please note that different prices apply to Europe and international orders.
EDITOR Cara Mott DEPUTY EDITOR AND KA! JAM CO-ORDINATOR Ibukun Baku EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Jacob Adams GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Philippa Elliott and Brandon Caiza PROOFREADER Chris Horne CONTACT US Phone Office – 020 7367 4910 Territorial Headquarters Switchboard – 0845 634 0101 Email kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk Post 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ FOUNDERS Catherine and William Booth INTERNATIONAL LEADERS General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Major Andrew Stone Published weekly by The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory.
salvationist.org.uk/kidsalive
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.
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L ET I YO U R L I GHT SHINE
Illustrated by Philippa Elliott
n this special issue of Kids Alive!, we’re ready to celebrate! Many people around the world will be getting excited about Halloween, which takes place on Saturday 31 October. The Kids Alive! team are positively giddy about something else entirely – light! Light bulbs and candles can bring light to a dark room, and fireworks and shooting stars can bring light to a dark sky. However, nothing in this world can ever shine quite as brightly as Jesus! Jesus really does bring light into our dark world. Not by wearing an unbelievable number of glowsticks or owning the brightest torch in the universe. No – he brings love, hope and joy into a world that is full of badness and sadness. He’s even made it possible for us to join God’s family, if we choose to follow him! And here’s an amazing truth – when you follow Jesus, you can shine brightly too! By showing love to others, you can show them how brilliant Jesus is. This weekend, you might be planning to take part in celebrating Halloween, which is all about dark and spooky things. This year, why not celebrate Jesus and share his light with others instead? To help you to get excited about the light of Jesus, this issue is jam-packed with some truly awesome features! On page 11, there’s an awesome poster for you to colour in. And on pages 12 and 13, we’ve got a story that’s out of this world. So get reading and start celebrating!
I hope this week’s issue has already got you excited about celebrating Jesus’ light, but you might be wondering how you do that. Have you heard of a light party? These are parties that celebrate the light that Jesus brings – think colourful costumes, glowsticks, crafts and happy tunes! Light parties are a great way to celebrate Jesus’ light with others. If a church near you is holding one, I encourage you to check it out – maybe invite some of your friends to come too. If there’s not a light party near you, don’t let that stop you celebrating. You could have a party at home and invite family or friends. Or you could be a light for others by passing on this issue of Kids Alive! so that someone else can learn about Jesus. Whatever you choose to do, shine brightly and show others how awesome Jesus is wherever you go!
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Read the comment below about how Jesus brings light to the world
I
Can You Read in the Dark?
f it was late at night, the light in your bedroom iwasiturned off and you closed your curtains, would you be able to read the words on this page? You’d be in absolute darkness – so we reckon it would be as easy for you to read Kids Alive! as it would be for a lion to learn how to surf! It would be impossible to read this word, or this word, or this one! Just like we need light to be able to read Kids Alive!, this week’s Bible cartoon reminds us that we need the light of Jesus to be able to know God. God made the whole world. He made mountains, forests, deserts and seas. Plus, he made all the birds in the sky, fish in the oceans and animals living on the land. He
asks Jacob Adams
even made you and me! God made us to be in his family, but instead humans decided to ignore him and to not live how he wanted us to! Thanks to that decision, the world can be a very dark place, full of terrible things, such as illness and death. But God wasn’t going to leave us in darkness. Instead, Jesus came into the world – bringing light to all of humankind! We don’t need to be scared of the dark things in this world, because Jesus has made it so that we can join God’s family. This means that if we choose to follow him and say sorry for all the wrong things we’ve done, we’ll live with him for ever!
Light the Way Patch has gone for a walk in the dark, but he’s forgotten to bring a torch! Can you help him to find his way home?
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In the Beginning
Check out your Bible – John 1:1-5
Light Shines in the Darkness
Steve English
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Bible Beaststo
Do you love animals? Don’t you agree that they are a wonderful part of God’s creation? Did you know there are plenty of creatures that play special roles in the Bible? Let’s read a story from the Bible that’s being told by one of the beasts that was actually there!
Beaten Bear
and Where Read About Them
1 Samuel 17
STEVE ENGLISH
. .. n i Jo
‘I’ll never forget that night – it was terrible! My friend and I happened to stumble upon a flock of sleeping sheep. We both grinned. This could only mean one thing – dinner! Just as we were about to pounce, I spotted a young boy walking towards us. I placed an arm out to stop my friend, but he wouldn’t listen, so I ran. There was a loud roar and then silence. I kept wishing and hoping that my friend would appear, but he didn’t. When I finally found the courage to go back to the field, I saw him on the ground. Not too long after this fateful night, I heard a rumour that the young boy went on to defeat a giant. Some might say that would be impossible, but after seeing what he did to my friend … well, let’s just say, I wouldn’t want to run into him on a dark night.’
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:
Date of birth:
Address: Postcode: Boy or girl: I, (signature)
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Do you attend a church, and if so, which one? 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. 23/10/2026 10:48
?
To n g u e Tw is t e r s
Patch’s ? Problem... ?
See if you can say this terrifically tough tongue twister 10 times!
Ten tall tents
? ?
?
HELLO, READERS, I’VE LOST A VERY IMPORTANT OBJECT SOMEWHERE IN THE ISSUE. WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO HELP ME FIND IT? I HAVE A CLUE OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE HERE.
?
r e d n o W d l r o W
the globe there are magnificent things Our world is pretty awesome! All around jet and travel the world with us! to see. So jump in our imaginary jumbo
Northern Lights The Northern Lights are one of the most incredible natural wonders in the world. Also called the aurora borealis, you can see the spectacular light display as you get closer to the North Pole. They look like lights dancing across the sky and are often green, pink or purple colours. The Northern Lights come from something called solar flares – these are eruptions on the surface of the Sun that send particles our way. When the particles reach Earth, they react with the upper layers of our atmosphere and the energy creates the Northern Lights. The best places to see the Northern Lights are in countries such as Iceland and Norway. However, they are sometimes seen in Scotland and northern England, so keep an eye out!
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Spot the Difference
H o ho, ha ha, he he!
H e he, he he!
Lorem ipsum
Find the five differences between the two scarecrows
Matching Flames Match the two identical flames below
A
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
Starting at row 1, use the letters from the row above to make a new word in each row until you arrive at the base of the pyramid with a six-letter word. Clue: Fibrous tissue attaching a muscle to a bone.
M
O N D
c A
b
which path? Work out which path leads to the pumpkin patch
E
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H e h e, h e h e!
H o h o, h a h a, h e h e!
What’s a candle’s superpower? Glowing in the dark! What do you get if you cross a thought with a light bulb? A bright idea!
What did one candle say to the other? ‘You light up my life!’
Why does everyone love being friends with stars? Because of their sunny personalities!
Ans
wer
on P
age
s
2
across: Crossword
1 Item of headwear. 3 Uncommon. 6 Language of the Romans. 7 Back and forth, to and _ _ _. 8 River of Egypt. 10 Average, or unkind. 12 Upper limb. 13 Country in North Africa. 15 Wintry weather. 16 Metal element used to make cans.
Crossword Clues Clues down:
1 A chart of days and months. 2 Deep hole. 3 Ladder step. 4 Search through someone’s belongings. 5 Everest, for example. 9 Citrus fruit. 11 Not fast. 14 Flying mammal. by Neil Locker
light wordsearch Find the light-related words in the grid
light bulb candle sun firework glow-worm star glowstick torch lantern fire lightning lava shooting star firefly jellyfish KA - p8-9 - 31 October.indd 2
s q c a n d l e v j x l m h p b k r o w e r i f g s o t j r c f d g k g n i n o p q a s h t u l i f l r t v w t x f y o n y a c z i b a s i n w t l v h s u n c d r r w h l a e l f h g j e e o g e k b m n o p s q t r i j f i r e f l y t n m l s t u v w x y z b a c g l o w s t i c k d l r
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H
COMPETITION
ave you put together a fancy-dress costume for a light party this weekend? Perhaps you’ve even made some of the items that you’ll be wearing. If getting ready to go to a light party has lit a creative spark in you, then we think you’ll love this week’s prize. That’s because it can be used to create bracelets, glasses and exciting wearable designs! The MindFrames Complete Set comes with 64 colourful shapes and 72 connectors, which can be clicked together – bringing your imagination to life! Although the set comes with 10 guided activities which you can follow, you can also go wild and create whatever you like. You don’t have to just build outfits – you can create tall towers, spectacular swords and so much more. The options for what you can make really are endless! For the opportunity to win your own MindFrames Complete Set, answer the question below and email your full name, age, address and answer to kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk. Remember to put ‘MindFrames Competition’ in the subject box. Your entry needs to reach us by Friday 27 November when the winners will be chosen. You can also enter by filling in the details on the coupon below and posting it to: MindFrames Competition, Kids Alive! 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ. Available from WobbleWorks.net and John Lewis
How many colourful shapes come with the MindFrames Complete Set? 62
63
64
Name: Address: ____________ Postcode:
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Age:
_
Remember, the best way to enter is to email your entry to kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk 23/10/2026 11:01
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‘You, Lord, are the light that keeps me safe. I am not afraid of anyone. You protect me, and I have no fears.’
Uncountable
By Jacob Adams and Illustrated by Philippa Elliott
T
here are around 400 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy, twinkling in the darkness of space. Kayla wondered how many of those stars she’d be able to capture in the photo she was about to take. She held her camera steady and pressed her finger on the shutter button – although it was hard to feel it through her thick glove. Snap! Kayla’s camera took a photo. Snap! It took another one. Snap, snap, snap – a third, fourth and fifth photo, just in case the first two were rubbish. Kayla brought the camera up towards her face and pressed it against the visor of her helmet. She could just about see the last photo she’d taken on the camera monitor – and it was beautiful.
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Kayla had taken so many brilliant photos in her time as an adventurer. She’d taken pictures deep within the Amazon rainforest and at the top of Mount Everest. She’d even snapped a selfie with an Egyptian mummy! Yet the photo Kayla was looking at right now was undeniably the best she’d ever taken. It was a photo of Earth, with an uncountable number of stars glittering all around it. When Kayla returned home, she’d be able to look at this picture and remember the best adventure she’d ever been on! Kayla turned her camera off, tucked it into her rucksack and began her journey back to her space rocket. Because gravity was so much weaker on the Moon, walking felt a lot like bouncing on a trampoline. If Kayla pushed off too hard from the ground, it almost felt as if she was flying!
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As Kayla got closer and closer to her space rocket, she took a moment to enjoy how incredible this adventure on the Moon had turned out to be. She’d discovered lots of old flags covered in moondust, including a flag that had been planted by Neil Armstrong. She’d been able to jump higher than any superhero. And she’d seen the most amazing view of Earth. Blue oceans, green land, white clouds – the whole planet! Kayla was a Christian, so she knew that she had God to thank for the spectacular view. Before God had created the world, there had only been darkness. Yet now, Earth lit up space like a bright torch, and the stars glimmered like flickering candles! Even in the deepest, darkest depths of space, just looking at Earth was a fab reminder of how amazing God was. He’d made an unbelievable number of planets and stars – he’d brought light into the darkness of the universe. He’d made so many amazing things – and he’d made Kayla. Not only had he made her, but he loved her too! Kayla continued the walk to her space rocket – bounce-bounce-bouncing across the Moon’s surface, until she reached the enormous ship. Her two astronaut pals were already waiting for her. In fact, one of them was checking the time with the giant watch he wore on top of his astronaut suit. ‘Sorry I’m late,’ Kayla said. ‘I went for a long walk, and then I stopped to take a few photos.’ She would look at the pictures she’d taken over the next three days – that’s how long it would take to return to Earth from the Moon. And every time she glanced at those photos, she’d remember that God had made everything she could see in them – the world she called home and an uncountable number of shining stars, tiny lights in the night sky. Kayla was due to arrive back on Earth on 31 October, which meant she’d be back in time to go with her younger brother to their church’s light party. She’d show the pictures to everyone there too – and then they’d all be able to celebrate the light of Jesus together! But first, Kayla had a long journey ahead of her. She took one last look at the Moon, and then she climbed into her rocket, ready to fly home.
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H a p py B i r t h d ay t o yo 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
2 November Bradley Hillsdon – age 14 4 November Olivia Oluewu – age 9 Olive Oluewu – age 9
S op h ia
14
Age? 7. Favourite colour? Purple. Favourite food? Mac and cheese. Favourite sport? Gymnastics. Favourite Bible story and why? Feeding 5,000, because it’s about food. Favourite TV programme? The Story of Tracy Beaker. What do you want to be when you’re older? Actor. Pets? No pets. Hobbies? Stagecoach. Tell us a joke. What do you call a cow with no legs? Ground beef! What special skill or talent do you have? I can dance and do back bends. Tell us something interesting about yourself. I live on the same road as my school. Is there anything else you would like to tell us? I am the oldest child.
5 November Erin Riordan – age 12 Nathanael Martin – age 12
G et I n To 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
Cool Colourings Mary, aged 10, sent us this incredibly well drawn toy design! What a mega talented artist she is!
This spinny star toy design was created by Arin, aged 4, and we think it looks like such a fun toy!
Benjamin, aged 9, has such a brilliant at imagination – look these pukka pickle cartoon characters he’s drawn!
kle and General Pic ! kle – I love it Captain Pic rite the If you ever w ese cool comic for th it please send characters, e to read it! to us. I’d lov
Lenny, aged 6, created this awesome cartoon character called Football Man! We think he looks like a super fun character.
This fabulous Women’s Super League Colouring is from Jedidiah, aged 7. The girls look like they’re really enjoying themselves!
15
I’ve DECIDED THAT I NEED A HOBBY, PATCH.
SO I’VE TAKEN UP ASTRONOMY.
BUT IT’S THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, PERCY…
…YOU WON’T SEE STARS IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.
I KNOW THAT, PATCH!
BUT FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO LIKES TO GO TO BED EARLY… THE SALVATION ARMY – A CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND REGISTERED CHARITY
…IT’S A GOOD COMPROMISE!
Published by The Salvation Army. © The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory, 2026. Printed by CKN Print, Northampton.
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LOCAL INFO LOCAL INFO LOCAL INFO
Please Recycle Me!
23/10/2026 11:04