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

VISIT .COM FOR TONS OF PUZZLING FUN! OCTOBER 2020 Highlights.com HAPPY Hallo– Whoops. MONSTER Party Page 6 The Clever OCTOPUS Page 32

F n This Month Mystery Ph Midnight oto Answer on page 38. Maze Make your way from Start to Finish. START Tall FINISH Teamwork Answer on Every other October, page 38. the Concurs de PoipsOcoNcMtraonotbniPoetnrohap! lpin’ Five Poppin’ Castells competition takes place in Toppings Tarragona, Spain. 1. Ranch-dressing seasoning mix Teams work together 2. Finely grated Parmesan cheese 3. Melted-chocolate drizzle to carefully build 4. Taco seasoning mix human towers up 5. Cinnamon sugar to 10 stories high! Find the PicturesCataannyootuhefirnpdlaecaechinotfhtihsemseag1a1zpinicet?ures Team members climb on top of one another’s shoulders, with the strongest members forming the base of the tower and the lightest members climbing to the top. But don’t try this! These climbers are highly trained. Tongue Twister Fall Fun Fest flew by.

Dear Reader By Christine French Cully Editor in Chief OCTOBER 2020 • VOLUME 75 • NUMBER 10 • ISSUE NO. 828 Founded in 1946 by Garry C. Myers, Ph.D., and Caroline Clark Myers Editor in Chief, Chief Purpose Officer: Christine French Cully Imagine EVP, Product Development: Mary-Alice Moore VP, Magazine Group Editorial: Jamie Bryant That! Creative Director: Marie O’Neill Editor: Judy Burke What makes someone good at Design Director: Patrick Greenish, Jr. imagining? This is one of the brain- Senior Editor: Joëlle Dujardin tickling questions in BrainPlay (page 39). Associate Editors: Allison Kane, Linda K. Rose Like most of the thinking questions we Assistant Editor: Patty Courtright include in this monthly feature, it has many good answers. Copy Editor: Joan Prevete Hyman What are some of the answers your brain came up with? Senior Production Artist: Dave Justice I’ve always believed that reading is something that makes Production Assistant: Susan Shadle Erb us good at imagining. This issue is especially full of stories Contributing Science Editor: Andrew Boyles and artwork that will fuel imagination. From a funny poem about make-believe monsters (page 6) to an article about Editorial Offices: 803 Church Street, Honesdale, PA 18431-1895. fantastical creatures that were imagined by people thousands of years ago (pages 22–25), E-mail: . it’s fun to imagine a make-believe world. But imagining—asking “What if?”—also helps us To submit manuscripts, go to . in the real world. Asking “What if?” helps writers come up with interesting plot twists. It helps (Writers younger than 16: please use the postal address above.) scientists arrive at new ideas to test, which lead to new discoveries. It helps problem solvers CEO: Kent S. Johnson dream up important new inventions. President: Lece Lohr When we work on being good at imagining, SVP, International and Global Content Licensing: Andy Shafran we are also working on being our best selves. Business Offices: 1800 Watermark Drive, What are you imagining today? I’d love to hear about it. P.O. Box 269, Columbus, OH 43216-0269. Copyright © 2020, Highlights for Children, Inc. All rights reserved. HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHILDREN is published monthly. Cover price: $5.99 ISSN 0018-165X (print); ISSN 2330-6920 (online) Printed by LSC Communications, Danville, KY. Designed for home and classroom use. Periodical postage paid at Columbus, Ohio; Toronto, Ontario; and at additional mailing offices. U.S. Postmaster: Send address changes to Highlights for Children, P.O. Box 6038, Harlan, IA 51593-1538. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement No. 40065670. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to P.O. Box 99 Stn. Main, Milton, ON L9T 9Z9. Sometimes we make our list of customer names and addresses available to carefully screened companies whose products and services might be of interest to you. We never provide children’s names. If you do not wish to receive these mailings, please contact us and include your account number. To order, make a payment, change your address, or for other customer-service needs, such as changing your contact preference, please contact us: • Online: • Call: 1-800-255-9517 • Write: P.O. Box 5878, Harlan, IA 51593-1378 As part of our mission to help make the world a better place for the children of today and foInfProyAtHtHooqiRuigagusErhnhiwlNtycieighFTtthiicrivSlhemtdesa:te,idaos.cytall Your friend, tomorrow, Highlights is committed to making responsible business decisions Write to me! that will protect our natural resources and reduce our environmental impact. Christine@Highlights.com AWARDS Highlights has been given awards by The Association of Educational Publishers, The Education Center, LLC, Family Choice Awards, Freedoms Foundation, Graphic Arts Association, iParenting Media, Magazine Design and Production, National Association for Gifted Children, National Conference of Life During COVID-19 Christians and Jews, National Parenting Center, National Safety These are challenging times! You and your parents can find tips, ideas, and things to do on HighlightsKids.com, on our YouTube channels, Council, Parents’ Choice, Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media and in the Highlights@Home segments on Highlights.com. Awards, and Printing Industry Association. HighlightsKids.com Keep sharing how you feel, talking with loved ones, and taking good care of yourselves. And write to is a participant in the Kids Privacy Safe Harbor program of the us anytime you’d like! Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. HL1020_182736

c ber 28 NUMBE Dear Highlights, —Manuel, Indiana We agree that quiet can be nice, Manuel. Good luck! Orange Water goes in 1 Find a spot 2 See if your 3 Tell your . . . you glad? to gills in your house or family would like parents how you October 26 is yard that is safe to have a “quiet feel. They may Pumpkin Day! and quiet for you. hour” each day. have good ideas. 8 20 32 6 Road-Work 11 Gallant Challenge 20 Ready for Anything Jamboree Vani and Anitha Sharma enjoy Colby sees a different side bringing happiness to others. of Dad’s firefighting job. Monster party! 12 My Sci 22 What Are Monsters 7 The Timbertoes How monarchs can make Made Of? Mabel is just like the a 3,000-mile journey. animals . . . well, almost. Some were inspired by 14 Hidden Pictures mammoth and 8 Monster Magic dino bones. Dogs decked out The Creepy Claw is the for Halloween. key to Ben’s costume. 15 Jokes 10 Goofus and Gallant Uh-oh! A skunk joke. Goofus tries to “top” other people’s stories. 16 Why Do We Float in Space? There’s a down-to-Earth explanation for it. 18 Crafts Transform a simple headband into a furry costume creation.

Eye tohfiDntiUhAgscecsnaoWfadnavnseoedcorrnoicssn!dtoaeoemtapirneugs Water comes out 27 Nature Watch 38 Riddles The tundra swan is What do you call a car as big as your bike. made of wood? 28 Game On! 39 BrainPlay Jordan had a terrible game. . . . Or did he? If you could see just two colors, which two would 31 Paws and Think you choose? Visiting Old Faithful. Charlie Vreeland 40 Ask Arizona 32 The Octopus Age 9 • Alaska It has three hearts. It can Arizona and Ollie change colors! almost give up on their fundraiser idea. 34 Your Own Pages 42 Dear Highlights See drawings and poems by Trenton doesn’t want to creative kids like Charlie. hurt his friends’ feelings. 36 The Lost Letter 43 Picture Puzzler A funny thing happens Find 46 things in this when alphabet soup gets school scene. mixed with a potion. OCTOBER 2020 5

Road-Work Jamboree By Joy Cowley • Art by Dave Szalay The monsters had a party On Highway 54. They detoured all the traffic For twenty miles or more. They brought balloons and party hats And had a joyous spree, Thundering up and down the lanes On road machinery. They drove the yellow grader. They dumped the big dump truck. They started up a tractor When the front loader got stuck. They bulldozed heaps of gravel, They dug deep holes in sand, They rode upon a swinging crane, This happy monster band. They had a rumbling road race With machines of every kind— And when at last they finished, They left their hats behind. 6 OCTOBER 2020

So limber! TThiembertoes So fast! By Rich Wallace • Art by Ron Zalme So quick! I love to I love to And I love climb. run. to hop. But I can’t Except in do that. . . . my mind! OCTOBER 2020 7

Monster M c By J.R. Parsons Art by Reggie Brown “It’s the Creepy Claw.” “BOO!” Ever since turning acting all grown up. “Oh, I’m sooo scared,” Kyla 13, Ben’s sister That evening, Ben watched said with a smirk. had been acting all grown up. Kyla gulp down her dinner. She Ben crawled out from under rinsed her plate quickly, stuck it his sister’s bed and waved the Trunk-or-Treat is tonight. Want into the dishwasher, and headed monster hand. “Come on! I made to help me decorate our car and toward the stairs. Mom’s voice you jump.” give out candy?” stopped her. Kyla pinched her thumb and Kyla shook her head. “Ana “Kyla, you still need to wrap finger together. “Yeah, about and I are going to the Halloween the costume-contest prizes.” this high.” party at the rec center. Sorry.” “Ana and her mom are picking “You’re no fun.” Ben sighed. Kyla and her best me up in a half hour,” Kyla Kyla peered at the fake hand. friend, Ana, shared a birthday. wailed. “I have to get ready.” “Is that Dad’s old work glove?” Ever since turning 13 a couple Ben grinned. “It was. Now it’s of months ago, they had been “Sorry, honey,” Mom said. “I’d the Creepy Claw, an essential like it done before you leave.” part of my monster costume. Kyla looked as if she was 8 OCTOBER 2020 going to cry.

“I’ll wrap the gifts,” Ben said. “Without the across the street. The night air “Are you sure?” Mom asked. Creepy Claw, cooled his sweaty monster face. “It’s your sister’s job.” I’m just any old Ben shrugged. “I have time.” “Oooooh . . . ,” moaned a His mom thanked him. “OK, monster.” ghostly voice. Kyla, you’re free to go,” she said. Ben twisted around. Nothing. “Check in every two hours.” “Benjamin . . .” Hairy fingers crept onto Ben’s shoulder. “I’ve “Thanks, Ben!” Kyla said, to go home, Ben. The costume been searching for you. . . . ” Ben jumped. “Auuugh!” then whooped and danced contest starts in five minutes.” It was Kyla. She wore a sequined dress, but her arm up the stairs. She and Dad were judges. ended in a hideous claw. “Beware the Creepy Claw!” After wrapping the prizes in “You’re still a very scary she shouted. “I’m sooo scared,” Ben said. Halloween paper, Ben set them monster.” “I got you,” Kyla teased. Ben laughed. “You did,” he on the kitchen table next to the Ben tried not to act too admitted. “But how did you end up with the Creepy Claw?” bags that held the Creepy Claw bummed. He growled in a Kyla waved the hand around. “Mom told me about it when I and the trunk decorations. monsterly way at older trick-or- checked in. So I asked Ana’s mom if we could swing by home. And At 5:30, Ben and Mom met treaters. He mouthed “BOO!” at here I am.” “But you’re missing the party,” Dad at the park in the center of younger trick-or-treaters. But Ben pointed out. town. Dad had secured a perfect his heart wasn’t in it. He just “It’s OK. I’ll head spot in the horseshoe-shaped didn’t feel scary. back over in a little while.” She handed Ben Trunk-or-Treat path. Families gathered next to the the Creepy Claw. “Besides, a monster Ben began decorating their food table. Ben’s mom and dad without the Creepy Claw isn’t really creepy.” car’s open trunk. He hung Wispy were talking with the other “I was wrong,” Ben Witch from the latch. He spread judges. Ben leaned against the said. “You are fun.” moss and cardboard headstones trunk, listening to the faint He spotted a new crowd of trick-or- to cover the carpet. He attached dance music from the rec center treaters lining up fake spiders to clingy behind his sister. Grinning, he cobwebs. He decorated offered Kyla a phantom half mask the taillights and the that covered one of the taillights. “Want wheel wells. to help give out candy? Then Ben pulled on You can be the Glittery Ghost. Very spooky.” his monster costume. His sister grinned His mom made up his back. “Of course I do.” monster face. “Hey, Mom!” he said. “Do you know where the Creepy Claw is?” “It’s in the small bag you picked up from the table,” she said. Ben’s monster face sagged. “Didn’t you pick that one up?” “I thought you did, honey,” said Mom. Ben groaned. “What’ll I do? Without the Creepy Claw, I’m just “Benjamin . . . ” any old monster.” “We don’t have time OCTOBER 2020 9

Goofus There’s some of Goofus and Gallant in us all. aGndallant When the Gallant shines through, we show our best self. “Wow, that must have been quite a fish!” says Gallant. “That’s nothing. I caught a shark,” says Goofus. Gallant uses good judgment. “OK, let’s look around, but we really shouldn’t,” says Goofus. YOUR Goofus and Gallant Moments Tell us when you’ve felt like Goofus or Gallant! Visit “I felt like Goofus when “I felt like Gallant when HighlightsKids.com or write to I laughed at a boy who fell.” I volunteered at the nursing Goofus and Gallant Moments James, Age 10, Washington home near me last year.” 803 Church Street Sofia, Age 12, Maryland Honesdale, PA 18431 10 OCTOBER 2020 Art by Leslie Harrington.

GALLANT CHALLENGE! More than Vani (left) a Meal and Anitha By Sara Matson Sharma help others When Vani Sharma was get through tough times. five, her older sister, Anitha, was ill and had to stay in the a wonderful opportunity to give Helping Hands hospital for a month. Vani and back to the community and to her parents often stayed close make them feel just like we did Who or what has given you help by, and a Ronald McDonald when we were at the Ronald when you needed it? How can House program near the hospital McDonald House.” you show kindness and support served them some meals. This to someone else? Write and let organization offers food and a us know! Include your name, homelike place to stay so that families of hospitalized children age, and address. Send to can be together as much as possible. Vani remembers eating Serving Up Kindness pasta meals prepared there by 803 Church Street kind and welcoming volunteers. Honesdale, PA 18431 Her family was grateful for the support they received. After Anitha recovered, they all decided to volunteer. Seven years later, they and their friends continue helping out there by preparing a meal for 50 to 70 guests once a month. A Warm Welcome Over the years, Vani has taken on more responsibility during her family’s visits. She now helps plan the menu and prepare and cook the food. She also tries to make guests feel welcome in many other ways. These include handing out encouraging cards, creating welcome bags, and putting up a “Happiness Wall” of cheerful messages. As guests eat, Vani and Anitha often play music on the clarinet and f lute. The Sharmas enjoy bringing happiness to others during a difficult time. As Vani says, “It’s Photos courtesy of the Sharma family. OCTOBER 2020 11

MY SC Monarchs soar and glide Tough on air currents instead of Travelers always flapping their By Sara Matson wings. This saves energy Unlike many North American and keeps the wings in insects, monarch butterflies good shape. cannot survive freezing temperatures. So, at the end of each summer, monarchs set out on a long journey south. The migrating butterflies fly about 30 miles each day, facing such dangers as storms, extreme temperatures, and collisions with moving vehicles. By late October, millions of monarchs arrive in California and Mexico to spend the winter. Some will have flown almost 3,000 miles! But these tough travelers are built to make the journey. Bannykus By Dougal Dixon Weak jaw with small Art by Robert Squier teeth that couldn’t ban-EE-kus rip meat “halfway claw” Bannykus was one of the alvarezsaurs—a group of small theropods with long legs. Its name means that it had traits in between those of its ancestors and its descendants. Ancestors: had three clawed fingers, May have used long arms, and big, sharp teeth. clawed finger Bannykus: had one big clawed to break into eggs finger, two small fingers, short or dig for insects arms, and smaller teeth. Descendants: had one huge clawed finger, two tiny fingers, shorter arms, and tiny teeth.

By day, they travel alone or in How do small groups. At night, they leaves may gather in trees to rest. change color Roosting together may shelter in the fall? them from wind and help protect them from predators. Saima (by e-mail) Their antennae and eyes send signals to the brain. The monarchs use this information to determine which direction to fly. During their long The colors of autumn journey, monarchs happen when a green substance in the leaves take rest stops to breaks down. feed on energy- giving nectar. Plant leaves contain a mixture of colorful WHERE: HOW LONG: WHAT IT ATE: substances called pigments. Chlorophyll Inner Mongolia, 6 feet Possibly insects or eggs (CLOR-oh-fill) is a i common green pigment that helps plants make WHEN: their food. In the spring 110 million years ago and summer, many leaves have a LOT of chlorophyll. 252 201 145 66 Present In the fall, as Triassic Jurassic Cretaceous Cenozoic temperatures cool, the food-making process stops and the chlorophyll breaks down. Then you can see the yellow and orange pigments that were there the whole time but had been masked by so much green. Some kinds of leaves even make new pigments in the fall, adding red and purple to the mix. These pigments may act like a sunblock to protect delicate parts of the leaves as the plants’ cells absorb the last nutrients from them. OCTOBER 2020 13

Hounds on Halloween FcohlWdptaiocbaltahlunceirdketnepcgaatlhugeeee?s1. 5 By Mike DeSantis In this big picture, find the ruler, toothbrush, slice of bread, pennant, golf club, envelope, fork, mug, ladle, nail, musical note, artist’s brush, and crescent moon. 14 OCTOBER 2020 Play online! Head to

Picture Clues JOKES toothbrush “Knock, knock.” Bob: Do you “Who’s there?” want to ruler hear the “Boo.” “Boo who?” joke about the skunk? slice of “I’m csroyr!r”y I made bread you Joe: I guess so. Bob: Never mind. It’s too stinky. golf Solomon Howley-Paoletti club Maryland Addison, Pennsylvania pennant A book never written: Malayla: What is water’s favorite Spooky Halloween Stories breakfast? by Ricky D. Bones. Kia: I give up. What? Myrica Price, Wisconsin Malayla: Moatmeal. fork envelope Nurse: The invisible man is Giana Galjour, Louisiana ready for his checkup. mug Make us laugh! Doctor: I can’t see him. Next nail ladle patient, please! Send a joke or riddle, along with your musical name, age, and address, to note Corban Lanzillo, Nevada 803 Church Street Honesdale, PA 18431 Hunter’s Moon In the lonely night silence, a hunter’s moon shines, bright and round. Low along the cattails, a fox creeps. Its f luffy tail catches a moonbeam. Wild geese take f light. —Jody Haley artist’s crescent brush moon BONUS Can you also find the heart, glove, ice-cream cone, and fishhook? Answers on .

Do We FloatHere’s a down-to-Earth explanation. By Ken Croswell, Ph.D. Why ArtbyGinaPerry You’re zipping through the solar system in your brand- new spaceship, oohing and aahing at the canyons of Mars, the rings of Saturn, and that big white heart on Pluto. But coolest of all, you don’t weigh a thing. Want something on the ceiling? Easy: just f loat up until you can reach it. You even took along a scale to weigh yourself. But when you try to stand on it, you just f loat above it, so your weight reads “zero pounds.” Why are things so different in space than on Earth? Why does going into space make you lose all your weight? The Pull of Gravity From far away, you don’t feel To understand weight, you Earth’s pull. have to understand gravity. Gravity involves mass, which is the amount of material something has. Anything with mass—even you—exerts gravity, a force that tries to pull all other objects with mass toward itself. Wait a second, you say. That can’t be right. If you 16 OCTOBER 2020

in Space? altitude,astronauts should weigh 89 percent of what they do on Earth. Yet they seem to be weightless. What’s going on? Well, the space station is its gravity. Earth is about darting around Earth once 8,000 miles across. So we are every 90 minutes. That all about 4,000 miles from movement makes them feel Earth’s center. weightless because it cancels Suppose we were twice out the pull of gravity. that distance from Earth’s Ever ridden a roller center. Then we’d feel only a coaster? When it dives down, quarter as much gravity. If you feel almost weightless you weigh 100 pounds on because you’re falling Earth’s surface, you’d weigh through gravity. That’s only 25. And if you doubled what happens on the space your distance again, you’d station. As it dashes around weigh a quarter of that— Earth, it’s constantly put two marbles on a table, only 6¼ pounds. By the time “falling,” so the astronauts they each have mass, but you get about 40,000 miles feel weightless, just as you they don’t attract each other. from Earth’s center, you’d do on a plunging roller You’re right. They don’t. weigh only 1 percent of what coaster. The space station That’s because gravity is a you do on Earth’s surface. doesn’t hit the ground, weak force. Neither a marble So, you may think, that’s though, because it’s going nor a person has enough why you feel no gravity in around Earth rather than mass for us to see it attract space: you’re usually too far plunging toward it. other objects through from Earth or other planets But the feeling is exactly gravity. To see gravity in to feel their gravity, so your the same: weightlessness. action, we need at least one weight is zero. If the astronauts could stand thing with lots of mass. Astronauts in Orbit on a scale, it would read And for us Earthlings, “zero.” Yet they’re firmly in that one thing is Earth. It But that isn’t the whole the grip of Earth’s gravity— weighs 13.17 trillion trillion story. The space station is which is good, because pounds, or 13,170 followed only about 240 miles above sooner or later they probably by 21 zeros: Earth’s surface. At that want to come home! 13,170,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. I think we can all agree that’s a lot. So Earth’s gravity affects us all. Even You Weigh Less at the Equator! though each of us has just a little mass, Earth has so You weigh a few ounces less at the equator than at the North and South Poles. Why? much mass that its gravity pulls us down. When you First, because Earth spins, something called centrifugal force step on a scale, Earth’s tries to fling you up and away, reducing your weight slightly. gravity pulls you down Centrifugal force is greatest at the equator. against the scale so that it measures your weight. Second, Earth isn’t perfectly round. Its diameter at the But the farther you get equator is 7,926 miles, but its diameter through the poles is only from Earth, the less you feel 7,900 miles. So when you’re on the equator, you’re slightly farther from Earth’s center and feel less gravity. Background photo by E+/Getty Images/00one.

Monster

Headbands 1. Wrap a craft-feather boa around a plastic headband. Use adhesive dots to hold it in place. 2. For round eyes, cut circles from electrical tape. Stick them onto table-tennis balls. Use tacky glue to attach them to the headband. 3. For long eyestalks, wrap chenille sticks around the headband, then wrap craft- feather boas around the chenille sticks. Glue eyes onto the ends. 4. For horns or a large f lat eyeball, glue felt onto cardboard with chenille sticks between them. Wrap the ends of the chenille sticks around the headband.

Anything By Chris Low Art by Jacob Souva “Which one are we taking?” Colby had no idea that being a hero “Which one are we taking?” Colby asked, nodding toward the trucks. could be so boring. He counted the freckles on his hand for the third time Dad smiled. “Sorry, but I don’t think as Dad took another phone call. we need the truck to pick up lunch.” Colby had expected Take Your Kid to “Being a firefighter isn’t all Work Day to be like stepping into an about putting out fires.” action movie. He and his dad would wail down streets in a fire truck and Colby followed his dad to the car charge into the heart of danger. So far, parked on the street. “What about it had been a lot of sitting around. when we get back?” he tried. “Sorry about that,” Dad said, hanging “When we get back, we’ll have to up the phone. “I had to schedule some recheck the gear.” Dad pointed to the training. Ready to go for a ride?” wall, where the firefighting suits hung. “Sure!” Colby followed his dad into Colby had heard so many stories over the garage. Two gleaming fire engines the years, and none of them were about were parked side by side. They looked making phone calls or checking gear. like giant animals waiting to be let out. 20 OCTOBER 2020

“You know,” Dad said as they drove, “I’m really thankful you got here “being a firefighter isn’t all about so quickly,” the woman said. putting out fires. We do a lot of other things too.” He tapped the pager on his “That’s what we train for!” Colby’s belt. “And being ready is half the job.” dad said, then added, “This is my son, Colby. He’s tagging along today.” Colby was about to ask if the pager was broken when it suddenly f lashed “Nice to meet you,” the woman said. to life. A loud tone was followed by the “Your dad saved my husband’s life!” voice of a dispatcher giving an address. Colby didn’t know what to say. Colby’s heart was His dad was right—being ready was thumping as they important. It had saved someone’s life! pulled up to a house. As they drove away, Dad said, “Well, how about that?” Dad placed “I know you were hoping for more a blue siren on the dashboard and excitement today.” made a sharp right turn. “Being a firefighter isn’t all about “Are we going back to the station?” putting out fires, right?” Colby smiled. Colby asked. “When we get back from lunch, we should probably recheck that gear. I “Not enough time,” Dad said, want to be ready for anything!” glancing at the GPS. “We’ll meet the rest of the company at the scene.” “Your dad saved my husband’s life!” It was a short ride, and nothing like an action movie. Still, Colby’s heart was thumping in his chest as they pulled up to a house where one of the fire trucks was already parked. “Where’s the fire?” Colby asked. “No fire,” Dad said. “It’s a medical call. Stay here.” Dad jumped out of the car. “I’ll be back to check on you soon.” Colby watched as his dad and several other firefighters grabbed gear and disappeared into the house. After a few minutes, an ambulance pulled up. Two people carried a stretcher inside. After 10 more minutes, Dad returned to the car. An older woman walked alongside him. OCTOBER 2020 21

By Andy Boyles, Contributing Science Editor Art by Kevin Keele Snakes and rhinos, eagles and dinos—that’s what monsters are made of. 22 OCTOBER 2020

People love stories about dragons, thought that the artists were showing real fire! unicorns, and other fantastical creatures. The earliest artworks Cyclops stories come from showing them are thousands of lands around the Mediterranean years old. Where did their creators Sea. Historians think the myths get these strange ideas? began with elephant and mammoth fossils found on Some creatures seem to be islands in that region. cobbled together from parts of familiar animals. A rhinoceros may In Search of the Griffin have inspired the unicorn, a horse with a horn. Did a manatee-like These cases sparked the animal spark the idea of the suspicions of Adrienne Mayor. mermaid—half fish, half woman? She is a historian who studies myths, folklore, and science. Stranger than Strange She thought fossils might have inspired another mythical beast, But other imaginary creatures the griffin. seem to combine familiar animals with things not seen in the woods, With the head, wings, and the barnyard, or the fishing pond. front legs of a bird and the rear Dragons are a bit like snakes and body of a lion, the griffin is lizards, but often with larger, high- strange indeed. Thousands of browed heads. The one-eyed giant years ago, wandering gold cyclops is built something like a prospectors in the western human, but what inspired a single region of the Gobi Desert eye above the nose? Myth makers claimed the griffin was not a had never seen a beast that had only myth. They had never seen one, one eye or that breathed fire. but they said a living beast guarded the land’s gold. For many years, experts thought such beasts sprang from pure In the 1980s and 1990s, imagination. But researchers have Ms. Mayor searched through found that the answer is sometimes documents for places where fossils of extinct animals. gold bits are mixed in the sandy earth. In those same areas, At least one dragon was inspired scientists had already by the remains of a mammal. A discovered many complete statue of this dragon stands in skeletons and scattered bones Klagenfurt, Austria. Its head was of a four-legged bird-beaked modeled after a skull found nearby dinosaur: Protoceratops. These in the 1300s. Later, a scientist fossils were underfoot when the showed that the skull actually came prospectors roamed the region. from an Ice Age rhinoceros. The rest of the dragon had been filled out Ms. Mayor worked with using scaly skin, reptilian eyes, paleontologists to compare and other traits that give people pictures and figures of griffins the shivers. to Protoceratops and similar dinosaurs from the area. They Where did dragons’ fire breath found many links between the come from? One possibility is that dinosaurs and the griffin. The early artists tried to show venom- mystery was solved. spitting dragons. They made the poison look like f lames to suggest that (Continued on next page) it would burn. People who saw the art OCTOBER 2020 23

(Continued One eye from page 23) above the nose Scaly Primitive skin clothing and weapon Fire Giant breath human form DRAGON CYCLOPS Opening for trunk MYTH: Dragons—both good and bad— MYTH: These one-eyed giants pop up in myths all around the world. In lived in caves on islands in airway Chinese culture, a dragon may bring good the Mediterranean Sea, looks like fortune. In European stories, dragons raid raising sheep and eating villages and towns until heroes slay them. shipwrecked sailors. an eye socket ORIGIN: Dragon myths may have been ORIGIN: They may have inspired by fossils of extinct animals. In been inspired by the bones China, dinosaur fossils are sometimes of extinct mammoths and called “dragon bones.” elephants found on Mediterranean islands. SEEN AND HEARD: Dragons are the bad guys in some of the oldest stories. Today, SEEN AND HEARD: In The dragons can be friends or foes in books and Odyssey by Homer, the hero movie series like The and his companions are Hobbit, Harry Potter, captured by a cyclops. They and How to Train outsmart it and escape. Your Dragon. Elephant skull Dinosaur skull 24 OCTOBER 2020

A single Face sometimes Head, front horn, often attractive, legs, and twisted sometimes wings of monstrous an eagle Body of a horse or goat Upper Body half of a human lion Lower half fish Usually MERMAID GRIFFIN white MYTH: Mermaids and MYTH: This beast was thought UNICORN mermen have played many roles in folk stories around to guard gold from prospectors. MYTH: The unicorn and the world. In some stories, its horn were thought to mermaids trick sailors into ORIGIN: In Asia, wandering have magical powers. Some wrecking their ships or lure prospectors came across said they could heal sickness men to live under the sea. fossilized skeletons of or make a poisoned drink Protoceratops and other harmless. ORIGIN: The first story of dinosaurs. Pieces of broken a beautiful mermaid may neck frills may have looked ORIGIN: The earliest art have come from a sailor or like ears or wing parts. showing a unicorn is from a an explorer who spotted 4,000-year-old city in Pakistan. a manatee or dugong from SEEN AND HEARD: Griffins are Historians think the myth began far away. popular symbols for schools and with the Indian rhinoceros, businesses. They also appear in which has only one horn. SEEN AND HEARD: Hans movie versions of The Lion, the Christian Andersen wrote the Witch, and the Wardrobe. SEEN AND HEARD: This original story of “The Little magical beast is a character Mermaid,” in which a mermaid Protoceratops Beak in Through the Looking-Glass tries to become human after Bony frill by Lewis Carroll, in Dana falling in love with a prince. Simpson’s Phoebe and Her Four legs Unicorn comic strip and book series, and in a song and poem by Shel Silverstein. The unicorn stands for anything that may never be seen. OCTOBER 2020 25

Halloween By Teresa A. DiNicola Four cousins are making their Halloween costumes togeth Justin, Cathleen, Pedro will each a different costu One cousin will as a ghost, one a superhero, one as a scarecrow, and one as a robot. Use the clues to figure out which costume each cousin will wear. CLUES • The cousin wh wear a cape is • Justin will not use hay to stuff his costume. • The cousin who will wear a white sheet is not a girl. • Anna will put on gray face pa Check . . . and Double Check Compare these two pictures. Can you find at least 18 differences? 26 OCTOBER 2020

So Wide Nature Watch fIetsetwb—oinmdgyoslpreeanntghitashn5! ½its Tundra Swan By Peter Friederici DID YOU KNOW? Tundra swans get their name from where they make their summer homes and nests—in tundra areas of northern Alaska and the Canadian Arctic. Temperatures there are too low for trees to grow. (Tundra comes from a word that means “treeless.”) But the flat, open environment is dotted with ponds where tundra swans find lots to eat. These water birds don’t dive, so they need shallow waters. There they mostly feed on algae, plants, and roots. When colder temperatures arrive in autumn, food is harder to find. So tundra swans travel south to marshes, lakes, and rivers along the coastlines of the United States. In the spring, they head north again. Tundra Trumpeter SWAN SONGS Another breed of swan, the trumpeter swan, is often mistaken for the tundra swan. Trumpeter swans are larger and have a thicker, all- black bill. Tundra swans have a slightly more rounded-looking head, and adults usually have a yellow spot between their eyes and bill. When the birds are in flight, those details are especially hard to see. You can tell them apart by their honks. The tundra swan makes a high-pitched “OO-oo-oo” sound. The trumpeter’s deep honk sounds like a car horn or a trumpet. Photos: (main image and bottom left) AGAMI Photo Agency/Alamy Stock Photo, (bike) iStock/ OCTOBER 2020 27 Getty Images Plus/Suradech14, (bottom right) iStock/Getty Images Plus/Carol Hamilton.

GAOMNE! Jord Dev Tar Bry an a in an “Terrible!” Jordan took a sidestep over a curb, then pivoted back to Jordan has one word to describe a loss. the sidewalk, replaying his goal in his mind. He bobbed past a By Rich Wallace • Art by Rafa Alvarez tree and planted his left foot, swinging his right foot into the Jordan stared at the ground A car horn beeped. Jordan’s imaginary ball and watching it friends Tara and Bryan jumped take f light. Score! and shook his head. Players from out of the car. “How did you do?” the opposing team raced past Tara asked. That was a goal he’d him, celebrating their shocking remember for a long time. victory. They’d scored the game- “Terrible,” Jordan replied. winning goal just seconds before “Does that mean you were But just as quickly, he saw the the clock expired. clobbered?” Bryan asked. replay of that late breakaway Jordan frowned. “No. We by the Jets. Felt his heart drop “Just one word to describe a lost, 3–2.” as the ball sped past the goalie’s loss like that,” Jordan mumbled “So how is that terrible?” hands and rippled the net. to his teammate Devin. “Terrible!” Tara asked. “It’s the way it happened,” Terrible. Devin sighed. “It was a tough Jordan said. “Time was running Jordan let out a deep breath. one.” He trotted toward the out, we were closing in for the The morning was growing middle of the field to shake winning score, then—wham! warmer. Perfect for soccer. hands with the winning team. Out of nowhere, they got a Jordan looked back toward breakaway goal.” the field. He couldn’t see it, but Jordan walked slowly behind he could hear the excited voices Devin. He glumly slapped hands That was us. as the game unfolded. with the winners, then stopped to All pumped up That second goal. The pass shut his eyes as the autumn air before we were to Devin. That was something. cooled his sweaty face. Jordan stepped onto a stretch deflated. of grass and saw the ball again, “Terrible,” he repeated to between his feet, as he tried to himself as he sat on the bench “Ouch,” Tara said. “Wish us maneuver past two defenders. He and pulled his jacket on. luck. We’re up next.” stepped over the imaginary ball, pulled it back with the inside of “Let’s get some hot chocolate “Luck,” Jordan said. He his foot, and dodged into the clear. and watch the next game,” Devin continued walking. Devin was running parallel to said. There were eight teams in him, and Jordan had just enough the YMCA league, so games Jordan had been having such of an opening to send a crisp pass would go on all morning. a good game. He’d scored a quick along the field. Devin stopped it goal in the opening minute to give cleanly and made the shot. What “Sorry. I’m heading home,” the Pelicans the lead, then added a rush of energy that brought! Jordan said. “I’ve had enough an assist on a pinpoint pass late That was awesome, Jordan soccer for today.” in the first half. And they’d held thought. He was about two the high-scoring Jets to just two blocks from home now. Thirsty. As he reached the gate, Jordan goals until that final collapse. Talking to himself like he glanced back to see the next two usually did after a game. teams take the field. They were jumping and shouting, excited to (Continued on page 30) play. That was us a little while ago, Jordan thought. Before we were def lated. 28 OCTOBER 2020

It was still clear in his head. A Tip from the Author Work on dribbling the ball and passing it with both feet. This is something you can practice alone in the park or in your yard. You’ll be twice as effective if you can move the ball with your left foot and your right. Rich Wallace is the author of dozens of sports novels for kids, including the books in the Winning Season and Kickers series. He has played and coached a lot of sports too. OCTOBER 2020 29

“It was terr . . .” (Continued from page 28) He stopped at a crosswalk, strong. He was proud of the effort. waiting for the light to change. “Hi, sweetie,” his mom called So what happened on Some autumn leaves swirled in the breeze, and Jordan took a as he entered the house. “I just that final play? Jordan asked long breath. It was going to be got home from work. How was himself. How did such a well- a beautiful fall day. the game?” played game end up with such Maybe I’ll eat an early lunch “It was terr . . .” Jordan a terrible result? stopped. “Terrific!” he continued. and go back to the field after all, “I’m just grabbing a snack and It was still clear in his head: heading back to watch the other Jordan had the ball deep on the he thought. He didn’t mind games, OK? I’ll tell you all about Jets’ side of the field, looking losing, especially to a good team it later!” for Devin or another teammate like the Jets. It was just the to pass to. The Pelicans had terrible way that they’d lost. A Tip from a Kid outplayed the Jets for most of the game, but a win against such Still, he’d scored a great goal. When running with a a powerful opponent would be a Made a sweet pass for an assist. huge surprise. With the pressure Played solid defense most of the football, try to use the on, even the Pelicans’ defensive game to hold down the Jets’ players had come up past strong offense. juke move if an opponent midfield to help with the offense. They wouldn’t settle for a tie. He and Devin would have a is in front of you. Take a good time watching the other Jordan shot the ball and the games. If he hurried back to the step left, then sprint to Jets’ goalie batted it down. A field, he’d be there in time to see defender kicked the ball long Tara and Bryan play. your right. John Paul and hard, and the players raced toward it. The Jets’ fastest Jordan stopped in front of his Age 10 • Louisiana player chased it down past house and gathered the mail midfield, and the coast was clear from the box. His favorite sports Share a sports tip! all the way to the goal. The magazine had arrived. Things Pelicans’ goalie had little chance were looking up. A cold drink of Send it to to stop the charge, and just like orange juice would quench his that the tie was broken. thirst in a hurry. Sports Tips 803 Church Street Jordan felt bad all over again. He sat on the steps for a Honesdale, PA 18431 moment before going in. All that running! His legs felt tired but 30 OCTOBER 2020

Visiting Old Faithful Paws and Think A geyser forms when water trickles down through cracks in the earth and meets hot rocks deep underground. The water boils, and much of it turns into steam. The expanding steam builds up pressure until it bursts upward, shooting steam and hot water into the air. Some geysers erupt rarely, but Old Faithful erupts every 45 to 90 minutes. Old Faithful is a famous geyser I prefer cool at Yellowstone National Park. water. Why might people like to visit this attraction? What do you notice about where people are standing and sitting? Why do you think this is? In what ways is a geyser like a waterfall? A volcano? A park fountain? In what ways is it different? What kinds of natural sites would you like to see? Why? Art by David Coulson.

The Octopus By Connie Bergstein Dow A wondrous and clever creature lives underneath the sea. Its genus is called Octopus. And it’s not like you and me! It has a large and bulbous head. It has eight long swirly limbs that twist and twirl and shift and swirl. They propel it as it swims. If other animals chase it, it squirts a cloud of ink. It has three hearts. Its blood is blue. And it’s smarter than you think! An octopus is boneless and can squeeze through a tiny space. And if by chance it has lost a limb, it can regrow one in its place. The octopus can change from blue to pink to green or gray. It also hides by changing shape. Other creatures swim away. 32 OCTOBER 2020

Underwater Wonder The common octopus can do some amazing things to protect itself from predators such as sharks and eels. It can camouflage itself, squeeze through tiny spaces, and shoot black ink to hide. It is also a very fast swimmer, and it has a sharp beaklike mouth and a poisonous bite. This type of octopus has nine brains: a central brain and eight smaller brains (one at the base of each arm)! Photo by Shutterstock/Kondratuk Aleksei. OCTOBER 2020 33

Your Own Pages Caleb Comerford Age 9 • Tennessee My Plant, Bob Drake the Snake Stella Johnson Drake the Snake Age 10 • Michigan He’s a wonderful snake. He always makes friends Good “Meowning” With other snakes. Look up now! A Poem by a Cat He’s in the sky In a hot-air balloon— “Good meowning!” I meowed. Quick! Wave good-bye. IAbIAIMIulskrsastyanytmsIrnbehdeywdoettotiocowdtsmhwoimnnegmen’dthyoteleowcreoodasuwsibrsnltaeeengsgna.eetandpIaron.tdmwagftongaaiotvdrncueuhwtsempicagdn,rlbrakIsotlteohmwbcdmehale.eceemodkdwfooatoeroonndnddbi.ahneregbduri,mwtdamobsoloerrr.due..de, He’s off to Minnesota And he’s wearing his hat “Oh, you’re tired,” she said. And coat, a scarf, And one boot. Stay warm, Drake! Lily Beal Age 5 • Illinois Anna Parker Age 12 • Texas An autumn spider Leaves are falling. spins its web on a bare branch. It’s windy today. Don’t set it up. A leaf falls. It will just blow away. Elody Davis Jack Wilson Age 9 • Maine Age 6 • California 34 OCTOBER 2020 Lily the T. rex Elise Hopmann Age 6 • Arkansas

Bunny Hoppity-hop Floppity-f lop Orange, Watermelon, The bunny scurries Felicity Lee Kiwi, and Lemon in the yard, Age 7 • China Sophia Sereyka Past the garden. The Haunted House Age 12 • Pennsylvania Lettuce, tomatoes, Tanhdisthhoisusheoumsaeymseaeymseoelmd dark, Wind carrots— baTtobushhhutae,otitvuititeitgisrmshiyscaadlijetsyauamynsbrtoetatrrryohemigaessaheuebletenam—ftroekrsd.pm, oeo.ky— Wait! CARROTS! agrwbfnersIeiaaeatdteeNblecmlksshsssaApsoetwwwwgeahsweaiiiinatwtttki8nhshhthsihi•twennnnwhNlnoooioBtieonthehtfawhoefiyagenneeaYwnaegtosorltdhe,hmm,rms,rki,assso,pn,uetrhs,. Munchity-munch Elise Steele Crunchity-crunch. Age 7 • Massachusetts Aurora Beecher Age 9 • Idaho Miranda Smith Winnie Age 7 • New York Rachel Hokanson The Homework Poem Age 12 • California Inspired by Jack Prelutsky Share Your Homework, oh homework, Creative Work you aren’t a big deal, but you look horrible and smell like an eel. Homework, oh homework, you make me frown. Whenever I work on you, I always feel down. Homework, oh homework, I’ll turn on the lamp, and then when I’m finished my fingers will cramp. Homework, oh homework, I’ve always loved math, but reading and writing will be the end of my path. Maximo Reckert Age 8 • Connecticut We’d love to see it! Colton Cyr Art must be on unlined paper. Age 7 • Oregon Poems must have fewer than 75 words. All submissions must be created by you. We also welcome your Visit HighlightsKids.com to short STORIES upload work, or mail to and PHOTOS (no people, Your Own Pages please)! 803 Church Street Honesdale, PA 18431

trheyWpeoRlhuicaTtehecdhonaioainurstngatdhs’cltetaoitornneluererdeycgtstoiwmuesgCrsiaanteoylhhiszegaoaeailonnsaaleoolpiswte.husmRoeznpreilzsdlpaglase,!dciten.ierng!y.g,If “What de yeu think has happened?” By Maggie Murphy • Art by Hazel Quintanilla said. Off she f lapped, holding the plate with her feet. One evening, Bat was eating dinner at She soon f lew back. “Cat, it is a her friend Cat’s cottage. Bat told a joke. mystery. Everybedy has lest the same Cat laughed and tried to say a happy letter. Ewl can’t heet. Welf can’t hewl, and Bear can’t grewl. Maybe the “Meow.” Instead, he found himself enchantress can help.” saying, “Mew.” Cat tried again. “Mew? A sund is missing frm my mew!” “Er maybe she has made a magical mistake!” said Cat. “A sund?” Bat shook her head. “I cannt say it either. An alphabet letter The enchantress was a kind is lst.” On a paper plate, she wrote neighbor, but sometimes her Please say e for o. She showed the plate to Cat. “Is this ekay?” spells had glitches. “It werks,” said Cat. “What de yeu think has happened?” “Let me talk te the neighbers,” Bat 36 OCTOBER 2020

Bat nodded. The enchantress was Cat looked closely at the bottle of a kind neighbor, but sometimes her potion. “The missing letter is f leating spells had glitches. in the bettle. A little seup must have dripped inte the Ssshhh Petien.” They hurried to her castle. Cat rang the bell. When the enchantress opened “Wheeps!” cried the enchantress. her door, Bat said, “Geed evening, “The petien has silenced the reund ma’am. Serry te bether yeu.” letter’s seund. I will free the trapped letter to break the edd spell.” “Bat,” said the enchantress, “are yu kay?” Her eyes grew wide. “My wrds She uncorked the bottle. The tiny o sund strange.” jumped out. “Ooooo!” it cooed. “Everybedy has lest a letter,” said “From now on,” said the enchantress, Bat. “We’ve decided to use e in place ef “I’ll cook meals in my kitchen, away the letter shaped like a deughnut.” from my potions. Thank you, Bat and Cat.” “Wenderful idea,” said the enchantress. “De step in.” “Our pleasure,” said Bat. “Woo-hoo!” Cat said, “Meoooow!” The animals entered a room filled with maps, drawings, books, and “Ooooo!” bottles. In a fireplace were two cauldrons. “Ma’am,” said Cat, “we were wendering if yeu cast a spell teday.” “Nething much happened teday,” said the enchantress. “I brewed a petien in this cauldren here. In that cauldren there, yeu see alphabet seup fer my dinner.” “What is the petien?” asked Bat. The enchantress held up a corked bottle labeled Ssshhh Potion. “Hmm,” said Bat. “What dees it de?” “It makes places quiet,” said the enchantress. “My castle’s tewers need repair. The werk starts temerrew. Dreps ef Ssshhh Petien will silence the neisy jeb se it will net bether anybedy.” “Yeur cauldrens are clese tegether,” said Cat. “Alphabet seup has pasta letters,” said Bat.

Tongue Twisters RIDDLES Mac might make 1 What is an alligator’s macaroni muffins. favorite drink? Ellie Schuster, New Jersey Gus Kelly Age 8 • Ohio A big What ddriodptpheed mhiasnfsloawyewrsh?en 2 black bug he bit a big Cole, Hawai‘i black bear. 3 Where does a sailboat Lena Yoder go for a haircut? Age 13 • Ohio Matilda Schleupner, Virginia page 26 Why would trees make 4 noisy pets? Halloween Who’s Who Answers Silas Mosley, Texas Cathleen: superhero page 2 Justin: ghost 5 What do Pedro: scarecrow Fun This Month Anna: robot cows like to read? Midnight Maze page 43 START Jackson Sanders, Kentucky Pi P l What do you call a car 6 made of wood? Emma Breier, Florida FINISH 7 Where did the planet Mystery Photo—School bus. go on a date? Jacob Marino, Pennsylvania Covers: Glow for It! by Howard McWilliam; What’s Wrong? by Kelly Kennedy Why can’t you trust an atom? 8 Illustration credits: Page 2: Kevin Zimmer; 13: Josh Lewis; 15: Jokes by Rich Powell, “Hunter’s Moon” by Keith Sophie McCoy, North Carolina Negley; 18–19: crafts by Kimberly Stoney, art by Mike Lowery; 25: Universal Images Group North America LLC/ DeAgostini/Alamy Stock Photo; 26: Steven Wood; 38: Paula J. Becker; 39: Erin Mauterer. Photo credits: Page 9 What dLyiddiaKFaleteschn,aMminenehseortaclone? 2: (teamwork) Navarro Parcerisas Carles/Alamy Stock Photo, (bus) E+/Getty Images/mphillips007; 3: Gina Lenz; 4: (pumpkin) iStock/GettyImages Plus/MariuszBlach; 4–5: iStock/Getty Images Plus/Jman78; 12–13: iStock/ 1. Gatorade. 2. “Whoopsie-daisy.” 3. To a Getty Images Plus/Andrew Holmes; 13: iStock/Getty Images Plus/nevodka; 18–19: Jim Filipski, Guy Cali sail-on. 4. Because of their bark. 5. The Associates, Inc.; 24: (left) iStock/Getty Images Plus/undefined undefined, (right) Khim Hoe Ng/Alamy Stock moospaper. 6. A Lumberghini. 7. To the Photo; 26: iStock/Getty Images Plus/erperlstrom; 39: (boy) E+/Getty Images/Katleho Seisa, (balloon) iStock/ moon-vies. 8. They make up everything. Getty Images Plus/kyoshino, (baseball cap) iStock/Getty Images Plus/Kuzmik_A, (liquid) E+/Getty Images/ 9. Dupli-Kate. LauriPatterson, (color splash) iStock/Getty Images Plus/Grafner, (book) iStock/Getty Images Plus/daboost, (girl in costume) iStock/Getty Images Plus/jacoblund, (boy and girl) E+/Getty Images/PeopleImages, (ferret) iStock/Getty Images Plus/GlobalP. 38 OCTOBER 2020

STARTTake your brain on a hike! Which of Besides your thoughts a balloon, do you have what can every day? you bat around in Name three the air? things that would be hard to hold in a baseball cap. What has surprised you about today? What does If you could Name some it mean to see just two colors, differences between which colors would an ARM and a LEG. say that CHAPTER someone you want to see? is starting 3 WHY? a new chapter in life? What makes someone good at imagining? If your pet When might IN A could talk, THE you sigh? DISAGREEMENT, END how WHY? IS ONE SIDE might that 39 ALWAYS RIGHT? change your Why or why not? life? rIig’mht. Idea from Lennon, Age 9 rIig’mht. South Carolina OCTOBER 2020

Ask izona When Nothing I think of it sooner? I bet my parents would let us have the Goes as Planned event outside their store!” By Lissa Rovetch • Art by Amanda Morley We ran over there to ask, and finally got the yes we’d been Dear Discouraged, I had time to put that together.” waiting for. “We can handle it,” said Ollie. My friend Ollie and I recently “Absolutely!” I agreed. The next day was spent had a Halloween idea that came We sat down to make our making posters. with so many challenges, we thought about giving up too. to-do list, then got to work. “I want to help,” said my little Number one on the list was sister, Indi. One day, Ollie’s grandma, Abuela, was baking muffins finding a location. We thought “Me too!” said my little for a bake sale to support the the shelter would be perfect, but brother, Tex. animal shelter. when we asked them, they said they weren’t set up for events. “We’re mostly done,” said “Every little bit helps those The library, the movie theater, Ollie. “But you can add color.” animals,” she said. “I just and the corner café said no too. wish we could encourage our Tex and Indi happily set to neighbors to contribute.” “Maybe we should work. But when I checked on just give up.” them, I discovered they were “It’s almost Halloween,” said using dark permanent markers Ollie. “How about we have a “Maybe we should just give instead of light-colored pencils. costume-contest fundraiser?” up,” Ollie grumbled. “Nooooo!” I cried. “You “Yeah!” I said. “And since it’s “Wait!” I said. “Why didn’t covered up half the words! Now for the animal shelter, it could we have to start from scratch!” be a costume contest for dogs.” A hundred years later, we had “Wow!” said Abuela. “I wish enough posters to put up around the neighborhood. “That looks so cool!” our friend Rowan said, skidding to a stop on his bike. “I’d bring my dog, but it’s the same day as the soccer game. Everyone I know is going to that.” “Seriously?” I groaned. “Why don’t you just change 40 OCTOBER 2020

girl named Jayden things that weren’t white were her big brown eyes. Everybody, arrived. She was including Jayden, laughed. crying. “My poodle, “Well, Miss Coco,” my mom said with a giggle, “I do believe Coco, had a perfect this is the very best ghost costume I have ever seen!” superhero costume, After that, everything went but it ripped on our great, and we received lots of donations to help the shelter. way. Now she doesn’t So, dear Discouraged, it’s up have a costume at all!” to you. If your haunted-house party feels too overwhelming, “Aw, I’m sorry,” you might plan something smaller and easier. On the other I said. hand, even though Ollie and I nearly gave up a bunch of times, “Maybe this cookie we were glad we stuck with it. It felt really good to help the “I’d bring my dog, but will make you feel animals, and to have a bunch of it’s the same day as better,” Tex said. laughs along the way. the soccer game.” “Thank you.” Ciao for now, Jayden smiled. Arizona Suddenly, Coco and Boots, a Chihuahua, started barking and the date?” asked Rowan. racing all over the place! “It’s not that easy,” I said. “It “Watch out!” yelled my dad. was really hard to schedule a Too late. The dogs ran straight time and place that worked.” for a container holding bags of Ollie sighed. “Maybe it’s just f lour. CRASH! The container one more sign that we should tipped, the bags split, and a cloud forget this whole idea.” of f lour filled the air! Boots ran “Maybe,” I said. “But I’m away just in time. But Coco was pretty sure all those shelter so covered in f lour, the only two animals would like us to keep going.” Luckily, we did keep going. Luckily, we did CRASH! keep going. We prepared all week after school, and at last, the big day came. And lots of people showed up. “Wow, you two did a wonderful job!” said my dad to Ollie and me. “I’ve never seen so many dogs in so many different costumes.” “Me neither.” My mom grinned. But then, a little

Dear Highlights fI rhieanvdesf,ibvuet I am My fish Bubbles is very allowed to invite sick. She’s feeling a bit only three to a sleepover. I don’t better, but she might die soon. Help! want my friends to be mad. Noah, Maine Trenton, California The hardest thing about having pets is knowing they One idea is to invite three friends to the sleepover, and invite won’t be with us forever. It’s the other two friends to a different get-together, such as at a important to enjoy our pets park or at your house in the daytime. Or instead of a sleepover, every day and take good care perhaps you can choose an activity that all five of your friends of them. That way, we will know can attend. Your parents may have other suggestions on how that we gave them a good home to handle this so you don’t hurt any of your friends’ feelings. and appreciated them while they were with us. I’m having trouble finding things to talk Talk to your parents about about with my friends. how you’re feeling. Sometimes just sharing your thoughts with What can I do? the people who love you can help ease your mind. Faith, Florida You might also wish to make Perhaps you can choose some a special book about Bubbles. new activities to do together. You can include photos of her You and your friends could start and write down memories, such a book club, volunteer in the as when you bought her, how community, or put on a play. you came up with her name, Having activities in common and the funny things she does. will give you more things to Making the book would be a talk about. nice way to capture your You might also try bringing up something new. Many people happy memories. enjoy brainteasers, or questions that make them think. For example, you can ask your friends “Would you rather eat one Write to us! food for the rest of your life or try one new food every day without ever being able to eat that food again?” Questions Please include your name, age, like this can spark some interesting conversations! and full address. Mail to 42 OCTOBER 2020 Dear Highlights 803 Church Street Honesdale, PA 18431 Or e-mail us at Letters@Highlights.com. Art by Keith Frawley.

Picture Puzzler Art by Nathan Daniels Answers on page 38. 8Cawnayteorubfointtdle8s,b6asskmeitlbeaylflsa,c8esn,u3mgbloebreesi,gahntds, 5 pencils, 5 skateboards, 3 zebras?