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A Bridge Between Languages
Yasmin Alkashef grew up in Egypt learning English and Arabic. From a very young age, she knew she loved languages. In fourth grade, she began learning French. “I was always very good at these classes, and I enjoyed them very much,” Alkashef says. Her love of languages continued into high school, where she began training to be a translator. Now she interprets and translates for people professionally.

Gauff’s Grand Slam
On June 7, 21-year-old Coco Gauff won the French Open final, in Paris, France. She defeated Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus. Sabalenka, 27, is the top-ranked women’s singles player in the world. Gauff is the first American to win the French Open in a decade. Serena Williams was the last American to win. She took the title in 2015. This was Gauff’s second time competing in the French Open final. In 2022, she lost to Polish player Iga Świątek. This time around, Gauff says, she focused on “willpower and mental [strength].” The conditions were tough. High winds made serving difficult. The match lasted two hours and 38 minutes. Gauff finally won in the third set. When she did, she fell to the ground in shock. Then she raced up into the stands to hug her family, friends, and coaches. “You’re a fighter,” Sabalenka told her after the match.

Step It Up
Philip Wheaton is the founder of Xtreme Hip Hop with Phil. His goal is to change how people view fitness, one energetic step at a time. Wheaton is proof that it’s possible to make a living doing what you love. Before turning to a career in fitness, he worked in a factory. It was a good job, but he wasn’t happy. So one day, he decided to take a chance: “I clocked out at lunch and never looked back,” he told Your Hot Job.

Puppy Love
Teddie McGinley gets paid to walk. Better yet, she gets to spend time with friendly—and furry—clients. She’s a professional dog-walker. Each week, McGinley and her two employees walk an 20 to 30 canines in and around Sea Cliff, New York. She also offers dog-sitting services. Read on to learn how McGinley got her start as a dog-walker, and what the work is really like.

Summer Challenge
With summer in our sights, we’ve got a challenge for students: How many acts of service can you accomplish on your summer break? This bingo board includes some of our favorite missions. Make a plan to do those that resonate with you. Cross them off as you go. Can you get bingo (a straight line horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) or—even better!—finish off the entire board? Team up for maximum impact. Remember, Service Stars shine brighter together! This article was originally published on April 17, 2024.

Sharing Your Impact
Our Service Stars program highlights kids who are making a positive impact on their communities. We love hearing about how you’re striving to make the world a brighter place. Are you or someone you know making a positive difference? Tell us at tfkeditors@time.com for the chance to be featured in TIME for Kids or on our website.

Super Speller
On May 29, a 13-year-old from Allen, Texas, became the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee champ. Faizan’s winning word was éclaircissement, a French word that means “clarification.” When Faizan spelled it correctly, he pumped his fists and fell dramatically to the stage (see photo below). This year was the 100th anniversary of the Scripps bee. Nearly 250 spellers from all over the globe competed in the event, which took place from May 27 to May 29. The competitors ranged in age from 8 to 14. Faizan first competed in 2019, when he was 7, and qualified again in 2023. In 2024, he came in second place after losing a lightning-round tiebreaker. This year, he took home the trophy. Faizan is known for his casual, fun-loving approach to spelling competitions. “I decided to have fun with this bee, and I did well, and here I am,” he told the Associated Press. The teen had three coaches: Scott Remer, Sam Evans, and Sohum Sukhatankar. “He’s having a good time,” Evans says, “and he’s doing what he loves, which is spelling.” Faizan took home the winner’s prize of $52,500, adding to his 2024 second-place winnings of $25,000. Last year, he splurged on a $1,500 Rubik’s cube with 21 squares on each side. This time, he plans to donate a chunk of his winnings to charity.

The Art of Nail Design
Laura Santamaria has loved making art for as long as she can remember. As a young adult, she started working at a nail salon in a suburb of Miami, Florida. After learning the basics, she wondered if she could apply her artistic skills to create elaborate nail designs. “If I can paint something on canvas, I can try to paint it on nails,” she recalls thinking. “It’s a little bit smaller, but it can’t be too different.”

Power Up
Two experts share their stories of building careers in the solar energy industry and offer advice for those interested in this growing field.

Love and Loss
TFK Kid Reporter Rudrh Nair read The Storyteller and interviewed its author, Brandon Hobson. Read Rudrh’s thoughts below. Ziggy is a member of the Cherokee Nation, living in Poisonberry, New Mexico. Ziggy suffers from anxiety. Sometimes, he gets overwhelmed—especially when other people are in his space. When Ziggy was little, his mother mysteriously disappeared. Ziggy believes that his mother is still out there somewhere. He has been looking for ways to find her. A classmate tells him there’s a clue to her disappearance hidden in a desert cave nearby. So Ziggy goes to investigate, along with his sister, Moon, and a couple of friends. Author Brandon Hobson uses Cherokee stories and relatable characters to tell a tale of love and loss. He says he hopes the story inspires readers to “think about what it means to let go of the past, keep moving forward, and keep hope.” Hobson believes that everyone can relate to loss, anxiety, and friendship, which are important themes in the book. He advises that readers “try to live in the present, not the past, and don’t worry about tomorrow.” In my favorite part of the story, Ziggy finds out that, although it’s important to remember lost loved ones, it’s also important to move on. I believe that everyone who has experienced a loss should read this book, as it conveys an important message for them.

Cooking Up a Career
Koren Draper grew up cooking, but it wasn’t until she left a job in retail to care for her mother and a new baby that she started to think about a career in the food industry. At the time, Draper was reading lots of cookbooks, watching the Food Network, and experimenting with ingredients. When she was ready to get back to work, she had two requirements for her new job: It had to involve food and people.

Stars in Action
This school year, the Service Stars community made a big impact. Stars, thank you for sharing your stories. What will you do next? Ella Lin, 16, California
From Ella Lin’s mom: Ella Lin has involved more than 100 kids in recycling more than 29,000 cans and bottles. They’ve raised more than $2,000 for conservation groups. Ella Lin has also presented to kids at summer camps about the power of recycling. Amara, 13, Pennsylvania
I wanted a crosswalk on my street. I wrote to my town’s leaders. They had meetings about the issue. I got my brothers and peers to come. It took a while, but a crosswalk was added. Now my road is safer to cross. I completed one service project, and I hope to serve my community more. Olivia, 6, Georgia
Stocking Little Free Libraries and food banks. Collecting disaster-relief items. Delivering supplies. I’ve logged 200 hours of community service, and I’m not slowing down anytime soon! Nora, 11, New Jersey
From Nora’s mom: Nora researched the harms that idling cars cause the environment and our health. She shared her findings, leading to a no-idling policy at school. Families are encouraged to turn off their cars in the pickup and drop-off lines. Reducing air pollution will have a positive impact on our school community and the planet. Preslee, 13, Texas
From Preslee’s mom: Preslee hosted her own food drive. She collected goods and monetary donations for our local food pantry, then delivered the items. Preslee has a heart of gold. She is always thinking of how she can help others in our community. Hudson, 9, New York From Hudson’s mom: Hudson collects handmade items from people and sells them at community events and the farmers market. They’ve raised more than $8,000! Every cent is donated to village charities. Other kids also donate items and help Hudson sell at the table. Lucas, 8, Arkansas
My friends and I participated in an event to help those who are hungry in our community. We worked hard and had a lot of fun. We made more than 4,000 meals! It made me happy to know we helped people. Even kids can make a difference when we work together. Lorinne, 10, Texas
’From Lorinne’s mom: Lorinne participates in initiatives to support families involved in the foster care system. She demonstrates leadership and is a true Service Star. Teachers’ Log Ms. Powers, Connecticut: Our class read the article about Lena Ford and felt very inspired. We donated 25 coats to a senior center. And we wrote letters to teachers. This showed that “students can use letters and words as a tool,” says Ms. Toni, our school principal. Ms. Calandra, New York: Students learned about animal shelters and community service. They read stories and took a virtual tour of an animal shelter. To show their appreciation, they made cards to thank [shelter] volunteers as well as cards to be given with toys when someone adopts a pet. Ms. Yokoyama, California: For Lunar New Year, my students and I launched a project focused on cultural appreciation and community engagement. We hosted a Lunar New Year fair at school. It promoted inclusivity and cultural awareness. Parents and students came to participate. Ms. Bishop, Georgia: My students put their art skills to work, glazing ceramic bowls to use as part of a fundraiser. They learned about empathy and being a good neighbor through civic responsibility. I’m thankful students had this opportunity to learn, create, give, and grow. Ms. Lee, Hawaii: My students decorated canvas bags that were handed out to our community. The bags are reusable and washable. They reduce the waste from plastic bags. Thank you for giving my students a chance to make their community kinder and more environmentally sustainable. Ms. Dickey, Texas: Through baking brownies, we provided a homemade treat for those in need at local soup kitchens. We turned the simple act of baking into an experience that strengthened our community and made the world a little brighter, one brownie at a time. Ms. Clark, North Carolina: Inspired by a TFK article on the California wildfires, we put on a bake sale. We sold cookies, brownies, and more. We made more than $300, which we donated to the California Fire Foundation. The kids spearheaded this project from idea to execution: true Service Stars! Ms. Pease, California: Our student-led Gaming Wellness Club has made an impact. The students created a judgment-free space where peers can decompress and support one another. They build community, spread kindness, and remind everyone that mental wellness matters. Ms. Dougherty, Georgia: We more fully stocked our campus clothing closet. Now students feel like they are shopping for great finds and look forward to visiting. Initially intended for certain students, the closet is now a welcoming and fun place for all students. Ms. Brown-Aliffi, New York: Our high school dance team launched a mental health project. It’s aimed at fostering leadership and creativity among middle school students. The team hosts engaging workshops for all students interested in dance, leadership, and self-care.

Pals with Paws
Hayden Roland has a lot of pets. He has two dogs, Sasha and Peanut; two rabbits, BunBun and Velvet; and a pair of potbellied pigs, Ava and Layla. BunBun came to Hayden’s family as a foster pet. He’d been injured by a cat. “We were like, ‘Oh, we’ll help him,’” Hayden, 12, told TIME for Kids. “And we just got really attached, and we kept him.”
Something similar happened with Ava. When Ava’s owner had to give her up, Hayden’s family adopted the pig. “A lot of people think, ‘Oh, they’ll stay these cute little purse pigs,’” Hayden says. “Ava got bigger.” (She now weighs as much as a Great Dane.) Her stay with Hayden’s family was supposed to be temporary, he explains. “But then we just kept her forever.”
Hayden’s love for animals led him to start Wagging Tails, a youth volunteer group based at the Maclean-Cameron Animal Adoption Center, in Great Falls, Montana. In February, Wagging Tails celebrated its one-year anniversary of helping animals.
Pets in Need In the United States, nearly 6 million cats and dogs entered shelters and rescue facilities in 2024. According to Shelter Animals Count, a national database, most of those animals were then adopted into new homes.
Why do animals wind up in shelters? Maybe the animal’s owner loses a job and can no longer afford to care for the pet. Maybe they move to a place where animals aren’t allowed. “You know what? Life gets hard,” Pam Volk says. She’s the executive director of Maclean-Cameron. Centers like hers help people rehome their pets when necessary.
Volk has known Hayden for years. He’s donated his birthday money to the center and done volunteer work there. In 2022, at the center’s annual Fur Ball fundraiser, Volk presented him with the Youth Philanthropy Award. So when Hayden wanted to start Wagging Tails and use the center as its home base, Volk was all in. “How do you make a difference? You find something you’re passionate about,” Volk says.
Helping Hands Once a month, Wagging Tails volunteers meet at the center after school to help out. In the beginning, the group consisted of Hayden and two other kids. “Now, we have 32,” Hayden says. “They do all kinds of things,” Volk says. They do laundry, so animals have clean bedding. They stock the center’s pet food pantry and walk dogs. This past winter, the kids made covered beds for stray cats. They lined the beds with straw, for warmth, and placed them around town so the strays have a safe place to sleep.
“They just impress me, because they truly are out there,” says Aria Roland, Hayden’s mom, who’s on the center’s board of trustees. “They are not scared to put their ideas out there. They’re not scared to get involved. They impress me, and they give me hope for the future of animals.”
“Animals, I feel, should have a voice,” Hayden says. So he and his fellow volunteers use their voices, and actions, to help their furry friends. Inspired? Let Hayden’s story inspire you to protect animals in your community. Click below for ideas about how you can promote animal welfare and make the world a brighter place.

Pals with Paws
Hayden Roland has a lot of pets. He has two dogs, Sasha and Peanut; two rabbits, BunBun and Velvet; and a pair of potbellied pigs, Ava and Layla.
BunBun came to Hayden’s family as a foster pet. He’d been hurt by a cat. “We just got really attached, and we kept him,” Hayden, 12, told TIME for Kids. Something similar happened with Ava. “A lot of people think, ‘Oh, they’ll stay these cute little purse pigs,’” Hayden says. “Ava got bigger.” (She now weighs as much as a Great Dane.) Her stay with Hayden’s family was supposed to be temporary, he explains. “But then we just kept her forever.”
Hayden’s love for animals led him to start Wagging Tails. It’s a youth volunteer group. The group is based at the Maclean-Cameron Animal Adoption Center, in Great Falls, Montana. In February, Wagging Tails celebrated its one-year anniversary.
Pets in Need In the United States, nearly 6 million cats and dogs entered shelters and rescue facilities in 2024. Most of those animals were then adopted. They went to new homes. That’s according to Shelter Animals Count, a national database.
Why does an animal wind up in a shelter? Maybe its owner can no longer afford pet care. Maybe they move to a place where animals aren’t allowed. “You know what? Life gets hard,” Pam Volk says. She’s the executive director of Maclean-Cameron.
Volk has known Hayden for years. He’s a longtime volunteer. In 2022, she honored him at the center’s annual Fur Ball fundraiser. She presented him with the Youth Philanthropy Award. Later, Hayden asked her if he could start Wagging Tails. He wanted to use the center as the group’s home base. Volk was all in. “How do you make a difference? You find something you’re passionate about,” she says.
Helping Hands Hayden says there are now 32 Wagging Tails volunteers. Once a month, they meet at the center.
“They do all kinds of things,” Volk says. They do laundry, stock the center’s pet food pantry, and walk dogs. This past winter, the kids made covered beds for stray cats.
“They just impress me, because they truly are out there,” says Aria Roland, Hayden’s mom. “They are not scared to put their ideas out there. They’re not scared to get involved.”
“Animals, I feel, should have a voice,” Hayden says. So he and his fellow volunteers use their voices to help their furry friends. Inspired? Let Hayden’s story inspire you to protect animals in your community. Click below for ideas about how you can promote animal welfare and make the world a brighter place.

Mission of the Month: Protect Animals
Join a community of kids who are making the world a better and brighter place. TFK Service Stars know that even the smallest actions can make a big impact. Mission of the Month From endangered species in the wild to the beloved pets who live in our home, animals are all around us—and they need our care and attention. How do you make time to help animals? Some people volunteer at shelters. Others raise money for wildlife conservation efforts. No matter how you contribute, you’ll feel good knowing you’ve helped the creatures we share our planet with. Need Inspiration? Contact an animal shelter in your area. Ask if they need volunteers. How can you help?
Organize a pet-food or pet-toy drive in your town. Where will you donate the items you collect?
Plant a bee-friendly garden. Is there space for one where you live or at your school?
Ask an elderly neighbor if you can help care for their pet. What help does your neighbor need most?
Collect spare change to donate to a charity that supports wildlife. What cause matters to you? Learn about endangered species, and make posters to raise awareness. Where will you hang the posters?

Stars Shine Brighter Together Host a cleanup at a park or beach. Gather friends and classmates. Choose the day, the time, and the place. Figure out what supplies you’ll need and how you’ll get them. At the event, focus on cleaning up items that may be dangerous to wildlife. Need help getting started? Talk to an adult or pair up with a friend to find an idea that feels right for you. Tell Us About It! We want to hear all about your efforts! Share your story ti.me/stars or send it to tfkeditors@time.com for a chance to be featured in TIME for Kids.

Master of Electricity
All kinds of devices, from computers and TVs to elevators and traffic lights, need electricity to run. When new buildings go up, brand-new electrical systems are installed from scratch. Wires and systems that carry electricity get old, or damaged, or overloaded by all the devices people plug in. So it’s important to have an expert in all things electricity—an electrician—on hand.

Are You Ready to Report?
Do you have what it takes to write and report for TIME for Kids? Apply now for a chance to contribute to our magazines and website. TFK editors will choose up to 10 talented students to be TFK Kid Reporters for the 2025–2026 school year. Joining our crew is “a once-in-a-lifetime chance,” TFK Kid Reporter Safiyyah Hussain says. “It helps aspiring reporters improve their editing, writing, and interviewing skills.” To apply online or by mail, ask a parent, guardian, or teacher to view details at timeforkids.com/kid-reporter.

Pedal to the Metal
As of 2024, less than 11% of auto mechanics were women, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Things are different at Girls Auto Clinic repair center, in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. This garage is run by a woman, employs virtually all women, and targets everything it does to the needs of women. That means offering a quiet and pristine waiting room with Wi-Fi, a TV, board games, and Legos for kids, and a salon that offers visitors speedy manicures and other services while mechanics work on their cars.

Field Repairs
There are nearly 2 million farms and ranches in the United States. Every day, farmers and ranchers across the country spend hours sowing seeds and tending to crops and livestock. So it’s crucial that their high-tech machinery is in perfect working order. Yet tractors, combines, and other pieces of farm equipment break down all the time. When they do, agricultural technicians head out to get them up and running.

Worth the Fight
Some things really are worth fighting for. That’s what Ben Wang’s character learns in the sixth movie in the Karate Kid franchise. Wang plays Li Fong in Karate Kid: Legends. Li, a kung fu prodigy, moves from China to New York City after a family tragedy. He has given up fighting, but a school bully pushes him to defend himself. Later, Li decides to compete against the bully in a citywide karate contest. With the help of his two mentors, Li learns karate. He merges it with his kung fu knowledge. Wang says that Li’s relationships with his mentors, Mr. Han (played by Jackie Chan) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), are important to the story. His costars served as mentors both onscreen and off. “Learning anything is a hundred times easier if you have a good teacher,” he says.

Worth the Fight
Some things really are worth fighting for. That’s what Ben Wang’s character learns in the sixth movie in the Karate Kid franchise. Wang plays Li Fong in Karate Kid: Legends. Li, a kung fu prodigy, moves from China to New York City after a family tragedy. He has given up fighting, but a school bully pushes him to defend himself. Later, Li decides to compete against the bully in a citywide karate contest. With the help of his two mentors, Li learns karate and merges it with his kung fu knowledge. Wang says that Li’s relationships with his mentors, Mr. Han (played by Jackie Chan) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), are just as important to the story as the fighting. His costars served as mentors both onscreen and off. “Learning anything is a hundred times easier if you have a good teacher,” he says.

All About Stars
Look up at the night sky. Do you see a light? It might be a star. Stars are balls of hot gas. They are very far away. But many shine brightly enough for us to see. Star Light, Star Bright
Stars are hot. Millions of miles away, they burn bright. The Earth gets light from the sun. It is our nearest star. Pictures in the Stars People long ago gave names to groups of stars. We call these groups constellations. The shapes seem to form an image. This is the Big Dipper. Not Really a Star Have you wished on a shooting star? It is not a star. It is a piece of rock called a meteor. It burns up in Earth’s atmosphere. A Dusty Start This is a nebula. It is a cloud of dust and gas. Some nebulas are exploded stars. New stars can form from nebulas.

Passing of a Pope
Pope Francis passed away at age 88 on April 21. The Vatican said Francis died after a stroke. It was one day after his Easter Sunday appearance at Vatican City’s St. Peter’s Square, in Rome, Italy. He’d bestowed well-wishes on thousands of supporters.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Francis was elected pope in 2013. He was the first Latin American pope. TIME named him Person of the Year, and wrote that his election signaled “great change.” During his term, Francis became known for his kindness and his calls for global peace.
Francis’s death begins a leadership transition period at the Vatican. Picking a new pope is no easy task. The election is organized in a process known as a conclave. A group of about 120 cardinals will gather to vote in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. It typically takes two to three weeks to assemble the group members. They must travel to Vatican City from all over the world.
The cardinals will swear an oath of secrecy. Each will put his choice for pope on a paper ballot and carry it to an altar, dropping it in a large chalice. Multiple rounds of voting may occur. A white puff of smoke in St. Peter’s Square will announce that a new pope has been selected. Stop and Think! WHERE does this story take place? Why do U.S. news organizations cover events outside the United States?

Passing of a Pope
Pope Francis died on April 21. He was 88. The Vatican said Francis passed away after a stroke. It was a day after his Easter appearance at St. Peter’s Square. That’s in Vatican City, in Rome, Italy. He’d bestowed well-wishes on thousands of supporters there.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Francis became pope in 2013. He was the first Latin American pope. TIME named him Person of the Year, and wrote that his election signaled “great change.” Francis became known for his kindness. He called for global peace.
Picking a new pope isn’t easy. The election is done in a process known as a conclave. A group of about 120 cardinals will vote in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. It takes a few weeks to assemble the group members. They travel to Rome from all over the world.
The cardinals will be sworn to secrecy. Each will put his choice for pope on a paper ballot. Multiple rounds of voting may occur. A white puff of smoke in St. Peter’s Square will announce that a new pope has been selected. Stop and Think! WHERE does this story take place? Why do U.S. news organizations cover events outside the United States?

Allergies Strike
Allergy season is here. Seasonal allergies affect nearly one-quarter of kids in the United States, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Many experience symptoms in the spring, when plants release pollen. This powdery substance helps plants reproduce—but it can also trigger itchy eyes and stuffy noses. People with allergies should “check pollen forecasts, and limit outdoor time during high levels,” the CDC says.
Cities such as Atlanta, Georgia, and Houston, Texas, have already broken spring pollen records this year. That’s according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Studies suggest that warming global temperatures may be a cause. More pollen is released, lengthening the spring allergy season.

Allergies Strike
Seasonal allergies affect nearly one-quarter of kids in the United States, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Many people experience sniffly symptoms in the spring. That’s when most plants release pollen. Pollen is a powdery substance. It helps plants reproduce. But it can also trigger allergy symptoms. People with allergies should “check pollen forecasts, and limit outdoor time during high levels,” the CDC says.
Cities such as Atlanta, Georgia, and Houston, Texas, have already broken spring pollen records this year. That’s according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Studies suggest that warming global temperatures may be a cause. More pollen is released. This makes the spring allergy season last longer.

Down to Earth
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are NASA astronauts. They spent more than nine months in space. They didn’t plan for the trip to be so long. But they’re finally home.
On June 5, 2024, Williams and Wilmore blasted off. They flew aboard Boeing’s new Starliner spacecraft. Their trip was supposed to be eight days long. But the craft had problems. It couldn’t carry them home. So they had to stay at the International Space Station (ISS) until March 16, 2025. That’s 278 days longer than expected.
They had plenty to do on the ISS. They ran experiments, for example. “We came up prepared to stay long, even though we [planned] to stay short,” Wilmore said.
Splashing Down
On March 16, a SpaceX Crew Dragon craft arrived at the ISS. It brought the astronauts back to Earth. They flew in a special capsule. It was designed to land in the ocean. “On behalf of SpaceX, welcome home,” radioed mission control, in California.

F.C. Victory
On April 27, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (left) and Tottenham Hotspur’s Mathys Tel compete in a Premier League match. Liverpool won the match—and with it, the league title.

Cicadas to Return
Billions of noisy cicadas will emerge this spring in some Eastern states. These include Tennessee, Kentucky, and New York. When cicadas are young, they live underground. Once they’re fully grown, they climb out of the ground in a big, buzzing group. The group is known as a brood. This year’s brood is called Brood XIV. This brood emerges every 17 years. Cicadas might be loud. But they’re not dangerous. They don’t bite or sting. They provide food for birds. They also promote healthy soil.

Cicadas to Return
Billions of noisy cicadas will emerge this spring in Tennessee, Kentucky, New York, and other Eastern states. When cicadas are young, they live underground. Once they’re fully grown, they climb out of the ground in a big, buzzing group called a brood. This year’s group is called Brood XIV. This brood emerges every 17 years. Cicadas might be loud, but they’re not dangerous. They don’t bite or sting. They provide food for birds and promote healthy soil.

Logging Off
CANBERRA, Australia—The February 5 press conference starts like any other. Journalists grill Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese on a range of tricky topics, from housing to foreign relations. Then Lana, 11, picks up the microphone. “Do you think social media has an impact on kids?” she asks. Of all the questions of the day, it’s the one Albanese has been waiting for. It’s at the heart of his government’s most talked-about policy—one that directly affects Lana. She and the other student reporters invited to the press conference listen closely.
“It certainly does, and that’s why we’re going to ban social media for under-16s,” Albanese replies. “I want to see you all out playing with each other at lunchtime, talking to each other like we are now, and engaging with each other. . . rather than just being on your devices.”
Albanese believes that social media is a threat to his nation’s children. He’s determined to do something about it. That’s why, in December, Australia will implement a 16-year-old age limit for users of social-media platforms. The law is the first of its kind in the world.
What’s the Cost? Most social-media platforms have an age restriction of 13. Australia’s new law will increase that number by three years. And it will punish tech companies that fail to enforce it. The fines could be as much as $49.5 million Australian. (That’s about $31 million U.S.)
Social media became widely used in 2010. Among young Americans, mental health issues such as depression and anxiety have risen about 150% since then (see sidebar, “Look Back: Kids Weigh In”). That trend is similar in other countries, including Australia. It’s “the number 1 issue that parents are talking about,” Albanese told TIME during an exclusive interview in February.
There has been some opposition to the law. And not just from social-media companies. A group of 140 health experts wrote Albanese a letter. They expressed concern that the law won’t “address risks effectively.” Also, there’s debate over what should count as social media, as some gaming websites operate similarly.
For Albanese, an imperfect plan is better than no plan at all. “We acknowledge that this won’t be absolute,” he says. “But it does send a message about what society thinks.” Global Potential Australia’s law is setting an example for other countries. In November 2024, France’s education minister said that Europe should “urgently” follow Australia’s lead. Japan and Singapore are considering similar action.
In the U.S., the Kids Off Social Media Act is moving through the Senate. It bans social media for kids under 13 and limits its reach for those under 17. About half of U.S. states passed laws last year to make it harder for kids to be online without supervision. And in March, Utah became the first state to require that app stores get parental consent for minors to download apps.
Jonathan Haidt is a social psychology professor at New York University. If Australia’s law goes well, he says, “I think it will go global very quickly.” Look Back: Kids Weigh In Students today have never lived in a world where social media didn’t exist. The apps are a way to connect with family and friends. But social media also attracts cyberbullies and trolls who seek to anger or insult people. This can take a toll on users’ mental health.
Five years ago, we asked TIME for Kids readers if social media was good for society. Find their answers here. Do their arguments still ring true? What do you think?

Logging Off
CANBERRA, Australia—The February 5 press conference begins. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese takes questions from journalists. Lana, 11, stands up. “Do you think social media has an impact on kids?” she asks.
Albanese has been waiting for this question. It relates to his government’s most talked-about policy. Lana and the other student reporters invited to the press conference listen closely.
“It certainly does. And that’s why we’re going to ban social media for under-16s,” Albanese replies. “I want to see you all out playing with each other at lunchtime, talking to each other like we are now, and engaging with each other.”
Albanese believes that social media is a threat to his nation’s children. He wants to do something about it. That’s why, in December, Australia will set a new age limit for users of social-media platforms. The law is the first of its kind.
What’s the Cost? Most social-media platforms have an age limit of 13. Australia’s law will increase it to 16. And it will punish tech companies that fail to enforce it. The fines could be as much as $49.5 million Australian. (That’s about $31 million U.S.)
Social media became widely used in 2010. Among young Americans, mental health issues have risen about 150% since then (see sidebar, “Look Back: Kids Weigh In”). That trend is similar in other countries, including Australia. Albanese spoke about this with TIME during an exclusive interview. It’s “the number 1 issue that parents are talking about,” he said.
There has been opposition to the law. And not just from social-media companies. A group of 140 health experts wrote Albanese a letter to say the law won’t “address risks effectively.” There’s also debate over what should count as social media. Some gaming websites operate similarly.
Albanese says an imperfect plan is better than no plan at all. “This won’t be absolute,” he says. “But it does send a message.”
Global Potential Australia’s law sets an example. In November 2024, France’s education minister said that Europe should “urgently” follow Australia’s lead. Japan and Singapore are considering similar action.
In the U.S., the Kids Off Social Media Act is moving through the Senate. It bans social media for kids under 13. It also limits its reach for those under 17. About half of U.S. states passed laws last year to make it harder for kids to be online unsupervised. And in March, Utah became the first state to require that app stores get parental consent for minors to download apps.
Jonathan Haidt is a psychology professor at New York University. If Australia’s law goes well, he says, “I think it will go global very quickly.”
Look Back: Kids Weigh In Students today have never lived in a world where social media didn’t exist. The apps are a way to connect with family and friends. But social media also has risks. It can attract cyberbullies and trolls. They seek to anger or insult people. This can take a toll on users’ mental health.
Five years ago, we asked TIME for Kids readers if social media was good for society. Find their answers here. Do their arguments still ring true? What do you think?

Flower Power
Wildflowers bloom in the spring. They’re pretty, but they’re also important. They provide food for pollinators. These include bees and butterflies.
Not all wildflowers grow in big fields. In the city, they might grow in small patches. Researchers had a question about these patches: Could they still help pollinators? They performed a study. It was published in November 2024.
The study found that many different kinds of pollinators visit small wildflower patches. Barbara Zajdel led the team. She calls the study “good news for city dwellers.” Cities often don’t have room for large wildflower meadows, she told TIME for Kids. A tiny patch can make a big difference.

Hey, Batter Batter!
On March 29, the New York Yankees broke a record. They were playing the Milwaukee Brewers. It was opening weekend for Major League Baseball (MLB). The Yankees hit nine home runs in that game. It was a team high. But fans noticed something odd. Some Yankees players used new bats. They’re called torpedo bats (see photo).
The bats are shaped a bit like bowling pins. They have a wide “sweet spot.” This is where players hit the ball. What happens if that spot is wider? It could be easier to get a hit. These new bats are allowed by the MLB. Other teams are ordering them. Do you think they’ll change the game?

Carl’s Collections
Meet Carl! He’s a raccoon who loves collecting. Carl is the star of a new PBS Kids show called Carl the Collector. It’s the first PBS Kids series with a main character who’s autistic. That means he sees, feels, and thinks of things a little differently than others do.
The series was created by Zachariah OHora. He’s an author and illustrator of children’s books. He hopes the program inspires kids to be supportive friends. Everyone should “feel safe and appreciated,” he told TIME for Kids. “We are all different. We all need to be loved.”

Bugs for Lunch?
Bug Snacks was written by Jess French. She’s an author and a veterinarian. Her book explains that eating bugs could help the planet.

Many people in the U.S. think eating bugs is icky. “But in the rest of the world, it’s completely normal,” French told TFK. And for some people, “it’s an absolute treat,” she says. Bug Snacks dives into why insects are so important. There are big benefits to turning bugs into a food source. “I’m not suggesting we go and raid our gardens for bugs to eat,” French says. “I’m suggesting we farm them in the same way that we farm other animals.”

Seeing in Space
In December 2021, a new telescope was launched into space. It was the James Webb Space Telescope. It took a long time to build. It cost a lot of money. The Webb telescope is one of a kind. It is the most powerful telescope ever built. Webb’s Power The Webb telescope uses mirrors to make images. The mirrors are covered in gold. They collect light from faraway stars.
The telescope can see infrared light. This light is invisible to our eyes. But we can feel it as heat. Infrared vision helps the telescope see through space dust. Stars and planets form from gas and dust. Seeing into the dust can help us see how they form.

Making Waves
The 2002 animated movie Lilo & Stitch is a fan favorite. Now moviegoers are excited for the live-action version, which will be in theaters on May 23. It tells the story of a young Hawaiian girl, Lilo, who faces unexpected obstacles when she makes an odd new alien friend: Stitch.
The remake stars Maia Kealoha, 8, as Lilo. Maia was born in Hawaii. She told TIME for Kids that she felt overwhelmed with joy when she found out during a Zoom call that she’d gotten the part. “I was in shock,” she said. “I was also speechless. I was actually crying with happy tears.” The tears were partly because Maia loves Disney movies, such as the original Lilo and Stitch.
Maia has interests beyond acting. One of them is surfing: “Most of the time, I’m surfing,” she says. She also loves hula dancing. As Lilo, Maia had a chance to showcase both of these skills.
Lilo & Stitch marks Maia’s first role in a major motion picture. The experience has been “so much fun,” she says. “I love acting so much.”

Making Waves
The 2002 animated movie Lilo & Stitch is a fan favorite. Now moviegoers are excited for the live-action version, which will be in theaters on May 23. It tells the story of Lilo, a young Hawaiian girl. She faces unexpected obstacles when she makes an odd new alien friend: Stitch. The remake stars Maia Kealoha, 8, as Lilo. Maia was born in Hawaii. She told TIME for Kids that she felt overwhelmed with joy when she found out she’d gotten the part. “I was in shock,” she said. “I was actually crying with happy tears.” The tears were partly because Maia loves Disney movies, such as the original Lilo and Stitch. Maia has interests beyond acting. One is surfing: “Most of the time, I’m surfing,” she says. She also loves hula dancing. As Lilo, Maia had a chance to showcase both of these skills. Lilo & Stitch marks Maia’s first role in a major motion picture. The experience has been “so much fun,” she says. “I love acting so much.”

Should School Start Later in the Day?
Maybe you’re an early bird. Maybe you’d rather snooze until noon. Either way, you have to get up for school—and, for some students, that means waking up before they’ve had enough sleep. Studies show that poor sleep can lead to lower grades and mental health issues. So certain states are requiring schools to start later. Other states see early start times as necessary for busy kids and families. We asked TFK readers on both sides of the issue for their thoughts. Where do you stand? Ahava Sapp, 9
Ithaca, New York I think schools should start later. When you’re in school, usually between the ages of 4 and 22, your brain is not yet fully developed. At this stage, your brain and body need more sleep to function and grow.
Also, early start times (and early finish times) can be hard for families. Parents might not be able to pick up their kids from school. They might have to leave their jobs early. They might have to pay for extra childcare when the school day ends.
Finally, when kids don’t get enough sleep, they can get cranky. They might even start fights. This disrupts learning. Anwesha Rajoriya, 12
Niagara Falls, Canada To sleep in, or not to sleep in? That is the question. I love sleep, but sleep isn’t everything. Many students have after-school activities. A later start time would reduce the time they have for these activities. I play volleyball and participate in the robotics clubs. I couldn’t imagine giving these up for a few more hours of sleep.
While delaying school start times might benefit some people’s sleep and overall well-being, I believe the best solution is maintaining a better sleep schedule. For these reasons, I believe school should not start later in the day. Evelyn Mix, 12
Hillsboro, Oregon School should start later in the day. Studies show that school-age children need at least nine hours of sleep each night—even more, if you’re recovering from something, like an illness. People might suggest going to bed earlier. But schools already swamp us with homework and projects, forcing us to stay up late finishing them.
Also, it takes time to get ready for the day. You might say, “Just wake up earlier!” But if I wake up any earlier, I won’t get enough sleep. It’s a time crunch in the morning. If kids are rushing, they might forget things they need, like homework or a musical instrument. David Son, 9
Glenview, Illinois Starting school later might feel more relaxing. But it means that school would end later, leaving less time for important after-school activities, like sports or clubs. These activities help students build social skills and might even lead to future careers.
Also, starting school earlier helps students become early risers. This is a healthy habit that brings positive energy and helps you feel more productive in the morning.
While a late start sounds fun, an earlier start can support better time management and overall personal growth. The Next Debate: School’s almost out! Weigh in on our silly summer debate: Is summer the best season? Email your opinion to tfkeditors@time.com by June 23. It might be featured on our website. *Submissions have been edited only for length and clarity. They are not intended to reflect the views of TIME for Kids. Ages are accurate as of the time of submission.

Should School Start Later in the Day?
Maybe you’re an early bird. Maybe you’d rather snooze until noon. Either way, you have to get up for school. For some students, that means waking up before they’ve had enough sleep. Studies show that poor sleep can lead to lower grades and mental health issues. So certain states are requiring schools to start later. Other states see early start times as necessary for busy kids and families. We asked TFK readers on both sides of the issue for their thoughts. Where do you stand? Ahava Sapp, 9
Ithaca, New York I think schools should start later. When you’re in school, usually between the ages of 4 and 22, your brain is not yet fully developed. Your brain and body need more sleep to function and grow. Also, early start times (and early finish times) can be hard for families. Parents might not be able to pick up their kids from school. They might have to pay for extra childcare when the school day ends. Finally, when kids don’t get enough sleep, they can get cranky. This disrupts learning. Anwesha Rajoriya, 12
Niagara Falls, Canada To sleep in, or not to sleep in? That is the question. I love sleep, but sleep isn’t everything. Many students have after-school activities. A later start time would reduce the time they have for these activities. I play volleyball and participate in the robotics clubs. I couldn’t imagine giving these up for a few more hours of sleep.
Delaying school start times might benefit some people’s sleep and overall well-being. But I believe the best solution is maintaining a better sleep schedule. Evelyn Mix, 12
Hillsboro, Oregon Studies show that school-age children need at least nine hours of sleep each night. Even more, if you’re recovering from something, like an illness. People might suggest going to bed earlier. But schools already swamp us with homework and projects. This forces us to stay up late. Also, it takes time to get ready for the day. You might say, “Just wake up earlier!” But if I wake up any earlier, I won’t get enough sleep. If kids are rushing, they might forget things they need, like homework or a musical instrument. David Son, 9
Glenview, Illinois Starting school later might feel more relaxing. But school would end later. That would leave less time for after-school activities, like sports or clubs. These help students build social skills. They might even lead to future careers. Also, starting earlier helps students become early risers. This is a healthy habit. It brings positive energy and helps you feel more productive in the morning. A late start sounds fun. But an earlier start can support better time management and overall personal growth. The Next Debate: School’s almost out! Weigh in on our silly summer debate: Is summer the best season? Email your opinion to tfkeditors@time.com by June 23. It might be featured on our website. *Submissions have been edited only for length and clarity. They are not intended to reflect the views of TIME for Kids. Ages are accurate as of the time of submission.

Mission of the Month: Boost Literacy
Join a community of kids who are making the world a better and brighter place. TFK Service Stars know that even the smallest actions can make a big impact. Mission of the Month Reading, writing, and speaking are important skills. Without consistent access to literacy education and materials, such as books, people miss out on the chance to learn and communicate with words. We’re looking to feature kids who are aiding literacy efforts in their community. Could you be one of them? From organizing book drives to participating in tutoring groups, every effort matters. Need Inspiration? Start a book drive at your school. What types of books will you collect? Where will you donate them?
If you have a friend or schoolmate who’s struggling with reading and writing, ask how you can help.
Write letters to local leaders asking them to do more to promote literacy in your community. What groups or events need more attention and funding?
Ask a school or public librarian for information about the library’s literacy programs. Is there a way you can support these efforts?
Know multiple languages? Read a book with someone who wants to learn one of them.

Stars Shine Brighter Together Reading to young children helps them develop strong literacy skills. Plus, it’s fun! Ask a teacher for permission to visit a classroom of younger students. Have your classmates help you select fun books that you can read aloud. It’s story time! Need help getting started? Talk to an adult or pair up with a friend to find an idea that feels right for you. Tell Us About It! We want to hear all about your efforts to boost literacy. Share your story with us at tfkeditors@time.com for a chance to be featured in TIME for Kids.

Space Explorers
Astronauts are trained for space travel. This means a lot of work. After training, some astronauts go to space. Here are some of the things they might do on a mission. Spacewalks Sometimes, astronauts go outside. They suit up. This astronaut is outside the space station. He is making a repair. Research
Astronauts do science experiments. This one is studying how vegetables grow in space. Others test robots and machines. Teamwork
Astronauts from different countries are aboard the space station. They work and learn together. Exercise
It is important to stay healthy. Astronauts exercise regularly. This one is using a treadmill. He is attached to it so he does not float.

Summer Reads
What’s your favorite genre? Do you like fantasy? Realistic or historical fiction? These graphic novels have it all. Which will you read this summer? Magic Tree House: Sunset of the Sabertooth Mary Pope Osborne’s best-selling books have been turned into graphic novels. In this one (above), the magic tree house sends Jack and Annie to the Ice Age. They want to save their friend Morgan le Fay. But they also have to save themselves from giant cave bears and hungry sabertooths. Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers Nine-year-old Gabby is the main character of this book by Angela Dominguez. Gabby is part of a club called the Sea Musketeers. She really wants to stand out. So she starts a social-media page. But soon she faces the trouble her parents have warned her about. Beaky Barnes: Egg on the Loose This is the first book in the Beaky Barnes series, by David Ezra Stein. Follow several zany characters living in Simpletown. The town is all out of eggs. Until Beaky Barnes lays one. This creates chaos. Can Beaky protect the egg that everyone is after?

Joyful Books
David Ezra Stein writes and illustrates books for kids. His books include Interrupting Chicken, Monster Hug! , and Don’t Worry, Murray. Stein spoke with TIME for Kids about his work.
What do you like about writing for kids?
I have a big inner child. I like trying to make myself laugh. I think children’s books are a good laboratory for trying to discover interesting things about life.
There is a playfulness and joy in children’s books that some adult books don’t have. I think joy is really important.
What were you like as a kid?
I started drawing when I was very young. I read a lot of books. And even before I could write, I liked to tell stories. One of my first characters was a snake named Garfield.
What’s your process for making a new book?
I always carry around a sketchbook. I fill it up with thoughts and characters that come to me during the day.
Most of those ideas don’t get made into books. But some of them inspire me to write a story.
Then I start to figure out the best way to tell the story. What colors should I use? What do the characters look like? What will the rhythm of the words be? I do a lot of experimenting to see what works best.
What do you love about your job?
I love that I get to make something new that nobody has ever thought of. And I love that I get to play.

Library Joy
Meet librarian Mychal Threets, whose viral videos celebrate local libraries. In this video, Threets talks about how he got started telling stories on social media.

Out of the Box
TFK Kid Reporter Evelyn Peng read Unboxing Libby and interviewed its author, Steph Cherrywell. Ready Evelyn’s thoughts below. Unboxing Libby, by Steph Cherrywell, is a science-fiction novel about belonging. Humans are preparing to settle on Mars. A.I.Cademy Girls have populated it as test subjects. The robot dolls think, talk, and act like humans. Each type is modeled on a specific personality trait: Libbys are nice. Wendys are smart. Noras are creative. The story focuses on a Libby: Libby “Max” Maxwell, who notices that she seems different from the others. She befriends Roxanne, a “mean” doll, and starts to feel angry and confused—two things a Libby should never be. In Max’s search for her identity, she uncovers secrets about robot life that could endanger all of the A.I.Cademy Girls. Cherrywell hopes readers walk away from the book with a stronger sense of identity. Max learns how to handle peer pressure; Cherrywell wants readers to learn the same. “Don’t let what other people say about you define what you think about yourself,” they told TIME for Kids. Max struggles to feel like she belongs. Cherrywell’s advice for readers who also feel this way? “Find people whom you connect with.” The story has lots of humor and includes fun epigraphs at the end of each chapter. Unboxing Libby is a perfect book for middle schoolers who enjoy mystery and sci-fi novels.

Business Booster
Does your city or town have a chamber of commerce? In the United States, there are more than 7,500 of these organizations. They’re designed to support local businesses, boost the economy, and help communities thrive. In Colorado, the Boulder Chamber of Commerce has been serving its community for more than 100 years. Erika McNab is program coordinator there. It’s her job to manage and plan professional-development programs for members. Your Hot Job spoke to McNab about how she arrived at this role and what it takes to get the job done.

Training Day
Many families schedule obedience lessons when they first bring a dog into their home. These can be group classes, or they can be private sessions with a professional trainer. Shir Limazati wants all dog owners to improve their communication with their furry friend. So she started a business: Another Chance Training. Here’s how Limazati spends a typical day as a professional dog trainer in Chicago, Illinois.

Earth’s Moon
The moon is the closest natural object to Earth. Look up! You can see it in the night sky. Sometimes, you can see it during the day. Learn more.
The moon is a large rock. It gets hit by smaller space rocks. That forms craters. The surface of the moon is rough and dusty. There is no wind or weather there. The moon orbits the Earth. It takes 27 days for the moon to travel around the Earth. Its gravity pulls on Earth. This causes tides. Earth’s oceans have high tides and low tides each day. The moon has phases.
The moon seems to change shape. It gets its light from the sun. As the moon orbits, we can see different amounts of it. There are eight phases. One is not visible. People explored the moon. Buzz Aldrin (pictured) and Neil Armstrong were the first people on the moon. It took their spacecraft three days to get there.

Diving Deep
There are trillions of pieces of plastic in the ocean. This is dangerous for deep-diving whales. They mistake the plastic for food. But why do whales mix up plastic and prey? A team of marine biologists wanted to find out.
These scientists are part of the Duke University Marine Lab. Their research explains why some whales accidentally eat garbage. The problem comes down to a process called echolocation. Whales use it to find their way around.
Hunting by Sound
Some whales, like sperm whales, hunt deep in the ocean. It’s dark there. The whales can’t see, but they can hear. So they use echolocation.
First, the whales make a sound. Then they listen. They hear echoes bounce off of objects. The echoes bounce off of prey, like squid. But they also bounce off of garbage. To whales, trash “sounds” like prey. That’s why they eat the garbage.
To figure this out, the Duke University scientists gathered items like plastic bottles and rope. These have been found in whale stomachs. The scientists bounced sounds off of the objects and measured the echoes. The echoes from garbage were similar to those from prey animals.
Finding a Solution
Greg Merrill led the study. He was “unsurprised” by the results. “We knew they were eating the garbage,” he told TFK. “There had to be a reason.”
Many kids care about marine life. Freddie Slater-Reynolds, 7, is one of them. He shared this advice for people who want to help: Don’t litter. Litter finds its way into the ocean. “Throw it in the garbage bin,” Freddie says.

What’s Down There?
The ocean is deep. It’s made up of zones, or areas. Here are three of them.
Sunlight Zone
This zone gets heat from the sun. It gets light, too. Most ocean plants and animals live here. Phytoplankton are an important part of this zone. These tiny plants are the base of the food chain. They create oxygen for the planet.
Twilight Zone
This zone is cold and dim. It doesn’t get much light. Almost no plants grow here. Some of the animals in this zone are bioluminescent. They make their own light. Much of this zone is unexplored.
Midnight Zone
This zone is the largest part of the ocean. It’s very cold. No sunlight reaches it. The only light comes from animals that make their own. Water pressure is very high in this zone. This is an extreme environment. Many of its creatures are unknown.

Moon Missions
In 1969, people landed on the moon for the first time. The mission was part of the Apollo program. It was run by NASA. That is the United States space agency. There were many Apollo missions. Here are five of them. Do you think people should go back to the moon? Why or why not?

Severe Storms Hit U.S.
Recovery efforts are ongoing after a system of intense storms brought heavy rains and strong winds to parts of the Southern and Midwestern United States in early April. Communities saw flash flooding, tornadoes, and historic rainfall. The storms lasted for days, with damaging effects. More than 20 people died. Millions lost power. Roads, businesses, and schools were closed.
On April 3, Tennessee governor Bill Lee called the devastation in his state “enormous.” In an April 6 social-media post, Kentucky governor Andy Beshear called the storms “a major natural disaster.” He also noted that “there is record flooding across our state.”
Emergency declarations were made in several states. These allow the states to receive extra support from the federal government.
Weather forecasters say the severe storms were caused by multiple factors, according to the Associated Press. These factors include “warm temperatures” and “abundant moisture” in the air. In a flood warning, the National Weather Service called the storm system “an event that happens once in a generation to once in a lifetime.” Stop and Think! WHAT sources does the author refer to in the article? How do journalists use sources to communicate a news story?

Severe Storms Hit U.S.
Recovery efforts are ongoing after a system of strong storms in early April. They brought heavy rains and winds to parts of the Southern and Midwestern United States. Communities saw flooding and tornadoes. Some saw historic rainfall. The storms lasted for days. More than 20 people died. Millions lost power. Roads and schools were closed.
On April 3, Tennessee governor Bill Lee called the devastation “enormous.” In an April 6 social-media post, Kentucky governor Andy Beshear called the storms “a major natural disaster.”
Emergency declarations were made in several states. These allow for extra support from the federal government.
Forecasters say the storms were caused by multiple factors. According to the Associated Press, these include “warm temperatures” and “abundant moisture” in the air. The National Weather Service called the storms “an event that happens once in a generation to once in a lifetime.” Stop and Think! WHAT sources does the author refer to in the article? How do journalists use sources to communicate a news story?

Fighting Light Pollution
Artificial light includes light from signs and streetlamps. These help people see once the sun goes down. But too much artificial light becomes light pollution. This makes it difficult to see a starry sky. And it affects animal behavior.
From April 21 to 28, people will celebrate International Dark Sky Week. It’s an annual event intended to inspire people to reduce light pollution. Started in 2003 by a teenager, the event is now organized by DarkSky International. The group’s website recommends that people use outdoor lighting “only when needed.” It also suggests that people “help spread the word about light pollution.” One way to do this is by gathering outdoors with friends, family, and neighbors to enjoy the glittering night sky.

Fighting Light Pollution
Artificial light includes light from signs and streetlamps. These help people see once the sun goes down. But too much artificial light becomes light pollution. This makes it difficult to see a starry sky. And it affects animal behavior.
From April 21 to 28, people will celebrate International Dark Sky Week. It’s an annual event. It’s meant to inspire people to reduce light pollution. A teenager started the event in 2003. Now the event is organized by DarkSky International. The group’s website recommends that people use outdoor lighting “only when needed.” It also suggests that people “help spread the word about light pollution.” One way to do this is by gathering outdoors with friends, family, and neighbors: Get together and enjoy the glittering night sky!

Swanning Around
On April 6, swans parade at the Annual Swan Release, in Stratford, Canada. Each year, on the first Sunday in April, the swans are released from their winter pen. They spend the warmer months on the nearby Avon River.

Feeling the Heat
About one in five people says climate change has a big impact on their daily life. This is according to a new study, released in March by Climate Central. The group looked at global temperatures between December 2024 and February 2025. They’re heating up. Kristina Dahl is Climate Central’s vice president for science. “We found that there were warmer than normal temperatures caused by climate change almost everywhere,” she says.

Cities in Bloom
An expanse of wildflowers is a stunning sight. But a wildflower meadow isn’t just nice to look at. It’s also doing important work. It promotes biodiversity. It produces food for pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. And it provides a habitat for birds and small mammals. Researchers in Warsaw, Poland, wondered if these vibrant habitats work at a smaller scale too. So they studied wildflower patches in urban areas. Their study was published in November 2024, in the journal Ecological Entomology. The study found that, though the city patches are only a fraction of the size of a meadow, they make a big impact on wildlife.
The size of a wildflower meadow or patch doesn’t prevent a diversity of species from visiting. Even small plots of urban wildflowers attract a wide variety of pollinators, including wild bees and hoverflies. These tiny creatures support healthy ecosystems.
Barbara Zajdel, the team’s lead researcher, calls the study “good news for city dwellers.” People who live in cities often don’t have room for more than a wildflower patch, she told TIME for Kids. But a patch can make a big difference. “Sowing even a small flower meadow attracts pollinating insects and ensures that they [can] collect the right amount of food,” Zajdel says.
Wildflower Week Wildflower season begins in the spring. Since 1987, the first full week of May has been dubbed National Wildflower Week in the United States. This year, it begins on May 5.
The event is promoted by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, in Austin, Texas. Each year, people gather there to experience wildflowers in full bloom. Visitors can also learn about the flowers’ positive impact on the environment.
That impact continues long after wildflowers have bloomed, Demekia Biscoe says. She’s the Wildflower Center’s director of education. “Wildflowers support our ecosystem year-round,” she told TFK. Wildflowers have deep roots. When these flowers are planted in the ground, their roots help stabilize soil and increase its ability to absorb rainwater, both of which can reduce flooding.
Pollinator Support If a person doesn’t have room to plant flowers in the ground, Biscoe advises planting them outside in pots or window boxes. “If everyone in my apartment building planted native flowers on their patio,” she says, “the bees would be very happy.”
Zajdel agrees. She explains that some pollinators—bees, for example—aren’t able to fly very far from their nests in search of food. The more wildflowers they find nearby, the happier and healthier they’ll be. (Have you ever been on a road trip and needed to stop for a snack? Think of wildflower patches as a one-stop snack shop for pollinators.)
“Dispersing flower meadows, even small ones, in urban areas creates ‘life corridors’ for insects and other animals,” Zajdel says. For bees, birds, and bugs zooming around the city, a few flowers can be a lifeline. Getting Involved Want to promote biodiversity? Chrissy Word, director of education at New York’s City Parks Foundation, has a few tips. First, observe. Step outside. Immerse yourself in the natural world. Try an activity like birdwatching or gardening. Then get involved. Ask a teacher how you can help. Can you plant wildflowers somewhere nearby? Ask! Parks organizations offer after-school programs, too. Why not join? —By TFK Kid Reporter
 Safiyyah Hussain

Cities in Bloom
Wildflowers are a stunning sight. But a wildflower meadow isn’t just nice to look at. It’s also doing important work. It promotes biodiversity. It produces food for pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. And it provides a habitat for birds and small mammals. Not all wildflowers grow in meadows. People plant small patches in cities, too. Researchers in Warsaw, Poland, were curious about these patches. They wondered if small patches in urban areas could make a big impact. So they conducted a study. It was published in November 2024. It ran in the journal Ecological Entomology.
The study found that small city patches make a big impact on wildlife. Many different kinds of pollinators visit them. These include wild bees and hoverflies. They support healthy ecosystems.
Barbara Zajdel led the team. She calls the study “good news for city dwellers.” People who live in cities often don’t have room for large wildflower meadows, she told TIME for Kids. But a patch can make a big difference. “Sowing even a small flower meadow attracts pollinating insects and ensures that they [can] collect the right amount of food,” Zajdel says.
Wildflower Week Wildflower season begins in the spring. Since 1987, the first full week of May has been dubbed National Wildflower Week in the United States. This year, it begins on May 5.
The event is promoted by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. That’s in Austin, Texas. Each year, people gather there to see wildflowers in bloom. Visitors can also learn about the flowers’ impact on the environment.
That impact continues long after wildflowers have bloomed, Demekia Biscoe points out. She’s the Wildflower Center’s director of education. “Wildflowers support our ecosystem year-round,” she told TFK. Wildflowers have deep roots. When these flowers are planted in the ground, the roots help stabilize soil. They also help soil absorb rainwater. Both of these effects can reduce flooding. 
Pollinator Support Not everyone has room to plant flowers in the ground. But you can still help. Biscoe suggests planting them outside in pots or window boxes. “If everyone in my apartment building planted native flowers on their patio,” she says, “the bees would be very happy.”
Zajdel agrees. She explains that some pollinators aren’t able to fly very far from the nest in search of food. These include bees. The more wildflowers they find nearby, the happier and healthier they’ll be. (Have you ever been on a road trip and needed to stop for a snack? Think of wildflower patches as a pollinator snack shop.)
“Dispersing flower meadows, even small ones, in urban areas creates ‘life corridors’ for insects and other animals,” Zajdel says. For bees, birds, and bugs zooming around the city, a few flowers can be a lifeline. Getting Involved Want to promote biodiversity? Chrissy Word, director of education at New York’s City Parks Foundation, has a few tips. First, observe. Step outside. Immerse yourself in the natural world. Try an activity like birdwatching or gardening. Then get involved. Ask a teacher how you can help. Is there somewhere nearby you can plant wildflowers? Ask! Parks organizations offer after-school programs, too. Why not join? —By TFK Kid Reporter Safiyyah Hussain

Eagles on the Rise
The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States. It’s known for its huge wingspan and fierce gaze. But not so long ago, eagles were in trouble.
A chemical called DDT was introduced in the 1940s. It was meant to kill pests. But it also harmed people and animals. DDT weakened the shells of eagle eggs, so fewer eaglets hatched. In 1967, bald eagles were listed as endangered.
DDT was made illegal in 1972. But by then, the eagle population was very low. There were fewer than 600 eagles in the lower 48 states. Now there are signs of hope.
Rescue Mission Many people worked to increase the eagle population. They brought in healthy eagles from other places, such as Canada. These conservationists helped the eggs hatch safely.
The birds were removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species in 2007. This January, New Jersey became the latest state to delist the eagle as endangered. In the 1980s, there was just one nesting pair of eagles in the entire state. Today, there are roughly 300.
Staying Alive Bald eagles still face dangers. They get hit by cars and become tangled in fishing line. They also get sick from bird flu. It’s a disease affecting animals all over the country.
Kathy Benner is the executive director of the American Bald Eagle Foundation. She told TIME for Kids that bald eagles are “important to the ecosystem.” For one thing, they eat pests, like mice.
Wildlife biologist Matthew Palumbo agrees. If you see an eagle in the wild, he says, be sure to watch it from far away. “One way to help protect them is to give them plenty of space,” Palumbo says.

Eagles on the Rise
The bald eagle, the national bird of the United States, is known for its sweeping eight-foot wingspan and fierce gaze. But not so long ago, these majestic birds were in trouble.
A chemical called DDT was introduced in the 1940s. It was sprayed on farms, over forests, and even inside buildings to kill pests, but it also had harmful effects for people and animals. DDT was found to weaken the shells of eagle eggs. Because of this, fewer eaglets hatched. In 1967, the bald eagle was listed as an endangered species. DDT was made illegal in 1972. But by then, the eagle population was already very low. There were fewer than 600 eagles in the lower 48 states. Now there are signs of hope.
Rescue Mission Many people worked hard to help the eagle population. Conservationists brought in healthy eagles from other places, such as Canada, and helped their eggs hatch safely. Over time, the bald eagle population grew.
The birds were removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species in 2007. This January, New Jersey became the latest state to delist the eagle as endangered. It’s an amazing comeback. In the 1980s, there was just one nesting pair of eagles in the entire state. Today, there are roughly 300.
Staying Alive Bald eagles still face dangers. They get hit by cars and become tangled in fishing line. They can also get sick from bird flu, an illness affecting animals all over the country.
Kathy Benner, the executive director of the American Bald Eagle Foundation, told TIME for Kids that bald eagles are “very important to the ecosystem.” For one thing, they’re predators, so they help keep pests like mice in check.
Wildlife biologist Matthew Palumbo agrees. He encourages people to pick up litter to help maintain “clean water, clean air, and clean soil.” And, if you see an eagle in the wild, be sure to watch it from far away. “One way to help protect them is to give them plenty of space,” Palumbo says.

Into the Unknown
The Legend of Ochi, now in theaters, begins in a small village on a remote island where people have been raised in fear of a species of creatures called the ochi. A girl, Yuri, finds a wounded baby ochi. She decides to do the right thing and take it back to its family. The filmmakers used puppets rather than computer-generated images to portray the baby ochi. According to 16-year-old Helena Zengel, who plays Yuri, this made scenes challenging but interesting to coordinate. “The ochi had around six puppeteers, so it was a lot of people involved on one character,” Helena told TIME for Kids. “That meant that the scene had to be done over and over again,” to get it just right. Director Isaiah Saxon (inset) says the movie demonstrates that people tend to fear what they don’t know. Instead of fear, The Legend of Ochi promotes “curiosity for the unknown, curiosity for things we don’t really understand,” he told TFK. “Having an open mind allows you to perceive the world more accurately.”

Into the Unknown
The Legend of Ochi is now in theaters. The movie begins in a small village on a remote island. People there have been raised in fear of a species of creatures called the ochi. A girl, Yuri, finds a wounded baby ochi. She decides to take it back to its family.
The filmmakers used puppets to portray the baby ochi. Sixteen-year-old Helena Zengel, who plays Yuri, says this made scenes challenging but interesting to film. “The ochi had around six puppeteers, so it was a lot of people involved on one character,” she told TIME for Kids. “That meant that the scene had to be done over and over again,” to get it just right.
Director Isaiah Saxon (inset) says the movie is about how people fear what they don’t understand. The Legend of Ochi promotes “curiosity for the unknown,” he told TFK. “Having an open mind allows you to perceive the world more accurately.”

Music Man
How do business leaders figure out what goods and services people want to buy? They do market research, which means looking at information about products in the marketplace. Market research is an important part of Rob Dekker’s role as vice president of marketing for Kidz Bop. Founded in 2001, the company releases family-friendly cover versions of popular songs, sung by kids. And it produces live concert tours by kid performers.

The Solar System
There are eight planets in our solar system. Each one travels on a path around the sun. Those path are called orbits. Learn about each planet. Mercury Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system. It is the closest to the sun. But it is not the hottest. It gets freezing cold at night. Venus Venus is the hottest planet. It is surrounded by gas. The gas traps heat. Venus has active volcanoes. It can sometimes be seen without a telescope. Earth Earth is our home. It is the third planet from the sun. It is the only one known to have living things. Most of Earth is covered by water. Mars Mars is known as the Red Planet. Iron in its soil gives Mars a red color. Scientists have sent rovers to Mars. The rovers are looking for signs of life. Jupiter Jupiter is the biggest planet in our solar system. We can see it without a telescope. Jupiter is made of gas. It might not have any solid surface. Saturn Saturn is surrounded by large rings. They are bigger than any other planet. The rings are made of ice and rock. Like Jupiter, the planet is mostly made of gas. Uranus Uranus is very cold. It is the only planet that spins on its side. Uranus is an ice giant. It has a solid, icy core. Methane gas makes it blue. Neptune Neptune is the farthest planet from the sun. Like Uranus, it is a blue ice giant. This planet is cold, dark, and windy.

Pup Planes
Last May, a new airline took flight. It’s called Bark Air. The passengers? Dogs! Bark is a company that sells dog food and toys. In April 2024, it announced a new airline. On other flights, pets are treated as cargo. They’re kept below the cabin in crates. Bark Air lets dogs travel in the cabin with their owners. Bark puts “the comfort and happiness of the dog first.” That’s what its website says. According to Bark, “No dog should fly in a crate.” Dogs First Bark created its travel service because of a demand from dog owners. There was no “convenient solution to traveling long distances with your dog,” Bark says. That’s why the company is focused on keeping dogs happy while traveling. Canines can socialize during the flight. They get treats. They get drinks. They get noise-canceling earmuffs. Best of all? They get to travel with their human. Pricey Ride
The airline’s first flight was in May 2024. It went from New York to Los Angeles. Tickets sold out. That’s according to Bark’s booking website. A ticket cost $6,000. That was for one pet and its owner. The company hopes to bring prices down. Bark’s planes can hold 14 dogs and their humans. But it plans to sell nine tickets per flight. This will ensure plenty of room for all passengers.
And Bark plans to add destinations. “The initial launch of Bark Air is only the beginning,” the company says.

Flying High
Flight attendants go all over the world. They help keep travelers safe and comfortable. Jenessa Andrea works for United Airlines. She spoke to TIME for Kids about her job. What is your job?
I manage the service and safety on board aircraft. I work with the captains. I often check on them and get to see the awesome views. What childhood experiences led you to your career? As a kid, I loved air travel. I used to sit in the window seat. I also loved helping people. I do that every day here. And I was fascinated by other places. What kind of person makes a great flight attendant? People who are compassionate. People who care about service and safety. And people who follow rules and procedures. What if I’m afraid of flying? Customers are usually afraid of turbulence. But the crew isn’t worried about the aircraft. The aircraft is safe. It was built to withstand turbulence.

The Sun and Seasons
Earth has four seasons. They are spring, summer, fall, and winter. The Earth moves around the sun. One trip takes a year. Earth is tilted as it moves. This is what causes the seasons. The equator is an imaginary line around Earth’s middle. Look at the image above. Do you live above the equator? In summer, the top half of Earth tilts toward the sun. It is warmer there. In winter, the top half tilts away from the sun. It is colder there. It is the opposite for people who live below the equator. When it is summer above the equator, it is winter below.

Compost Power
Urban farmer Domingo Morales leads a composting program that is helping make New York City more sustainable. In this video, Morales talks about his journey to this career and how he’s inspiring others to learn about urban farming.

Join the Club
TFK Kid Reporter Nate Rhew read The Cartoonists Club, a graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud. Read Nate’s thoughts below. Middle school student Makayla is imaginative and full of ideas. When she helps her friend Howard come up with inspiration for his drawings, she discovers she loves making comics. She and Howard start a club for students who want to make and sell them. The Cartoonists Club: A Graphic Novel, by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud, is about a group of kids who are very different from one another but who are united by their love of art and storytelling. With the help of their school librarian, Ms. Fatima, the club members experiment with different ways to make comics and learn techniques to improve them. Ms. Fatima shares her golden rule for making comics and helps them sell their work at a comics convention. Raina Telgemeier told TFK, “I hope [readers] feel inspired, and I hope they feel empowered. I want every reader to think, ‘I can do this.’” Scott McCloud wants readers to know that “Sometimes, failure can be valuable. If you try something and it doesn’t work out the first time, you can learn a lot from that. You should always make at least one mistake.” The kids in the cartoonists club come from varied backgrounds and have their own separate struggles, but they all love creating comics. This is a great book for someone who wants to learn how to make comics or connect with others who share their interest. As Telgemeier tells TFK, “I want us all to be in a big cartoonists club together.”

What’s on the Shelf?
Brian Winters has held many positions at Albertsons, a large grocery company with more than 2,000 stores, including Safeway, Kings, and Shaw’s. He started as a grocery bagger, thinking his time in the business would be temporary. But he soon realized he could have an exciting and long-lasting career in the grocery industry. “Everybody needs food,” he told Your Hot Job. “So it was one of those careers that I thought I could continue to grow in, and it turned out to be. I’ve been with the company 36 years.”

Education Order
On March 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order. It aims to dismantle the Department of Education (DOE). Trump has said that the department will keep some “core necessities.” He has also said that Congress will vote on whether to officially abolish it. The order is one of many signed during the first weeks of Trump’s term. He’s working to make the federal government smaller through major cuts and funding freezes. The DOE was started by Congress in 1979. Its tasks have varied. One is the management of federal student loans and aid programs. It has also provided some public education funding. And it has collected school data. According to the executive order, the department’s “main functions” will be given to “states and local communities.” The DOE had about 4,200 employees in September 2024. That’s according to the Office of Personnel Management. On March 11, news came that 50% of DOE employees would be laid off. Stop and Think! WHAT factors do TFK editors consider when choosing news to cover? How might this be different if TFK were published every day?

Education Order
On March 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that aims to dismantle the Department of Education (DOE). Trump said that the department will still keep some “core necessities” and that Congress will vote on whether to officially abolish it. The order is one of many that have defined the first weeks of Trump’s second term. The president is working to make the federal government smaller. Led by his Department of Government Efficiency, his administration has put in place major cuts and funding freezes. The DOE as it is known today was established by Congress in 1979. It has had varied responsibilities over the years, including the management of federal student loans and aid programs. It has also provided some funding for public K–12 education. And it has collected data on schools. According to the executive order, the department’s “main functions” will be given to “states and local communities” instead. As of September 2024, the DOE had about 4,200 employees, according to the Office of Personnel Management. On March 11, before the order, news came that 50% of DOE employees would be laid off. Stop and Think! WHAT factors do TFK editors consider when choosing news to cover? How might this be different if TFK were published every day?

Quake in Southeast Asia
An earthquake struck Southeast Asia on March 28. It was centered in the country of Myanmar. The 7.7-magnitude quake was so powerful that it collapsed buildings in Bangkok, Thailand. That’s hundreds of miles from the earthquake’s epicenter. At press time, more than 2,700 people had been killed. More were injured or missing. “We fear it may be weeks before we understand the full extent of destruction caused by this earthquake,” Mohammed Riyas says. He’s the director of the International Rescue Committee in Myanmar. Rescue teams have arrived from countries such as China, India, and Russia. Others, including the United States, have pledged money for aid.

Quake in Southeast Asia
An earthquake struck Southeast Asia on March 28. It was centered in the country of Myanmar. The 7.7-magnitude quake was powerful. It even collapsed buildings in Bangkok, Thailand. That’s hundreds of miles from the quake’s epicenter.
At press time, more than 2,700 people had died. More were injured or missing. “We fear it may be weeks before we understand the full extent of destruction caused by this earthquake,” Mohammed Riyas says. He’s the director of the International Rescue Committee in Myanmar.
Rescue teams have arrived from other countries. These include China, India, and Russia. Others, including the United States, have pledged money for aid.

Hey, Batter Batter!
On March 29, on opening weekend of Major League Baseball (MLB), the New York Yankees broke a record. They hit nine home runs in a game—a team high—against the Milwaukee Brewers. Fans noticed something odd: Some Yankees players used new bats called torpedo bats (see photo). The bats are shaped a bit like bowling pins, with a wide “sweet spot” where players hit the ball. They’re allowed by the MLB. Sports Illustrated reports that other teams have also ordered them.

Hey, Batter Batter!
On March 29, the New York Yankees broke a record. It was opening weekend of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Yankees hit nine home runs in a game, a team high, against the Milwaukee Brewers. But fans noticed something odd. Some Yankees players used new bats called torpedo bats (see photo). The bats are shaped a bit like bowling pins. They have a wide “sweet spot.” This is where players hit the ball. The bats are allowed by the MLB. And Sports Illustrated reports that other teams have also ordered them.

Book Support
On a sunny Saturday morning in late February, Rohan Mukhopadhyay unpacked 10 boxes of brand-new children’s books. He was at the Beehive, a venue in Los Angeles, California, with his mom, dad, and brother. Together, they arranged the books on folding tables. All were gifts from donors, including authors and publishers. Rohan, 13, was giving them away as part of a program he started called Reading Among Ruins.
Just weeks earlier, wildfires had torn through Los Angeles, destroying more than 16,000 structures, including schools and houses. Rohan and his family lost their home in the Palisades Fire, and with it, Rohan lost his beloved book collection. “I was heartbroken,” he told TIME for Kids. “It made me wonder how other people, other kids, felt about losing their books.”
That simple question kick-started Rohan’s relief effort. “I wanted to help,” he says. Now the seventh grader is going all out to get books to young people who were affected by the fires.
Books Matter In its first month, Reading Among Ruins gave away more than 1,000 books to kids. Asher Finkelthal, 13, was one. “I like the feeling of books,” Asher told TFK, “and I like rereading books.” Losing his books was devastating. Rohan’s giveaway lifted Asher’s spirits.
Using an online form, “I requested a few books by Stuart Gibbs,” Asher says. “He’s one of my favorite authors.” Soon, Rohan gifted him with books from Gibbs’s FunJungle and Spy School series. “It felt really good” to receive them, Asher says. “It’s nice to know that other people care about books also and want to help people rebuild their collections.”
Veeren Mehra, 10, also got books from Rohan. He learned a powerful lesson: “If you are in a tough situation,” Veeren says, “people will be there for you.” Books are there for people, too. “They’re things that you come back to again and again” for comfort and joy, Zibby Owens says. She’s the founder of Zibby’s Bookshop, in Santa Monica. Rohan and his family are frequent visitors. Owens is also leading a campaign—to rebuild school libraries. “I think what he’s doing is amazing,” she says about Rohan. “Being able to sense what your friends need in a time of distress? That is a superpower.”
Community Spirit Officials say it will take time to recover from the wildfires. Until then, the community has come together to support neighbors in need. The giveaway Rohan did in February was part of a larger effort called Together We Rebuild. Local groups provided essential items like clothing and furniture. They also connected people with financial aid and helped them find housing.
Kids got special attention at the daylong event. There was entertainment and a petting zoo, and there were lots of free toys and books. “We probably gave away more than a couple hundred books,” says Rohan’s mom, Puja Chugani. “Actually, we lost track.”
Rohan remembers how kids looked as they made their selections: “Really excited,” he says. As long as there’s a need, he plans to keep on giving. Inspired? Let Rohan’s story inspire you to address a need in your community. Click below for ideas about how you can boost literacy and make the world a brighter place.

Book Support
On a sunny Saturday in late February, Rohan Mukhopadhyay unpacked 10 boxes of children’s books. He was at the Beehive, a venue in Los Angeles, California, with his family. They arranged the books on folding tables. The books had been donated. They came from authors, publishers, and others. Rohan, 13, was giving them away. It was part of a program he started called Reading Among Ruins. Just weeks earlier, wildfires had torn through Los Angeles. More than 16,000 structures were destroyed. These included schools and houses. Rohan and his family lost their home in the Palisades Fire. Rohan’s beloved book collection was destroyed. “I was heartbroken,” he told TIME for Kids. “It made me wonder how other people, other kids, felt about losing their books.”
That question kick-started Rohan’s efforts. “I wanted to help,” he says. Now he’s going all out to get books to kids who were affected by the fires.
Books Matter
In its first month, Reading Among Ruins gave away more than 1,000 books to kids. Asher Finkelthal, 13, was one of them. Using an online form, “I requested a few books by Stuart Gibbs,” Asher told TFK. “He’s one of my favorite authors.” Rohan gave him books from Gibbs’s FunJungle and Spy School series. “It felt really good” to get them, Asher says. “It’s nice to know that other people care about books also and want to help people rebuild their collections.” Veeren Mehra is 10. He also got books from Rohan. He says he learned a powerful lesson: “If you are in a tough situation,” Veeren says, “people will be there for you.”
Books are there for people, too. “They’re things that you come back to again and again” for comfort and joy, Zibby Owens says. She’s the founder of Zibby’s Bookshop. It’s in Santa Monica. Rohan and his family visit often. “I think what he’s doing is amazing,” she says about Rohan. “Being able to sense what your friends need in a time of distress? That is a superpower.”
Community Spirit The giveaway Rohan did in February was part of a larger effort. It’s called Together We Rebuild. Local groups provided clothing and furniture. They connected people with aid and helped them find housing. Kids got special attention at the daylong event. There was entertainment and a petting zoo. “We probably gave away more than a couple hundred books,” Puja Chugani says. She’s Rohan’s mom.
Rohan recalls how kids looked as they chose books: “Really excited,” he says. As long as there’s a need, he plans to keep giving. Inspired? Let Rohan’s story inspire you to address a need in your community. Click below for ideas about how you can boost literacy and make the world a brighter place.

Astronauts Return Home
Two NASA astronauts are finally home after unexpectedly spending more than nine months in space. On June 5, 2024, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were launched into space. They were the first people to fly on Boeing’s new Starliner spacecraft. The trip was supposed to be short. They planned to cruise to the International Space Station (ISS) and then head home.
But the spacecraft experienced problems. It wasn’t safe to carry the astronauts home, so Williams and Wilmore had to stay at the ISS. They waited until March 16, when a SpaceX Crew Dragon craft arrived at the ISS to take them back to Earth. They made it safely to Earth on March 18.
Stuck At Work
Astronauts prepare for long-term space missions with extensive physical and mental training. But Williams and Wilmore didn’t plan for a long mission. They intended to spend just eight days in space. So when they learned they’d be sticking around, they had to adjust. Fortunately, the two had plenty to do on the ISS. They went on spacewalks and conducted experiments. “We came up prepared to stay long, even though we [planned] to stay short,” Wilmore said in a recent air-to-ground press conference. “That’s what we do in human spaceflight.”
Being home will present different challenges. “The toughest thing about returning to Earth after many months in space is adapting to gravity,” retired astronaut Terry Virts says. To help with this, Williams and Wilmore will complete a rehab program of medical testing and daily workouts.
Splashing Down
Williams and Wilmore returned to Earth on March 18, in a SpaceX capsule designed to land in the ocean. (See “Safe Landing.”) The capsule parachuted into the water off the coast of Florida. The astronauts were 278 days late—but they were safe. “On behalf of SpaceX, welcome home,” radioed mission control, in California.

Astronauts Return Home
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are NASA astronauts. They unexpectedly spent more than nine months in space. Now, they’re finally home.
On June 5, 2024, Williams and Wilmore blasted off. They were the first people to fly on Boeing’s new Starliner spacecraft. Their trip was supposed to be eight days long. But the craft had problems. It couldn’t carry them home. So the two had to stay at the International Space Station (ISS) until March 16, when a SpaceX Crew Dragon craft arrived to fly them back to Earth. Stuck at Work
Astronauts have to prepare for long space missions. They train extensively. But Williams and Wilmore didn’t expect a long mission. It came as a surprise. Fortunately, they had plenty to do on the ISS. They went for spacewalks. And they conducted experiments. “We came up prepared to stay long, even though we [planned] to stay short,” Wilmore said in a recent air-to-ground press conference. Being home will present different challenges. “The toughest thing about returning to Earth after many months in space is adapting to gravity,” retired astronaut Terry Virts says. Williams and Wilmore will have to go through medical testing. They’ll also do special workouts to help them readjust.
Splashing Down
Williams and Wilmore returned to Earth on March 18. That was 278 days later than planned. They flew in a SpaceX capsule designed to land in the ocean. (See “Safe Landing.”) “On behalf of SpaceX, welcome home,” radioed mission control, in California.

A Garden Grows
When Ivan Adames was in college, he volunteered to help with thank-a-thons. He and other college students would call alumni, thank them for their support, and ask if they’d like to donate money to the university. “That’s what got me started,” he says. Today, Adames is the chief development officer at the Chicago Botanic Garden, in Illinois.

For the Love of Dogs
Every year, as many as 3,000 dogs from all over the world—from tiny Chihuahuas to towering Great Danes—descend on New York City to compete in the famous Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Established in 1877, it’s the oldest show of its kind. It’s also one of the biggest, drawing crowds of dog lovers eager to see some adorable contestants show off their grace and beauty. Behind the scenes, Paul Campanella orchestrates it.

Finding Home
Paddington is back in his third movie. The polite bear started as a storybook character. In his third film, Paddington in Peru, he and the Brown family travel to see his Aunt Lucy. In Peru, they learn she’s missing. They go into the jungle to find her. They face danger together. In the end, Paddington must decide where he truly belongs.
For Paddington, home is the people he loves. Director Dougal Wilson agrees. “Home doesn’t necessarily have to be one place,” he told TFK. “Home can be wherever you find friends.” Paddington in Peru is now available to rent or buy at digital retailers.

The Magic of Nature
TFK Kid Reporter Dylan Landaw read Magical Nature Tales and interviewed its author, Dawn Casey. Read Dylan’s thoughts below. Magical Nature Tales, by Dawn Casey, is a wonderful collection of folktales from around the world. True to the book’s title, each story features a touch of magic: talking animals, enchanted trees, mystical beings. Anja Sušanj’s beautiful illustrations add to the stories’ magic. Many of the tales in the book are very old. “For me, the old stories have a particular value because they’ve come through so many generations of people,” Casey told TIME for Kids. “People have specifically chosen those stories and kept them alive because they knew there was something valuable in them—some wisdom or some magic that they wanted to pass on.” Casey wanted to write this book because she loves nature. As a child, she lived in London. Though it’s a big city, she managed to connect with nature in small ways. She’d eat blackberries growing on a forgotten fence, or pick dandelions and make a wish before blowing their seeds. Casey believes we’re all deeply connected to nature. “I really believe and feel in my bones that we are all nature,” she says. “Nature is not something separate from us. We’re all part of one huge web of life.” I would highly recommend Magical Nature Tales to anyone who likes folktales or feels a special connection with nature.

Minecraft Moment
TFK Kid Reporter Nate Rhew spoke with actor Sebastian Hansen. He plays Henry in A Minecraft Movie, in theaters April 4.

Getting the Shot
Carrie Giordano works fast. She’s a photographer for two professional sports teams in California: baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers and football’s Los Angeles Rams. TFK Kid Reporter Meyer Ballas, who lives in Los Angeles, interviewed Giordano about her job. Read their conversation here. You can also see some of Giordano’s photographs below. How did you get into sports photography? I was one of those kids who always had a camera. But I didn’t think it would be a career path for me. When I started shooting Little League, it was just a side job. Later, I got a job at Dodger Stadium. I went back to school for photography. I thought I would do landscape photography. But one time, at Dodger Stadium, I met [Dodgers photographer] Jon SooHoo. He let me hold his camera. From that point on, I was hooked. How did you get your current job with the Dodgers? I started working for a sports media company. That’s basically a company that shoots the games and supplies them to the news. The pay was terrible. But I did that for a couple of years until one of the Dodgers photographers was leaving. So that’s how I got in. What’s your favorite moment to have documented? There have been a lot of good ones. Any [baseball] walk-offs are really exciting, since I get to run onto the field. If I had to pick one, it would be when the Dodgers clinched their division in 2019. It was so exciting. They had a huge celebration. What advice would you give someone who’s interested in photography? Go out and shoot some sporting events. Once you have a good portfolio —whether it’s Little League, high school, or college—then you can show people that. They might trust you for a job.

Getting the Shot
Carrie Giordano works fast. She’s a photographer for two professional sports teams in California: baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers and football’s Los Angeles Rams. This means she’s constantly racing to follow the action. TFK Kid Reporter Meyer Ballas, who lives in Los Angeles, interviewed Giordano about her job. Read their conversation and check out some of Giordano’s photographs below. How did you get into sports photography? I was one of those kids who always had a camera, but I didn’t think it would be a career path for me. When I started shooting Little League, it was just a side job. Later, I got a job at Dodger Stadium. I went back to school for photography, thinking I would do landscape photography. But one time, at Dodger Stadium, I met [Dodgers photographer] Jon SooHoo. He let me hold his camera. From that point on, I was hooked.
How did you get your current job with the Dodgers? I started off doing all those little shoots no one wanted to do, like [photographing] someone signing autographs really far away. I started working for a sports media company, which is basically a company that shoots the games and supplies them to the news. The pay was terrible, but I did that for a couple of years until one of the Dodgers photographers was leaving. So that’s how I got in.
What’s your favorite moment to have documented? There have been a lot of good ones, but any [baseball] walk-offs are really exciting, since I get to run onto the field. If I had to pick one, it would be when the Dodgers clinched their division in 2019. It was so exciting. They had a huge celebration. What advice would you give someone who’s interested in photography? Work hard, and work up. Go out and shoot some sporting events. For example, I don’t shoot a lot of soccer, but my son just started playing, so I’ve been shooting at his games. It doesn’t take a big arena or pro sports to get good at it. Once you have a good portfolio —whether it’s Little League, high school, or college—then you can kind of show people that, and they might trust you for a job. So really, just document as much as you can.

Every Action Counts
Earth Day is April 22. It is celebrated around the world. People pitch in for the planet. Will you help? Everyone can take part. There are simple things you can do. Your actions could have a big impact. Turn off the tap.
It is important to save water. Only use what you need. Turn off the faucet when you are not using it. Reuse materials.
Hang on to cardboard. Keep your paper scraps. They can be made into something new. Try a fun craft. This reduces waste. Plant a garden.
Make the planet greener. You can plant a garden at home or at school. Ask an adult for help. What will you grow? Pick up trash.
If you see a piece of litter, pick it up. Throw it away. Help keep your community clean. A litter cleanup with friends is a good idea!

Waste Less
Waste is anything you get rid of. Too much waste is harmful to the environment. Here are three ways to create less of it.
Recycle
Recycling (above) turns used materials into something new. They are not wasted. Reuse Buy things that can be used more than once. This water bottle can be used over and over. Reduce Buy less. Buy only what you need. Choose items with less packaging. This grocery store uses very little packaging.

Two at the Zoo
January 24 was an exciting day at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, in Washington, D.C. That’s when visitors got a first look at Qing Bao and Bao Li. These are giant pandas. They arrived from China in October 2024. They went through quarantine. They had health checks. Then they were ready to delight the crowds.
Brandie Smith is the zoo’s director. “Bao Li and Qing Bao have already won the hearts of our staff,” she said in January. The pandas are winning the public over, too. People visit them at the zoo. And they can watch the animals on the Giant Panda Cam. It’s on the zoo’s website.
Meet the Bears Qing Bao and Bao Li are a loan from China. China first sent pandas to the U.S. in 1972. Those pandas also went to the National Zoo. The loan is seen as an act of friendship. Qing Bao and Bao Li are 3 years old. Their personalities are different. Laurie Thompson works at the zoo. She told Washingtonian that Qing Bao is “cautious.” But Bao Li is “full of energy,” Thompson says. “Just kind of opposites.”

Egg Scramble
The United States is having an egg shortage. There aren’t enough eggs to go around. The shortage is tied to bird flu. This is a disease that makes birds sick.
Bird flu spreads quickly. It has affected millions of birds. These include chickens. Fewer chickens means fewer eggs. But people and businesses still want eggs. The demand for them is high. So they have become more expensive. Egg prices may increase by 20% this year. That number comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Businesses are making changes. Some grocery stores have new policies. They have set limits on how many eggs people can buy. Shoppers may be limited to one or two cartons at a time. This may change. But the shortage is ongoing.

Butterflies on the Rise
Monarch butterflies do a lot for us. They’re pollinators. They help plants make seeds and fruits. In 2022, these butterflies became endangered. This was due to climate change. But there’s good news: The eastern monarch butterfly population is growing. It has nearly doubled in 2025.
This news comes from a new report from the World Wildlife Fund. It also comes from Mexico’s National Commission of Protected Natural Areas. The groups found that the butterfly population is healthier than last year. But numbers are still lower than they should be. Monarchs need healthy plants and forests. People all over the continent are working to protect them.

Little Birds, Big Journey
Paul Fleischman is a Newbery Medal–winning author. His latest book is The Class with Wings. It tells of a group of students who are tracking a bird migration. The tiny birds are called veeries. As a teacher describes the veeries’ migration, her students imagine the birds’ journey and relate to it.
Tens of thousands of veeries migrate each year. “Migrating birds have a hard life,” Fleischman told TFK.
The Class with Wings also includes resources for tracking and protecting birds. Fleischman hopes the book will inspire students to “go out and adventure.”

Next-Gen Jobs
What jobs will we have in the future? A recent report explores that question. In January, the World Economic Forum (WEF) released its 2025 Future of Jobs Report. It includes survey data from more than 1,000 major employers. “The landscape of work continues to evolve at a rapid pace,” writes WEF managing director Saadia Zahidi.
The report shows how work may change between now and 2030. It includes growth areas. AI and financial technology (fintech) are two. It also lists jobs that are on the decline. And it outlines skills that workers need. Some of that information is shown here. What surprises you? Fastest-Growing Jobs Big-data specialists
Fintech engineers
AI and machine-learning specialists
Software and applications developers
Security management specialists Fastest-Declining Jobs Postal service clerks
Bank tellers
Data entry clerks
Cashiers and ticket clerks
Administrative assistants and executive secretaries Skills on the Rise AI and big data
Networks and cybersecurity
Technological literacy
Creative thinking
Resilience, flexibility, and agility

Next-Gen Jobs
What jobs will we have in the future? A recent report explores that question. In January, the World Economic Forum (WEF) released its 2025 Future of Jobs Report. It includes survey data from more than 1,000 of the world’s largest employers. “The landscape of work continues to evolve at a rapid pace,” writes WEF managing director Saadia Zahidi.
The report shows how work may change between now and 2030. It includes growth areas, such as AI, fintech (finance technology), and cybersecurity. It lists jobs that are on the decline. And it outlines skills that workers increasingly need. Some of the information from the report is shown here. What surprises you? Fastest-Growing Jobs Big-data specialists
Fintech engineers
AI and machine-learning specialists
Software and applications developers
Security management specialists Fastest-Declining Jobs Postal service clerks
Bank tellers
Data entry clerks
Cashiers and ticket clerks
Administrative assistants and executive secretaries Skills on the Rise AI and big data
Networks and cybersecurity
Technological literacy
Creative thinking
Resilience, flexibility, and agility

Reporter’s Log
Connie Chung was the second woman and the first Asian American to be the lead anchor for a major U.S. news program. TFK Kid Reporter Evelyn Peng met the trailblazing journalist during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, and the two later spoke about Chung’s career. How did you get started with journalism?
I had a summer internship working for a congressman. He got me interested in writing, because he was a former newspaper man. I wrote press releases and position papers for him. What enthralled me was watching the reporters try to get answers from members of Congress who didn’t always want to give them answers. They would chase them down the marble hallways of the Capitol, trying to get information. Being on Capitol Hill was like sensing the beating pulse of a government. In your career, did you face any discrimination, either as a woman or as an Asian American?
I have to say I did, much as I don’t want to say that. When I started, it was apparent that I was different. There were not only very few women, but also there were no Asians. I stuck out like a sore thumb. How did you overcome it?
I just decided that I belonged there, that they couldn’t tell me that I didn’t know what I was doing. What qualities should a good journalist have?
The desire to tell the truth. A balanced take on every story. Using facts to create solid credibility. A curious mind that wants to find out every last little morsel of information. The ability to write well is critical to any part of journalism. A desire to work hard. Do you have any tips for me?
I think the key in interviewing is to decide what your list of questions is, but then you swing with it. Start with the first question and see where it goes. Listen to the person whom you’re interviewing, and then ask a follow-up question. If you feel like you’ve gotten enough of an answer or a satisfying answer, then you go on to the next one. Or it can easily cause you to think of a new question. You’ve had such a storied career. What’s your secret?
I never give up. I’ve always found another mountain to climb and another goal to achieve. It has sometimes been debilitating, because I was never satisfied. But one thing I’ve learned along the way is that perfection is not a worthy goal. Nothing is perfect. The interview was edited for length and clarity. The TFK Kid Reporter Contest is Open! Think you have what it takes to be a junior journalist? The TFK Kid Reporter Contest is underway! Apply by June 16 for a chance to report for our magazines and website. TFK editors will choose up to 10 students to be TFK Kid Reporters for the 2025–2026 school year. To apply online or by mail, ask a parent, guardian, or teacher for details. Learn more at timeforkids.com/kid-reporter.