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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 sumer? 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.

Under the Sea
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
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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.

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 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. 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 did. When I started, it was apparent that I was different. There were not only very few women, but there were no Asians. I stuck out like a sore thumb. How did you overcome it?
I just decided I belonged there, that they couldn’t tell me 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. A desire to work hard. Do you have any tips for me? 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, and then ask a follow-up question. If you’ve gotten 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 a storied career. What’s your secret?
I never give up. I’ve always found another goal to achieve. 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.

What’s Out There?
Astrophysicist Jackie Faherty was drawn to her career by questions most people have had: Why are we here? What is this Earth? “You open up your mind to everything that’s out there in the universe,” Faherty tells TIME for Kids. “And you start studying stuff that will help bring you closer to getting those kinds of answers.”
Growing up, Faherty didn’t think she could pursue a career in astronomy. “There are a lot of men in astronomy,” she says. “I didn’t know that there were lots of women in the field, too.” Then she saw a movie that featured a female scientist. That put Faherty on her career path.
Now Faherty works at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), in New York City. She studies objects in space—specifically, brown dwarfs. She also educates people about the field she loves.
Building Blocks
A brown dwarf is a type of object in space, neither a planet nor a star. It’s larger than a planet, but it’s smaller than a star, so it doesn’t have enough energy to shine as brightly.
When Faherty started in astronomy, she wanted to study objects that people didn’t know much about. Her work includes more than 180 peer-reviewed articles in astrophysics journals. It has helped people understand more about brown dwarfs.
One of the brown dwarfs Faherty is studying is called the Accident. (It was discovered by accident.) “It’s probably the oldest brown dwarf we’ve ever found,” Faherty says. She believes the Accident came together more than 13 billion years ago. That’s around the same time our universe was forming. Faherty and her team are working to understand what it’s made of. “I can use that information to try to understand the ‘ingredients’ of planets,” she says.
Inspiring the Future
Faherty doesn’t just study space. She’s also an educator at the AMNH’s graduate school. She helps people learn how to teach Earth science.
Faherty leads educational programs at the museum, too. Visitors can attend her public talks in the famous Hayden Planetarium. She shares the wonders of space with people of all ages. She’s now creating the planetarium’s next big show. These immersive theater experiences engage the public in exciting new discoveries in astronomy.
Through her research and teaching, Faherty is expanding our knowledge about space and inspiring the next generation of scientists. Her advice to future astrophysicists? Vary your interests. “You should work hard—definitely work hard—but you should always have hobbies. You should never just do one thing. Do a lot of things. Spread your brain. It makes you a better person.” Backyard Astronomy Jackie Faherty runs a citizen science project. It’s called Backyard Worlds: Planet 9. Citizen science is when the public gets involved in scientific research. Faherty’s project asks people from around the world to help find new brown dwarfs and low-mass stars.
Some astronomers believe there may be a ninth planet in our solar system. Identifying new celestial objects can bring them closer to finding it.

What’s Out There?
Astrophysicist and educator Jackie Faherty was drawn to her career by questions most people have had: Why are we here? What is this Earth? “You open up your mind to everything that’s out there in the universe,” Faherty tells TIME for Kids, “and you start studying stuff that will help bring you closer to getting those kinds of answers.”

Growing up, Faherty didn’t think she could pursue a career in astronomy because “There are a lot of men in astronomy,” she says. “I didn’t know that there were lots of women in the field, too.” Then a movie made from a book by Carl Sagan and featuring a female scientist put Faherty on her career path.

Now Faherty works at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), in New York City, where she studies objects in space—specifically, brown dwarfs—and educates the public and aspiring teachers about the field she loves. Building Blocks A brown dwarf is a type of object in space, larger than a planet but smaller than a star, so it doesn’t have enough energy to shine as brightly. When Faherty was getting started in astronomy, she wanted to study objects that were newer to the field—objects that people didn’t already know much about. Her work, which includes more than 180 peer-reviewed articles in astrophysics journals, has helped people understand more about brown dwarfs. One of the brown dwarfs Faherty is studying is called the Accident, because its discovery was accidental. “It’s probably the oldest brown dwarf we’ve ever found,” Faherty says. She believes the Accident came together more than 13 billion years ago, around the same time our universe was forming. Faherty and her team are working to understand what the Accident is made of, and what that means for other space objects. “I can use that information to try to understand the ‘ingredients’ of planets,” she says.

Inspiring the Future Faherty doesn’t just study space. She also shares her knowledge. As an educator at the AMNH’s graduate school, she helps people learn how to teach Earth science.

Faherty leads educational programs at the museum, too. Visitors can attend her public talks in the famous Hayden Planetarium, where she shares the wonders of space with people of all ages. She’s now creating the planetarium’s next big show. These immersive theater experiences engage the public in exciting new discoveries in astronomy.

Through her research and teaching, Faherty is expanding our knowledge about space and inspiring the next generation of scientists. She advises future astrophysicists to vary their interests. “You should work hard—definitely work hard—but you should always have hobbies. You should never just do one thing. Do a lot of things. Spread your brain. It makes you a better person.”

Backyard Astronomy Jackie Faherty runs a citizen science project called Backyard Worlds: Planet 9. It’s the type of project in which the public gets involved in scientific research. Faherty’s project invites people from around the world to help find new brown dwarfs and low-mass stars.

Some astronomers believe there may be an undiscovered ninth planet in our solar system. Identifying new celestial objects can bring them closer to finding it.

Getting the Shot
TFK Kid Reporter Meyer Ballas speaks with Carrie Giordano, a California-based sports photographer.
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 on these pages.

Growing Strong
Andrea Carter was about 10 years old when she realized she wanted to spend her life cultivating food. While there weren’t many farms near Bethesda, Maryland, where she grew up, her family traveled each summer to rural Vermont, where Carter spent many hours getting her hands dirty in a neighbor’s fields. “There wasn’t much to do except to weed tomatoes and pull kale,” she told Your Hot Job. “Looking back, it was a gift to be exposed to the outdoors, to farming, to where food comes from.”

We Need Trees
Take a look outside. Do you see any trees? They are an important natural resource. Trees help the environment. They give us clean air to breathe. Read about other ways that trees benefit people and the planet. Trees shelter animals.
Birds and squirrels build nests on branches. Raccoons live in tree hollows. Insects hide under fallen trees. Trees cool the Earth.
Trees give us shade. And their roots absorb water. Then their leaves release the water into the air. This has a cooling effect. Trees provide food.
Have you been to an orchard? That is where fruit or nut trees grow. Oranges and apples grow on trees. So do almonds and olives. Trees help us build.
Trees are cut into lumber. This wood can be used for houses. Some furniture is wood, too.

One Big Herd
What animals live in your backyard? Squirrels? Birds? Deer? In India, elephants are a common sight. People have to share space with them. This inspired an art project. It’s called The Great Elephant Migration. Its purpose is to remind us that we can live peacefully alongside wildlife. The project also supports Indian artists and habitats. Art on the Move
Artists in India sculpt elephants for the project. The sculptures are taken all over the world. They’re traveling across the United States right now. You might see them in a city near you. Fiona Humphrey helped start the project. She wants people to interact with the elephants. (Yes, you can touch them!) People can also purchase the artworks. Humphrey spoke with TIME for Kids. She said she hopes visitors will think, “If these elephants lived in my backyard, what would that look like?” Careful Crafting
Tarsh Thekaekara is a scientist. He helped start the Real Elephant Collective. That’s a group of 200 artists. They’re in Southern India. They create the sculptures. The sculptures are as big as real elephants. Parts are made from a plant called lantana. The plant is a problem in India. It destroys wildlife habitats. The artists use the lantana in their sculptures. This helps “against the spread of lantana,” Thekaekara says.
Most of us don’t live among elephants. But we can all think about how we live with wildlife. If people in India live among “the world’s largest land mammal,” Thekaekara says, “surely you can live with everything, right?”

Hi, Neighbor!
Indian elephants aren’t like other elephants. They’re smaller, for one thing. But the animals that inspired The Great Elephant Migration are different in another way, too. They live alongside people.
Indian elephants like to live in a specific kind of place. They prefer forests and grasslands. These areas have lots of food and water. But such places are becoming harder to find. People have been cutting down trees. Elephants’ habitats are used for farming and building. So the elephants have to find somewhere else to live.
With fewer places to go, elephants have started making their way into human villages. In some parts of Southern India, elephants and people are neighbors.
People are still figuring out how to live with their new neighbors. There are problems. Elephants are messy eaters. Sometimes, they eat people’s crops. This makes life harder for farmers. And people have to be extra careful. They have to watch out for elephants crossing the road, as in the photo above.
Many people are trying to keep the elephants safe. They’re working to protect elephant habitats. And they’re helping humans and elephants be good neighbors.

Celebrate Arbor Day
Arbor Day is a day to plant trees. The holiday was started by a man named Julius Sterling Morton. He knew that trees are important. He wanted people to plant them for the future. The first Arbor Day was on April 10, 1872, in Nebraska. Now, most states celebrate it on the last Friday in April.
You Can Do It!
Would you like to plant a tree this Arbor Day? These steps will show you how. Be sure to plant a type of tree that grows naturally in your area. It is better for other plants and for animals. Ask an adult to help. Step 1: Dig a deep hole. Step 2: Loosen the tree’s roots. Step 3: Place the roots in the hole. Step 4: Place soil around the roots. Step 5: Water the soil.

Dawn to Dusk
TFK Kid Reporter Vivian Goldhirsh read Almost Sunset and interviewed its author, Wahab Algarmi. Read Vivian’s thoughts below. Almost Sunset is a new graphic novel about a young boy named Hassan who is observing Ramadan. Every year, nearly 2 billion people celebrate Ramadan, a holy month for people who follow the Muslim faith. Ramadan is a month of fasting, which means observers don’t eat or drink from dawn until sunset. Hassan hasn’t told any of his peers about his fasting. He has to balance the different aspects of his life during Ramadan, such as playing sports, keeping up his grades, and spending time with friends and family. Wahab Algarmi, the author of Almost Sunset, told TFK that he wanted his parents’ Yemeni roots to be part of the story. So he included a chapter in which Hassan travels to Yemen, a country in the Middle East. “I really wanted to put the Yemeni culture in a book, because this is for my community,” he said. He explained that Hassan is loosely based on his son and himself, and added that the writing came easily, because he used his daily routine to write Hassan’s routine. Algarmi was excited to share Ramadan’s focus on reflection. “For a month, you really have to reset and reorganize your life around [Ramadan]: calm down and relax,” he told TFK. “I want to teach people that sometimes, you need that spiritual reset, whether you’re religious or not.” Almost Sunset is a story of a young boy who is finding balance as he practices his family’s traditions. It has funny moments, and serious ones, too. I enjoyed learning about Ramadan and the characters’ love of the holiday.

Pride on the Farm
Iowa is the largest producer of corn in the United States. Moreover, the state has more than 86,000 farms and about 30 million acres of farmland. It’s second only to California in total agricultural production. That’s no small feat. In Iowa, farmers take great pride in producing food that feeds the nation. That’s why Beth Romer, who works at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, goes to the office each day. Romer is in charge of Choose Iowa, a program that helps the state’s farmers and retailers promote and expand their business.

No Action Too Small
When Geetha moves to the United States with her mom, she leaves her family behind in India, along with everything she has ever known. The change isn’t easy. At school, people make fun of her and her accent. To cope, Geetha plays her flute and visits the beach. She meets Miguel, and they help rescue a stranded harp seal pup. Visiting the pup makes Geetha happy, and she and Miguel start a program to clean up the beach. In Safe Harbor, author and former oceanographer Padma Venkatraman encourages readers to find ways to help the environment. “Never think what you are doing is too small,” Venkatraman tells TFK. “We need to think big as well as small. Learn to speak up and stand up for what we need.” Safe Harbor is an animal rescue story, but it also explores topics like the immigrant experience, divorce, and dealing with change. Venkatraman also wants young readers to feel empowered to clean up the environment and ask for help doing it. “All of us can do something,” she says.

Water at Work
Water is one of our most important resources. Many people don’t think about where water comes from, how it gets to us, or where it goes after we use it. But water resource engineers do. It’s their job. They make sure systems and structures are in place to get water to people, animals, and crops in a way that’s efficient and sustainable.

A Thrilling Ride
TFK Kid Reporter Meyer Ballas read Will’s Race for Home and interviewed its author, Jewell Parker Rhodes. Read Meyer’s thoughts below. In Will’s Race for Home, Jewell Parker Rhodes tells a captivating, action-packed story about the Oklahoma Land Rush. The book takes place in 1889. It presents a historically accurate version of the American West, focusing on a Black family. Rhodes told TFK she wanted to highlight that the West was actually a “multi-ethnic landscape,” though books and movies often focus on white settlers. The story focuses on Will, who’s 12. Prior to the Emancipation Proclamation, in 1863, his parents were enslaved. Will, his parents, and his grandfather live and work on someone else’s land. But then they hear about a land rush. This was when people were allowed to claim their own land in the American West. But to claim it, Will and his father, George, must be the first people to arrive on the land. They have five months to get there. They have a long journey across Texas and Oklahoma. Will is a likable character who demonstrates “fortitude and bravery to accomplish what he needs for himself and his family,” Rhodes told TFK. Rhodes is a writer who really cares about her young readers—and young characters like Will. “I want to give [young people] nothing but my best, because that’s what they deserve,” she said. Rhodes also told TFK she “firmly believes that young people are so loving and so interested in fairness and equity.” That’s partly why she decided to write this book for them. In Will’s Race for Home, kids can learn about the difficult things that people of color had to go through during the time of the Emancipation Proclamation. You’ll learn a lot by reading this book—but you’ll also enjoy a great read, full of adventure and dramatic twists and turns.

Saving Turtles
In October 2023, a patient arrived at the South Carolina Aquarium. It was taken to the Sea Turtle Care Center. The turtle was given the name Ricotta. It was tangled in fishing line. And it had swallowed some. Two surgeries were needed to remove the line. Grace Buschiazzo is a sea turtle biologist. She works at the care center. Ricotta was a memorable patient, she says. But Ricotta’s story is not unusual. Many turtles have come to the center tangled in fishing line.
Buschiazzo and her team care for turtles who are entangled. They help others that have been hit by a boat or bitten. Buschiazzo loves “getting to see the whole process,” she says. “From rescue and rehab to release.”
Finding Her Way
Buschiazzo was interested in marine biology as a kid. Then at 15, she went to Panama. She volunteered to help protect sea turtle eggs. That’s when she fell in love with the animals.
Buschiazzo got her degree in marine science. She continued to volunteer with turtles. In March 2023, she started working at the South Carolina Aquarium.
A Day in the Life At the Sea Turtle Care Center, Buschiazzo works with veterinarians. She helps with surgeries. She prepares meals for the turtles. She does whatever is necessary to help the turtles recover. When they do, they’re released back into the sea. Since 2000, the Sea Turtle Care Center has released more than 400 turtles. This year, Ricotta joined that list. “I was there,” Buschiazzo says. “I got to watch it, and it was fantastic.”

Wet Versus Dry
Rainforests and deserts are two kinds of habitats. They are very different. The biggest difference? Water! Read about how the two compare. The Rainforest
Rainforests (above) have tall trees. Most rainforest animals live in them. Vines and moss grow below. Jaguars and insects might be found on the ground. The Desert
Deserts get little rain. They are dry. Most are very hot. Only certain plants and animals can survive there. Cactuses grow in some deserts. They soak up water when it rains. They store it for when it is needed.
Many desert animals come out at night. It is cooler then.

Officer’s Best Friend
Mike LaSala was a police officer in Nassau County, New York. Until he retired in 2020, he worked as a K-9 handler. That’s a police officer who is trained to use working dogs as partners. Twelve-year-old Matthew Cona dreams of being a K-9 handler. He spoke with LaSala about the job. What were the hardest parts of being a K-9 handler?
To become a K-9 handler, you need three certifications. It is an extra 540 hours of training. That’s after your initial police force training. How did becoming a K-9 handler change your work as a police officer? It actually made me busier. You’re called in anytime someone needs something done. Dogs are certified in tracking human scent. They can track a person, find evidence, and do building searches. What advice would you give kids who would like to be K-9 handlers?
Being a good handler is like being a good parent. You have to be dedicated and consistent. You have to think of the dog first. It’s all about their trust in you.

Where in the World?
The Amazon is the world’s biggest rainforest. The Sahara is the biggest desert. Read about each of these places.
Amazon Rainforest
This tropical rainforest (above) is in South America. It is covered with a variety of trees. The climate is hot and rainy. Sahara Desert
This desert is in Africa. Much of the land is rocky. Some is covered in sand. The climate is hot and dry.

Addressing Congress
On March 4, in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump gave a speech to Congress. Members of both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives gathered for the event. It was the president’s first joint address since his second term began on January 20.
In the speech, Trump went over the actions his administration has taken during the first six weeks of his term. He noted imposing tariffs, or taxes, on goods imported from Canada, China, and Mexico. (For more, see “TFK Explains: Tariffs” .) Trump said these tariffs will “protect our businesses.” He shared plans to impose tariffs on goods from other trading partners, including India and South Korea. Trump also spoke about actions he has taken on other issues, such as border security, foreign relations, and inflation. “And we are just getting started,” he said. He told the American people to “get ready for an incredible future.”
The Democratic Party made the traditional rebuttal, or response, to the president’s address. Senator Elissa Slotkin, from Michigan, delivered the speech. She argued that Trump’s economic plans, such as tariffs, will not “actually help Americans get ahead.” Stop and Think! WHY did the author include quotes in this article? How do quotes help readers understand a news story?

Addressing Congress
President Donald Trump made a speech on March 4, in Washington, D.C. Members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives were there. It was the president’s first joint address to Congress since his second term began in January.
Trump went over the actions his administration has taken so far. One is setting tariffs, or taxes. These affect goods from Canada, China, and Mexico. (For more, see “TFK Explains: Tariffs” .) Trump said these tariffs will “protect our businesses.” He shared plans to set tariffs on goods from other countries, too.
Trump also spoke about actions he has taken on other issues. One is border security. Another is inflation. “And we are just getting started,” he said. He told Americans to “get ready for an incredible future.”
The Democratic Party made the traditional response. Senator Elissa Slotkin, from Michigan, gave the speech. She said Trump’s economic plans will not “actually help Americans get ahead.” Stop and Think! WHY did the author include quotes in this article? How do quotes help readers understand a news story?

Time to Spring Ahead
On March 9, most people in the U.S. saw their clocks jump an hour into the future. This was the start of daylight saving time (DST). DST involves setting clocks forward by one hour in the spring. Clocks are turned back an hour in the fall. This began in the U.S. during World War I as a way to save energy, giving people more daylight during the warm months.
DST became federal law in 1966, though the law allows states to opt out. Hawaii doesn’t participate. Neither do residents in much of Arizona. Some people want to end DST, arguing that it disrupts sleep patterns. President Donald Trump has expressed support for ending the practice. On social media in December, he called DST “inconvenient, and very costly.”
At press time, there’s no official plan in place to end DST.

Time to Spring Ahead
On March 9, most people in the U.S. saw their clocks jump an hour into the future. This was the start of daylight saving time (DST). DST involves setting clocks forward by one hour in the spring. Clocks are turned back an hour in the fall. This began in the U.S. during World War I. It started as a way to save energy. DST gave people more daylight during the warm months.
DST became federal law in 1966. The law allows states to opt out. Hawaii doesn’t participate. Neither do residents in much of Arizona. Some people want to end DST, arguing that it disrupts sleep. President Donald Trump has expressed support for ending the practice. On social media in December, he called DST “inconvenient, and very costly.” At press time, there’s no official plan in place to end DST.

Early Bloom
People stroll under flowering cherry trees in Kawazu, Japan, on March 2. These cherry trees are unusual: They often flower in February, two months before cherry trees in other parts of Japan.

Moon Milestone
Firefly Aerospace has become the first private business to conduct a successful moon landing. On March 2, its uncrewed Blue Ghost lander (above) touched down on lunar soil.
The lander launched from Florida in January. It carried tools, including a drill and a vacuum, for 10 NASA experiments. “You all stuck the landing,” Will Coogan, chief engineer, announced to his team as the craft arrived safely. “We’re on the moon.”

Oyster Duty
To seafood lovers, oysters can be a delicious treat. Others value oysters as a source of precious pearls. But to Demi Johnson, of Gulfport, Mississippi, oysters are environmental superstars. “They’re really important,” the 15-year-old told TIME for Kids. A single oyster, for example, can filter up to 50 gallons of seawater a day, removing algae and harmful organisms. Big groups of oysters form reefs, which provide habitat for hundreds of other sea creatures. Plus, reefs protect against erosion. Demi learned all of this through oyster gardening. That’s the process of raising oysters in cages for conservation purposes. When she started oyster gardening, in 2022, “I knew absolutely nothing,” Demi says. Today, she’s something of an expert. This school year, Demi earned a master oyster gardener certificate after completing a free course run by the Mississippi Oyster Gardening Program (MOGP). Now she’s spreading the word. “I want others to get into this,” Demi says. “You don’t have to do a lot” to take care of your oyster garden, “but the impact it has for the environment, it’s great.”
Dock of the Bay Oysters used to be plentiful in Mississippi’s coastal waters. But their numbers have seen a big drop because of human-made and natural disasters, such as oil spills and hurricanes. That’s according to the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.
Oyster gardening is a way to help restore the oyster population. “Anyone can get involved,” MOGP research assistant Emily McCay says. All that’s needed is access to a dock or pier. Demi started oyster gardening as a seventh-grade Girl Scouts project. When a hurricane damaged her troop leader’s dock, McCay helped Demi find a new location.
During oyster gardening season, Demi and her mom go to Schooner Pier, on Biloxi Bay. Demi has nine cages. “Once a week I go out there,” she says. She pulls the cages from the water, one by one. She shakes each cage to remove algae and caked-on mud, then checks for predators, such as snails and crabs. Sometimes, she takes her oysters out for inspection. “I just kind of wash them off and just see how they’re doing,” she says.
This spring, oysters grown by Demi and other local gardeners will be big enough to harvest. Demi will go with McCay to pick them up. Harvested oysters are then “planted” on existing reefs in the Mississippi Sound.
“Demi has gone above and beyond” as a volunteer, McCay says. “She’s actively helping out with so many different aspects of this program.”
Giving Back Demi has raised more than 1,500 oysters, and has encouraged others to get involved. “She’s a great ambassador for the program,” MOGP leader P.J. Waters says.
She’s a great supporter, too. Last year, after winning a National Geographic award for her efforts to restore her state’s oyster population, Demi donated the $1,000 cash prize to the MOGP. “We were able to invest that into gear and oysters to grow the program,” Waters says.
Demi is happy to help. “It’s great to be able to do something” that benefits the environment, she says. “It’s a really good feeling.” Inspired? Let Demi’s story inspire you to do your part for the environment. Click below for ideas about how you can help protect the planet.

Oyster Duty
Some see oysters as a yummy treat. Others value them as a source of pearls. But to Demi Johnson, of Gulfport, Mississippi, oysters are environmental superstars. “They’re really important,” the 15-year-old told TIME for Kids. A single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of seawater a day. They remove algae and harmful organisms. Groups of oysters form reefs, which provide habitat for other sea creatures and protect against erosion. Demi learned all of this by oyster gardening. That’s the process of raising oysters in cages for conservation purposes. When she started, in 2022, “I knew absolutely nothing,” Demi says. Today, she’s an expert. This school year, Demi earned a master oyster gardener certificate. She completed a free course run by the Mississippi Oyster Gardening Program (MOGP). “I want others to get into this,” Demi says. “You don’t have to do a lot” to take care of your oysters, “but the impact it has for the environment, it’s great.”
Dock of the Bay There used to be lots of oysters in Mississippi’s coastal waters. But their numbers have dropped. This is because of disasters such as oil spills and hurricanes. That’s what the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources says.
Oyster gardening is a way to help. “Anyone can get involved,” MOGP research assistant Emily McCay says. All that’s needed is access to a dock or pier. Demi started oyster gardening as a Girl Scouts project. A hurricane damaged her troop leader’s dock. So McCay helped Demi find a new location.
During oyster gardening season, Demi and her mom go to Schooner Pier, on Biloxi Bay. Demi has nine cages. “Once a week I go out there,” she says. She pulls the cages from the water. She shakes each one to remove algae and mud. She checks for predators, such as snails and crabs. Sometimes, she takes her oysters out for inspection.
This spring, Demi’s oysters will be big enough to be harvested. Demi will go with McCay to pick them up. Harvested oysters will then be “planted” on existing reefs in the Mississippi Sound. “Demi has gone above and beyond,” McCay says. “She’s actively helping out with so many different aspects of this program.”
Giving Back Demi has raised more than 1,500 oysters. “She’s a great ambassador for the program,” MOGP leader P.J. Waters says. She’s a great supporter, too. Last year, Demi won a National Geographic award. She donated the $1,000 cash prize to the MOGP. “We were able to invest that into gear and oysters to grow the program,” Waters says.
Demi is happy to help. “It’s great to be able to do something” that benefits the environment, she says. “It’s a really good feeling.” Inspired? Let Demi’s story inspire you to do your part for the environment. Click below for ideas about how you can help protect the planet.

Talking Toons
Do you like to make up silly voices? That’s exactly what a voice actor does. Voice actors perform in animated movies and on TV shows, audiobooks, radio shows, podcasts, and more. As a voice actor, Eric Bauza has made a career out of silly voices. He voices two characters—Daffy Duck and Porky Pig—in The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie. TFK Kid Reporter Milo Bhushan interviewed Bauza before the movie’s March 14 release. Read their conversation, which has been edited for length and clarity, to learn about Bauza’s career.

A New Look at Life
Far from Earth, an asteroid called Bennu orbits the sun. In 2023, a NASA spacecraft brought samples of Bennu back to Earth. Two papers, both published in January, reveal that the samples contained the building blocks of life, including compounds that make up DNA. Did similar asteroids collide with Earth billions of years ago, kicking off life as we know it? Experts aren’t sure. But Nicky Fox, an administrator at NASA, called the samples “groundbreaking.” Below, see how the samples traveled from Bennu to Earth. 1. In 2016, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft launches from Florida. 2. The craft arrives at Bennu in December 2018, and spends two years surveying for a spot to collect samples. 3. The craft finds a good spot to collect samples. It stows the sample material in a safe capsule and heads back to Earth.
4. On the way back to Earth, the capsule is shot from the ship. As it gets closer to Earth, parachutes slow it down.

A New Look at Life
Far from Earth, an asteroid called Bennu orbits the sun. In 2023, a NASA spacecraft brought samples of Bennu back to Earth. Two papers, both published in January, reveal that the samples contained the building blocks of life. These building blocks include compounds that make up DNA. Did similar asteroids collide with Earth billions of years ago? Did they kick off life as we know it? Experts aren’t sure. But NASA administrator Nicky Fox called the samples “groundbreaking.” Below, see how the samples got to Earth. 1. In 2016, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft launches from Florida.
2. The craft arrives at Bennu in December 2018 and spends two years surveying for a spot to collect samples.
3. The craft finds a good spot to collect samples. It stows the sample material in a safe capsule and heads back to Earth.

4. On the way back to Earth, the capsule is shot from the ship. As it gets closer to Earth, parachutes slow it down.

A Rocky Habitat
Habitats are the natural homes of plants and animals. A habitat has the resources that living things need to survive. One type is a mountain habitat. Read about what makes up a habitat. Climate
Climate is the weather pattern in an area. Mountain habitats are often cold. They are colder as you go higher. Wildlife
Animals are adapted to their habitat. This is a mountain lion. It needs lots of space. It has strong legs for jumping. Water
Some habitats have a lot of water. Others are very dry. Mountain habitats have streams. They form from melting snow. Plantlife Most plants need soil, water, and light in order to grow. These flowering bushes grow well in rocky soil.

Eagles Soar
The bald eagle is a symbol of strength. These raptors are large. Their wingspan can be eight feet. But not so long ago, their population was weak. Today, the birds are a success story for conservation. Saving Bald Eagles
In the 1970s, eagles were in trouble. A chemical called DDT was being used across the country. It was meant to kill pests. But it also harmed other animals and people. DDT weakened the shells of eagle eggs. Because of this, fewer eaglets were hatched. DDT was made illegal in 1972. By then, the eagle population was very low. People across the country worked to protect the birds. Conservationists brought in healthy eagles from other places, such as Canada. And they made sure eagle eggs had a safe place to hatch. Now, eagles are no longer endangered in the U.S. Their numbers are growing in many states. But the birds still face dangers. They are hit by cars. They get tangled in fishing line. And they become sick with bird flu. The illness is affecting animals all over the country.
Doing Our Part Matthew Palumbo is a wildlife biologist. He wants everyone to care about eagles. He says we can all do our part. Palumbo told TIME for Kids that people should clean up their trash. This helps maintain “clean water, clean air, and clean soil.” If you’re lucky, you might see an eagle in the wild. But be sure to watch it from far away. “One way to help protect them is to give them plenty of space,” Palumbo says.

Explore Habitats
Habitats can be hot or cold. They can be dry or wet. Each has its own living things. Read about four different habitats below.
Arctic This is the coldest habitat (above). Much of the water is ice. Animals have fur or blubber. Trees cannot grow. Freshwater
Most ponds, lakes, and rivers are freshwater. Fish, amphibians, and birds are at home here. Grassland
This habitat is usually between a forest and desert. Giraffes and other animals graze on grasses. Forest
This habitat is full of trees. The weather changes with the seasons. Bears and deer live here.

Growing Species
The Environmental Protection Agency lists animals that are endangered. These species are protected. Learn about four species whose populations have recovered.
Least terns (above) are in the same family as seagulls. They live in the central U.S. The birds were endangered for 36 years. They were delisted in February 2021. The gray wolf population has rebounded in some areas. The animals were delisted in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. That was in 2017. Humpback whales are found in oceans all over the world. Some populations are making a comeback. In 2016, 14 populations were delisted. Lesser long-nosed bats are only three inches tall. The species can be found in Arizona and New Mexico. These bats were delisted in 2018.

Agriculture in Action
In March 2024, TFK Kid Reporter Ben Stern attended Ignite by 4-H, an annual career readiness conference for teens. Ben interviewed Katie Collins, a 2024 winner of the National 4-H Youth in Action Award. Collins started a program called See Yourself in Ag. It teaches young people about careers in agriculture. Read the transcript below to learn about Katie’s project, in her own words.

Food Experiences
In March 2024, TFK Kid Reporter Ben Stern attended Ignite by 4-H, an annual career readiness conference for teens. At the conference, Ben interviewed Kwame Onwuachi, an award-winning chef and restaurant owner. Read the transcript below to learn about Kwame’s job, in his own words.

Are You Ready to Report?
We have a big announcement to make! The TFK Kid Reporter Contest is back. 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.

Scrambling for Eggs
Grocery stores, restaurants, and shoppers are feeling the effects of a nationwide egg shortage. It’s projected to cause egg prices to skyrocket by 20% this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The shortage is tied to an outbreak of bird flu, an illness that has affected millions of birds in the United States.
Bird flu spreads quickly among birds of all kinds, including chickens. Fewer chickens means fewer eggs for people and businesses to buy. As demand grows, the remaining eggs become more expensive. In January 2024, one dozen large, grade A eggs cost about $2.52. By December, that number had risen to about $4.15, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Businesses are responding to the shortage. Restaurant chain Waffle House announced a new surcharge: 50¢ more per egg. “While we hope these price fluctuations will be short-lived, we cannot predict how long this shortage will last,” a spokesperson for Waffle House said in a statement.
Grocery stores, such as Trader Joe’s and Costco, are also working through the shortage. Some are limiting how many cartons of eggs shoppers are able to purchase. Stop and Think! WHAT details help readers understand the impact of the shortage? Why are details important in a news story?