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Far From Home
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are astronauts. They blasted into space on June 5. They were flying in NASA’s new Starliner spacecraft.
The mission was supposed to last eight days. But the Starliner faced problems. It arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) safely. But NASA has decided it is not safe to bring the astronauts back.
Williams and Wilmore have been at the ISS for months. They will stay until there is a safe way home.
Backup Plan
NASA has a backup plan. More astronauts will soon travel to the ISS. Williams and Wilmore will return with them. That will be in February 2025.
Williams spoke to reporters in July. She said she and Wilmore were having a “great time.”
But there are challenges. For one thing, it is crowded up there. Williams and Wilmore are sharing the ISS with seven other astronauts. And they did not pack enough clothes. But in August, a supply vehicle arrived. It brought fresh food and clothes for the Starliner crew.

Meet Our Kid Reporters
We have some new faces on the TIME for Kids crew! Read about the 2024–2025 team of TFK Kid Reporters. Look for their articles in the magazine and online this school year. Meyer Ballas, 12 Los Angeles, California
Meyer plays baseball. And he had the lead role in his school play. Milo Bhushan, 10 Johns Island, South Carolina
Milo loves studying the universe. He wants to be an astronomer one day. Vivian Goldhirsh, 11 Santa Barbara, California
Vivian keeps active by surfing, playing tennis, and doing jujitsu. Safiyyah Hussain, 12 Falls Church, Virginia Safiyyah speaks four languages. She wants to be a sports journalist.
Dylan Landaw, 10 Bronx, New York Dylan likes to read books, watch movies, and write in her journal. Rudrh Nair, 13 Stamford, Connecticut Rudrh has won his city’s literary competition four years in a row.
Evelyn Peng, 11 New York, New York Evelyn hopes to meet author Kelly Yang and activist Malala Yousafzai. Disha Rai, 12 Bloomington, Illinois
Disha has a collection of tote bags, one from every city she’s visited.
Nate Rhew, 13 New York, New York Nate wants to inspire all kids to be proud of their differences.

A Change of Heart
The movie The Wild Robot is based on a best-selling book by Peter Brown. It tells the story of a robot named Roz. She is shipwrecked on an island. At first, the animals there do not like her. Then danger strikes. The animals must work together to save Roz and their island.
TFK Kid Reporter Evelyn Peng spoke with Christopher Sanders. He directed the film. Sanders says the movie is about being open to change. “We all need to change our programming at some point,” he explained. The Wild Robot arrives in theaters on September 27.

Big First Day
Alyssa Reynoso-Morris is the author of Gloriana, Presente. In the book, Gloriana is starting school. She is nervous. She does not speak much English. Spanish is her first language. Reynoso-Morris had the same experience. She spoke to TFK Kid Reporter Safiyyah Hussain. She wanted to make sure Gloriana was “strong and relatable,” she said. And she wanted to show that her culture is a source of strength. Reynoso-Morris hopes readers learn from Gloriana. “No matter what they’re going through, they can overcome it,” she said.

Get Involved
There are many ways to help your community. Some people work to protect the environment. Others strive to make the world more fair. What is important to you? Here are some ways to get started. Organize a group. In a group, people can share ideas. You can get more done together. Go, team! Donate. Charities and other groups take donations. You can raise money. Or you can donate supplies. Start a book or clothing drive. An adult can help. Raise awareness. Let the world know you care. Write a message on a sign. Put it in your yard or window. Reach out. Write to a community leader. Tell them what is important to you. Your ideas might inspire action.

Do Your Part
You belong to many communities. You are part of your city or town. You are part of your school. You might be part of a team or club. In a community, every person matters. Do your part to make others feel happy and safe.
Show Respect Showing respect makes you a good community member. In school, raise your hand. Follow directions. Help others. You can show respect in your town, too. Clean up after yourself. Pick up litter, even if it is not yours. Speak up if you see a problem.
Always be kind. Give to others if you can. Spreading kindness makes any community better.

Unwelcome Object
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a system of caves in New Mexico. Its ecosystem was threatened recently when a visitor dropped a bag of Cheetos there. Food and drink are prohibited in the caves. A spilled snack might seem harmless, “but to the life of the cave it can be world changing,” park representatives wrote in a September 6 Facebook post. The Cheetos “formed the perfect environment to host microbial life and fungi.” Much of this was not native to the cave. Rangers spent time carefully removing foreign molds. The post called this incident “completely avoidable.” It reminded people that “we all leave an impact wherever we go.”

Unwelcome Object
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a system of caves in New Mexico. Recently, its ecosystem was threatened. A visitor dropped a bag of Cheetos there. Food and drink are not allowed in the caves. A spilled snack might seem harmless. But “to the life of the cave it can be world changing.” That’s according to a Facebook post written by a park representative on September 6. The Cheetos “formed the perfect environment to host microbial life and fungi.” Much of this was not native to the cave. Rangers spent time carefully removing foreign molds. The post called this incident “completely avoidable.” It reminded people that “we all leave an impact wherever we go.”

Starliner Returns
Teams from Boeing and NASA tend to the Starliner spacecraft on September 6. It landed, safely but without its crew, at White Sands Space Harbor, in New Mexico. The crew will remain at the International Space Station until February.

Kids Connect: Kira Patel
Where do you volunteer?
I pack food with Feed My Starving Children, a nonprofit organization with a location in Mesa, Arizona. I have completed more than 50 volunteer hours this year. What do you like about volunteering?
It’s a lot of fun. I take my family and friends to volunteer. Everyone comes together to pack food bags that are sent to children facing food insecurity. Every time I leave a session, I feel a great sense of pride. Every bag we pack makes me feel one step closer to ending world hunger.
What other ways do you spread kindness in your community?
There are so many ways—even simple acts during the day. For example, a compliment or thank-you to a teacher or friend can make their day. Picking up trash that someone left behind or giving someone a friendly smile are other ways to be kind.
Know a kid who’s doing something cool or newsworthy? Nominate them to be featured in TIME for Kids! Send us your suggestions at tfkeditors@time.com. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

World’s Greatest Places
Each year, TIME makes a list of the World’s Greatest Places. TIME for Kids picks its favorites. This year’s list has something for everyone, from delicious local food to close encounters with wildlife.
Maybe you like scenic outdoor adventures. Maybe you prefer brain-bending science museums. Whatever you like, learning about these destinations will change how you see the world. Where would you go first? Nature Art Art and nature lovers can wander through a world of colorful drawings at the Grootbos Florilegium, at the Grootbos Private Nature Preserve, in South Africa. The gallery has nearly 250 botanical drawings. They celebrate South African plants and their pollinators, such as insects and birds. —By Elaine Glusac Lush Land Want to try harvesting seaweed or keeping bees? Travel to Chile’s Ruta De Los Abastos. (That’s Spanish for “supply route.”) Visitors can get hands-on experience with agriculture. And they’ll meet food producers, such as farmers and people who fish. —By Sorrel Moseley-Williams Roll Along People who travel with Natural Selection’s Guided Cycling Safari see elephants, giraffes, and other amazing animals up close. The best part? The safari takes place on bikes. You’ll roll through beautiful Botswana, Africa, in style, covering 25 to 45 miles per day. —By Cindy Fan All Aboard The Diyarbakir Express offers a 24-hour ride across Turkey. Passengers snack on Turkish treats in the dining car while enjoying the changing scenery. Then they can hop off the train to see wall paintings from 3000 BCE and explore a town below a dormant volcano.  —By Jennifer Hattam Fab Lab Calling all future scientists! Kids make the rules at the Museum of Solutions, in Mumbai, India. Visitors can explore subjects like math and robotics in the museum’s labs. And they can race through a giant maze. Kids even help design some of the museum’s exhibits. —By Poonam Binayak Sweet Tooth At Manam Chocolate, in Hyderabad, India, farmers are the stars. The chocolate factory spotlights Indian cacao, with flavors like chai biscuit and pistachio fudge. Guests can tour the factory to see how the chocolate is made. After that, they can settle in at the café for dessert.
 —By Sarah Khan Let’s Kick It Located in Kansas City, Missouri, CPKC Stadium is the world’s first stadium built for a women’s professional soccer team. The team is the Kansas City Current, founded in 2021. The stadium complex has 11,500 seats and food from local restaurants for fans to enjoy. —By Joni Sweet Deep Dive Scuba diving is for everyone at Dive Tutukaka. Dives are conducted off New Zealand’s North Island. The company focuses on helping divers who need extra support. It provides wheelchair ramps, and offers expert assistance. 
 —By Terry Ward Star Power The night sky shines extra bright at Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase. The resort is a collection of 50 luxury tents set atop a Utah canyon. The area is very dark at night. That means guests can behold the Milky Way in all its glittering glory. —By Stephanie Vermillion

World’s Greatest Places
Ready for adventure? Each year, TIME makes a list of the World’s Greatest Places. TIME for Kids picks its favorites. This year’s list of amazing places has something for everyone. 
Maybe you’re interested in riding bikes and spending time outside. Maybe you prefer exploring science museums. Whatever you like, these places will change the way you see the world. Where would you go first? Nature Art Explore a world of colorful drawings at the Grootbos Florilegium. The gallery is located in the Grootbos Private Nature Preserve. That’s in South Africa. There are nearly 250 beautiful botanical drawings. The art shows South African plants, insects, and birds. —By Elaine Glusac Lush Land Want to try harvesting seaweed or keeping bees? Travel to Chile’s Ruta De Los Abastos. (That’s Spanish for “supply route.”) You can see how food is grown in the area. And you’ll meet food producers, such as farmers and people who fish. —By Sorrel Moseley-Williams Roll Along Go on a bicycle safari with Natural Selection’s Guided Cycling Safari. The company is located in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. The delta is home to many different kinds of animals. Visitors will see giraffes, elephants, lions, and hippos. —By Cindy Fan All Aboard The Diyarbakir Express offers a 24-hour train ride across Turkey. Passengers can enjoy the mountain views and try Turkish treats. Then they can hop off the train to see paintings from 3000 BCE. They can also explore a town below a dormant volcano. —By Jennifer Hattam Fab Lab Calling all future scientists! Kids make the rules at the Museum of Solutions, in Mumbai, India. The museum has labs where kids can experiment with their favorite subjects. There are labs for math, physics, and art. Visitors can also race through a giant maze.  —By Poonam Binayak Sweet Tooth Is dessert your favorite meal? You’ll love Manam Chocolate, in Hyderabad, India. The chocolate factory has unique flavors like chai biscuit and pistachio fudge. Guests can tour the factory to see how the chocolate is made. Then they can visit the factory café and eat a delicious dessert. —By Sarah Khan Let’s Kick It CPKC Stadium is the world’s first stadium built for a women’s professional soccer team. The team is the Kansas City Current. The stadium complex is located in Kansas City, Missouri. It has 11,500 seats. It also has tasty food from local restaurants for fans to enjoy during the games. —By Joni Sweet Deep Dive Scuba diving is for everyone at Dive Tutukaka. The diving company is located off New Zealand’s North Island. It helps divers who need extra support. There are wheelchair ramps. And there’s expert assistance for all visitors. —By Terry Ward Star Power The night sky shines extra bright at Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase. The resort isn’t a normal hotel. Instead, guests stay in tents. The tents are located on top of a canyon in Utah. It’s very dark at night, so guests can see the stars. —By Stephanie Vermillion

Surviving in the Wild
The new movie The Wild Robot is based on a best-selling book by Peter Brown. Both tell the story of a robot named Roz who is shipwrecked on an island. At first, the animal inhabitants of the island treat her poorly. But Roz is kind to them. She rescues them in times of need, and learns about herself in the process. Eventually, trouble befalls Roz, and the animals work together as they try to save her and their home. Director Christopher Sanders tells TIME for Kids that one of the movie’s major themes is embracing change. “We all need to change our programming at some point to deal with the reality around us,” he says. “And that is okay. Roz arrives, and she has a set of programs that she’s running. She quickly realizes she’s going to have to change those programs if she’s going to succeed and survive.” Through a nail-biting adventure, The Wild Robot sends a message about love and acceptance. As Sanders says, it reminds viewers of their “great capacity to fight for one another.” The Wild Robot arrives in theaters on September 27.

Surviving in the Wild
The new movie The Wild Robot is about a robot named Roz who is shipwrecked on an island. At first, the animals on the island treat her poorly. But Roz is kind to them. She helps them in times of need, and learns about herself in the process. When Roz is in trouble, the animals work to save her and their home. Director Christopher Sanders tells TIME for Kids that one of the movie’s major themes is embracing change. “We all need to change our programming at some point to deal with the reality around us,” he says. “Roz arrives, and she has a set of programs that she’s running. . . . She quickly realizes she’s going to have to change those programs if she’s going to succeed and survive.” The Wild Robot is a nail-biting adventure about love and acceptance. As Sanders says, it reminds viewers of their “great capacity to fight for one another.” The Wild Robot arrives in theaters on September 27.

Asamando Adventure
Author Craig Kofi Farmer depicts a wild and amazing world in his action-packed first novel, Kwame Crashes the Underworld. Farmer, who has been writing since he was 12, tells the story of 12-year-old Kwame Powell. Kwame’s grandmother has just died, and he feels unready for the future. He’s even more unsettled when he and his friend Autumn are suddenly teleported to Asamando, the Ghanaian underworld. There, they encounter hostile gods, ancestor spirits, and more.
Farmer’s favorite character in the book is Autumn. “She is extremely strong-willed, and she’s the kind of best friend I wish I had, growing up,” he says. “It was very fulfilling and restorative for me to write this best-friend figure. She is of my heart.”

Asamando Adventure
Craig Kofi Farmer depicts a wild world in his action-packed first novel, Kwame Crashes the Underworld. Farmer has been writing since he was 12. He tells the story of 12-year-old Kwame Powell. Kwame’s grandmother has just died. Kwame feels unready for the future. He’s even more unsettled when he and his friend Autumn suddenly find themselves in Asamando, the Ghanaian underworld. There, they encounter hostile gods, ancestor spirits, and more.
Farmer’s favorite character in the book is Autumn. “She is extremely strong-willed, and she’s the kind of best friend I wish I had, growing up,” he says. “She is of my heart.”

Should Perfect Attendance Be Rewarded?
It is common for schools to give awards. Kids are rewarded for good grades. Some are rewarded for good deeds. But what about perfect attendance? Should students be rewarded for coming to school every day? Coming to school regularly is important. But missing school can be out of a kid’s control. Here is what four readers had to say about this issue. Sophia Montoya, 11 Phoenix, Arizona It is important to reward children for perfect attendance. A small reward can go a long way. It helps create good habits. As adults, people get a paycheck. That is like a reward. Rewarding perfect attendance teaches good values. Kids are not only learning and making friends. They are also getting recognized for their efforts. A reward is a good way to motivate them. Mark Shilakes, 11 East Lansing, Michigan Kids cannot always control their attendance. They can miss school because of illness. They can miss school because of injury. You have probably experienced one of these.
Missing school is not usually your fault. It could be frustrating to lose out on an attendance award. There could be different awards instead. Good grades could be rewarded. Paying attention in class could too. Dhruvan Dayan, 10 Foster City, California Attendance is a great skill. Kids should show up every day. It is a good habit. Rewarding perfect attendance will teach kids that. It will help them in the future, when they go to work. A reward system makes students feel good about themselves. It encourages them to put in more effort. More time in school means more learning. But an illness should not be counted against kids. Shreya Jassi, 9 Hicksville, New York Perfect attendance should not be rewarded. Kids get sick, especially during cold weather. If they go to school, they can get others sick.
There are plenty of reasons to try for perfect attendance. You will not miss fun projects. If you play an instrument, you will not miss practice. You also have classmates to laugh and work with. These things are reward enough.

Around School
Time for school! Students go there every weekday. It is a community they are part of. Here are four spaces at school. Library
The school library has books. Students can take them home. Or they can read them there. The librarian helps students find what they need. Cafeteria
Kids go here to eat lunch. Cafeteria workers prepare food. Some schools serve breakfast too. Yum! Classroom
Students spend the most time in a classroom. It is where they learn. Which subject is your favorite? Nurse’s Office
A school nurse helps students who are not feeling well. This nurse is checking a student’s heartbeat.

Jobs at School
Many people work at a school. Their jobs are important. These people help the school community run smoothly.
Getting to School
Crossing guards (above) guide students across the street. They signal for cars to stop. They keep kids safe on their walk. Keeping Schools Clean
Custodians sweep, mop, and sanitize. They fix things that are broken. Custodians keep schools safe and healthy. Helping Kids Learn
Teachers work in the classroom. They teach different subjects. They help students reach their learning goals. Leading the School
Principals are in charge of their school. They give teachers what they need to do their job. They solve school problems.

How to Debate
Debates help us learn to be persuasive. They improve our speaking and listening skills. And they help us understand different points of view. Here is how to prepare for one. 1. Choose your side.
What is your opinion? Think about the debate question. Are you in favor of it? Or do you oppose it? That means you are against it. 2. Support your side. What are the reasons for your opinion? Would they persuade others? Don’t just use your feelings. Do research to find facts. Facts will support your opinion. 3. Think about the other side. What might someone with a different opinion say? How could you respond to them? Make sure to be respectful. 4. Put it all together. Write your ideas in a paragraph. Include explanations for each reason. Or partner up. Talk about your ideas. Listen to what your partner has to say. Did anyone’s mind change?

Be Yourself
TFK Kid Reporter Dylan Landaw read The Everybody Experiment, a new book by Lisa Moore Ramée. Read Dylan’s thoughts below. The Everybody Experiment, by Lisa Moore Ramée, is about an 11-year-old girl named Kylie. Kylie has just finished sixth grade. She’s very sensitive. She cries a lot, which makes her worry that she’s not mature enough for seventh grade. She’s also scared that her emotions might embarrass her friends. Kylie loves science, so she asks herself: “What would a scientist do to solve this problem?” She comes up with the idea for an experiment. She calls it the Everybody Experiment. She decides to act more mature by copying the behavior of her friends Nikila, Mara, and Naomi. Every day, she writes down what happens with her experiment and then analyzes the results. After a while, Kylie realizes she’s just as mature as her friends—she just expresses her emotions differently. She gains the confidence to be herself. This is the author’s fourth published book. “All of my books have the same message that I’m hoping that readers walk away with,” Ramée told me. “How you are, and who you are, is perfectly okay. You might be different from some of your friends, but that is okay. We’re all unique, and that’s just fine.” The Everybody Experiment is a great book that is fun and interesting to read, especially if you love science experiments or have ever felt like you don’t quite fit in.

Music Matters
Grace Sun knows the power of music. That is why she started Melodies for Remedies. The group shares music with senior citizens. It visits senior centers. It plays in hospitals. Student musicians volunteer their time and talent. “From the beginning, our goal has never changed,” Sun told TIME for Kids. It is “to bring connection and joy” to others. Making Memories
Audrey Zhou, 14, is a volunteer. She lives in San Diego, California. That is where Melodies for Remedies is based. One day, she says, the group performed for senior citizens with memory problems. It picked songs that were popular when the seniors were younger. The music sparked something. The audience started to sing. “We couldn’t even hear ourselves,” Audrey says. “They were singing so loud!”
This taught her a lesson. Music can have an effect that is “stronger than we think,” she says.
Magical Moments
Studies show that music is good for the brain. Research has also shown that volunteering is good for kids and teens. Sun is proud of her group. It has built a community. She loves seeing students and seniors chatting after a performance.
“It is such a magical thing,” Sun says. “This is something that I find a lot of purpose in.”

In Your Community
A community is a place where people live, work, and play. There are homes. There are businesses and schools. Take a walk or a ride around your community. What do you see? Stores
There are places to shop in a community. Food is sold in supermarkets. Convenience stores sell other needed items. Parks
Communities have space for recreation. Parks might have walking paths. Some have fields or playgrounds. Schools
Schools are where kids go to learn. Big cities have many schools. Smaller towns have just a few. Libraries
Libraries have books. People can borrow them. Libraries also host community events.

Rules of the Road
Streets have signs and markings. These make communities safer. Some help you cross the street. Read to learn how to use them. 1. Do you see the white stripes on the street? They are part of a crosswalk. A crosswalk tells us where to cross the street.
2. Stop. Look for the lighted sign. An orange hand means wait.
3. The sign changes. A person walking means it is safe to cross.
4. Make sure the cars have stopped. Look both ways.
5. Cross the street. You can hold hands and cross with others.

Awesome Project
How can you help a friend who is feeling sad? A pep talk! Pep talks cheer people up. That was the idea behind the Peptoc project. Two teachers started it in 2022. They are Jessica Martin and Asherah Weiss. It was a two-part project. One part was a phone hotline. People called a number to hear encouraging messages from kids. The other part was a poster project.
Now, Martin and Weiss have put together a book. It is called You Are Awesome Like a Rocket. It is a collection of 50 inspirational posters. They were made by young people. The kids live in 25 countries. Martin spoke with TIME for Kids about the project. “It is just this incredible thing,” she says. “It started with this really simple idea that went all over the world.”
Would you like to make a poster? Here are some tips. Think about it. Imagine someone who is having a tough time. What would you say to help them? Be positive! Design your poster. Use plain paper and thick markers. Make your message pop! Use words, pictures, or both. Share your poster. Hang it publicly. Choose a spot where lots of people will see it.

Weather Watch
On August 26 and 27, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued heat watches and warnings for parts of the United States. Extreme heat affected about 61 million people nationwide.

The Midwest and Northeast saw record-breaking temperatures and soaring heat indexes. A heat index number measures how hot it feels outside. In addition to the actual temperature, it factors in humidity. Chicago, Illinois, saw a heat index number of 115°F.

In some places, the back-to-school season was affected. Schools closed early, and after-school athletics were canceled due to the dangerous heat. The NWS advised people of all ages to take care. On its social-media accounts, it suggested that people “take plenty of breaks in the shade” and “drink plenty of water.”

In other places, weather conditions were very different. A storm swept through the Pacific Northwest, dropping three inches of snow on California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range. It was the first time in 20 years that snow fell in California in August. Meanwhile, three tropical storms brought flooding to Hawaii.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, extreme weather is becoming more common. The rise in global temperatures is “associated with widespread changes in weather patterns,” the agency says. Stop and Think! WHAT facts and details does the author include to help readers understand the story? What other information could she have included to expand the story?

Weather Watch
On August 26 and 27, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued heat watches and warnings for parts of the United States. Extreme heat affected about 61 million people.

There were record-breaking temperatures in the Midwest and Northeast. In Chicago, Illinois, the humidity made the temperature feel like it was 115°F.

Schools closed early in some places due to the heat. After-school sports were canceled. The NWS advised people of all ages to take care. On its social-media accounts, it suggested that people “take plenty of breaks in the shade.” It told them to “drink plenty of water.”

Meanwhile, snow fell on California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range. It was the first time in 20 years that California saw snow in August. And three storms caused flooding in Hawaii.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, extreme weather events are now more common. The rise in global temperatures is related to the “widespread changes in weather patterns,” the agency says.
Stop and Think! WHAT facts and details does the author include to help readers understand the story? What other information could she have included to expand the story?

Celebrating a Long Life
Maria Branyas was the world’s oldest person. She died on August 19 at 117 years of age. Her family shared the news on her social-media account. “She has gone the way she wanted,” they wrote. “In her sleep, at peace, and without pain.” Branyas became the world’s oldest person in January 2023. That’s according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Branyas was born in 1907, in San Francisco, California. She moved to Spain in 1915. She lived through the Spanish flu pandemic, which lasted from 1918 to 1920. A hundred years later, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Branyas became famous in Spain. In May 2020, she became the oldest person to successfully recover from COVID-19 at the time.

Celebrating a Long Life
Maria Branyas was the world’s oldest person when she died on August 19 at 117 years of age. Her family shared the news on her social-media account. “She has gone the way she wanted,” they wrote. “In her sleep, at peace, and without pain.” Branyas officially became the world’s oldest person in January 2023. That’s according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Branyas was born in 1907, in San Francisco, California. She moved to Spain in 1915. She lived through the Spanish flu pandemic, which lasted from 1918 to 1920. A hundred years later, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Branyas became famous in Spain. In May 2020, she became the oldest person to successfully recover from COVID-19 at the time.

Game On!
On August 29, athletes compete on day 1 of the Paralympic Games, in Paris, France. Wheelchair basketball is one of 22 sports featured in this year’s Games. The Paralympics will take place through September 8.

Kids Connect: Taylor Jordan
What is your business, and how does it help the community? My business is Treasures by Taylor, an online jewelry store I started in 2022. I design and market vibrant bracelets in a variety of colors and styles. I give 10% of my sales to my charitable organization, Taylor’s Treasures. It’s dedicated to helping people in our community who are underserved or homeless. What skills have you learned?
My business has given me a sense of achievement: knowing that I’m earning money, but also fulfilling needs in the community. I’ve learned financial skills such as planning, budgeting, and saving. I’ve also acquired important communication skills. What advice do you have for kids who want to give back?
Everyone can help, regardless of age or other factors. It doesn’t need to be an enormous undertaking. Everyone benefits from the small steps you take. Know a kid who’s doing something cool or newsworthy? Nominate them to be featured in TIME for Kids! Send us your suggestions at tfkeditors@time.com. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Far From Home
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore left Earth on June 5. The two astronauts were expecting a short flight on NASA’s new Starliner spacecraft. They’d fly to the International Space Station, or ISS (see “Space Station”). Successfully docking there would certify the Starliner for future missions.
Before reaching the ISS, the Starliner experienced problems. Five of its thrusters began misfiring, and a gas supply sprang leaks. The craft made it safely to the ISS. But the astronauts’ eight-day mission has now lasted more than two months.
NASA started troubleshooting the situation with Boeing, the company that built the Starliner. They were trying to determine whether the craft was safe to carry Williams and Wilmore home. On August 24, NASA announced that the astronauts will stay at the ISS until they can be retrieved in February 2025. That will stretch their mission from eight days to eight months.
Close Quarters The ISS, typically home to six or seven people, is now crowded with nine. So how are the astronauts doing? “We are having a great time,” Williams said from orbit during a July press conference. “Butch and I have been up here before, and it feels like coming home.”
The press hasn’t heard more from the astronauts. But the trip has to be getting old by now. The station doesn’t have enough sleep chambers for nine astronauts. So three of them are making do. Wilmore is camping out in a sleeping bag.
And the astronauts’ work schedule has changed. They’ve long since finished up checking the Starliner’s systems. So they’ve been assisting the rest of the crew with science experiments and chores.
At first, Williams and Wilmore had few changes of clothes. They didn’t pack for a months-long stay. (Astronauts don’t do laundry in space; they dispose of old clothes and change into new ones.) But in early August, a resupply vehicle arrived, bringing fresh food and fresh clothes for the Starliner crew.
Backup Plan In early June, Williams and Wilmore said they were excited for the short mission. Starliner was designed to be flown more than once. “We want to go and get back as quickly as possible, so they [can] turn our spacecraft around and also take all those lessons learned and incorporate [them] into the next Starliner,” Williams told TIME. Now, with so many questions about the ship’s safety, there may not be a next Starliner. Rather than allow the ship to carry the astronauts back to Earth, NASA has decided on a backup plan. A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule is scheduled to travel to the ISS for a five-month mission beginning in September. It will be launched with two astronauts aboard, instead of four. Williams and Wilmore will then return to Earth on that Crew Dragon in February 2025.
NASA associate administrator Jim Free spoke at the August 24 press conference. “This has not been an easy decision,” he said, “but it is absolutely the right one.” Space Station The International Space Station, or ISS, is a platform the size of a football field that orbits Earth from nearly 250 miles away. It has been in orbit for 25 years, and more than 270 astronauts from different countries have worked there.
While aboard the ISS, crew members conduct and check the progress of science and technology experiments. These experiments might one day help us travel farther into space, for longer periods of time.

Far From Home
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore left Earth on June 5. The two astronauts were expecting a short flight on NASA’s new Starliner spacecraft. They’d fly to the International Space Station, or ISS (see “Space Station”). Successfully docking there would certify the Starliner for future missions. Before reaching the ISS, the Starliner experienced problems. Five of its thrusters began misfiring. A gas supply sprang leaks. The craft made it safely to the ISS. But the astronauts’ eight-day mission has now lasted more than two months. NASA started troubleshooting the situation with Boeing, the company that built the Starliner. They were trying to determine whether the craft was safe to carry Wilmore and Williams home. On August 24, NASA announced that the astronauts will stay at the ISS until they can be retrieved in February 2025. That will stretch their mission from eight days to eight months. Close Quarters The ISS, typically home to six or seven people, is now crowded with nine. So how are the astronauts doing? “We are having a great time,” Williams said from orbit during a July press conference. “Butch and I have been up here before, and it feels like coming home.” The press hasn’t heard more from them. But the trip has to be getting old by now. The station doesn’t have enough sleep chambers for nine astronauts, so three of them are making do. Wilmore is camping out in a sleeping bag.
And the astronauts’ work schedule has changed. They’ve long since finished up checking the Starliner’s systems. So they’ve been helping the rest of the crew with science experiments and chores.
Williams and Wilmore also didn’t pack enough clothes for a long stay. (Astronauts don’t do laundry in space. They dispose of old clothes and change into new ones.) But in early August, a resupply vehicle arrived. It brought fresh food and fresh clothes for the Starliner crew.
Backup Plan
NASA has decided on a backup plan to get the astronauts home. It involves a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The capsule is scheduled to travel to the ISS for a five-month mission beginning in September. It’s usually launched with four astronauts aboard. This time, it will be launched with two. Williams and Wilmore will return to Earth on that Crew Dragon in February 2025. NASA associate administrator Jim Free spoke at the August 24 press conference. “This has not been an easy decision,” he said, “but it is absolutely the right one.” Space Station The International Space Station, or ISS, is a platform the size of a football field. It orbits Earth from nearly 250 miles away. It has been in orbit for 25 years. More than 270 astronauts from different countries have worked there. Crew members on the ISS have an important job. They conduct science and technology experiments. These experiments might one day help us travel farther into space, for longer periods of time.

Briefing Room
TFK Kid Reporter Audrey Owolo visited the White House, in Washington, D.C., to interview Karine Jean-Pierre about her job and career path. As the White House press secretary, Jean-Pierre serves as the spokesperson for President Biden and his administration.

Should Skipping Grades Be Allowed?
Students who excel in school are sometimes given the opportunity to skip a grade. They leave their class behind and jump ahead to learn with older students. Skipping a grade lets students take on more-challenging schoolwork. But it comes with its own obstacles. We asked our new crew of TFK Kid Reporters to tell us if they think kids should be able to skip grades. They made strong points on both sides of the issue. Here are four of their responses. Where do you stand? Meyer Ballas, 12
Los Angeles, California Students should be allowed to skip grades, but that doesn’t mean all students should do it. Advanced students may learn more in a higher grade, but it may be hard for them to make friends. Grade-skippers risk getting bullied for their age or academic skills. For the kids who really want to skip a grade, go ahead. It could help bored students who don’t feel like they are learning. My grandpère went to college at 16. Because of that, he became a doctor at 24. Skipping a grade has its pros and cons, but students should be allowed the choice. Nate Rhew, 13
New York, New York Education is important, but so is being social. If a student skips a grade, they may struggle to find friends, and can feel left out. This can also affect learning. My sister skipped a grade and was challenged academically, but she had a hard time making friends and fitting in with older students. Instead, schools can place students into classes based on their academic level. My old school did this for classes I excelled in, such as math and writing. I was able to socialize with classmates my age while being challenged. This is a win-win situation. I believe this should be done at more schools. Milo Bhushan, 10
Johns Island, South Carolina Skipping a grade is easy when you’re homeschooled, like me! I’d still have the same teacher, classroom, and friends. For kids at a regular school, it’s more challenging. Skipping a grade means taking harder classes while making friends with older kids. It could mean going to a different school. Is the extra academic challenge worth all the change and risk of social isolation? If grown-ups think a student is smart enough to skip a grade, I think the student should be allowed to decide for themselves. They should weigh the pros and cons and choose whether it’s something they want to do. Vivian Goldhirsh, 11 Santa Barbara, California Students should not skip grades. Kids deserve the time to grow without being rushed through valuable experiences. Feeling this pressure could negatively affect a student’s self-confidence. Social intelligence is just as important as academic intelligence, because it allows you to find out who you are. I think there is a better way to push students academically while letting them be social. Advanced classes offer kids the flexibility to grow as students—but, when the break between classes comes, they can have fun in a social environment that helps them thrive. The Next Debate: Is AI good for society? Email your opinion to tfkeditors@time.com by October 21. Your response might be featured in an issue of TIME for Kids. *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 Skipping Grades Be Allowed?
Students who excel in school can sometimes skip a grade. They leave their class behind and jump ahead to learn with older students. Skipping a grade lets them take on more-challenging schoolwork. But it’s not that simple. We asked our new crew of TFK Kid Reporters if kids should be able to skip grades. They made strong points on both sides of the issue. Here are four of their responses. Where do you stand? Meyer Ballas, 12 Los Angeles, California Students should be allowed to skip grades. But that doesn’t mean all students should do it. Advanced students may learn more in a higher grade. But it may be hard for them to make friends. Grade-skippers risk getting bullied for their age or academic skills.
For the kids who really want to skip a grade, go ahead. It could help bored students who don’t feel like they are learning. Skipping a grade has its pros and cons. But students should be allowed the choice. Nate Rhew, 13 New York, New York Education is important, but so is being social. If a student skips a grade, they may struggle to find friends. This can affect learning. My sister skipped a grade. She had a hard time fitting in with older students.
Instead, schools can place students into classes based on their academic level. My old school did this for classes I excelled in. I was able to socialize with classmates my age while being challenged. This is a win-win situation. Milo Bhushan, 10 Johns Island, South Carolina Skipping a grade is easy when you’re homeschooled, like me! I’d have the same teacher, classroom, and friends. For kids at a regular school, it’s more challenging. Skipping a grade means taking harder classes while making friends with older kids. It could mean going to a different school. Is the extra challenge worth the change and social isolation?
If grown-ups think a student can skip a grade, the student should decide. They should weigh the pros and cons and choose what they want to do. Vivian Goldhirsh, 11 Santa Barbara, California Students shouldn’t skip grades. Kids deserve time to grow without being rushed through valuable experiences. Feeling this pressure could negatively affect a student’s self-confidence. Social intelligence is just as important as academic intelligence. It allows you to find out who you are. There is a better way. Advanced classes offer kids the flexibility to grow as students. But between classes, they can have fun in an environment that helps them thrive.
The Next Debate: Is AI good for society? Email your opinion to tfkeditors@time.com by October 21. Your response might be featured in an issue of TIME for Kids. *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.

Play Place
There is a new place to play in Kennewick, Washington, called Kason’s Korner. It is named for Kason Creed. He helped come up with the idea for it.
Kason is a kid with cerebral palsy. That is a medical condition. Kason uses a wheelchair because of it. His wheelchair makes it hard for him to play on playgrounds.
Kason dreamed of an accessible playground in his community. He wanted one where all kids could play together. So he started a campaign called Kason’s Kause. Using His Voice In 2022, Kason started going to community meetings. He spoke to local leaders. “I was nervous at my first meeting,” he says. But each meeting got easier. He spoke from his heart. Kason’s words impressed Nick Farline, who works for the city. “It was super eye-opening,” Farline said. He was inspired to study Kennewick’s playgrounds. One was the Playground of Dreams. Farline held meetings about improving its play area. Kason was invited. Play for All Kason’s Korner opened at the Playground of Dreams in November 2023. It has a We-Go-Round. That is a merry-go-round that can fit wheelchairs. It also has a We-saw. That is an accessible see-saw. The area is covered with Playground Grass. A wheelchair moves more easily on this grass. Is there something you would like to do to improve your community? Kason has some advice. “If you want to do it that badly, you need to just go for it,” he says.

Where Do You Live?
A community is a group of people. The group might live, work, or play together. A community can also be a place where people live. There are different types of places. Read about three. What is your community like? City City
Lots of people live in a city. They live close together. Homes, offices, and stores are near one another. People can walk to them. Or they can take a train or bus. Suburb Homes are farther apart. There are fewer people. Many travel to nearby cities to work. People drive cars to get around. Countryside
There are even fewer people. You see more land than homes. Some people live and work on farms.

Get Involved
Anyone can help their community. Think about what is important to you. Then read below to learn how you can get started. Organize a group. Share your ideas (above). Listen to what others have to say. You can get more done when you work together. Raise awareness. Write a message on a sign. Put it in your yard or window. Talk to others about what is important to you. Donate. Charities and other groups take donations. You can raise money. Or you can donate supplies. Start a book or clothing drive. An adult can help. Reach Out. Write a letter to a community leader. Tell them what matters to you. Your ideas might inspire them to make a change.

Getting Around
There are many ways to get from place to place. How do you get where you need to go?
Bicycle
Bikes (above) move by pedaling. It is faster than walking. Some cities have lanes just for bikes. Car
Cars travel on the road. They get around quickly. But they can carry only a few people. Bus Buses travel on the road too. They can carry more people. They travel near and far. Train
Trains run on tracks. They are faster than cars. Underground trains are called subways.

Lahaina Rebuilds
A year ago, wildfires swept through the town of Lahaina. That’s on the Hawaiian island of Maui. More than 100 people died. The fires destroyed 1,400 homes and 200,000 trees.
Today, some residents displaced by the fires still need homes. Maui’s mayor is working to pass laws to help people get easier access to new housing. And local groups are working to rebuild.
More than half of Maui’s money typically comes from tourism. But because of the fires, the island had to close to tourists. It reopened in November. When it did, it advertised a new type of trip.
When people travel to Maui now, they’re asked to help. Tourists are given a chance to volunteer, to support locally owned businesses, and to leave the island in better shape. Maui Cultural Lands (MCL) is a nonprofit based in Lahaina. It’s one of the groups offering visitors ways to give back to the island. Group director Ekolu Lindsey’s house was destroyed in the fires. He has welcomed hundreds of volunteers since November. “Everybody loves Maui,” he says.
On volunteer days, MCL invites visitors to pull weeds and plant trees across the island. “We are going to work,” Lindsey says. “And it’s fun.”
Lindsey also teaches volunteers about Hawaiian culture. “We help people think of Hawaii as home,” Lindsey says. “Not your home, but someone’s home.” Stop and Think! WHY do you think TFK has chosen to return to this story? How often do you think a news publication should revisit a story?

Lahaina Rebuilds
A year ago, wildfires swept through the town of Lahaina, on the Hawaiian island of Maui. More than 100 people died. The fires destroyed 1,400 homes and 200,000 trees. Today, some Lahaina residents displaced by the fires are still in need of permanent homes. Maui’s mayor is working to pass laws to help people get easier access to new housing. Local groups are working to rebuild.
More than half of Maui’s money typically comes from tourism, but because of the fires, the island had to close to tourists. It officially reopened in November. When it did, it advertised a new type of trip.
Now when people travel to Maui, they’re asked to help. Tourists are given opportunities to volunteer, to support locally owned and eco-friendly businesses, and to leave the island better because of their visit.
Maui Cultural Lands (MCL), a nonprofit based in Lahaina, is one of the groups offering visitors ways to give back to the island. Group director Ekolu Lindsey’s house was destroyed in the fires. He has been pleased to welcome hundreds of volunteers since November. “Everybody loves Maui,” he says.
On volunteer days, MCL invites visitors to pull weeds and plant baby trees and native seedlings in nurseries across the island. By 2025, visitors will be replanting on people’s property. “We are going to work,” Lindsey says. “We are opening people’s eyes to what they can do to make their communities more resilient. And it’s fun.”
Lindsey is a native Hawaiian. He teaches volunteers about Hawaiian culture. “We help people think of Hawaii as home,” Lindsey says. “Not your home, but someone’s home.”
Stop and Think! WHY do you think TFK has chosen to return to this story? How often do you think a news publication should revisit a story?

Going For Olympic Gold
From July 26 to August 11, athletes from around the world competed at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, in Paris, France. A total of 10,500 Olympians went for the gold in 32 sports, such as swimming, track, and gymnastics. More than 30 million viewers watched the games on TV. Read the chart to see which countries took home the most medals: gold, silver, and bronze.

Going For Olympic Gold
The 2024 Summer Olympic Games just ended. The Games took place from July 26 to August 11, in Paris, France. More than 10,000 athletes from around the world competed in 32 sports. And more than 30 million viewers watched the Games on TV. Read the chart to see which countries took home the most medals: gold, silver, and bronze.

The Record-Breakers
Simone Biles now has more Olympic medals than any American gymnast in history. She wasn’t the only record-setter at this year’s Games. Athletes broke 32 world records in eight sports. Some set Olympic records or records for their country.
One record-breaking athlete is Katie Vincent. She won first place in the women’s 200-meter canoe race. Vincent finished in 44.12 seconds, a new world record, earning Canada’s first Olympic gold in a women’s canoe event. Meanwhile, the British women’s cycling team set a new world record for the women’s team sprint event with a time of 45.186 seconds. And 14-year-old skateboarder Arisa Trew became Australia’s youngest-ever Olympic gold medalist.

The Record-Breakers
Simone Biles now has more Olympic medals than any American gymnast in history. She wasn’t the only record-setter at this year’s Games. Athletes broke 32 world records in eight sports. Some set Olympic records or records for their country.
One record-breaking athlete is Katie Vincent. She won first place in the women’s 200-meter canoe race. Vincent finished in 44.12 seconds. That’s a new world record. It was also Canada’s first Olympic gold medal in a women’s canoe event. The British women’s cycling team set a new world record too. The team won the women’s team sprint event, in 45.186 seconds. And 14-year-old skateboarder Arisa Trew became Australia’s youngest-ever Olympic gold medalist.

Paralympic Preview
The Summer Paralympics will kick off in Paris, France, on August 28. More than 4,400 athletes with a disability will compete. Like the Summer Olympics, the Summer Paralympics take place every four years. This year’s Games will feature 22 sports. Will you be watching?

Dreaming of a Cure
When Heman Bekele was 6, he got a chemistry set for Christmas. He used it to mix up “potions.” Back then, only his parents paid attention. Now, at 15, Heman is used to a lot more people watching his work. In October 2023, 3M and Discovery Education named Heman the winner of their Young Scientist Challenge. His prize: $25,000. His accomplishment: inventing a soap that could one day treat and prevent some forms of skin cancer. It could take years before the soap is available for purchase. But Heman, a 10th grader at Woodson High, in Fairfax, Virginia, is determined. Over the summer, he spent every weekday in a lab at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in Baltimore, Maryland. When he goes back to school this fall, he’ll be at the lab less often (see “Beyond the Lab”). But he’ll keep striving to make his dream a reality. “I’m really passionate about skin-cancer research,” he told TIME. “It’s absolutely incredible to think that one day, my bar of soap will be able to make a direct impact on somebody else’s life.” That passion and the desire to help others have earned Heman the title of TIME’s Kid of the Year for 2024. Bright Idea
Heman was born in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, in Africa. He moved to the United States with his family when he was 4. He remembers seeing people in Africa working in the hot sun without protection for their skin. That made them vulnerable to skin cancer, a disease caused by too much exposure to the sun. Heman’s parents explained the dangers of spending too much time outdoors without sunscreen or proper clothing. “I realized what a big problem the sun [is] when you’re exposed to it for a long time,” he says.
Skin-cancer treatments typically cost about $40,000. Heman wondered if there was a more affordable way for people to begin to treat the disease. He thought of adding a skin-cancer medicine called imiquimod to a bar of soap.
“What is one thing that is an internationally impactful idea, something that everyone can use?” Heman recalls thinking. “Everyone uses soap and water for cleaning. So soap would probably be the best option.” Next Level Heman needed help to bring his idea to life. In 2023, he came across the 3M challenge and submitted a video explaining what he had in mind. Soon, he received an invitation to the company’s headquarters, in St. Paul, Minnesota. He spoke in front of a panel of judges. That day, he was named the winner. Since then, Heman has been working on developing his idea. Adult experts are guiding him. One is Deborah Isabelle, a mentor from 3M. “I got really lucky,” she says. “Last year was my first year participating as a mentor in the Young Scientist Challenge, and I was paired with Heman. He’s an incredible, passionate, very inspiring young man.”
Heman encourages all kids to dream big. “Just keep inventing,” he says. “Keep thinking of new ways to improve our world.” Beyond the Lab Heman is serious about science and about pursuing his dreams as an inventor. But he’s also a regular teen, with hobbies and other interests. He’s part of the Woodson High School Marching Band, for which he plays both flute and trombone. He plays basketball. And he enjoys reading a good book, especially if it’s fantasy. Playing chess is another thing Heman loves to do. He says he considers chess “a turn-my-brain-off-and-play kind of thing.”

Dreaming of a Cure
When Heman Bekele was 6, he got a chemistry set. He used it to mix “potions.” Only his parents paid attention. Heman is 15 now. He’s a 10th grader at Woodson High, in Fairfax, Virginia. And he’s used to a lot more people watching his work. In October 2023, 3M and Discovery Education named Heman the winner of their Young Scientist Challenge. His prize: $25,000. His accomplishment: inventing a soap. It could one day treat and prevent some forms of skin cancer.
It could be years before the soap is available to buy. But Heman is determined. This summer, he spent most days in a lab at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. It’s in Baltimore, Maryland. When he goes back to school, he’ll be at the lab less often (see “Beyond the Lab”). But he’ll keep working to make his dream come true.
“I’m really passionate about skin-cancer research,” he told TIME. “One day, my bar of soap will be able to make a direct impact on somebody else’s life.”
That passion and the desire to help others have earned Heman the title of TIME’s Kid of the Year.
Bright Idea
Heman moved to the United States when he was 4. But he was born in Addis Ababa. The city is the capital of Ethiopia, in Africa. Heman remembers seeing people there out in the sun without protection for their skin. They were vulnerable to skin cancer. It’s a disease that can be caused by too much exposure to the sun. Heman’s parents told him about the dangers of spending too much time outdoors without sunscreen or proper clothing. “I realized what a big problem the sun [is] when you’re exposed to it for a long time,” he says.
Skin-cancer treatments can cost about $40,000. Heman wondered if there was a more affordable way for people to begin to treat the disease. He thought of adding a skin-cancer medicine to “something that everyone can use,” Heman says. “Everyone uses soap and water for cleaning. So soap would probably be the best option.”
Next Level
Heman needed help to bring his idea to life. He came across the 3M challenge. He submitted a video explaining what he had in mind. Soon, he received an invitation to speak in front of a panel of judges. That day, he was named the winner. Since then, Heman has been hard at work. Experts are guiding him. One is Deborah Isabelle. She’s a mentor from 3M. Isabelle describes Heman as a “very inspiring young man.”
Heman encourages kids to dream big. “Just keep inventing,” he says. “Keep thinking of new ways to improve our world.” Beyond the Lab Heman is serious about science and about reaching his goals as an inventor. But he’s also a regular teen. He has hobbies and other interests. He plays flute and trombone for the Woodson High School Marching Band. He plays basketball. And he enjoys reading a good book, especially if it’s fantasy. Playing chess is another thing Heman loves to do. He says he considers chess “a turn-my-brain-off-and-play kind of thing.”

Incredible Kids
TIME’s Kid of the Year honor recognizes young people who are making a positive impact. In addition to this year’s winner, Heman Bekele, five honorees were selected. This was done with the help of TIME and TIME for Kids editors, plus a committee of TFK Kid Reporters. Read on to learn about the five incredible honorees, then write to us at tfkeditors@time.com to tell us about kids you know who are making a difference. Bikes for All Dom Pecora (above) taught himself to fix bikes by watching YouTube videos. By the time he was 10 years old, he’d gotten good at it. Eventually, he started doing repairs to raise money for his dream mountain bike. He had money left over, so he decided to surprise six other kids with brand-new bikes. Now Dom is 15, and runs his own bike shop in Malvern, Pennsylvania. He does tune-ups and repairs. He also sells bikes. But his biggest goal is to give away at least 100 bikes per year to people who need them. That includes young people with health issues and people dealing with homelessness. During the 2023 holiday season, he gave away 121 bikes. Dom says he’s just getting started. “Since the beginning, I always wanted everyone to be able to ride a bike, no matter their financial abilities,” he says.
—By Jaime Joyce Breakout Star In 2023, Keivonn Woodard made history. The Emmy Awards are for people in the TV industry. That includes actors—like Keivonn, who was 10 years old when he was nominated for an Emmy. Keivonn was the youngest person ever nominated in his category (Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series). That’s not all: Keivonn is Deaf, and he became the first Black Deaf actor to receive an Emmy nomination. Keivonn isn’t stopping there. Now 11, he has several movie roles lined up. To Keivonn, each role is an opportunity for him to make people who are Deaf feel more represented. “Most people [in TV and film] are hearing,” he says. “But when I see Deaf people and they’re using sign language, I understand what they’re saying. Showing Deaf people playing Deaf characters is authentic and extremely important.”
 —By Megan McCluskey Fighting Fires
After a restaurant burned down in her hometown of San Jose, California, Shanya Gill wondered if she could invent a better fire-detection system. She created a device that alerts users to fires before they start. It uses a camera and a small computer. If the system detects heat but not a person nearby, it texts the user a warning. The idea won Shanya the 2023 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge. It’s a big science competition for middle schoolers. In March, Shanya, now 13, met with the head of the U.S. Fire Administration. The agency is helping her develop the project. “I want people to feel safe in their own homes,” she says. —By Sanya Mansoor Earth Advocate Did you know that some chemicals can last for hundreds of years? PFAS are sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals.” They’re in everyday products, such as makeup. They can make their way into the water, soil, and air, causing health problems in people and wildlife. Thirteen-year-old Madhvi Chittoor wants to help. Madhvi lives in Arvada, Colorado. She works with government officials there to help reduce chemicals like PFAS. Madhvi worked with Colorado state senator Lisa Cutter to promote a bill that bans PFAS in common items. The bill passed in 2022, but Madhvi has more work to do. She’s always finding ways to spread the word about the environment. For example, on a recent trip to her family’s hometown of Chennai, India, Madhvi organized a beach cleanup and talked to schools about pollution. And “there’s still more to be banned,” she says. —SM Protecting Paws Jordan Sucato, 15, lives in Phoenix, Arizona. The summers there are scorching hot. As the air temperature rises, so does the pavement temperature. This endangers dogs walking on it. Jordan’s goal is to protect homeless dogs, or pets of people who are unhoused. These pets often walk many miles a day outside. “Their paws can burn and blister in under five minutes,” Jordan says. So far, she has raised $7,000, enough to buy protective boots for 515 dogs. Jordan also speaks up for change. Last year, she advocated for a ban on the sale of cosmetics that have been tested on animals. She even met with Arizona state senator John Kavanagh to discuss the issue. Many kids care about animals. What sets Jordan apart? “Her passion,” says animal advocate Monique Hebert, who has worked with Jordan. “And her spirit.” —By Allison Singer

Incredible Kids
TIME’s Kid of the Year honor recognizes young people who are making a positive impact. In addition to this year’s winner, Heman Bekele, five honorees were selected. This was done with the help of TIME and TIME for Kids editors. A committee of TFK Kid Reporters helped too. Read on to learn about the five incredible honorees. Then write to us at tfkeditors@time.com to tell us about kids you know who are making a difference. Bikes for All Dom Pecora (above) taught himself to fix bikes by watching YouTube videos. By the time he was 10 years old, he’d gotten good at it. Eventually, he started doing repairs to raise money for his dream mountain bike. He had money left over, so he decided to surprise six other kids with brand-new bikes. Now Dom is 15. He runs his own bike shop. It’s in Malvern, Pennsylvania. He does tune-ups and repairs. He also sells bikes. But his biggest goal is to give away at least 100 bikes per year to people who need them. That includes young people with health issues. It also includes people dealing with homelessness. During the 2023 holiday season, Dom gave away 121 bikes. He says he’s just getting started. “Since the beginning,” he says, “I always wanted everyone to be able to ride a bike, no matter their financial abilities.”  —By Jaime Joyce Breakout Star
In 2023, Keivonn Woodard made history. The Emmy Awards are for people who work in the television industry. That includes actors, like Keivonn. He was only 10 years old when he was nominated for an Emmy Award. Keivonn was the youngest person ever nominated in his category (Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series). And that’s not all: Keivonn is Deaf. He became the first Black Deaf actor to receive an Emmy nomination. Keivonn isn’t stopping there. Now 11 years old, he has several movie roles lined up. He feels each role is a chance for him to make people who are Deaf feel more represented. “Most people [in TV and film] are hearing,” he says. “But when I see Deaf people and they’re using sign language, I understand what they’re saying. Showing Deaf people playing Deaf characters is authentic and extremely important.”  —By Megan McCluskey Fighting Fires In 2022, a restaurant burned down in Shanya Gill’s hometown of San Jose, California. This made her wonder. Could she invent a better fire-detection system? Shanya got to work. She created a device. It alerts users to fires before they start. It uses a camera and a small computer. If the system detects heat but not a person nearby, it texts the user a warning. The idea won Shanya the 2023 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge. It’s a big science competition for middle schoolers.
In March, Shanya met with the U.S. Fire Administration. This agency is helping the 13-year-old develop the project. “I want people to feel safe in their own homes,” she says. —By Sanya Mansoor
Earth Advocate Did you know that some chemicals last for hundreds of years? PFAS are sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals.” They’re in everyday products, such as makeup. They make their way into the water, soil, and air. This can cause health problems in people and wildlife. Thirteen-year-old Madhvi Chittoor wants to help. Madhvi lives in Arvada, Colorado. She works with government officials there to reduce chemicals like PFAS. Madhvi worked with Colorado state senator Lisa Cutter to promote a bill. It bans PFAS in common items. The bill passed in 2022. But Madhvi has more work to do. She’s always finding ways to spread the word about the environment. For example, she recently took a trip to her family’s hometown of Chennai, India. There, she organized a beach cleanup and talked to schools about pollution. And “there’s still more to be banned,” she says. —SM Protecting Paws
Jordan Sucato, 15, lives in Phoenix, Arizona. The summers there are very hot. As the air temperature rises, so does the pavement temperature. This puts the dogs walking on it in danger. Jordan’s goal is to protect homeless dogs. They’re the pets of people who are unhoused. These pets often walk many miles a day outside. “Their paws can burn and blister in under five minutes,” Jordan says. So far, she has raised $7,000. That’s enough to buy protective boots for 515 dogs. Jordan also speaks up for change. Last year, she advocated for a ban on the sale of cosmetics that have been tested on animals. She even met with Arizona state senator John Kavanagh. They discussed the issue. Many kids care about animals. What sets Jordan apart? “Her passion,” says animal advocate Monique Hebert, who has worked with Jordan. “And her spirit.” —By Allison Singer

Meet Our Kid Reporters
We’ve got some new faces joining the TIME for Kids crew! Read about the 2024–2025 team of TFK Kid Reporters. Look for their articles in the magazine and online this school year. Meyer Ballas, 12 Los Angeles, California
Meyer plays baseball. And he had the lead role in his school play. Milo Bhushan, 10 Johns Island, South Carolina
Milo loves studying the universe. He wants to be an astronomer one day. Vivian Goldhirsh, 11 Santa Barbara, California
Vivian keeps active by surfing, playing tennis, and doing jujitsu. Safiyyah Hussain, 12 Falls Church, Virginia Safiyyah speaks four languages. She wants to be a sports journalist.
Dylan Landaw, 10 Bronx, New York Dylan likes to read books, watch movies, and write in her journal. Rudrh Nair, 13 Stamford, Connecticut Rudrh has won his city’s literary competition four years in a row.
Evelyn Peng, 11 New York, New York Evelyn hopes to meet author Kelly Yang and activist Malala Yousafzai. Disha Rai, 12 Bloomington, Illinois
Disha has a collection of tote bags, one from every city she’s visited.
Nate Rhew, 13 New York, New York Nate wants to inspire all kids to be proud of their differences.

Draw Your Dreams
TFK Kid Reporter Ben Stern saw Harold and the Purple Crayon, which opens in theaters on August 2. Read his thoughts below. Imagine having a magic purple crayon that can bring your imagination to life. That’s exactly what happens in the movie Harold and the Purple Crayon, originally a children’s book by Crockett Johnson. In the book, Harold is a kid who uses his crayon to draw a fantasy world. If he draws the moon, it shines just like the real thing. If he draws a hot-air balloon, he can float away. In the movie, Harold is a grown-up character in a book who uses the crayon to enter the real world. Joined by his friends Moose and Porcupine, Harold gets help from a kind family. He returns their kindness by drawing things that make them happy. He also shares his magical powers with a boy named Mel. Mel finds Harold’s purple crayon helpful as he faces tragedy. Of course, the crayon eventually falls into the wrong hands. Harold worries about its being used for evil. He loses faith in his ability to make people happy with his drawings. Luckily, friendship and imagination show him and his friends that anything is possible. Harold and the Purple Crayon is funny and exciting. Readers of the book will really enjoy seeing the characters come to life on the big screen. It’s perfect for a family movie night and for anyone who enjoys fantasy. It might inspire you to, as Harold says, “Make your life what you want it to be. Use your imagination.”

Break It Down
There’s a new sport at this year’s Paris Olympics: breaking, sometimes called breakdancing. The sport combines dancing and acrobatics. To win the gold, athletes called breakers will spin, flip, and shuffle to hip-hop music. Here’s what you need to know about the sport. Why is it called breaking? Breaking started in the 1970s, in New York City. At parties, dancers got up to perform during musical “breaks,” which gave breaking its name. Breaking is now an important part of hip-hop culture around the world. Who can be a breaker? Anyone can be a B-girl or a B-boy, which is what breakers call themselves. Victor Montalvo is an American B-boy. “Breaking is awesome because it’s part of hip-hop culture, and [in] hip-hop culture, it doesn’t matter what color you are, who you are, where you’re from: It’s inclusive,” he says. “It’s all about peace, love, unity, and having fun.” How do breakers talk? Breakers have their own insider language to describe their dance style. A “top rock” is when a breaker dances while standing up. A “down rock” is when a breaker dances on the floor, moving their arms and kicking their legs. A “freeze” is when a dancer stops in the middle of their routine in a tough position, like standing on their head. Do the breakers pick their own music? No! In breaking competitions, a DJ picks the music for each round. The breakers never know what songs the DJ will pick, so they have to choose their moves on the spot. When will breakers compete at the Olympics? The B-girls battle on Friday, August 9. The B-boys go on August 10.

Should Summer Reading Be Mandatory?
In 2021, we asked TIME for Kids readers if they thought summer reading should be mandatory. We heard from students who felt strongly about both sides of the issue. So we decided to pose the question again. And again, you made your voices heard! Here are some of the responses we received. What’s your take? Yes Krish Vijaykarthik, 9 Maple Grove, Minnesota Summer reading should be made mandatory because your reading skills would improve. You would learn a lot of vocabulary words. You should give exercise to your brain so that it can stay active all through the year. No Rose Torrey, 11 Chapel Hill, North Carolina Instead of mandatory summer reading, there should be optional summer reading with a wide variety of books on offer. If someone doesn’t like reading, doing an extra-credit assignment like that could help them find something they like, and it won’t feel forced and stressful. Yes Karolina DeLuca, 11 Walpole, Massachusetts Kids can explore new kinds of books during the summer. They may discover a book series or genre that they really like. Then, when they go back to school, they may want to choose one of those books for a project or report. Yes Maddy MacDonald, 11 Ontario, Canada Reading can be great for your mental health. It can help relieve any stress from school, work, or something that is really bothering you. No Alison Lee, 10 Los Angeles, California Students need to have the time to connect with friends and family during the summer. They should have the choice whether or not to read. We all know that kids don’t want to do things if they are told they have to do them. Yes Jake Pyo, 9 Riverside, California Some kids don’t have a lot of time to read at school because of homework and other activities. Summer reading will give these students more time to read, and it will improve their minds.

What’s Your Summer Goal?
Everyone’s summer looks different. For many kids, summertime is a period of rest and fun. Others use their time off school to learn a skill, play a summer sport, take interesting classes, or connect with family and friends. How are you spending your summer months?
Junior Journalists, we want to know: What’s your summer goal? When you go back to school, what do you hope to have accomplished? What will you need to have done in order to consider your summer a success? Write your answer, and ask a parent or guardian to send it to us at tfkpressclub@time.com.

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Beat the Heat
Record-setting high temperatures are dangerous for your health. Whether you’re in the middle of a heat wave or just trying to get through one scorching day, you’ll need strategies to cool off and stay well. One of the most important is staying hydrated. “In the heat, everyone needs more water,” says Dr. Ashley Karpinos, associate professor of medicine, pediatrics, and sports medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in Tennessee. And if you’re playing sports or exercising in hot weather, staying hydrated is even more crucial. One way to plan your water intake is to take your weight in pounds, divide that number in half, and drink that many ounces every day. That’s according to Dr. Dana Cohen, who coauthored a book about the science behind hydration. Seems simple, right? Not so much. Hydration is complex. Some people need more water than others. And sometimes, a glass of water isn’t even the best solution. The following five tips from experts can help ensure you’re properly hydrated. Think beyond water. Water is typically the best thing you can drink when it’s hot outside. But other beverages can also do an excellent job keeping you hydrated. Cohen recommends coconut water. It contains natural electrolytes, which are minerals that help your body function. Some research suggests that milk might be hydrating, as well. Eat water-rich foods. Eating foods with a high water content is a great way to stay hydrated in the heat, Karpinos says. She recommends fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, cantaloupe, berries, peppers, lettuce, and cucumbers. Hydrate before you feel thirsty. One of the biggest mistakes people make is waiting until they feel thirsty before they drink water, Karpinos says. By the time you feel thirsty, you’re already on the way to dehydration. Be on the lookout for dehydration. Early signs of dehydration include feeling thirsty, having dry lips and mouth, and not sweating enough, Karpinos says. Feltheimer adds that body cramps and tiredness may be “signs that your body is trying to conserve whatever fluid it has.” If you’re an athlete, be extra cautious. According to Karpinos, it’s particularly important for athletes to have a hydration plan in the heat. “The goal is to start an exercise session well-hydrated [and] maintain hydration during exercise,” she says. Athletes should also check for signs of dehydration when they’re done exercising.

The History of Fireworks
Fireworks may seem like a very American tradition, especially on the 4th of July. But fireworks go back many years before the first American Independence Day celebration, which took place in 1777, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The earliest fireworks can be traced to around 2,000 years ago in China. People then are said to have roasted bamboo stalks. The stalks turned black and sizzled. The air inside the hollow stalks would explode. Baozhu is a Mandarin Chinese word for firecracker. It means “exploding bamboo.” Years later, Chinese chemists took fireworks a step further. This happened sometime between 600 and 900 A.D. People filled bamboo shoots with gunpowder. They threw them into a fire pit. Steel dust or iron shavings were added to make them sparkle. In China, these firecrackers were often used in celebrations. In the 13th century, fireworks spread to Europe. In the centuries that followed, Europeans began moving to North America. So it was no surprise that when July 4th began to be celebrated as America’s Independence Day, fireworks were included in the festivities. John Adams was one of America’s Founding Fathers. He said he hoped the anniversary of the country’s independence would be marked for years to come by “bonfires” and “illuminations.” The first July 4th celebration happened during the middle of the Revolutionary War. Cannons were fired. Fireworks, too, marked the occasion. Today, fireworks are an established July 4 tradition. Will you see a fireworks display this Independence Day? Note: It is dangerous (and illegal, in some states) to own and set off fireworks. The use of fireworks is best left to professionals. This story was originally published on July 4, 2019. It was updated on July 1, 2024.

Team Riley Returns
TFK Kid Reporter Sophia Zhang attended a screening of the new movie Inside Out 2. Read her thoughts below. Team Riley is back, in Inside Out 2, a sequel to 2015’s Inside Out. Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust have been successfully operating Riley’s mind. But their world takes a turn when Riley turns 13, which means growth spurts, braces, pimples—in other words, puberty. The characters representing Riley’s emotions have no explanation for her wild mood swings. They become more flabbergasted when a new emotion shows up: Anxiety. And as it turns out, Anxiety is not the only new emotion. When Riley goes to an elite hockey camp and is forced to make tough decisions, Anxiety causes mayhem in her mind. Anxiety banishes the original five emotions from Headquarters. Can they make it back and save Riley’s sense of self? I recommend this movie to kids and parents alike. Teenagers especially will love it. It is so relatable, since the conflict between Joy and Anxiety acts out the bittersweetness of growing up. The movie will help teenagers reflect on and cope with their emotions. It will teach us that our emotions are meant to be felt and expressed, not hidden, and that being your true self means accepting all of yourself.

A Juneteenth Celebration
This story was originally published on June 15, 2021. It was updated on June 17, 2024. On June 19, people across the United States celebrate Juneteenth. The holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S., in 1865. Juneteenth is short for “June 19th.” It was on that day, in June 1865, that 250,000 people in Galveston, Texas, found out they had been freed from slavery. A Look at History In 1860 and 1861, several Southern states declared their independence from the United States. This started the Civil War. The Southern Confederacy wanted to maintain slavery, while the Northern Union wanted to stop slavery from spreading to new territories. On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. It declared freedom for enslaved people in the Confederacy. White slave owners kept the news a secret. Many enslaved people would not find out they had been freed until more than two years later. In April 1865, the Confederacy surrendered to the Union. The war was over. On June 19, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the president’s order. When they told the crowds that the state’s 250,000 enslaved people were free, celebrations broke out. Making a Holiday Over the years, Black people from Galveston moved to different cities, and the celebration spread. It is also called Emancipation Day, or Freedom Day. In the 1960s, the civil rights movement brought a wider awareness of Juneteenth. On June 19, 1968, two months after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., a Solidarity Day rally was held on June 19 in Washington, D.C. The event drew 50,000 people. Texas made Juneteenth a state holiday in 1980. Following international protests sparked by the May 2020 killing of George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Juneteenth gained even wider recognition. Juneteenth celebrations include religious services, cookouts, parades, and festivals featuring music and dancing. On June 17, 2021, Juneteenth was designated a federal holiday.

Bee Champ
On May 30, a seventh-grader from Tampa, Florida, became the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee champ. Bruhat Soma, 12, crushed a lightning tiebreaker round by spelling 29 words correctly in 90 seconds. The winning word was abseil. It’s a word used in the sport of mountaineering. This was Bruhat’s third appearance in the bee. In 2022, he tied for 163rd place. Last year, he came 74th. Bruhat told NPR that he felt “excited” about winning. “I’ve been working really hard, so I just put a lot of time into spelling,” he said. “I’m really happy that I won. Like, I really can’t describe it. I’m still shaking.” Bruhat’s spelling coach was 16-year-old speller Sam Evans. Sam coached three of the top four finishers. He told the Associated Press that Bruhat had indeed put in a lot of hard work. “I’m very happy that I could use my experience to help him, but at the end of the day, it’s all about his hard work and his dedication,” Evans said. “I’m so happy for him.” Bruhat’s prize includes more than $50,000, reference materials, and a trophy. The trophy was presented to him by Adam Symson, president and CEO of The E.W. Scripps Company. In a press release, Symson said that “Bruhat impressed with his display of knowledge and composure.”

Ready, Set, Play!
June 11 will mark the first-ever International Day of Play. On March 26, the United Nations adopted a resolution to create a day on which to honor play worldwide. Play is more than just a pastime for kids. It’s a crucial part of their development. Play encourages them to be physically active, which is healthy. Play also fosters children’s friendships and social skills. It teaches them how to solve problems and resolve conflicts. And through play, kids can increase their creativity and imagination. All of these benefits are important. They help kids thrive. Plus, play-based learning in school is more engaging. It motivates kids. And it helps them remember information. But four out of five children say that the adults around them don’t think playing is important. That statistic comes from a survey conducted in 2023 by YouGov and the Child & Youth Friendly Governance Project. The groups surveyed more than 10,000 children from more than 20 countries. Now, a network of organizations is emphasizing the importance of play. These organizations banded together to campaign for an International Day of Play. The Right to Play is one of these organizations. Susan McIsaac is its president and CEO. “Play is powerful,” McIsaac says in a press release. “Through play, children explore and understand the world.”

Cat Caper
TFK Kid Reporter Abhijay Potluri attended a screening of The Garfield Movie. Read his thoughts below. Garfield is living his usual lazy life with Jon and his dog friend, Odie, enjoying all the lasagna he can eat. But the cat’s slothful agenda takes a surprising turn when he meets his long-lost dad, Vic, who needs his help with a risky heist. Garfield and Odie are yanked out of their cozy home and into a wild adventure. At first, Garfield, who loves his snacks and naps, is not happy about this. But as the adventure unfolds, he starts to see things differently. He learns a lot about his dad, and even discovers a brave side of himself. The movie is vibrantly animated and thoroughly entertaining. There are lots of funny moments, especially when Garfield’s laziness turns out to be surprisingly helpful. And there are some touching moments between Garfield and his dad. This movie is perfect for kids and families who love a good adventure and lots of humor. Fans of the Garfield comics or TV shows will really enjoy seeing the characters on the big screen. Overall, the new Garfield movie is funny, exciting, and heartwarming.

Imagine This
TFK Kid Reporter Ninis Twumasi attended a screening of the new movie IF and interviewed the film’s young star, Cailey Fleming. Read his thoughts below. Imaginary friends: We’ve all had them. But what happens when you grow up? IF answers all your questions. In the movie, an IF is an imaginary friend. When a kid grows up, they can’t see their IF anymore. The IF has to live in a place for forgotten IFs—until Bea comes along. With the help of others, including an IF bear named Lewis (above), Bea makes it her mission to reconnect imaginary friends with their kids. Will she be successful? Cailey Fleming plays Bea. She told me she hopes the movie helps young people understand that growing up is not scary. Cailey enjoyed working on this movie because she felt a connection with her character. Both she and Bea are “curious, adventurous, intense, and emotional,” she says. I recommend IF to kids of all ages. I agree with Cailey: This movie shows that growing up is not scary. It gave me a lot to think about. The ending is super sweet, and some reveals made me cry. Well, what are you waiting for? Go see it!

Light Show
People in the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, and other countries were treated to a colorful display in the sky this weekend. These displays, called auroras, are typically seen only near the Earth’s north and south poles. Thanks to a strong solar storm, the northern lights, called the aurora borealis, were viewable from unusual places. In the United States, people snapped and shared pictures of the sky’s stunning hues. Officials from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said such an event could impact satellites and power grids. But it would not affect “most people here on planet Earth,” says NOAA’s Rob Steenburgh, who called the lights a “gift from space weather.”

Showing Our Appreciation
Everyone knows teachers who go above and beyond to help their students learn and grow. This year, Teacher Appreciation Week starts May 6. To celebrate, we asked TFK Kid Reporters to make a sign for a teacher who inspires them. Check out some of their work. Which teacher inspires you?

Crafty Crabs
Plastic is everywhere. It has been found at the bottom of the ocean. It’s at the top of Mount Everest. Now plastic has been found in another unlikely place. Hermit crabs are using it as shells. A study about this was published in February. It was in the journal Science of the Total Environment. Zuzanna Jagiello was the study’s lead author. “A hermit crab in a plastic shell could be an icon of our times,” Jagiello told TIME for Kids. New Homes Hermit crabs have soft bodies. They wear seashells for protection. But some are wearing trash, instead.
February’s study found at least 386 crabs wearing garbage. Some wore bottle caps. Others wore broken lightbulbs or soda cans.
Jagiello and her team researched online. They found pictures of hermit crabs wearing trash. The photos were from all over the world. Humans have had a big impact on the environment. Hermit crabs wearing litter are just one example.

Eclipse Wows U.S.
On April 8, crowds gathered across the United States to see a solar eclipse. People wore special glasses. They watched the moon pass in front of the sun. The eclipse could be seen in 15 states. Millions viewed the rare event. The next total solar eclipse visible in the U.S. will be in 2044.
Many traveled to see it. Simran Pripsingh works in Columbus, Ohio. He drove 142 miles to Cleveland. He “decided it was worth the 90-minute drive,” he told TIME’s Jeffrey Kluger.
This image is made of seven different photographs. They were taken in Bloomington, Indiana. They show the moon moving in front of the sun.

Cicadas on the Way
More than a trillion cicadas are
coming to the United States. Many
people find their loud buzz annoying.
But don’t worry! Cicadas are harmless
to humans. They don’t sting or bite. Cicadas are flying insects. They
have red eyes. For most of their life,
they live underground. When they’re
old enough, they make their way out.
But they don’t live long after that.
Once they emerge, they only live four
to six weeks. Two kinds of cicadas are expected
to come up from the ground this
spring. Brood XIX appears every 13
years. Brood XIII shows up every 17
years. This year, they will overlap.
People in the Midwest and Southeast
are likely to see them. These people
can expect a noisy spring season. Buzz!

Peach’s Power Up
Princess Peach is starring in her own game. It’s called Princess Peach: Showtime! The game features a masked villain. Her name is Grape. Peach must save Sparkle Theater from her. Players can explore 10 powerful transformations. Peach can become a mermaid or a cowgirl. Theresa Apolinario works for Nintendo. She told TFK Kid Reporter Audrey Owolo, “Princess Peach is so much more than just the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom. She’s a hero. And she has all these different abilities.” Princess Peach is ready for adventure!

Lessons from a Master
Maurice Ashley is the first Black chess grandmaster. He’s also the author of The Life-Changing Magic of Chess. The book presents the basics of chess. Ashley uses his experience with chess to explain them. TFK Kid Reporter Sophia Zhang spoke with him about the game.
Ashley agrees with the book’s title. He says that “chess is absolutely magical and life-changing.” It teaches kids many things. The biggest lesson? “The journey is just as important as the destination,” he says. Don’t try to rush to your goals. There’s a lot to learn along the way.
Ashley hopes the book inspires kids to follow their interests. “If you pursue what you really love, then really good things come from it,” he says.

Summer Safety
Summer is almost here. It’s a great time to go out and play. But take care. The weather gets hot, and bugs are biting. How can you stay healthy this summer? Follow these tips. Stay on trails.
Going for a hike? Avoid tall grass. That’s where ticks hide. Their bite can make you sick. Listen to lifeguards.
Lifeguards work at beaches and pools. They help us stay safe in the water. Drink water.
Hot weather makes you sweat. Your body is releasing water to keep you cool. You need more water to stay healthy. Drink plenty of it, even when you are not thirsty. Wear sunscreen.
The sun’s rays are stronger than you think. They can burn your skin. Sunscreen can block those rays. So slather it on. Did You Know? SPF means “sun protection factor.” That’s how much protection a sunscreen provides. Check the number on the bottle. Choose a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.

Dog Days
Dogs enjoy the summer too. But they need protection, just like we do. Here’s how to keep your pets safe in the summer heat. Temperatures can get hot inside a parked car (above). A dog could suffer heat stroke. Take your pet with you when you leave the car. Concrete sidewalks heat up in the sun. They can burn your dog’s paws. Dog shoes are a must. They don’t just prevent injury. They’re stylish, too!
Pets need to stay hydrated. Take fresh water when you walk your dog on a hot day. Ice cubes are a nice cool treat.

Help Others, Help Yourself
Science shows that helping others can make you feel good too. The key is to find the approach that works for you. There’s a Chinese saying that goes: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”
For thousands of years, the greatest thinkers have suggested the same thing: Happiness is found in helping others. Scientific research provides compelling data to support the idea that helping others may be the secret to living a life that is happier, healthier, and more productive and meaningful.
Giving can feel great. And as we learn early, it’s better to give than to receive. Plus, the more you give, the more you stand to gain purpose, meaning, and happiness. Follow these tips: 1. Find your passion.
It’s not how much you give. It’s how much love you put into giving. You might care about one cause more than others, and that’s okay. Support the cause that feels right for you.
2. Give your time.
The gift of time is often more valuable to the receiver, and more satisfying to the giver, than the gift of money. We don’t all have the same amount of money, but we all have time. We can give some of this time to help others—whether a few hours each day, or a few days each year. 3. Give to groups with clear goals.
Michael Norton, a professor at Harvard Business School, in Massachusetts, says that “giving to a cause that specifies what they’re going to do with your money [or service] leads to more happiness.” 4. Don’t forget about yourself.
“Selfless giving. . . easily becomes overwhelming,” psychologist Adam Grant says. He advises giving to others, but keeping your personal and emotional needs in mind. You matter too! 5. Be proactive.
Set aside time to serve your community. Think about your options, and find the cause and type of service that best match your values.

Help Others, Help Yourself
Helping others can make you feel good. The key is to find the approach that works for you.
There’s a Chinese saying that goes: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.” Great thinkers have said the same thing: Happiness is found in helping others. Scientific data supports this. Helping others may be the secret to living a happier, healthier life.
Giving can feel great, and the more you give, the more you can gain. Follow these tips:
1. Find your passion.
It’s not how much you give, it’s how much love you put into giving. You might care about one cause more than others— that’s okay. Support the cause that feels right for you. 2. Give your time.
The gift of time is often more valuable to the receiver, and more satisfying to the giver, than money. We don’t all have the same amount of money, but we all have time. We can give some of this time to help others. It can be just a few hours a day, or a few days a year. 3. Give to groups with goals.
Michael Norton is a professor at Harvard Business School, in Massachusetts. He says that “giving to a cause that specifies what they’re going to do. . . leads to more happiness.” 4. Don’t forget about yourself.
“Selfless giving. . . easily becomes overwhelming,” says psychologist Adam Grant. When you give, make sure to keep your own needs in mind. You matter too! 5. Be proactive.
Set aside time to serve your community. Think about your options. Find the type of service that matches your values.

Kindness Catch-Up
TIME’s 2021 Kid of the Year, Orion Jean, has continued his mission to spread kindness. TFK Kid Reporter Harper Carroll spoke with him about his latest projects. Thirteen-year-old Orion Jean is a kindness ambassador. The TIME 2021 Kid of the Year is still changing the world. “You never know the impact that one kindness will make,” he tells TIME for Kids. To date, Orion has donated more than 100,000 meals to food-insecure families. He has donated more than 500,000 books to kids. And he has continued to raise awareness of his Race to Kindness initiative. He has also published books. His first was A Kids Book About Leadership. It’s about how everyone can become a leader. “We all feel like we have our limitations,” he says. “If we let go of that, forget all of our flaws or just choose to not let them hold us back, then we can reach our full potential.” Orion’s second book is Race to Kindness. 
It comes out on May 7. He says it shows how everybody can be kind. “One of the easiest ways to be kind,” Orion says, “is to just choose to go out there and do it.” In 2020, Orion took a chance. He wrote a speech about kindness and entered it in a contest. He won! Orion used the prize money to start spreading his message far and wide. For his first charity event, Orion collected toys. He donated them to the Dallas Children’s Hospital, in Texas. “[The nurses] told me that it was the largest donation they had ever received in their time there, and that the kids were going to be so happy,” Orion says. “It gave me that feeling when you know that you’ve made an impact in someone’s life. That is a feeling that I will always treasure.” Orion’s latest project is the Race to 1,000,000 Kindnesses. “[It’s] about people getting out there and spreading kindness,” he says. Orion is hoping that in one year, people will perform a million acts of kindness. “Anything is possible with the power of belief, the power of kindness,” Orion says. “Choose to go out there and be kind.”

Green Teen
Recycling is good for the environment. It can also benefit a community in surprising ways. Mateo Lange, 15, knows this well. On weekends, you’ll find him sorting through glass and plastic bottles and aluminum cans in his hometown of Indian River, Michigan, where he leads a community recycling program.
Mateo launched the program in 2020. He was 11 and in the sixth grade, playing baseball with the Northern Michigan Cyclones. The team was new and needed money to travel to tournaments. Mateo pitched a plan. “There were cans and bottles always thrown around the road,” he tells TIME for Kids. In Michigan, these can be collected and redeemed for cash. With his dad’s help, Mateo started a bottle and can drive. It raised $7,500. “We built up so much money in the span of just a few weeks,” he says. “So I said, ‘Why don’t we keep this going as long as we can?’” Since then, Mateo says, his recycling effort has raised $350,000 and helped at least 50 local youth groups. It has also prevented more than 2 million bottles and cans from littering the roadside and polluting Michigan’s lakes and rivers. “It’s kept our community a lot cleaner,” he says. Cash for Trash Michigan is one of 10 states with a beverage container deposit law. That means the cost of a can of soda or a bottle of water includes an extra charge called a deposit. In Michigan, the deposit is 10¢ per container. To get the money back, you return the empty container to the store. In 2022, Michigan’s return rate was nearly 76%. Container laws are intended to reduce litter and protect the environment. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan paused its return program. “All these big stores weren’t letting people bring their bottles and cans back,” Mateo says. “People just had to pile them up in their garage.” His bottle and can drive gave people a way to get rid of their returnables. Dropoffs could be made outside his dad’s office. Matteo and his dad also did pickups. “We would borrow my grandpa’s truck,” Mateo recalls. “I’d just run [out], knock on the door, and say, ‘I’m here to pick up.’ I’d grab the bags and haul them to the truck, throw them in the back, and we’d drive back” to sort them, Mateo says. Then they’d return them directly to the beverage distributors for reimbursement. “It was actually a lot of fun,” he says, “especially in the summertime.” Helping Hands In 2023, Mateo was awarded a Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. The award honors kids and teens who are working to help others and protect Planet Earth. “It feels humbling,” Mateo says, when asked about all he’s accomplished with his cleanup effort. “I am happy knowing that all these teams and clubs and kids around the community are benefitting.” Mateo believes everyone can—and should—be of service. “Just do a little bit to help make the world a little bit of a better place,” he says.
“Be creative,” he adds. “Have an idea and build on it.” Inspired? We’re looking for students who are planning to complete acts of service in their community this summer. Ready for a challenge? Click here to find out how to play Service Stars Bingo!

Green Teen
On weekends, you’ll find Mateo Lange sorting through bottles and cans. Mateo, 15, leads a community recycling program in Indian River, Michigan, his hometown. Mateo launched the program in 2020. He was 11 and in sixth grade. He was playing baseball with the Northern Michigan Cyclones. The team needed money to travel to tournaments. Mateo pitched a plan. “There were cans and bottles always thrown around the road,” he tells TIME for Kids. In Michigan, these can be collected. Then they can be redeemed for cash. Mateo started a bottle and can drive. His dad helped. They raised $7,500. “We built up so much money,” Mateo says. “So I said, ‘Why don’t we keep this going?’” Since then, Mateo’s recycling effort has raised $350,000. And it has helped at least 50 youth groups. It has collected more than 2 million bottles and cans. It has kept them from littering Michigan’s roadsides. It has kept them out of lakes and rivers. Cash for Trash
Michigan has a beverage container deposit law. If you return an empty soda can or water bottle to the store, you get 10¢. In 2022, the state’s return rate was nearly 76%. Container laws are intended to reduce litter and protect the environment. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan paused its return program. “All these big stores weren’t letting people bring their bottles and cans back,” Mateo says. “People just had to pile them up in their garage.” His bottle and can drive let people drop their returnables outside his dad’s office. Matteo and his dad also did pickups. “We would borrow my grandpa’s truck,” Mateo recalls. “I’d just run [out], knock on the door, and say, ‘I’m here to pick up.’” They’d throw the bottles and cans in their truck. They’d sort them. Then they’d return them to the beverage distributors for reimbursement. “It was actually a lot of fun,” he says, “especially in the summertime.” Helping Hands
In 2023, Mateo was awarded a Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. It honors kids and teens who help others and protect Planet Earth. “It feels humbling,” Mateo says, when asked about all he’s accomplished. “I am happy knowing that all these teams and clubs and kids around the community are benefitting.” He believes everyone can—and should—be of service. “Just do a little bit to help make the world a little bit of a better place,” he says. “Be creative,” he adds. “Have an idea and build on it.” Inspired? We’re looking for students who are planning to complete acts of service in their community this summer. Ready for a challenge? Click here to find out how to play Service Stars Bingo!

Inspired by Stars
This year, we shared the stories of amazing kids who are making positive change in their communities. These Kids of the Month inspired our readers to take action too—and to tell us about it! Thank you for sharing your service stories with us. We can’t wait to hear about what you do next. You Connected with Kason Readers connected with Kason Creed’s winning effort to make his local playground more inclusive. Here’s Kason (above) surrounded by mail from a third-grade class in Pennsylvania. “He was beside himself when he was reading all these,” Kason’s grandmother Pam told TIME for Kids. “I’m so proud of this young man.”
We received more reader emails about this issue of TIME for Kids than any other this school year. “I thought it was so cool that Kason Creed went to his city council,” Alaina wrote. Felix “really liked how Kason was able to express his feelings to the world.” Reece told us about her family’s experience with accessibility issues: “My dad is in a wheelchair too,” she wrote. “He does not have equal access to a lot of different things that able-bodied people might have, such as parking spots, park paths without ramps, and even different bathrooms. . . . I love that there are people like Kason Creed who try to help.”
Jordyn Moved You to Action Jordyn Perez’s mission to donate toys to kids at a hospital led readers to help heal their own communities. “I came across the article,” wrote Madeline, a fifth-grader. “I want to give my hair to an organization that makes wigs (maybe several!) for children that have cancer.” (You can do it, Madeline!) “We were so inspired by Jordyn Perez,” wrote Ms. Sequeira, a fourth-grade teacher in Florida. “My students wished to also make a difference in their community! They started brainstorming ideas on how they could have a positive impact.” Three students—from left: Abby, Bailee, and Annie—decorated trash bins with poetry about fighting litter. Others did a cleanup during recess. You Teamed Up, Like Joy Joy Kochar wanted to address a problem at her school: Spotted lanternflies were invading her school’s courtyard. But she couldn’t do it alone. She teamed up with 10 of her classmates. Together, they raised their voices (and almost $200). After publishing Joy’s story, we heard from lots of you who teamed up to make a difference. “I gather my family and friends to help pick up the trash,” a student named Mia wrote. “Even though it doesn’t seem like a lot, it helps a lot! A little teamwork can go a long way!” Another student, Lyann, had a similar thought: “We should all work together.” In Illinois, students (right) formed a service club. They’re “passionate about making a difference in our school, in our community, and in our world,” wrote their teacher, Ms. Walters.

Inspired by Stars
This year, we shared the stories of amazing kids who are making positive change in their communities. These Kids of the Month inspired our readers to take action too—and to tell us about it! Thank you for sharing your service stories with us. We can’t wait to hear about what you do next. You Connected with Kason Readers connected with Kason Creed’s winning effort to make his local playground more inclusive. Here’s Kason (above) surrounded by mail from a third-grade class in Pennsylvania. “He was beside himself when he was reading all these,” Kason’s grandmother Pam told TIME for Kids. “I’m so proud of this young man.”
We received more reader emails about this issue of TIME for Kids than any other this school year. “I thought it was so cool that Kason Creed went to his city council,” Alaina wrote. Felix “really liked how Kason was able to express his feelings to the world.” Reece told us about her family’s experience with accessibility issues: “My dad is in a wheelchair too,” she wrote. “He does not have equal access to a lot of different things that able-bodied people might have, such as parking spots, park paths without ramps, and even different bathrooms. . . . I love that there are people like Kason Creed who try to help.”
Jordyn Moved You to Action Jordyn Perez’s mission to donate toys to kids at a hospital led readers to help heal their own communities. “I came across the article,” wrote Madeline, a fifth-grader. “I want to give my hair to an organization that makes wigs (maybe several!) for children that have cancer.” (You can do it, Madeline!) “We were so inspired by Jordyn Perez,” wrote Ms. Sequeira, a fourth-grade teacher in Florida. “My students wished to also make a difference in their community! They started brainstorming ideas on how they could have a positive impact.” Three students—from left: Abby, Bailee, and Annie—decorated trash bins with poetry about fighting litter. Others did a cleanup during recess. You Teamed Up, Like Joy Joy Kochar wanted to address a problem at her school: Spotted lanternflies were invading her school’s courtyard. But she couldn’t do it alone. She teamed up with 10 of her classmates. Together, they raised their voices (and almost $200). After publishing Joy’s story, we heard from lots of you who teamed up to make a difference. “I gather my family and friends to help pick up the trash,” a student named Mia wrote. “Even though it doesn’t seem like a lot, it helps a lot! A little teamwork can go a long way!” Another student, Lyann, had a similar thought: “We should all work together.” In Illinois, students (right) formed a service club. They’re “passionate about making a difference in our school, in our community, and in our world,” wrote their teacher, Ms. Walters.

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

Eclipse Wows U.S.
On April 8, crowds gathered across the United States to witness a solar eclipse. People of all ages donned special protective glasses as they watched the moon pass in front of the sun. The eclipse was visible in 15 states. The path from which a total eclipse was visible in the U.S. ran from Texas to Maine. Millions watched the event. The next total solar eclipse visible in the continental U.S. will be 20 years from now, in 2044.
Those viewing the eclipse from the “path of totality” were treated to a rare sight. The moon passed completely in front of the sun, creating a shadow that darkened the Earth.
Many people traveled to witness the event. Simran Pripsingh and Ashwani Sharma work in Columbus, Ohio. In the morning, while at a coffee shop, they suddenly hopped in a car and drove 142 miles northeast, to Cleveland, for the full show. “We just kind of decided it was worth the 90-minute drive to see it all,” Pripsingh told TIME’s Jeffrey Kluger.
Lolita Strong also watched the eclipse from Cleveland. She was moved. “It’s a reminder that there is so much more to life than meets the eye,” she said. Stop and Think! What do the quotes in this article add to your understanding of the event? Why did the authors choose to include them?

Eclipse Wows U.S.
On April 8, crowds gathered across the United States to see a solar eclipse. People wore special glasses and watched the moon pass in front of the sun. The eclipse was visible in 15 states. In the U.S., the path on which a total eclipse could be seen stretched from Texas to Maine. Those viewing it from the “path of totality” saw a rare sight. The moon passed completely in front of the sun. It created a shadow that darkened the Earth.
Millions watched the event. The next total solar eclipse visible in the continental U.S. will be in 2044.
Many traveled for the event. Simran Pripsingh and Ashwani Sharma work in Columbus, Ohio. They drove 142 miles northeast to Cleveland for the full show. “[We] decided it was worth the 90-minute drive,” Pripsingh told TIME’s Jeffrey Kluger. Lolita Strong also watched the eclipse from Cleveland. She was moved. “It’s a reminder that there is so much more to life than meets the eye,” she said. Stop and Think! What do the quotes in this article add to your understanding of the event? Why did the authors choose to include them?

Going for Gold
This summer, world-class athletes will sail down the Seine. That’s the river that winds through Paris, France. The city will host the 2024 Summer Olympics.
The Games begin on July 26. The opening parade will take place on the Seine. There will be about 160 boats. It will be the first time the Olympic ceremony hasn’t been held in a stadium. It will also be the largest opening ceremony.
The Summer Olympics happen every four years. This year, some 10,000 athletes will compete. They’ll come from 206 nations. Paris landmarks, like the Eiffel Tower, will be used as sports venues.
Changing Times
In all, there will be 32 sports at the Games. Expect to see the usual summer events, such as swimming and gymnastics. But some are new to the Olympics. These are skateboarding, climbing, and surfing. Breakdancing will make its Olympic debut.
Organizers wanted to make the Olympics more inclusive. The new sports are popular with young people. Men and women will compete together in many of them.
On Your Mark, Get Set. . .
Paris is getting ready. The Seine is being cleaned up. Swimming events will take place in the river. That hasn’t happened since 1900. Paris first hosted the Olympics that year. Shortly after, swimming in the Seine was banned because of pollution.
Now the Paris Olympics will get back their old charm. Emmanuel Grégoire is the city’s deputy mayor. He told TIME, “Swimming at the foot of the Eiffel Tower will be very romantic.” Olympic Founder The first Olympic Games were held in ancient Greece. We can thank Pierre de Coubertin for introducing them to the modern world. Coubertin was a French educator. He helped found the International Olympic Committee in 1896. That year, the Olympics were held in Athens, Greece. Coubertin believed sports fostered peace among nations.

Going for Gold
Summer is coming. It is almost time for the summer Olympic Games. They take place every four years. This year, the Games are in Paris, France. They begin on July 26. Read on to learn more about them. Paris will amaze. Games will be held all over the city. Some will take place at famous monuments. Athletes will compete.
There will be 32 sports. Gymnastics is a popular one. So are swimming and soccer. It will be Paris’s third Olympics.
Paris hosted the Games in 1900 and 1924. This is an old magazine cover. It shows a runner from 1900. The Seine River is being cleaned.
The Seine flows through Paris. Athletes will swim in the river. For years, that was not allowed. The river used to be too polluted. Did You Know? Some sports are recent to the Olympics. They are skateboarding, climbing, and surfing. This year, there will be breakdancing for the first time.

Just Passing By
During the total solar eclipse on April 8, the moon passed completely in front of the sun. This image, made of seven different photographs, shows the moon’s journey as viewed from Bloomington, Indiana.

Kid of the Week: Kate Carner
How did you get the idea for a floating lemonade stand?
We used to have a lemonade stand at the end of our street. Then we moved to our houseboat when I was 9. We still wanted a lemonade stand but there was nowhere to do it. So our dad started building us a floating one.
What do you do with the money you make?
We decided to donate to the Rainier Animal Fund, which gives care to animals whose owners can’t afford it.
What would you say to someone who wants to help a cause?
I would say you have to start somewhere. I think the best place to start would be doing something to raise money, or volunteering.
What are your plans for your floating lemonade stand?
Someday, I think it would be nice to make a couple more stands and give them to people. Know a kid who’s doing something cool or newsworthy? Nominate them to be a TFK Kid of the Week! Send us your suggestions at tfkeditors@time.com.

Big Break
Breaking will make its debut as an Olympic sport in August. The competition will take place at the largest public square in Paris, France. It’s completely sold out. But when breaker Sunny Choi tells strangers she’ll be competing at the Olympics, they laugh. It can be hard to convince people that breaking, or breakdancing, deserves to be an Olympic sport. “I just have to hope that you see it one day,” Choi tells TIME, at a coffee shop in Queens, New York. That’s where she’s lived and danced for more than a decade. Breaking is a judged event, like gymnastics and figure skating. No one says those aren’t sports. And since breakers battle head-to-head, there’s no point system. Whoever moves better goes to the next round. “There’s no doubt in my mind this is a sport,” says Choi, whose first name is actually Sun. Her parents nicknamed her Sunny, and she kept it for her B-girl stage name. “Dance, art, sport,” she says. “All together.” Sunny’s Road Choi’s mother and father moved to the United States from South Korea. They raised their kids to work hard. Choi became a competitive gymnast. “I remember her doing cartwheels in diapers,” her brother Jin says. One night, during her freshman year at college, Choi saw members of a breaking club dancing on a campus walkway. They persuaded her to come to a class. Choi’s gymnastics background gave her an advantage. After graduating business school, she began a career as a cosmetics executive. But on the side, she kept breaking, and even took part in international competitions. Breaking was added to the Paris Olympics program in 2020. In late 2021, Choi attended a camp for the top U.S. breakers, where a coach asked aspiring Olympians to raise their hands. Everyone’s hand went up except Choi’s. Working full-time as an executive while training to make the Olympic team seemed impossible. “It was a really hard decision,” she says. After finishing second at the World Games in July 2022, Choi left her job, and in 2023, she qualified for Paris by winning the Pan American Games (see “Winning Moment”). “I’m so much happier,” Choi says. “I feel lighter. I have more energy for the things I want to do.” Paris Prep Thirty-two breakers (16 B-boys and 16 B-girls) will participate in Paris. Choi is seen as a top contender. “She’s got the high-scale aerial power moves,” says Mary Fogarty, an associate professor of dance at York University, in Toronto, Canada. “Sunny is someone who has enough material to go all the way through.” Choi struggles with self-doubt. Before the Games, she’ll meet with a sports psychologist to work on her mindset. She’ll lift weights with a strength coach and keep her diet healthy to ensure peak performance. Choi is confident about one thing: If you give breaking a chance, you won’t be disappointed. “You feel our energy,” she says. “You feel the excitement, you feel the happiness or the anger or whatever emotion that the dancer is expressing in that moment. It’s so visceral and raw. I don’t think you get that anywhere else.” Winning Moment At the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, in November 2023, Choi front-flipped in the air, shuffled her feet, and spun to the ground. Then she flashed a peace sign at her opponent, B-girl Luma, of Colombia. It was as if Choi was saying, “This is mine.”
The judges agreed. The crowd cheered, and her team piled on top of her, when Choi was declared the winner. “What’s so cool about breaking is you get to be authentically you,” she says.

Big Break
Breaking will make its debut as an Olympic sport in August. The competition will take place at the largest public square in Paris, France. It’s sold out. But when breaker Sunny Choi tells strangers she’ll be competing at the Olympics, they laugh. It can be hard to convince people that breaking, or breakdancing, deserves to be an Olympic sport. “I just have to hope that you see it one day,” Choi tells TIME. Breaking is a judged event, like gymnastics and figure skating. No one says those aren’t sports. And since breakers battle head-to-head, there’s no point system. Whoever moves better goes to the next round. “There’s no doubt in my mind this is a sport,” says Choi, whose first name is Sun. Her parents call her Sunny. So she made it her stage name. “Dance. Art. Sport,” she says. “All together.” Sunny’s Road Choi’s parents moved to the United States from South Korea. They raised their kids to work hard. Choi became a gymnast. “I remember her doing cartwheels in diapers,” her brother Jin says. One night at college, Choi saw members of a breaking club dancing. They persuaded her to come to a class. Choi’s gymnastics skills gave her an advantage. After graduating business school, she began a career as a cosmetics executive. But on the side, she kept breaking. Breaking was added to the Paris Olympics program in 2020. In late 2021, Choi attended a camp. It was for the top U.S. breakers. A coach there asked aspiring Olympians to raise their hands. Everyone’s hand went up except Choi’s. Working full-time while training to make the Olympic team seemed impossible. But after finishing second at the World Games in July 2022, Choi left her job. In 2023, she qualified for Paris by winning the Pan American Games (see “Winning Moment”). “I’m so much happier,” she says. “I feel lighter.” Paris Prep Thirty-two breakers will participate in Paris. Choi is seen as a top contender. She has “power moves,” says Mary Fogarty, an associate professor of dance at York University, in Toronto, Canada. “Sunny is someone who has enough material to go all the way through.” Choi struggles with self-doubt. So before the Games, she’ll meet with a psychologist. She’ll work on her mindset. She’ll lift weights with a strength coach. And she’ll eat a healthy diet. Choi is confident about one thing: If you give breaking a chance, you won’t be disappointed. “You feel our energy,” she says. “You feel the excitement. You feel the happiness or the anger or whatever emotion that the dancer is expressing in that moment. It’s so visceral and raw. I don’t think you get that anywhere else.” Winning Moment The Pan American Games took place in Santiago, Chile, in 2023. There, Choi front-flipped in the air, shuffled her feet, and spun to the ground. Then she flashed a peace sign at her opponent. It was as if Choi was saying, “This is mine.”
The judges agreed. The crowd cheered. Choi’s team piled on top of her when she was declared the winner. It was a special moment. “What’s so cool about breaking is you get to be authentically you,” she says.

Sports for Everyone
The Paralympic Games will take place this summer in Paris. They’ll begin on August 28. These games are for athletes with disabilities. Athletes will come from 184 nations.
The Paralympics began in England in 1948. Ludwig Guttman, a doctor, held games for his patients. He got the idea from the Olympics. The Games were taking place in London, England, that year.
Guttman’s patients were military veterans. They all used wheelchairs. They competed in archery and netball, which is a little like basketball. This was inspiring to other people with disabilities.
The concept grew. It became the Stoke Mandeville Games. An international competition took place every year, starting in 1952. In 1960, the competition began taking place every four years. Usually, they were held in the same city as the Olympics.
The International Paralympic Committee was formed in 1989. The Paralympics are always held in the same year as the Olympic Games.

Sports for Everyone
The Paralympic Games will take place this summer. They will be in Paris. These games are for athletes with disabilities.
The Paralympics began in 1948. They were Ludwig Guttman’s idea. He was a doctor working in England. His patients used wheelchairs. Guttman wanted them to compete like Olympic athletes. His patients played netball. It is a little like basketball. They also had archery matches.
Years later, these games became the Paralympics. They are always held in the same year as the Olympics.

Go Bananas
When your favorite sports team travels to a game, someone has to make sure they get from point A to point B without a hitch. That’s what Brynnan Norris does. She’s a travel coordinator for Georgia’s Savannah Bananas baseball team.

Should Adventure Tourism Be Allowed?
Traveling by submarine to view an underwater shipwreck. Trekking to the top of a distant mountain. Buckling in on a space ship. Extreme adventure tourists are always seeking the next thrill. According to Grand View Research, they were expected to spend more than $1 trillion in 2023 alone. But with extreme adventure comes extreme risk—to the tourists and, if they’re not careful, to the places on which they leave their mark. Should adventure tourism be allowed? TFK readers weigh in. Cecilia Dietz, 9
Granger, Indiana Extreme adventure tourism should definitely be allowed. It encourages the next generation of adventurers. It also opens more opportunities for family fun, which happens less and less these days as technology improves.
Adventure tourism also helps the environment. If people have positive experiences in places, they are more likely to want to donate. The more that people donate to natural wonders, the more that can be done about the destruction of these beauties. This means that the next generation would get to enjoy them. Yeonjae Noh, 11
Jeju, South Korea Extreme tourism should be discouraged, because it’s not worth the risk. It consists of dangerous activities that can have a negative impact, on the tourists and on the environment. Wildlife can be harmed. Ecosystems can be destroyed because of the trash left behind by tourists.
Also, when extreme tourists get injured or lost, police and rescue forces are required. These forces are needed to help regular citizens, and there’s a limited amount of help they can provide. Some people might be neglected while help is provided for tourists. Shaurya Rajput, 11
Foster City, California People should have the right to go on an adventure. If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to. Adventure tourism helps clear your mind. It allows you to connect with nature and disconnect from your day-to-day work. Travel helps people broaden their point of view and see the world in a better way. It allows them to connect with people, learn new cultures, and explore geographic locations.
Adventure tourism helps people overcome their fears, feel strong, and have a sense of achievement. Plus, it boosts the local economy. Adventures are fun, especially when you’re with your family. Emery Sumen, 11
Los Angeles, California Extreme tourism can be very expensive and extremely dangerous. You can see this with the OceanGate accident. The people paid so much money to be in the submarine, and they died [when it imploded]. The same goes for mountain tourism. There could be an avalanche. It’s just too dangerous, and it’s not worth the risk.
Tourism of all types results in pollution and littering. And there are environmental hazards associated with adventure-tourism activities such as kayaking, scuba diving, and rappelling. The Next Debate! Should summer reading be mandatory? Email your opinion to tfkeditors@time.com by May 31. Your response might be featured online or in an upcoming issue. *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 Adventure Tourism Be Allowed?
Traveling by submarine to an underwater shipwreck. Trekking to the top of a mountain. Buckling in on a space ship. Extreme adventure tourists are always seeking the next thrill. According to Grand View Research, they were expected to spend more than $1 trillion in 2023 alone. But with extreme adventure comes extreme risk—to the tourists and to the places on which they leave their mark. Should adventure tourism be allowed? TFK readers weigh in. Cecilia Dietz, 9
Granger, Indiana Extreme adventure tourism should definitely be allowed. It encourages the next generation of adventurers. It also opens more opportunities for family fun, which happens less and less these days as technology improves.
Adventure tourism also helps the environment. If people have positive experiences, they’re more likely to donate. The more people that donate to natural wonders, the more that can be done to protect these beauties. This means that the next generation would get to enjoy them. Yeonjae Noh, 11
Jeju, South Korea Extreme tourism should be discouraged, because it’s not worth the risk. It consists of dangerous activities that can have a negative impact, on the tourists and on the environment. Wildlife can be harmed. Ecosystems can be destroyed because of the trash left behind by the tourists.
Also, when extreme tourists get injured or lost, police and rescue forces are required. Regular citizens might be neglected while rescuers help the tourists. Shaurya Rajput, 11
Foster City, California People should have the right to go on an adventure. Adventure tourism helps clear your mind. It allows you to connect with nature and disconnect from your day-to-day work. Travel helps people broaden their point of view and see the world in a better way. It allows them to connect with people and learn new about cultures.
Adventure tourism helps people overcome their fears, feel strong, and have a sense of achievement. Plus, it boosts the local economy. Adventures are fun, especially when you’re with your family. Emery Sumen, 11
Los Angeles, California Extreme tourism can be very expensive and extremely dangerous. You can see this with the OceanGate accident. The people paid so much money to be in the submarine, and they died [when it imploded]. The same thing goes for mountain tourism. There could be an avalanche. It’s too dangerous, and it’s not worth the risk.
Tourism of all types can result in pollution and littering. And there can be environmental hazards associated with adventure-tourism activities such as kayaking, scuba diving, and rappelling. The Next Debate! Should summer reading be mandatory? Email your opinion to tfkeditors@time.com by May 31. Your response might be featured online or in an upcoming issue. *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.

At the White House Easter Egg Roll
On April 1, TFK Kid Reporter Audrey Owolo attended the White House Easter Egg Roll. Here, she recounts her experience. The White House Easter Egg Roll is a yearly event held on Easter Monday, on the South Lawn of the White House, in Washington, D.C. The tradition dates back to 1878, when Rutherford B. Hayes was president. The First Lady of the United States is responsible for hosting the event, and this year’s theme was EGGucation. I went to the White House to report on the event. The Easter Egg Roll seemed like a real-life wonderland! A lawn area known as the White House Ellipse was turned into a classroom, with educational activities for kids of all ages. The event included a School House Activity Area, Field Trip to the Farm, Picture Day, and a Physical EGGucation Zone. As I looked around, I saw kids laughing, rolling colorful eggs, interacting with characters, and taking lots of pictures. The First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, read to children at the reading nook. She read Bill Martin Junior’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Kids met and took pictures with the First Lady after the reading. Many performers and celebrities took part. Singer Paul Russell, known for the viral song “Little Boo Thang,” told me he was excited to be there. “It’s a dream come true for me,” he said. Emily Calandrelli, MIT engineer and host of Emily’s Wonder Lab, on Netflix, conducted experiments. She also read from her book Reach for the Stars. “I’m so excited to meet the little kids who are excited about science and are just hoping to reach for their own dreams,” she said. This White House event was full of laughter, fun, and educational moments. It was an unforgettable day for all who attended.

Early Blossoms
Cities such as Tokyo, Japan, and Washington, D.C., get millions of tourists every spring during cherry blossom season. The blooms mark the return of warm weather. But the trees are blooming earlier and earlier. This is an indication of increasing global temperatures.
In the 1960s, cherry trees in Tokyo started blooming around March 29. Between 1991 and 2000, the average was closer to March 24. Last year, the blossoms in Tokyo began earlier than anywhere else in Japan, on March 14.
“The fact that Tokyo recorded the earliest start date is due to global warming, compounded with urbanization,” Daisuke Sasano told Bloomberg News. Sasano works at the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Climate scientists have additional concerns. Cherry trees need the winter chill before waking up in the spring. Without sufficient cold, the trees may produce fewer flowers and fruits.
Climate change is also affecting cherry trees in Washington, D.C. There, rising levels of the Potomac River and crumbling seawalls have flooded the trees’ roots. More than 150 of the affected cherry trees will be cut down so the walls can be fixed.
This summer, the National Park Service (NPS) will begin repairing the seawalls. Then, 277 cherry trees will be planted in the area. The removed trees will be mulched. NPS spokesman Mike Litterst says the mulch will protect the roots of surviving trees and break down into rich soil, “so it’s a good second life” for the trees being cut down. Stop & Think! Why did the editors choose these two photographs to publish? Can you think of other images that would help tell the story?

Early Blossoms
Spring is cherry blossom season. Some cities get millions of tourists during this time. But the trees are blooming earlier and earlier. This is a sign of global warming.
In the 1960s, cherry trees in Tokyo started blooming around March 29. Between 1991 and 2000, the average was closer to March 24. Last year, the blossoms in Tokyo began on March 14. That was earlier than anywhere else in Japan.
“The fact that Tokyo recorded the earliest start date is due to global warming,” Daisuke Sasano told Bloomberg News. Sasano works at the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Climate scientists believe that cherry trees need the winter chill. Without it, they may produce fewer flowers and fruits.
Climate change has also affected cherry trees in Washington, D.C. Rising levels of the Potomac River and crumbling seawalls have flooded the trees’ roots. More than 150 of them will be cut down.
This summer, the National Park Service (NPS) will begin repairing the walls. More cherry trees will be planted. The removed trees will be mulched. NPS spokesman Mike Litterst says the mulch will break down into rich soil, “so it’s a good second life” for the trees being cut down. Stop & Think! Why did the editors choose these two photographs to publish? Can you think of other images that would help tell the story?

A Dino-Mite Job
Myria Perez is a paleontologist. She works at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The museum is in Washington, D.C. TIME for Kids asked Perez about her job.
Can you tell us about your work?
I work with fossils. I’m gluing fossils together. I’m making sure they’re not crumbling. Sometimes, we have dinosaur bones that need to be cataloged and put back into place.
What do you love most about your work?
I like that it’s a combination of art and science. And I get to use my hands.
How did you get interested in paleontology?
When I was 12, I went to this event at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. I got a chance to meet paleontologists. I asked, “Hey, can I volunteer?” They let me, as long as a parent came with me. I got to go on fossil excavations.
Are there times when you can’t put fossils back together?
Fossils erode and pieces go missing. We do our best to fit the pieces we know back together. We don’t try to make anything up. But if we have a gap in a specimen that needs support, we’ll put putty in there. It’s clearly not fossil material. People know not to study that part.
What’s a lesson that you would like to share with TFK readers?
Be brave and ask questions. Always be curious. Chase after your passion. A Cool Tool Fossils come to the lab in a jacket. It’s not for warmth! It protects the fossil. A jacket is made of burlap, plaster, and toilet paper.
Paleontologists open the jacket. Then they use air scribes. These tools “work like mini jackhammers,” Perez says. They remove rock from around the fossil.