kidsville news - april 2011

KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 3APRIL 2011 WWW.KIDSVILLENEWSTN.COM

Dear Kids,

Spring — and bees — in the air,Flowers are popping up everywhere.Dusting off my bike, ball and bat,Glove, Frisbee® and baseball hat.I’m running further every dayPreparing for the sports I’ll play!

Ahhh, don’t you just love my poetry? April is National Poetry Month, so I thought I would share! Why don’t you try writing a poem and send it to me? Maybe you would like to write about spring, Easter or your favorite sport.

It’s National Youth Sports Safety Month. I like to play sports, but I know it’s smart to prepare by training properly, using safety equipment and following the rules. National Library Week is also in April, so you might want to visit your school or community library to read up on Earth Day or Arbor Day. Be sure to say “Thank You” to your librarian!

I can’t wait to read your poem! Be sure to visit the Kidsville News! website at www.KidsvilleNews.com for more fun and games. Have an awesome April!Your friend,

Copyright ©2011 by Kidsville News! Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of this issue may be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without permission of the publisher or copyright holder. Neither participating advertisers nor the publishers will be responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints or typographical errors. The publishers reserve the right to edit any submitted material. Kidsville News! Incorporated is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, or other material. Children’s submissions should include name, address, telephone number, and permission to publish signed by a parent or guardian.

THE CAPE FEAR REGION’SFUN FAMILY NEWSPAPER

KIDSVILLE NEWS INC. PRESIDENTBill Bowman

[email protected]

PUBLISHERYour Info Here

[email protected]

KIDSVILLE NEWS! NATIONAL EDITORJoy G. Kirkpatrick

[email protected]

GRAPHIC DESIGNERSKarissa Montgomery - [email protected]

Shani Lewis - [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONSJean Bolton - [email protected]

SALES & MARKETINGSam Lum - [email protected]

Emily Lamar - [email protected]

ILLUSTRATORCover & Truman • Dan Nelson

KIDSVILLE NEWS!PO Box 53790 • Fayetteville, NC 28305(910) 222-6200 • Fax (910) 222-6199

For advertising information, please callJack Stultz, Marketing Manager

(910) 222-6200

FPO

©

KIDSVILLE NEWS APRIL 2011WWW.KIDSVILLENEWSTN.COM

©Kidsville News!

Did you know that April is National Kite Month, and you can

make your own kite? You can fi nd plans for an easy-to-make kite, the Boka Boka kite, at

www.nationalkite-month.org.

National Library Week is April 10-16, 2011, and April is School Library Month. Did you know there are over 122,000 libraries of all kinds

in the United States? And, we spend almost 400 hours per person, per year, reading books, newspapers and magazines!

That’s a lot of reading!

The weather is warming up, and kids all over the country are signing up for spring sports. Whether it is baseball or soccer, tennis or kayaking, it is important to put safety fi rst while you are having fun.

The month of April has been proclaimed National Youth Sports Safety Month. This national health event was initiated by the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, Inc., in 1993 to promote safety in sports participation.

More than 60 national medical and sports organizations support National Youth

Sports Safety Month. They include the American College of Sports Medicine, The President’s Council on Physical

Fitness and Sports and The United States Olympic Committee. Here are a few tips to stay safe while you are playing your

favorite sport.• The most important thing is to

Have Fun!• Remember, youth sports are

only a game designed for your enjoyment. Play to please yourself and have a good time.

• Learning how to play the game is more important than

winning and losing. Ask your coach for pointers if you are having diffi culty with something.

• Some children grow faster than others, and some have better coordination earlier than others. Everyone catches up eventually. Be patient.

• Who you are as a person does not depend on your wins and losses. Sometimes this idea is even hard for grown-ups and parents. They always want you to do your best, but sometimes the other team is just better. And that’s ok.

• Treat other athletes and your coaches with respect. Everyone is trying his or her hardest.

• Honor the rules of the game. Learn and follow the safety rules for your sport.

• Be a good sport. No matter who wins, treat the other team with respect and be a good sport.

• Support your teammates. Everyone makes mistakes. If someone on your team makes a mistake, let him or her know that it’s okay. And, be sure to congratulate them when they do well!

• Make sure you have — and use — the proper gear for your sport. If your sport recommends a mouthguard, for instance, make sure you use it!

• Warm-up exercises make the body’s tissues warmer and more fl exible. Warm up with stretches and light jogging to help prevent muscle strains.

• A cool-down period helps loosen muscles that have tightened while exercising. Warm ups and cool downs are important to do before and after sports practices and games.

• Stay hydrated. Heat-related injuries like dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are dangerous, and can even be fatal. It’s important to drink water regularly while you are exercising or

playing. If you are too hot, take a break. • Be sure to wear sunscreen and a hat to protect your

skin from the sun.If you do get hurt playing a sport, remember to stay

calm. Find an adult to help you. How you treat sports-related injuries varies depending on the injury.

For bruises, sprains, strains or bone injuries, the fi rst steps to take are easy to remember. RICE. This stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation and can help with pain and swelling. For instance, if you sprain your ankle, rest (get

off your feet!), put ice on it (use an ice pack for 10-20 minutes at a time), apply compression (use an elastic bandage and wrap the area) and elevate it (lie down and prop your ankle up on pillows).

Sources: National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, www.nyssf.org; National Institute of Arthritis and

Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, www.niams.nih.gov.

It’s Sports Safety Month: Play It Safe!


AR UND THE W RLD Netherlands

April 30 is Queen’s Day, or Koninginned-ag, in the Netherlands. This is a national holiday celebrating the birthday of former Queen Juliana. It is the Dutch National Day. The whole country spends the night before having a carnival-like party with parades, music and dancing. The following day, Queen’s Day, they have free markets, or vrijmarkt, where people sell and trade things from their homes that they no longer need or want, for things that they do want. It’s a huge yard sale! Orange is the color for Queen’s Day, and people dress in orange, have orange foods and drinks and sometimes even dye the fountains orange!

ItalyScoppio del Carro, or Explosion of the

Cart, is a tradition that takes place in Italy on Easter Sunday. On April 24, people in Piazza del Dumo will ignite a cart full of fi reworks and watch it explode. The tradition is said to

date back to the First Crusades, and the fi re is started with pieces of fl int from holy relics. This explosion of the cart is thought to bring good luck to the city for its harvests.

Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, April 13 and 14 will be celebrated as the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. The New Year’s festival marks the end of harvest season. It is celebrated with religious activities, fi recrackers, games and special foods. The people will dress in new clothes in lucky colors.

Rhinoceros The rhinoceros — or rhino — is an endangered animal from Asia and Africa. But its name is Greek. Rhino means nose, and ceros means horn. The horn on its nose is one of the rhino’s most recognizable features.

The rhino is a very large animal. It has a huge body on short stumpy legs. They are usually a grey or brownish color, but they like to wallow in the mud, so they may appear brown.

There are fi ve species of rhino. Two are found in Africa, and three species are found in Asia. Very few rhinos live outside of national parks or preserves. Most rhino species are listed as endangered or critically endangered. One subspecies, the western black rhino, is thought to be extinct. The southern white rhino is the only species that is not endangered, but

is still threatened. The white rhinos have almost no hair and have two horns. The males can weigh up to 3.6 tons — that’s almost 8,000 pounds!

Rhinos are usually active in early mornings and during the evening. Rhinos are herbivores, meaning they eat only plants. They eat grass and leaves from trees and bushes. They might look dangerous with their big horn, but they are not aggressive. And if they do charge, they don’t have very good aim because they have very poor eyesight. Rhinos do have a great sense of smell and hearing. They can sleep standing up or lying on the ground.

Sources: World Wildlife Fund, www.wwf.org. Photo: Joy G. Crowe.

Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataClass: MammaliaOrder: PerissodactylaFamily: Rhinocerotidae


It’s time to get out your globe! You need to know about the imaginary lines on globes and maps. These lines are called lines of latitude and longitude, and they tell a pilot or ship’s captain exactly where in the world a certain place is located. Basically, latitude lines (also called parallels) are the horizontal lines on your map. Lines of longitude (also called meridians) are the vertical lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. This mapping system is written in degrees and uses the symbol °.

Get ready to travel the world!You are probably hearing a lot about Japan on the news lately. In March,

the country suffered a severe earthquake and tsunami. Thousands of people have died, and the whole country is struggling. Where is Japan? On your globe, fi nd longitude of 138ºE and latitude of 36ºN, and you'll fi nd Japan.

Japan is located in Eastern Asia and is a little smaller than our state of California. Japan is made up of a chain of islands between the North Pacifi c Ocean and the Sea of Japan. The islands are bordered by many

different bodies of water, including the Sea of Japan, La Perouse Strait, the Sea of Okhotsk, the Pacifi c Ocean and the East China Sea. The islands are to the east of the Korean Peninsula. This string of islands stretches for approximately 1,500 miles through the western Pacifi c Ocean. The country's four main islands are, from north to south, Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. Honshu is the largest of the four islands. There are many smaller islands that are part of Japan.

The capital of Japan is Tokyo, one of the world's most populated cities. The climate of Japan is tropical in the south and cool in the north. The land is very rugged and mountainous. There are many volcanoes in Japan, including Mount Fuji, which is Japan's highest mountain.

The population of Japan is over 126 million. Education is very important to the people of Japan. As a result, Japan is one of the world's most literate countries. Japan is an ally of the United States. Our country, and other countries around the world, have offered support to help them get through this tragedy. Perhaps you participated in helping the people of Japan by sending needed items through your school, scouts or other organization. It will take many years to repair and rebuild the areas damaged by these natural disasters.

Sources: The World Factbook prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency; Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Japan," www.britannica.com/eb/article-9106451.

Where in the World Word

prefecture [pri-fek-cher] Japan has 47 prefectures; they are territories that are similar to states. They are bigger than cities, and each has a governor.

Where in the World Is ...Japan?

Riding bikes and skateboard-ing are two of the most popular ways for kids to get around in the neighborhood. It’s good exercise, and it’s FUN! Since it’s National Youth Sports Safety Month, here are a few tips to keep you safe while you have fun.

Buying the right bicycle:• It is important to ride a bike that is the right size.• The bicycle should not be too big or complicated.• You should be able to place the balls of your feet on the ground

when sitting on the seat.• The bicycle should have a bell or horn.Buying the right helmet:Although helmets can cost between $13 and $50, they can save money

by possibly preventing a visit to the emergency room. When shopping for a helmet, make sure it meets the following requirements:

• The helmet should be approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Approved helmets meet stringent safety standards.

• The helmet should fi t your head so that when the straps are snug, the helmet does not move around on the head.

• The front edge of the helmet should be two fi nger widths above the eyebrows.

• Front and back straps of the helmet should form a V just below the ear.

• The chin strap should be snug when you open your mouth (one fi n-ger should fi t between the chin and chin strap when the mouth is closed).

• Some helmets are multi-sport and can be used for in-line-skating, skateboarding, bicycling or other wheel sports. Helmets specifi cally called “bicycle helmets” are designed only for that sport.

Skateboards:• Wear protective gear, such as helmets, padding and closed-toe and

slip-resistant shoes.• Check the skateboard for wear and tear.• Allow only one person per skateboard.• Do not hitch rides from bicycles, cars or other vehicles.Even experienced skateboarders can fall, so learning how to fall safely

can help reduce the risk of severe injuries. The following are recommen-dations from the National Safety Council about how to fall correctly:

• When losing your balance, crouch down on the skateboard so your fall is short.

• Try to land on fl eshy parts of your body when falling.• Try to roll as you fall, which prevents your arms from absorbing all

the force.• Try to relax, rather than remaining stiff when falling.Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, one of the leading pediatric healthcare

systems in the country, is pleased to offer health and safety tips for parents and children. Visit our website at www.choa.org to learn more about Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and www.choa.org/healthandsafetytips for more information on our expert tips.

COME OUT AND PLAY!Biking & Skateboarding Safely!


Last month, we talked with two great young people who are living their dream of being recording artists. This month, we talked to another great kid who has put his creative ideas to work and become a child entrepreneur. An entrepreneur is a person that owns or manages a business and has taken initiative and risk to start it. Ethan Fisher is only 8-years-old and is the original creator of the wearable clip. His idea of bending paper clips into shapes and then wearing them has really taken off and turned into his own business, SillyClipz™. Keep reading to fi nd out more about this inventive kid!

TRUMAN: What does it take to become a child entrepreneur? ETHAN: Well, a lot of work, you know like in Star Wars, becoming a Jedi is pretty hard. Well, that is what it is like to be an entrepreneur. You have to work every day at achieving your goals. You have to work to get your ideas, then work to get your ideas running. The hardest part of all, I think, is once something big comes in, you will have to do a million times more work than you did, and you already did a lot of work. I can tell you that because that is what is happening with SillyClipz. SillyClipz is getting bigger and going pretty far. TRUMAN: How did you come up with the idea for SillyClipz?ETHAN: I was playing with my Silly Bandz® (rubber band bracelets), and there were some colored paperclips beside me, and I started bending them and trying to make an airplane design. I started getting pretty excited. I then clipped the airplane design I had made from the paper clip onto my mom’s shirt, and we all thought it was an awesome idea, and SillyClipz was born! TRUMAN: What do you do? Describe a typical day on the “job” with your new SillyClipz business.ETHAN: We usually start with a family meeting, and then I help in the areas that I am needed in or interested in. I like coming up with new SillyClipz Theme Packs, designs, logos and other creative ideas. I also have my school work, play time, time with friends, time outside and family time together. TRUMAN: What’s the hardest part of your job as an entrepreneur?ETHAN: Doing the work that you don’t want to do but that essentially has to get done.TRUMAN: What’s the best part of being an entrepreneur?ETHAN: I like having ideas that are “fl oating around” (in my head) and doing them. Then when you are done with all that hard work, you can take time to do the things that you like to do. TRUMAN: What has been the most exciting thing since starting SillyClipz?ETHAN: Getting a call from the producers of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, talking with them on the phone and then being fl own out to Los Angeles, California, to be on the Ellen show! It was fun on the plane fl ying there, it was cool in California and meeting Ellen was pretty awe-some! Our whole family had a great time (view the Ellen clip at www.SillyClipz.com). TRUMAN: What is your favorite SillyClipz shape? ETHAN: Our new Unicorn SillyClipz from our Myth Clipz™ Pack. I’m

excited about the Myth Clipz the most but am excited about all the new Theme Packs coming out. TRUMAN: What are your favorite hobbies? ETHAN: I like to: program (computer programming), create and play with Legos®, write books, make movies, come up with new ideas (I have lots of ideas everyday!), play with my friends, canoe and hike, ski, read with my family, watch movies as a family, and much, much more! TRUMAN: How does your business make money? ETHAN: We make money by selling SillyClipz! We sell them online at www.SillyClipz.com, and soon we will be in stores nationwide! Check to

fi nd a store close to your house to buy them from. You can also become a fan on FaceBook at www.facebook.com/SillyClipz. TRUMAN: Do you have other ideas that you want to turn into real products? ETHAN: Yes, I am working on those, too! TRUMAN: What advice would you

give to kids who are interested in getting their idea or invention produced?ETHAN: Well, fi rst come up with the idea. Then come up with the logo. Then come up with how you are going to sell your product and then take action to all those things. Basically, do that all the way through with all the steps involved in the process. Making your company bigger and bigger is something to always think about, how to sell your product to people, and how to sell your product to big companies. You know what kind of lags your business down or your ideas is that maybe one person is not fi red up, and then the next person is not fi red up, and then another person is not fi red up. And somebody has to step up and get everybody fi red up, and then everybody’s fi red up and then you are going great. My parents have been a big help in this part of the business, and I am learn-ing a lot by being involved. If your parents are not able to help with your idea, ask some of your friends, or relatives, or fi nd a mentor or anything. If you really believe in your idea, keep going until you fi nd someone that can help you. TRUMAN: Wow! Thanks for sharing with us what it’s like to be a child entrepreneur. It sounds like a lot of work and a lot of fun all at the same time! Best of luck to you. I can’t wait to see what you come up with next!

A CHILD ENTREPRENEUR?

Above: Ethan Fisher on the job at a photo shoot for SillyClipz. Right: Ethan on the set of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.


C D Q U R U D B E M R U L E S Y V T L C I O Z O E L K J Y Y C G X G P V B U P O R J N B N L O X S K I T S T R K E T L U I M O F T H I E P W K P F M S N U A V G R N X S Y B D Y E B G E B U N N E Y Q A N V T C R I E A A I P W T S T X T E D W Z R X S M B D E C I R E F U P D M R R K T B G H H E M A B Q C K W Y F A A R U G C L S B Q Y B W W L R Y K W U C E I G R O Q W L S P O R T S O H J C K O R N O I A U Z H R S L K C G L L A B T O O F Y L S K R X L

Sports Safety MonthApril is National Sports Safety Month. Find the hidden words in

the puzzle that relate to sports.

BASEBALLCYCLINGFOOTBALLHELMET

MOUTHGUARDREFEREERULESSAFETY

SOCCERSPORTSSTRETCHTENNIS

Visit www.kidsvillenews.com

for more fun & gamesall year long!

What’s the Difference?


Tru-Truman Truman’s Tricky Picture Find these

items! Be sure to fi nd Truman’s hat! For more puzzles and games, visit www.kidsvillenews.com.

Coloring CornerArbor Day is coming on April 29. Color in this picture and add your own wording to make a mini poster for Arbor Day.

Image: www.metrocreativegraphics.com


Curious Questions About Easter TraditionsWhat is the history of Easter? Where does it come from?Today’s Easter is derived from the ancient Jewish and Christian

religions. Christians have celebrated the Resurrection (the day Jesus arose from the dead) around the time of the spring equinox for many centuries. It technically falls on the fi rst Sunday after the Paschall Full Moon, anywhere between March 22 and April 25. This year Easter is a little later than usual and falls on April 24.

The Christian celebration of Easter is linked to the Jewish celebration of the Passover. Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were observed by the ancient Israelites early in the new year.

The Jewish people started each year with the spring equinox, around March 21. The name Passover comes from the Bible story of the angel that passed over the homes of the Jews. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was at the start of the barley harvest, the fi rst crop of the year. Pass-over and the Feast of Unleavened Bread occurred at about the same time each year, so they were both combined for a two-day celebration.

How did Easter get its name?Some believe it was the name given to Jesus’s

resurrection (when he rose from the dead) by the Frankish (French) church and comes from the Latin word alba which means white because people wore white robes when they celebrated the resurrection.

But alba also means sunrise, so when the name of the feast was translated into German, the sunrise meaning was picked instead of the white meaning. In old German, the word for sunrise was ostern, which became Easter, or the feast of the Lord’s Resurrec-tion.

Some scholars believe the name Easter came from the Scandinavian Ostra and the Teutonic Ostern or Eastre, both goddesses of mythology signifying spring and fertility, whose festival was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox. Equinox means equal night. That’s the day when the night and day are of equal length, 12 hours each.

What do Lent, ash and palms have to do with Easter?Lent is a time during which the Christians prepare for Easter. It

includes fasting, penance and prayer. Among Roman Catholics, Lent lasts for six and a half weeks before Easter, excluding Sundays. Among the Eastern Orthodox churches, it is a full eight weeks because Saturdays and Sundays are not included.

Ash Wednesday is the fi rst day of Lent. Holy Week is the week before Easter Sunday. Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter Sunday. It is called Palm Sunday because it is the day when Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. As he entered the city, people waved palm

branches and laid them before him as a symbol honoring him.Holy Thursday commemorates (remembers) the Last Supper, the last

meal that Jesus shared with some of his followers before his death on the cross. The meal they were eating was in celebration of Passover because Jesus and his friends were Jewish.

After supper, Jesus was arrested while he prayed in a garden called Gethsemane. The next day, called Good Friday, Jesus died on the cross. So why call it good? Some people think it originally meant God’s Friday. Others claim that good refers to the blessings received as a result of Jesus’s death.

Holy Saturday is the last day of Holy Week and of Lent. Easter Sunday commemorates Jesus’s Resurrection. Christians believe that Jesus arose from the dead on Easter Sunday. What Jesus taught us forms the foundation of the largest religion in the world. Today, about one third of the world’s population is Christian.

So what about the Easter Bunny and colored eggs?

In pagan times, before there was Christianity or other organized religion, the Easter hare came to be. This was no normal hare (which is similar to a rabbit but larger). The Easter Hare was thought to be a sacred companion of the goddess of spring, Eostre. The hare and the rabbit were the most fertile animals known (this means they have lots of babies!), and they served as symbols of the new life during the spring season. Since long before Jesus Christ was born, parents told their children that the magic hare would bring them presents at the spring festival. The presents were often painted eggs, as these represented

the new life starting at this time of year.Some accounts say that during the 4th century, consuming eggs

during Lent was taboo (or forbidden). Since spring is the peak egg-laying time for hens, people began to cook eggs in their shells to preserve them. Eventually people began decorating and hiding them for children to fi nd during Easter, which gave birth to the Easter Egg Hunt.

It is believed that the Chinese are the fi rst people who painted eggs. During spring festivals almost 3,000 years ago, they exchanged red eggs as part of their celebration.

Whether you celebrate the religious part of Easter or just enjoy the Easter Egg hunts and the legend of the Easter Bunny, the Easter holiday is a wonderful part of springtime.

Compiled by Joy Crowe and Jim Vanore for Kidsville News!


AT THE MOVIES

Hop (In Theaters: April 1)E.B. (voiced by Russell Brand) is a teenage slacker of a rabbit. He also happens to be the son of the Easter Bunny. Pops (voiced by Hugh Laurie) expects E.B. to take over the 4000-year-old family business, but E.B. wants to play drums in a rock band. E.B.’s not a bad drummer. So the little brown rabbit sets off for Hollywood to follow his dream. A run-in (that’s more of a “run-over”) in Los Angeles with an unemployed human named Fred (played by James Marsden) promises to open up all sorts of opportunities. David Hasselfhoff, Hank Azaria and Chelsea Handler also star in this live-action blend of animated hijinks. Rated PG for some mild rude humor. (Universal Studios)

Rio (In Theaters: April 15)From Carlos Saldanha, the director of the Ice Age fi lms, comes the story of a friendly parrot name Blu (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg). Blu has spent a very comfortable life with his master Linda in her live-in bookstore in a small town in Minnesota. It turns out that Blu is a rare Macaw whose fathering duties are needed in his faraway native country of Brazil. Linda and Blu set off for Rio de Janeiro for Blu to meet a female blue Macaw named Jewel (Anne Hathaway) to see if there might be a romantic connection. Culture shock isn’t the only kind of surprise Linda and Blu get once they arrive in Brazil. Although Jewel and Blu are birds of a feather, they couldn’t be more different. Jewel is confi dent about every-thing she does. Blu is just plain nervous. It turns out that Blu doesn’t even know how to fl y. It’s a good thing there’s a friendly Toucan named Rafael (voiced by George Lopez) who wants to help teach Blu how to use his wings. Peppy samba music accompanies this visually enticing 3D-animated adventure story. Rated PG for mild off-color humor. (20th Century Fox)

African Cats (In Theaters: April 22)April 22 is Earth Day. African Cats is the next great Earth Day movie adventure. A family of cheetahs and their rivals, a family of lions, struggle to make a home in the harsh conditions of Africa’s wild Savanna. Mara is a small lion cub trying

to grow up under her mother’s care. Sita is a single mother cheetah raising her fi ve newborn cubs. The same fi lmmakers who made Earth (Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill) bring this priceless look into the day-to-day existence of African cats. Alligators, zebras, buffalos and elephants are some of the other animals that share the Savanna with these kings and queens of the jungle.Rated G. (Disneynature)

Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil (In Theaters: April 29)Hayden Panettiere takes over as the voice of Red in this animated sequel to the 2005 comedy Hoodwinked! Since then, Red has been busy training with an elite security team known as the Happily Ever Agency. Two babies named Hansel (voiced by Bill Hader) and Gretel (voiced by Amy Poehler) are kidnapped by an evil witch who goes by the name Verushka (voiced by Joan Cusack). Red and her crew get called upon to go on a mission to rescue the little ones. Their mission leader frog Nicky Flippers (David Ogden Stiers) calls the shots for Granny (Glenn Close), the Big Bad Wolf (Patrick Warburton) and Twitchy (Corey Edwards) to help Red get the babies away from Verushka. There’s even a four-armed giant in this colorful animated 3D adventure. Great comedians like Martin Short and Andy Dick contribute their funniest voices to the antics. Rated PG for some mild rude humor, language and action. (The Weinstein Company)

MOVIES ON DVD

Bambi: Two-disc Diamond Edition (Available April 19)Walt Disney’s 1942 classic Bambi is one of the most famous and highly revered animated movies of all time. The story follows a year in the life of a young white-tailed boy deer named Bambi. Bambi meets up with a friendly rabbit named Thumper and a skunk named Flower. Bambi is fi lled with many unforgettable scenes. Bambi sliding on ice during the winter is a moment that stands out for its charming depiction of youthful animal clumsiness. The movie is based on Felix Aalten’s environmental novel Bambi, A Life in the Woods. The movie’s deeper meanings about protecting our ecology are at the heart of this amazing children’s masterpiece. Rated G. 70 mins. (Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment)

Cole Smithey, also known as “the smartest fi lm critic in the world,” has been a fi lm critic for 11 years and writes for over 50 publications, in print and on-line. Truman loves to watch movies and has the highest appreciation for great popcorn.


Thank Goodness the Sun is Single

It’s a good thing the Sun is single. It could easily be otherwise. About two-thirds of nearby sun-like stars are

not. They and a companion star orbit each other like dancers

doing a waltz. Sun-like stars in close double-star

systems — called binary systems — can be okay for a few billion years. But then they go bad. Very bad.

How bad? According to data from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, close binary stars can destroy their planets along with any life.

Some sun-like binary stars orbit each other only a few million miles apart. That is close — so close that the strong pull of the gravity of each star distorts the shape of the other. Normally, stars spin inde-pendently of one another (our sun rotates once every 26 days), but the change in shape of close binary stars changes their spin. The two stars stop rotating independently, and they just keep one face locked toward the other, as the Moon does toward Earth.

Such a close binary is a built-in time bomb. The two stars spiral inward, orbiting each other closer and closer, faster and faster. When they get close enough, the two stars rotate as a single star in just three or four days.

Then, watch out! Such fast spinning makes each star’s magnetic fi eld get much stronger. The stars’ violent magnetic interactions can shoot out monster fl ares. These fl ares can bathe a planet in massive amounts of ultraviolet light (like a very, very bad sunburn) and destroy any life on the surface.

Worst of all, as the two stars grow closer, the gravitational forces throughout the star system begin to change, disturbing the orbits of any planets. Sometimes the planets are nudged right into oncoming traffi c! As the planets slam into each other, they shatter into red-hot asteroid-sized bodies. Such violence is certainly not good for any life trying to take root on the planet.

Finally, the planets are broken up into nothing but a ring of warm dust. It is this dust that Spitzer is so good at detecting.

See other fascinating images from the Spitzer Space Telescope by playing Spitzer Concentration at http://space-place.nasa.gov/en/kids/spitzer/concentration.

This article was written by Trudy E. Bell and Diane K. Fisher. It was provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Planetary collisions, such as shown in this artist’s rendering, could be quite common in binary star systems where the stars are very close.

Your Cool, Kind Community By Barbara Gilmour

“Welcome back, everyone. Nicole, thank you for sharing some of the things you do to be a Cool, Kind Neighbor. You all had great ideas about how to be good neighbors. Today Tanner and Nicole’s cousin Courtney are visiting with us.”

Stephen, Rudy, Carmen and Truman the dragon all greeted her. “We’ll be talking about how to be cool and kind in your community.

Who remembers what a neighborhood is?”Tanner said, “A neighborhood is the

area where you live.” “That’s right. What is a community?”Rudy raised his hand, “Where people

live, play and work. It can be many neigh-borhoods put together, like a town or a city.”

Truman was excited to tell everyone, “Some of my family live in a dragon com-munity, where only dragons live.”

“That’s so cool,” said Nicole. Courtney added, “The people who live there are called citizens, even if they are dragons.” The kids all laughed.

Tanner asked Courtney, “What do you do in your community to be cool and kind?” Courtney replied, “I try to be kind by looking for needs in my community and responding to them.” Rudy asked, “What kind of needs?” Courtney answered, “We share many places, like parks, playgrounds, movie theatres and schools.” “Wow!” said Tanner. “I never thought about the places we all use.” Courtney continued, “If we remember The Golden Rule, we’ll be able to treat the places and the people who use them with respect.” Truman said, “You mean, like not throwing trash in the park or writing on school walls? That’s not cool!” Courtney added, “You got it, Truman.”

“Our community has fun activities like parades that I like to go to,” shared Tanner. The kids marched around the room singing that parades are fun. Nicole added, “When we go to events, my mom always tells us to obey the rules and respect the police or others in charge. She says the rules are for our safety.”

Your safety is important. What are some other community needs? Rudy’s hand shot up, “Respect our environment so there are resources like clean water for future kids!” Stephen added, “We should recycle at home, at school and wherever we go.”

Carmen asked, “What other kinds of things can we do for our commu-nity?” Tanner thought a minute and said, “Volunteer at a homeless shelter.” Rudy added, “Raise money for a charity. A lemonade stand is fun.” Truman shared, “Collecting for a food or toy drive is cool. Even dragons can help.” Courtney added, “Visit a nursing home. They need visitors and really like to see kids.” “I love to read,” said Stephen, “So I sometimes read to younger kids at the library.”

“That’s very cool and kind, Stephen,” said Nicole.“I think a cool, kind citizen should be a leader and good example in the

community,” said Tanner. “I agree,” said Truman. “When I see kids break-ing things on the playground or littering, I tell them to stop and be ‘Cool Kind Kids.’ It helps that I’m a big dragon.”Barbara Gilmour, Tanner’s grandmom, is the creator and developer of the Tanner’s Manners: Be a “Cool Kind Kid” Social Skills, Character Values and Anti-Bullying educational materials and the award-winning “Cool Kind Kid” Audio CD. She also writes the Children’s Manners Blog, offering tips for teaching your children manners. http://childrenmanners.blogspot.com. The “Cool Kind Kid” team is committed to helping kids reject bullying by offering them the social skills tools they need to redefi ne “cool.” © Cool Kind Kid. 866-KID-KIND. www.CoolKindKid.com.


It’s April, and spring is here! Easter is coming up, too. Hop on over to the kitchen to prepare these cute-as-can-be cupcakes, perfect for spring celebrations, Easter and birthday parties.

KIDSVILLE KITCHENTogether Time — Ask an adult for help with projects!

BUNNY CUPCAKESMakes 12 (1 cupcake) servings. Prep Time: 30 minutesWHAT YOU NEED: • 1 container (16 ounces) vanilla frosting• McCormick® Assorted Food Colors and Egg Dye • McCormick® Assorted NEON! Food Colors and Egg Dye• 2 cups fl aked coconut• 12 unfrosted cupcakes• 12 plain donut holes•12 large marshmallows• 6 pink jelly beans, halved crosswise• Chocolate sprinkles• Miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

HOW TO MAKE IT: 1. Tint frosting pink or blue, using 4 drops red or 4 drops NEON blue food color. Place coconut in resealable plastic bag. Add 4 drops red or 4 drops NEON blue food color to coconut in bag; shake until coconut is evenly tinted. 2. Spread top of each cupcake with tinted frosting. Press each cupcake into tinted coconut

to cover top completely. Spread donut holes with remaining frosting. Press a donut hole into top of each cupcake to form the bunny’s head. 3. For the ears, cut a 1/4-inch slice off the fl at ends of each marshmal-low to make 24 slices. Dip cut sides of the marshmallow slices into the coconut until completely covered. (Reserve remaining marshmallow pieces.) Attach 2 marshmallow slices to the head of each bunny with frosting to create ears. 4. Press a jelly bean half into the face for the nose and sprinkles for the whiskers. Use the chocolate chips for the eyes. Press the plain marshmallow pieces into the cupcakes for the belly.

For more fun recipes and tips for decorating with kids, visit McCormick.com. Recipe courtesy of McCormick and Family Features.

A Bunny-licious Idea!


Dear Moms and Dads, Aunts and Uncles, Teachers, Librarians and good friends of children everywhere,

READKIDDOREAD’s KIDDOS award program invited all of you to let your voices be heard — to select the best books of 2010 for getting kids hooked on reading. The fi nalists (in each age category) were announced just before Thanksgiving — in plenty of

time for holiday giving. The winners — the books you love best — were announced just after Valentine’s Day. You can’t go wrong giving a child you love one of these KIDDOS 2011 winners.

ILLUSTRATED BOOKS: (AGES 0-8)

PETE THE CAT: I Love My White Shoesby Eric Litvin; illustrated by James DeanPete the Cat, a lanky, skinny-tailed, indigo-hued kitty is sauntering down the street in his brand-new lace-up sneakers, singing, “I love my white shoes, I love my white shoes.” Oh no! Pete steps into a hill of strawberries. “What color did it turn his shoes?” Everyone will shout out “RED!”

Turn the page and there’s Pete’s foot, clad in its now-red shoe. “Did Pete cry? Goodness, no!” In fact, Pete just changes the lyrics a bit and sings, “I love my red shoes ...” as he con-tinues on his laidback, mellow stroll. Pete steps next in a pile of blueberries and then a large pud-dle of mud. When unfl appable Pete steps into a bucket of water that washes the colors away, he ambles along, singing, “I love my wet shoes ...” The moral of his story? “No matter what you step in, keep walking along and singing your song.”

Meet Eric Litwin and James Dean and listen to them sing their own song at READKIDDOREAD.COM.

TRANSITIONAL BOOKS: (AGES 6 & UP)

HENRY AARON’S DREAM by Matt TavaresEvery kid has a wish, a dream for his or her own future. Henry Aaron was no exception. He wanted to play baseball — professional baseball — when he grew up. But baseball stadiums in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama in the 1940s were for “WHITES ONLY.” After high school, Aaron played in the Negro Leagues and then, when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in major-league baseball in 1947, Aaron began to dream again. It took perseverance, enormous talent and courage for Henry Aaron not only to hold onto his vision, but also to make it a reality. Matt Tavares explores all three of these qualities in a handsome picture-book biography

that is part history, part inspiration, part sports story all mixed together with a touch of folklore hero. Kids need their dreams — and they need heroes to be their examples. Henry Aaron’s Dream offers both.

Matt Tavares talks about creating Henry Aaron’s Dream at READKID-DOREAD.COM.

PAGETURNERS: (AGES 8 & UP)

BIG NATE IN A CLASS BY HIMSELF by Lincoln PeirceOften compared with Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid for its ability to make kids fall off the bed in hysterics, this fi rst book in a series delivers its own fresh dose of cringe-worthy comics and comedy. Nate Wright may look like an average sixth grader, but he just knows he is destined for greatness. He keeps an illustrated list on his closet door of his special talents, which

include soccer (he’s the middle school team goalie), music (he says his band for which he is the drummer, ROCKS!), cartooning (he specializes in teacher caricatures) and table football (“…it might be

a tough way to make a living”).

Nate’s cocky ruminations are buttressed with cartoon panels, spot art, sidebars, and occasional full-page cartoons drawn on lined notebook paper. Based on the author’s popular syndicated comic, this side-splitting graphic novel can’t miss. See Lincoln Peirce in a KIDDOS video at READKIDDOREAD.COM.

ADVANCED READS: (AGES 10 & UP)

THE LOST HERO The Heroes of Olympus, Book One

by Rick RiordanFans of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series (and there are plenty of them!) won’t have to mope around because that series has ended. Their favorite author returns to Camp Half-Blood in the fi rst book of The Heroes of Olympus series.

Three teens — Jason, his girlfriend Piper, and his best friend Leo — in a fantastic and fast-paced sequence of events, discover that they are demigods. Now, they must learn how to use their unique talents and extraordinary powers to accomplish a mighty mission: save Hera before evil forces destroy Olympus. And the clock is ticking.

The teens face formidable enemies as they race across the USA. But these kids are determined to prevail. And every reader will cheer them on. Rick Riordan accepts his KIDDOS award at READKIDDOREAD.COM.

For other books that can’t miss pleasing the kiddos in your life, go to READKIDDOREAD.COM.


PARENTOWN’S KIDSMART

April 26 is “National Teach Children To Save Day.”With the current market environment of unemployment,

plummeting home values and personal savings at an all-time low, it is imperative, now more than ever, to begin to talk about saving money properly to our children — it’s critical considering the following statistics:

• In 2008, 1.2 million people declared personal bankruptcy.• Americans are currently carrying $951 billion in credit card

debt.• 71% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.What’s wrong with this picture? We are living above our means

as Americans. What tools can we begin to equip our children with so these staggering statistics do not hold true during their generation? Begin to teach your child about money today.

Kids know exactly how much luxury items cost, such as an iPodTM, designer jeans or the latest tennis shoes, but they have no clue how much it costs to have cable in the house or how much groceries cost. What’s wrong with that picture?

According to the Small Business Administration, kids between the ages of 4 and 12 spend $14.4 billion annually and infl uence household purchases of $132 billion a year. Teenagers spend approxi-mately $95 billion per year.

Tip: Always have a short-term savings goal; once you’ve met that goal, set a new goal.

Activity:Open a savings account in your child’s name. Take him to the

bank once a week to make a deposit into his account from the money earned from his allowance. Be sure he is keeping track of his savings manually. Bring back the passbook!

Kids today do not see their parents taking their paycheck to the bank for deposit. More times than not, their parent’s paycheck is deposited electronically in the bank. This is the “free money” perception some kids have about the ATM machine. When parents go to the ATM to withdraw cash, their kids think that there is a machine that dispenses cash whenever they need it, not realizing their parents had to earn a paycheck to deposit in the bank to get the money from the ATM.

During summer break, let them earn money to contribute to their school tuition or other expenses related to school.

Benefi t/Key Takeaway: Saving regularly is a habit that can be taught early and will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Keva Sturdevant is the founder of Born To Save, a nonprofi t based in Washington, D.C., with the mission of teaching kids of all ages the importance of saving and investing. Our goal is to begin conversations about money in households across America between parents and their kids. In an effort to foster those conversations, we grant actual shares of stock to kids. To register for your child to win a share of stock in our monthly stock give away, please visit our website at www.BornToSave.org.

Save, Save, Save Ahorrar, Ahorrar, AhorrarEl 26 de Abril es el día nacional de “Enseñar a los niños a ahorrar.”Con el ambiente actual del mercado del desempleo, el valor de las

casas que caen como plomo y ahorros personales en su punto más bajo, es imprescindible ahora más que nunca empezar a hablar con los niños sobre cómo ahorrar dinero apropiadamente — es crítico considerando las siguientes estadísticas:

• En el 2008, 1.2 millones de personas declararon bancarrota per-sonal.

• Los americanos tienen una deuda en tarjetas de crédito de $951 billones de dólares.

• 71% de los americanos viven cheque a cheque.¿Qué tiene esto de malo? Como americanos, estamos viviendo arriba

de nuestro alcancé fi nanciero. ¿Con que herramientas podemos equipar a nuestros hijos para que estas estadísticas no se hagan realidad durante su generación? Enseñe a sus hijos desde ahorita acerca del dinero.

Los niños saben exactamente cuánto cuestan los objetos de lujo como un iPod, jeans de diseñador, o los tenis que están a la moda…Pero no tienen idea de cuánto cuesta tener cable en la casa o cuánto cuesta la despensa. ¿Qué tiene de malo esto?

Según la Administración de las Empresas Pequeñas, los niños entre 4 y 12 años de edad gastan $14.4 billones de dólares actualmente e infl uy-en las compras de la casa de $132 billones al año. Los adolecentes gastan aproximadamente $95 billones de dólares al año.

Sugerencia: Siempre hay que tener una meta de ahorro a corto plazo, una vez que hayas alcanzado esta meta, empieza una nueva.

Actividad: Abra una cuenta de ahorros bajo el nombre de su hijo, llévelos al banco una vez a la semana para hacer un deposito en su cuenta con el dinero que ganen por hacer sus quehaceres. Asegúrate de que lleven control manual de sus ahorros.

Hoy en día los niños no ven a sus papas depositar su cheque en el banco. Casi siempre el cheque es depositado electrónicamente. Esta es la precepción de “dinero gratis” que tienen los niños sobre los cajeros automáticos. Cuando los padres van a los cajeros automáticos a sacar dinero, los niños piensan que la maquina da el dinero cuando lo necesita-mos, sin darse cuenta que los papas se tienen que ganar un cheque para depositarlo al banco y poder sacar dinero del cajero.

Durante las vacaciones de verano – deja que ganen dinero para con-tribuir a su colegiatura u otros gastos relacionados con el colegio.

Benefi cio: Ahorrar regularmente es un habito que se puede enseñar a una temprana edad y se va a quedar con ellos por el resto de sus vidas.

Keva Sturdevant es la fundadora de Born To Save (Nacido Para Ahor-rar), una organización sin fi nes de lucros con base en Washington, DC con la misión de enseñar a los niños de todas las edades la importancia de ahorrar e invertir. La meta es comenzar conversaciones acerca del dinero en los hogares a través de América, entre padres e hijos. En un esfuerzo para fomentar estas conversaciones, concedemos partes de acciones actuales a los niños. Para registrar a tu niño(a) para ganar una parte de acción en nuestra rifa mensual, por favor visite nuestra página Web www.BornToSave.org.


PARENTOWN’S KIDSHAPE

Sticking Together When Times Get ToughTimes are tough: The economy is faltering, jobs are less secure and prices are

high. The stress of dealing with these issues doesn’t affect just you. Your child is likely to notice your increased stress level, as well as any changes to your family’s routine.

The news is not all bad: These tough times provide a great opportunity to teach your child about money basics and a chance to reconnect as a family over some fun but inexpensive activities. Sticking together during tough times will ultimately help you emerge as a stronger family when the economy does rebound.

How Stress Affects FamiliesWhat your kids want most is your attention.

Unfortunately, your own stress can affect the interactions you have with your child. It might come in the form of a snippy answer to a question, in putting aside play time or maybe in an urge to lash out to those closest to you. If you are feeling stressed out, step back and take a deep breath. Pause before you react to your child so that your reaction can be a calm one. If you need a break, take one. If you need a helping hand, ask for it.

Talking to Kids about the EconomyYour child probably notices your stress even if you are trying to hide it. Be careful

not to make overly dramatic statements like, “We have no money!” To you, that may mean a month without eating out, but your child may interpret it to mean that the family is in danger. You can explain your situation to children in age-appropriate and reassuring terms. For example:

Mommy is not going to work right now because there was a change at her company. But, don’t worry; I’ll go back to work soon.

Right now, things are more expensive, so it is important for us to spend money only when we really need to.

Teaching Kids about MoneyTough economic times provide an opportunity to teach your child important

lessons about money and spending. Teach your child the difference between a need and a want. Pencils and paper for school are needs; a new lunchbox or cool new jeans are wants. Teach your child about making choices with money, and allow your

child to help with those choices when appropriate. Say, for example:

We have enough money in our fun budget to go see a movie or go out for pizza. Which would you like to do?

Letting your child earn an allowance through chores helps teach the connection between work, money and saving. These basic lessons will help you explain to your child why you need to make certain choices when it comes to the family budget.

Inexpensive – or Free – Fun!The tough economy provides a great opportunity to

reconnect with your child and focus on fun family activities. Local parks and school playgrounds are great places to

spend an afternoon playing and getting important stress-reducing exercise. Visit your local library for reading time or to check out books to take home; most libraries also offer free children’s activities. Board games, coloring time and even games your child makes up offer low-cost fun at home.

Remember, time together is one of the most valuable things you can give your child.

April is National Prevent Child Abuse Month. This article is courtesy of Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina, 222.preventchildabusenc.org. Additional info can be found at www.preventchildabuse.org.

kidsville news - april 2011

Documents