More than just a pretty face: Otters are a keystone species - VOL. 8 NO. 1 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021
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VOL. 8 • NO. 1 • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021
More than just a
pretty face: Otters
are a keystone
species.
page 24
CRITT
ER F IL E
1WK22_01_Cover.indd 1 8/7/21 4:15 PM
VOL. 8 • NO. 1 • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021
6-9 10-13 14-17
SCIENCE SOUP TIME MACHINE CITIZEN SHIP
Celebrating Caring for
The life of an
cartoon dogs foster kids and
oyster and the
and a brave planting 100
death of a star
Frenchman million trees
18-21 22-25 26-29
TAKE APART SMART CRITTER FILE JET BALLOON
Cave/banks in Dinosaurs: Losing a lake
Morocco and Very large. in Bolivia and
a big birthday Otters: Very saving a park in
celebration cute and helpful! North Macedonia
also in this issue: 3 PUZZLING TIMES | 4-5 NEWS SHORTS | 30-31 EVEN MORE NEWS SHORTS | 32 PUZZLING TIMES
Gardener Gemma Hearn poses for photographs on July 30, 2021. She is making
a final trim of the Hampton Court Palace Maze before it reopens to the public.
The palace stands in southwest London, England. The maze was first planted in
1689. It is the oldest hedge maze in Great Britain. It reopened in August after
being closed since the beginning of the UK’s coronavirus outbreak in March
2020. Three gardeners spent two weeks trimming it ahead of the reopening.
Hint:
These
numbers
IT’S OUR 40th BIRTHDAY! are clues.
(Read about it on page 20.)
Search this issue for
printing press type-styled _ n 1998, a _ u _ s _ r __ er _ a _ d __ r
24 20 28 8 29 27 13 7 26 18
letters to fill in the blanks
COVER & THIS PAGE: AP PHOTOS
___ __ b __ ri ___ on _ it _ a _ i _ e _ i _ !
and reveal an
interesting fact
from our past . . . 5 22 14 12 25 6 11 9 15 10 17 23 4 19 21 16
KRIEG BARRIE
WORLDkids, Issue 1, September 2021 (ISSN #2372-7357, USPS #700-950) is published 6 times per year—September, November, January, March, May, and July for $35.88 per year,
by God’s World News, God’s World Publications, 12 All Souls Crescent, Asheville, NC 28803. Periodicals postage paid at Asheville, NC, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to WORLDkids, PO Box 20002, Asheville, NC 28802-8201. EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, WORLD FOR STUDENTS: Rich Bishop, MANAGING EDITOR: Rebecca
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advertising@wng.org Mailing address: WORLDkids, PO Box 20002, Asheville, NC 28802-8201. Telephone (828) 253-8063. © 2021 God’s World News, God’s World Publications.
2 worldkids • S EP TEM B ER/ O CTO B ER 2 02 1
1WK22_02-03_Contents_PT.indd 2 8/7/21 10:38 PM
These four friends have lost their dogs.
1
Which dog goes with each owner?
Read the clues to figure it out.
Fill in the spaces for each of the quizzes.
JIM ANITA MAX JESSIE
Quiz 1 ____ Quiz 1 ____ Quiz 1 ____ Quiz 1 ____
Quiz 2 ____ Quiz 2 ____ Quiz 2 ____ Quiz 2 ____
Quiz 3 ____ Quiz 3 ____ Quiz 3 ____ Quiz 3 ____
Quiz 4 ____ Quiz 4 ____ Quiz 4 ____ Quiz 4 ____
Quiz 5 ____ Quiz 5 ____ Quiz 5 ____ Quiz 5 ____
Jim’s dog has a red collar. Jessie’s dog has long hair.
Quiz Quiz
1 Max’s dog is to the left of Jim’s. 2 Jim’s dog has black and white fur.
Jessie’s dog is on one end. Max’s dog has floppy ears.
Which dog is Anita’s? Anita’s dog has a red collar.
Jessie’s dog has a long tail. Max’s dog is on the right end.
Quiz Quiz
3 Max’s dog has a blue collar. 4 Anita’s dog has pointy ears.
Jim’s dog is to the left of Jessie’s dog. Jim’s dog is to the left of Anita’s.
Jessie’s dog is next to Jim’s.
Jim’s and Anita’s dogs both have floppy ears.
Quiz
5 Jessie’s dog is on one end. HINT: Friends do
not always get
Anita’s dog has short hair. the same dogs in
each quiz.
C
Rocky
A
int: Pepper
hese
mbers
clues.
COVER & THIS PAGE: AP PHOTOS
B
Mina
KRIEG BARRIE
ear,
ER:
cca
D
63, Arlo
ons.
Answers5
on page
SEPTEMBER/OC TOBER 20 2 1 • worldkids 3
1WK22_02-03_Contents_PT.indd 3 8/7/21 4:24 PM
Disappearing Titanic
Titanic was a magnificent ocean liner. It was called
“unsinkable.” But it struck an iceberg 109 years ago. The
great ship did sink. Now it’s decomposing under water.
Strong currents slam into the ship. Bacteria eat huge
holes in it. “The ocean is taking this thing. And we need to
document it before it all disappears,” says Stockton Rush.
He is the president of OceanGate Expeditions.
OceanGate explorers are in a hurry to investigate the
ship. They are going undersea to explore the wreckage.
The expedition includes archaeologists and marine
biologists. There are also about 40 people who bought
tickets to tag along and watch. Those people will help
operate equipment on board a support ship. The scientists
will go below in a small submersible. That’s like a tiny One of World Trade Center towers collapses on September 11, 2001.
submarine. The deep-sea explorers plan to photograph
Titanic and the sea life living in and around it. They want
to document what remains before it is gone forever. A Very Sad Anniversary
America’s history. On September 11, 2001, men who
9
hated the United States hijacked four passenger planes.
They flew one into each of New York City’s World Trade
Center towers. Those skyscrapers crashed down. Another
plane hit the Pentagon building outside Washington, D.C.
The fourth didn’t reach its target. Passengers on board AP PHOTOS • TITANIC WRECK AGE: NOA A/IFE/URI
chose to fight the hijackers. That plane went down in a
field in Pennsylvania. AP PHOTOS • PERSEUS & ZOI: HANDOUT
In all, 2,977 individuals lost their lives on that terrible
day. Many still grieve their lost family members. Some
search for answers about who was responsible and why.
This broken world is full of grief. That’s because sin
still has effects. But it won’t always be that way.
Revelation 21:4 says that Jesus will come back. And then,
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death
shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor
Titanic
wreckage
crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have
passed away.”
4 worldkids • S EP TEM B ER/ O CTO B ER 2 02 1
1WK22_04-05_Shorts4.indd 4 8/7/21 4:29 PM
h
Perseus:
Nine lives
but only one
original leg
Perseus Gets Legs
A homeless cat in Greece is walking
again. He has three new high-tech legs.
“Within the first 10, 15 seconds he
Rock shock in Rome
acted as if he had always had them. He 1WK_
walked immediately without a problem,”
says veterinarian Sofia Zoi. QUIZ
Rare Stone Discovered A tragic accident left Perseus with
just one limb. The little feline is just a
Scie
Archaeologists discovered a rare stone marker. year and a half old. He arrived at Dr. Time
3. b,
They were digging for a new sewage system in Zoi’s clinic last year unable to walk.
char
Rome. The stone has writing on it. The inscription Since coming to the clinic
intel
helped archaeologists figure out exactly how old it in March 2020, Perseus
is. When the ancient stone was placed, Emperor has been through three Citiz
Claudius was ruling as Caesar. That was in A.D. surgeries to heal his
49. A look at history tells us that the stone was wounds. He’s had Take
carved during New Testament times. That was another four surger- 3. c,
around the time Paul was beginning his second ies to replace his legs pray
2001. Dr. Zoi
missionary journey. It’s when he probably with artificial limbs. A act a
heal
wrote his letter to the Galatians. team of engineers and
The stone marked a sacred, military, and veterinarians designed
Critt
political boundary. It designated the edge of the Perseus’ new legs from titanium. That is
city. In Rome at that time, no one could farm, live, a strong, lightweight metal. Each leg has Jet B
or build anything in this area. No weapons could a plastic paw made with a 3-D printer. 5. An
be brought through the space either. Everyone wondered if Perseus loca
Over the years, archaeologists have found 10 would accept his new legs. Would he chan
other stones like this one in Rome. The last marker try to bite them? So far, Perseus’ new more
Emperor Claudius discovery before this one was about 100 years ago. legs are working out great! prov
AP PHOTOS • TITANIC WRECK AGE: NOA A/IFE/URI
AP PHOTOS • PERSEUS & ZOI: HANDOUT
Down: 1 Otto, 2 Lydia, 3 Bolivia, 4 France, 6 Paleontologists, 9 Australia, 10 reeds, 12 Texas, 13 sapling, 15 typewriter, 17 oyster, 18 Pharaoh. Colors: rooms, pale, storm, king, pit.
in all hard times. | PAGE 32: Across: 5. scriptorium, 7 grain, 8 Jonathan, 11 Sun, 12 trees, 14 astronomers, 16 Word, 18 Pekingese, 19 otter, 20 turkey, 21 salt, 22 cold, 23 igoudar.
build in the dry lakebed, finding a city and changing ways entirely, following relatives to their new homes, or more. Encourage your child to be creative and to trust God’s provisions
otters 1. b, 2. c, 3. b, 4. a | JET BALLOON, p26-29, The Uru, North Macedonia 1. c, 2. d, 3. a, 4. d, 5. Answers will vary but may include moving to a new rural lake or location, trying to
that people know how to act and vote, so that people can watch for news that affects health, work, education, freedom, and so on. | CRITTER FILE, p22-25, New dinosaur, Sea
TAKE APART SMART, p18-21, Granaries, WNG 40th anniversary 1. d, 2. d, 3. c, 4. a, 5. Answers will vary but may include so that people can pray for things going on in the world, so
characters because they are familiar, fun, eager to please, intelligent, sometimes goofy, and easy to relate to. | CITIZEN SHIP, p14-17, Foster care, India trees 1. b, 2. c, 3. b, 4. a |
Oysters, Black holes 1. b, 2. c, 3. b, 4. c | TIME MACHINE, p10-13, Cartoon dogs, The Marquis de Lafayette 1. b, 2. c, 3. b, 4. d, 5. Answers will vary but may include: Dogs make great
PAGE 2: In 1998, a subscriber paid for his subscription with a live pig! | PAGE 3: 1) B, C, A, D, 2) C, B, A, D, 3) A, C, D, B, 4) B, C, D, A, 5) A, B, C, D | QUIZZES: SCIENCE SOUP, p6-9,
—-——- —- SEPTEMBER/OC TOBER 20 2 1 • worldkids 5
1WK22_04-05_Shorts4.indd 5 8/7/21 4:30 PM
h
shells out to dry for at least six months. That dry time
makes sure any meat or foreign substances bake off
or decay from the shells. Dry, clean shells get
loaded onto a barge that sets off into the river.
Workers use high-pressure hoses to blast the
10-foot-tall piles of shells into the water.
WHOOSH! SPLASH! The hoses make the job
easy. It takes less than an hour to wash
thousands of shells into the river.
In the water, the shells will become
new oyster colonies. Free-floating baby
oysters called spat hop on board the
recycled shells. Spat attach themselves to
the calcium-rich remains and begin to
grow.
Oyster-saving programs are going on
around the world. With fun names like
“Shuck it for Nantucket” and “Shuck, Don’t
Chuck,” more and more restaurants are
casting oyster shells overboard. In Maryland, the Chesa-
peake Bay Foundation turns 2,000 bushels of recycled
shells per year into oyster habitat in the bay. The state of
Texas collected 1.75 million pounds of shells and returned
them to water. Texans also restored 25 acres of oyster
“The buffet on a slow day will shuck 500 oysters, and reefs. New York, Florida, and Alabama and Australia have
on a busy day, 1,200,” says Grace Chow. She’s the vice their own oyster collection projects.
president of food and beverages at Hard Rock Casino in
Atlantic City, New Jersey. That produces hundreds of
thousands of shells every year! What happens to discard- Yum . . . to some:
Have you ever tried
ed oyster shells is part of a seafood circle of life. Diners’ oysters?
empty shells can help establish new oyster colonies.
First, people collect and clean the shells. In Atlantic
City, the state picks up oyster shells with a trailer.
Workers haul them to a research station. They set the
BOTTOM: JUDSON McCR ANIE
This barge is taking 680 bushels of clam and oyster shells
to be dumped into the Mullica River in New Jersey.
TOP: AP PHOTO
SCIENCE
AP PHOTOS
SOUP
6 worldkids • S EP TEM B ER/ O CTO B ER 2 02 1
1WK22_06-09_SS.indd 6 8/7/21 4:46 PM
Back in the water, the shells make a huge
impact on the ecosystem—as well as the food
chain. Oysters are water filters. One adult oyster
can filter 50 gallons of water each day. Oyster
colonies stabilize shorelines. They also serve as
speed bumps by slowing down big waves.
Oyster restoration projects are a big win! “You
have the benefit not only of ecological restoration, “When you harvest an oyster, essentially you
but [keeping] . . . tons of shells out of landfills,” harvest its habitat right alongside it,” says Dr.
says Scott Stueber, a fisheries biologist. Jennifer Pollack at Texas A&M University–Corpus
Christi. That habitat is a beautiful and purpose-filled
shell. What’s the best way to recycle an oyster shell?
Farewell to the
It’s hard to choose just one. The list goes on and on.
shell: Workers blast Of course, plopping discarded oyster shells right
the shells into the river. back into a river or ocean is ideal. Old shells are kind
of like soil for seeds. They make the perfect place for
new oysters to start growing. At creation, God asked
Adam to take good care of the Earth and everything
in it. One way we can protect oysters is to provide
places for new oyster colonies to grow.
Speaking of growth, the high levels of calcium and
other minerals in an oyster shell are great for
gardens. Shells that aren’t returned to water can be
crushed and mixed into soil. They make dirt
nutrient rich which helps plants grow
stronger. Crushed shells can be spread on
farming fields to control acid in soil. Mixed
into dirt, those shells easily become microbial
habitats. That means they provide nutrients
for other tiny living things.
Did you know that oyster shells make
great chicken feed? That’s right. Hens need
calcium. That’s something oyster shells pack
plenty of! Calcium helps chickens grow
strong, healthy bones. It also helps them lay
eggs with tough, protective shells.
Believe it or not, oyster shells are as hard
as concrete. Literally. (Actually, when
crumbled, they can make concrete.) Tabby is
concrete that is a mixture of crushed oyster
shells, sand, lime, and water. It’s a building
material that’s been around for hundreds of
years. In the 1600s, Spanish and English
settlers used tabby concrete to build homes
and pave roads. Those projects can still be
seen today in the coastal Carolinas, Georgia,
and Florida. Tabby is easy to use, inexpen-
sive, and very, very strong.
BOTTOM: JUDSON McCR ANIE
There are fun ways to recycle oyster
shells too. The shells can be turned into
simple soap dishes, eye-catching jewelry,
and decorative wreaths. Some people even
TOP: AP PHOTO
make clothes from crushed oyster shells.
AP PHOTOS
SeaWool is yarn and fabric made from—yes,
you guessed it—recycled oyster shells.
SEPTEMBER/OC TOBER 20 2 1 • worldkids 7
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Di
cy
This is an artist’s idea of what a
black hole could look like. No one
knows, but it’s fun to imagine!
G-u-l-p. It took a split second. For A black hole is an area within a neutron star and makes itself just a
the fi rst time, astronomers noted space and time where gravity is so little bit more massive.”
that a black hole had swallowed a strong that nothing can escape it. How did astronomers know when
neutron star. Ten days later, they Not even light! In space, a black hole the collision was coming? They
detected the same thing as it hap- is the fi nal point of no return. The couldn’t actually see it happen, like
pened again—far away from the fi rst. moment the neutron star crashed looking at a planet with a telescope.
Two neutron stars gobbled up by the together with the black hole, the Instead, they watched gravitational
gravity of black holes—talk about a neutron star was gone. It took far waves. Bursts of energy rippled
heavy space snack! less than a minute. through space. The movement was a
A neutron star is what is left over “It was just a big quick (gulp), sign of the event.
when a big star dies in space. Neutron gone,” says study co-author Patrick In the past, astronomers have
stars are dense. That means they Brady, an astrophysicist at the seen waves made from two black
have a great mass that is concen- University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. holes colliding. They’ve also watched
trated into a small space. If one could The black hole “gets a nice dinner of waves made from two neutron stars
exist on Earth where there is gravity, colliding. But this is the fi rst time
and if it could be weighed, it would they’ve ever seen a neutron star
be super heavy—much heavier than easpoon oof
ne tteaspoon
One f aa crash into a black hole. It was
O
the Sun. One teaspoon of a neutron neutron star a r w eighs aa bbillion
weighs illion tons . . . unexpected. The event changes
st ton
star would weigh a billion tons! about ronwhat M ount EEverest
Mount veres weighs! how scientists think about
e u t w ha t tw s..
eig .
n ut
These stars are about six miles o hs the way different bodies in
ab !
wide. God knows every single space interact.
star in the sky. He placed
them there. Psalm 147:4 says,
“He determines the
number of the
KRIEG BARRIE
stars; He gives
to all of them
their names.”
8 worldkids • S EP TEM B ER/ O CTO B ER 2 02 1
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c
Average Star: An Red Giant: When an average Planetary Nebula: As White Dwarf: This is the
average star is a star uses up its hydrogen, its the star burns through its last stage of the star’s life
medium-sized star. It is core collapses into itself and fuel, it blows out its outer after it has used up its
mostly made of helium becomes hotter. That causes layers of gas. The leftover energy. It is about the size
and hydrogen gas. Our the star to expand. part of the star is usually of the Earth, but MUCH
Sun is an average star. still visible in the center. denser and heavier.
Discover the life
cycle of a star.
Neutron Star:
Sometimes the leftover core of the star squishes all its protons
and electrons together into neutrons. (Those are teeny-tiny
parts of an atom.) That makes a very small, dense star—it would
be like fitting the mass of the Sun into an area the size of a city.
Nebula:
A nebula is a
giant cloud of
gas and dust.
Some nebulae
are regions Supernova: When the
where new Massive Star: Massive star runs out of fuel, Black Hole: Sometimes a
stars form. Gas, stars are also made of Red Supergiant: A massive star it collapses and then supernova becomes a black
dust, and other hydrogen and helium, burns through its hydrogen faster explodes! The hole. That’s an area of
matter clump but are much larger than an average star, turning into explosion is extremely space with such strong
together to and have more mass a red supergiant. These are the bright and can shine gravity that nothing can
make new stars. than average stars. largest stars in the universe. across an entire galaxy. escape being sucked into it.
at a
one
ne!
Can you spot a supernova? How many stars are in the sky? 1. spat
How much would a neutron star weigh? How far can a black hole stretch? a) an adult oyster
What causes sunspots? Are asteroids loud? b) baby oysters
How long is a light year? Does space dust disappear? c) a coral reef
How much ice is in a comet?
Do constellations ever stop shining? Are wormholes real? 2. tabby
Does solar wind blow forever? How hot does the Sun get? a) yarn made from
crushed oyster
Colossians 1:17 says, “And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold shells
together.” That includes the entire universe! God spoke and space came into being. b) chicken feed
The marvelous universe He created is filled with things we can hardly begin to under- made from crushed
stand. Some we can see, like our warm, bright Sun and the glimmering stars. Others oyster shells
we can’t, like black holes and Oort clouds. (That’s a band of billions of icy objects that c) concrete made
exist at the edge of our solar system.) from crushed
The Bible tells us about creation, and science—the study of that creation—helps oyster shells
us understand it and learn more about the God who made it. Genesis 1:16 says, “And
Answers
God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light 3. dense on page 5
to rule the night—and the stars.” A nebula is a large dust cloud in space. God takes a) flat
that dust and forms stars and planets. The Horsehead Nebula is a small dark nebula. b) massive and
Can you guess what astronomers thought it looked like? heavy
A black hole is created when humongous stars collapse. The result is a swirling c) light and airy
vortex of gravity—so much gravity that even light cannot escape. Neutron stars are
small and very dense. They are heavier than the Sun! Neutron stars are created when 4. nebula
giant stars die. a) a telescope
Can you imagine that the God who created black holes and neutron stars is the b) another name for
same God who created YOU? a planet
KRIEG BARRIE
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the Moon and stars, which c) a large dust
you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man cloud in space
that you care for him? — Psalm 8:3-4
SEPTEMBER/OC TOBER 20 2 1 • worldkids 9
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p
In a 1970 Beetle Bailey comic strip,
the character Sarge scolds his dog,
Otto.
“Th ink, Otto, think!!” Sarge says.
Otto replies, “We can’t all be
Snoopy.”
Th is comic strip is an oldie. But
SCOOBY-DOO: WARNER BROS. • SLINKY: PIX AR • SNOOPY: CHARLES M. SCHULZ • OTTO & DAISY:
KING FE ATURES SYNDIC ATE • DOGBERT: ANDREWS MCMEEL PUBLISHING • EXHIBIT: AP PHOTO
dog lovers can go see it right now at
the world’s largest cartoon museum
at Ohio State University. It’s a dog
show! Well, it’s a cartoon dog show.
The exhibit shows off two centuries of
dogs in cartoons. The Ohio State University museum
Here’s how it started. Brad has gone to the dogs. Above (clockwise
Anderson created the dog comic from left): Scooby-Doo, Slinky Dog,
Snoopy, Daisy, Otto, and Dogbert.
Marmaduke. He donated his collec-
tion of cartoons in 2018. He included
16,000 originals drawn from 1954 to Otto the dog fi rst appeared in show up. So do Trots and Bonnie, a
2010. Museum employees started to Beetle Bailey in 1956. At fi rst, he was a toon girl and her talking dog.
wonder: Just how many other dog regular four-legged dog. In 1970, that The exhibit also includes a video
cartoons could they dig up? changed. His artist, Mort Walker, about animated dogs. Do you
Most people seem to relate to gave him human-like qualities. Mr. remember Scooby-Doo? Huckleberry
comics about dogs. Walker provided Otto with his own Hound? Underdog, Disney’s Pluto
Dogs are eager. uniform and desk. and Goofy, or Slinky Dog from the
They aim to Exhibit viewers also see well- “Toy Story” movies? Lady and the
DOG PARK : AP PHOTO
please. Their known dogs like Sandy from Little Tramp sharing spaghetti?
TIME personalities Orphan Annie. There’s Daisy from And no dog story is complete
MACHINE make them Blondie. There’s Dogbert from the without some cats. A few felines—
perfect to Dilbert strip. George Booth’s scraggly Garfield, for example—sneak into the
joke about. New Yorker magazine cartoon dogs dog show too.
10 worldkids • S EP TEM B ER/ O CTO B ER 2 02 1
1WK22_10-13_TM.indd 10 8/9/21 12:14 PMDogs: a little like wolves, a little like foxes,
loved by people a lot. Now more than 400 dog
breeds exist in the world. Why? Because people
took this once-wild animal, brought it inside,
and trained it. Then they bred dogs to do
certain jobs.
Shepherds, corgis, collies, and shelties
herded livestock. Doberman pinschers, Akitas,
and mastiffs guarded people from wild animals
or homes from intruders. Bloodhounds, retriev-
A “Beware of
ers, and foxhounds helped hunters catch game. dog” mosaic
People also bred tiny dogs like the Chihuahuas in Pompeii.
and Pekingese just for companionship. (You What about
a “Beware of
might notice those names begin with capital volcano”
letters. Chihuahuas were named for a place in mosaic?
Mexico. Pekingese were named for a place in
China. Dogs have been man’s best friend in
countries all over the world for centuries.)
People and dogs make great partners. Dogs
can smell way better than we can—so much
better that it’s hard to put into words. Dogs are
loyal. They can be trained. So people harness
the dog’s God-given abilities. In return, dogs get
food, shelter, and human friends for life.
Now people generally value dogs for their
friendship, not for the work they do. And what
people love, they make art about. Did you know
SCOOBY-DOO: WARNER BROS. • SLINKY: PIX AR • SNOOPY: CHARLES M. SCHULZ • OTTO & DAISY:
KING FE ATURES SYNDIC ATE • DOGBERT: ANDREWS MCMEEL PUBLISHING • EXHIBIT: AP PHOTO
people made dog art as far back as the days of
pre-volcanic-eruption Pompeii? That ancient 1 2
city was destroyed in A.D. 79. When people
uncovered it centuries later, they found a
familiar idea in an ancient mosaic: a picture of a
canine labeled “CAVE CANEM.” That’s Latin for
“Beware of dog.” Fine artists have also depicted
dogs through the centuries in these famous
works:
1 Marble statue of a pair of dogs,
artist unknown, 1 st century A.D. 3
2 Portrait of a Noblewoman
by Lavinia Fontana, 1580
4 5
3 Still Life with Three Puppies
by Paul Gauguin, 1888
4 Dogs Playing Poker series
by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge, 1903
5 Pride of Parenthood
DOG PARK : AP PHOTO
by Norman Rockwell, 1971
Many, many more artworks capturing dog
life exist. What’s your favorite?
Having gifts that differ according to the grace
given to us, let us use them. — Romans 12:6
SEPTEMBER/OC TOBER 20 2 1 • worldkids 11
1WK22_10-13_TM.indd 11 8/9/21 12:14 PM“General Lafayette is coming!” visited 320 cities and towns. His
Who? You might not remember stopped in every state in the union.
him. But the people living in (Back then, there were just 24!)
Natchez, Mississippi, in 1825 General Lafayette’s tour helped
certainly did. Marquis de Lafayette bring unity in a hard time. The
was the last living general who country was about 50 years old. It
had fought in the Continental was facing an election. In 1824,
Army. And look! There he was, votes were split. No candi-
walking down the street! date won an electoral
Do you remember learning majority. Because of the
about the Continental Army? tie, the U.S. House of
Th ink blue coats, George Representatives chose the
Washington, and new president: John
musket balls. The Quincy Adams. Not
Continental Army everyone was happy
fought for the 13 about that choice. But
American colonies the election sent a
during the Revolutionary message. America was still
War. General Lafayette helped. independent. It would stick
But he wasn’t American. He together no matter what.
wasn’t British either. He was Nearly 200 years have
French. He was part of the French passed since General Lafayette’s
Revolution too. (Busy guy!) tour. But people haven’t forgotten
Back during the Revolutionary it. Now they work to mark where
War, General Lafayette was barely he made stops. About 25 signs have
20. But as he walked through been installed in 13 states so far.
Natchez in 1825, he was almost 70. About 175 signs will be added in
Americans in Natchez greeted him all. The marker in Natchez de-
as a hero. General Lafayette kept scribes what General Lafayette did
ENGR AVING: AP PHOTO
going. He journeyed through the during his visit. It stands on land
United States for two years. He overlooking the Mississippi River.
NATCHEZ & BUST: AP PHOTO • PAINTING: LIBR ARY OF CONGRESS
The historical marker
commemorating
General Lafayette’s tour
is unveiled in Natchez
on June 16 (left); A bust
of Lafayette (above).
12 worldkids • S EP TEM B ER/ O CTO B ER 2 02 1
1WK22_10-13_TM.indd 12 8/7/21 4:52 PMthe beginning of all good
leadership. He told General
Washington, “I am here to
learn, not to teach.” General
Washington became much
more than a teacher to
Gilbert. Gilbert stayed with
General Washington during
the horrible winter at Valley
Forge in 1777 when
hundreds of soldiers died
of disease. General Wash-
ington didn’t have children.
Gilbert didn’t have a dad.
The two became like father
An engraving of Lafayette and son.
and George Washington
at Valley Forge in 1777. After helping lead the
Continental Army to
victory, Gilbert returned to
General Lafayette was ideas coming from America. France. When he came
born in France with a big He believed people should back to the United States
name: Marie-Joseph-Paul- live freely and be treated for his tour many years
Yves-Roch-Gilbert du with fairness. He also later, he made a tearful
Motier, marquis de wanted to become a soldier visit to George Washing-
Lafayette. (Marquis—pro- and win fame. He crossed ton’s grave.
nounced mar-KEE—means the ocean to fight in the Gilbert—the marquis de
“nobleman.”) We’ll call him American Revolution. He Lafayette—died in 1834.
Gilbert for short. His father was still a teenager then. He was buried in Paris,
died in battle when Gilbert He barely spoke any France . . . with dirt from
was almost two. When his English. He didn’t even have the location of the U.S.
mother died 10 years later, any fighting experience. Battle of Bunker Hill.
Gilbert became an orphan— But he was rich and he Likewise, you who are
but not a poor one. He knew a lot of powerful younger, be subject to the
ENGR AVING: AP PHOTO
came from one of the people. He quickly became elders. Clothe yourselves,
A painting oldest families in France. a general. all of you, with humility
of Lafayette
NATCHEZ & BUST: AP PHOTO • PAINTING: LIBR ARY OF CONGRESS
from 1790 His parents left him a huge In America, Gilbert toward one another, for
fortune. made a very good friend: “God opposes the proud
Though he lived across George Washington. He but gives grace to the
the ocean, Gilbert liked the showed humility, which is humble.” — 1 Peter 5:5
Answers
on page 5
1. Where is the 2. Shepherd 3. The Marquis de Lafayette ______. 4. The marquis 5. Why do
world’s largest dogs are bred a) ran for president of the United de Lafayette ______. you think
cartoon mainly States a) is a descendant of dogs make
museum? for ______. b) was a general in the American George Washington such popular
a) Michigan a) hunting Revolution b) never returned to characters in
b) Ohio b) guarding c) was in the U.S. House of France cartoons,
c) New York c) herding Representatives c) never became a general film, and
d) Illinois d) retrieving d) was born in Natchez, Mississippi d) was buried in Paris books?
SEPTEMBER/OC TOBER 20 2 1 • worldkids 13
1WK22_10-13_TM.indd 13 8/7/21 4:52 PMSome children have biological and his church worked with the
Kevin
(birth) parents who can’t take state to make the process for and Kelli
care of them. Sometimes they becoming a foster family faster. Lundy
need safe homes—for a short time, They called the program Rescue
or for longer. Government 100. Fifty families from the
CHILD: RESCUE 100 • MEPHIBOSHETH: THE MORGAN BIBLE LIBR ARY
agencies place those kids with church started fostering. And
foster parents who can help. One they recruited 250 other families!
church in Mississippi has helped Kevin and Kelli Lundy have
over 300 families foster children. fostered eight children. They
Tony Karnes is a pastor at know their church is there to
Michael Memorial Baptist Church. help. Mrs. Lundy can ask when
In 2015, Pastor Karnes visited an they have needs like size 3
emergency shelter for kids. It was summer clothes or a babysitter.
full. There weren’t enough Mr. Lundy says it’s important
families for the children to stay to get to know foster children as
with. That individuals. The kids start off as
broke strangers. Over time, they
Pastor become part of the Lundy home.
CITIZEN Karnes’ After one two-year-old left,
RESCUE 100
SHIP heart. another one came. It was easy to
Pastor treat the new child like the
Karnes previous child, but “they’re
14 worldkids • S EP TEM B ER/ O CTO B ER 2 02 1
1WK22_14-17_CS.indd 14 8/7/21 4:57 PM
rGod loves all His people. But He particularly puts an emphasis on caring
for orphans and other needy people. In many places in the Bible, God says
that we are to be kind to widows, orphans, and foreigners. They were some of
the most vulnerable people around.
Pastor Karnes says he thought of James 1:27 when he got involved in
foster care. That verse says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God
the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep
A Rescue 100 banner oneself unstained from the world.”
hangs outside Michael God created families from the beginning. He planned for Adam and Eve to
Memorial Baptist Church
have a family. (Genesis 1:28) But sometimes children, widows, people with
in Gulfport, Mississippi.
disabilities, or others don’t have loving families to take care of them.
Christians are called to care for children in need. We follow the example of
our Father. He counts us as part of His family: His children and heirs with
completely different,” says Mr. Christ. (Romans 8:16-17)
Lundy. “They like different books. 2 Samuel 9 tells the story of King David and Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth
They like different toys.” was the son of David’s close friend Jonathan. He was also the grandson of
Another family, the Bardwells, David’s enemy, Saul. Some years after David became king, he remembered his
cares for kids for short periods of friend Jonathan. When he found
CHILD: RESCUE 100 • MEPHIBOSHETH: THE MORGAN BIBLE LIBR ARY
time. They help biological parents out that Jonathan’s son was still
get ready to take care of their alive, he wanted to show
children again. Jennifer Bardwell kindness to him. Mephibosheth
had Bible studies with one mom. had a disability. His feet were
Mrs. Bardwell also taught the crippled. Mephibosheth was
mom how to drive and helped her grown up by that time. But
An illustration
get a job. David made Mephibosheth part
showing
The Griffi ns began as foster of his household. Mephibosheth
parents too. Later, they adopted These examples from the and David
their daughter, Skylar Rose. Bible show us how important it
The church doesn’t just help is to care for the weak and
foster families. The foster children vulnerable. God has blessed us,
get to play with other kids in the so that we can bless others. As
same situation. And they invite Christians, our response to
RESCUE 100
biological parents to come to God’s grace is to let Him make
worship so that kids and parents our hearts like His. He wants us
can spend time together. to love the people He loves.
SEPTEMBER/OC TOBER 20 2 1 • worldkids 15
1WK22_14-17_CS.indd 15 8/9/21 12:08 PM
t“He who plants a tree, plants hope.” than a billion people live in India. 15% of the total land area in the next
— Lucy Larcom, teacher and poet And the population is growing five years. In today’s campaign, over
How many trees can a million quickly. More people means more 100 million trees will be planted,”
people plant? Organizers of a tree building projects. Building puts says Manoj Singh, a senior state
project in India expect to organize that stress on land, water, and air. More forest official.
many folks. Their goal: Get 250 million trees are needed to keep the envi- Not all the new trees will make it.
life-giving trees into the ground. ronment in balance. Usually, only about 60% of the saplings
All manner of India’s citizens are God covered the face of the Earth thrive and grow. The rest often die due
getting involved. Lawmakers, in trees. He had really good reasons to disease or lack of water.
government officials, and volunteers for giving His world so much plant So caring for the trees is getting
swarmed riverbanks, farms, forests, life. We read about the very first trees more modern. Many saplings now are
and school and government building God made in Genesis 2:9. It says, “And tagged with QR codes. These can be
sites to plant. They dug holes for out of the ground the Lord God made scanned to show important informa-
young trees called saplings in 68,000 to spring up every tree that is pleasant tion. That lets scientists see how a
villages and 83,000 forest sites in to the sight and good for food.” tree is doing. Is it growing? Does it
India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state. India started the tree-planting have enough water? State Forest
India promises to keep planting drive four years ago. “We are Minister Dara Singh Chauhan says
trees. That’s important for the committed to increasing the forest that the sapling survival rate in the
country—and for the world. More cover of Uttar Pradesh state to over past four years has gone up to 80%.
Indian workers plant saplings
in the Uttar Pradesh state,
India, on July 4, 2021.
AP PHOTOS • ILLUSTR ATION: KRIEG BARRIE
AP PHOTOS
16 worldkids • S EP TEM B ER/ O CTO B ER 2 02 1
1WK22_14-17_CS.indd 16 8/7/21 4:59 PM
gDeforestation is the removal of forests.
Reforestation is just the opposite. It is the rebuild-
ing of forests. God had a clear purpose in His design
of tree-filled forests. We can be good stewards of
His creation by becoming “forest keepers.”
Ezekiel 17:24 says, “And all of the trees of the
It takes a lot of
people to plant field shall know that I am the Lord; I bring low the
100 million trees! high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the
green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the
Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.”
A forest of trees is full of habitats for living
things. Trees provide shelter and nourishment for
millions of organisms. Tree roots stabilize the ground.
They prevent erosion, or the loss of soil. Most
importantly, trees nourish living things with oxygen.
Healthy trees work like filters. They remove
dust and pollution from the air. They absorb carbon
dioxide and other harmful gases. When land is
stripped of trees, the air loses its necessary filters.
It quickly becomes dirty. That’s part of the reason
why big cities have smog problems.
They suck up Trees are made to keep the atmosphere in
carbon dioxide and
release oxygen. balance. They suck up carbon dioxide and use it to
grow. Then they release oxygen back into the air.
That helps make a lovely world for people and
animals to breathe in. We need oxygen, and we
breathe out some of that carbon dioxide. It’s a huge
reason why planting new trees to replace missing
ones is important. If people take care of trees, then
They filter They provide food
and shelter for trees help take care of people!
pollution and dust
from the air. lots of animals. Trees also help maintain the water cycle. They
pull water from the ground and then send it back
into the atmosphere. How? Tree leaves have tiny
pores. Water vapor leaves the tree by way of
those pores. We can’t see that water in the sky,
Their roots stabilize
the ground and but it is there.
They absorb prevent erosion. According to the United States Department of
water and then Agriculture Forest Service, a healthy 100-foot-tall
release water vapor
AP PHOTOS • ILLUSTR ATION: KRIEG BARRIE
into the air. tree can take 11,000 gallons of water from the
soil and release it back into the air in a single
growing season.
1. foster 2. vulnerable 3. sapling 4. reforestation
a) neglect a) strong and fearless a) a mature tree a) rebuilding of forests
AP PHOTOS
b) nurture like a parent b) loved and cared for b) a young tree b) removal of trees
c) teach and instruct c) exposed to possible harm c) a tree’s branch c) air cleaning with trees
Answers
on page 5
SEPTEMBER/OC TOBER 20 2 1 • worldkids 17
1WK22_14-17_CS.indd 17 8/7/21 10:54 PM
gThis ancient granary in
Morocco served as a safe
place where people stored
grains and valuables.
TELL EDFU: THE ORIENTAL INSTITUTE OF THE UNIVERSIT Y OF CHIC AGO
Joseph, son of the
Bible’s patriarch Jacob,
was a smart, hard-working
leader in Egypt. He was
appointed to be the
Egyptian pharaoh’s
right-hand man. Joseph
managed well all the cities
in Egypt. And he under-
stood the concept behind
banking. He knew it was
wise to save for the future.
MOROCCO: REUTERS
He also knew that grain
was worth more than just
TAKE its weight in nutrition.
APART People would trade it for
SMART
goods and services.
An illustration shows ancient Egyptian granaries.
18 worldkids • S EP TEM B ER/ O CTO B ER 2 02 1
1WK22_18-21_TAS.indd 18 8/7/21 5:06 PMWhat is chiseled into those jagged igoudar, or granaries, to store their to preserve the fruits of their labors.
red rocks in southern Morocco’s goods. These granaries served a The Berbers saw in God’s rugged
Anti-Atlas Mountains? Surprise! function like our fi nancial banks do mountains a way to keep their
Those compartments are an early today. belongings safe. Today’s modern
example of a once-nomadic tribe’s Each Berber tribe had its own banks owe their existence to these
banking system. granary. Families in the tribe had types of safe-keeping ventures,
Tribal tradesmen called Berbers boxes of their own in the granary, according to research professor
long ago carved these storage caves like your family probably has its own Khalid Alaroud. “These collective
account at a bank. Granaries also granaries may be the fi rst indication
offered individual smaller compart- of the emergence of banks,” he says.
ments. One of those was like an Today, the granaries are hard to
extra-large safety deposit box. That is get to. Their remote locations make
a secure container banks today use them difficult to fi nd. Even if you can
to protect people’s most important locate one, the walkways leading to
documents and belongings. and through it are often crumbling
deep into the rock face. The caves, In addition to crops like wheat, and unsafe. So Morocco’s Ministry of
called granaries, stored treasures dates, beans, and spices, the grana- Culture has launched a project to
like staple foods—grains and le- ries also stored silver, jewels, and save what remains of the granaries
gumes. High up and hard to reach, carpets. Palm wood doors were and to teach people about them.
the granaries protected their con- sealed with metal locks, the
tents from floods and bandits. Later, way today’s banks have
gold and jewelry were often stashed vaults. They were heavily
here too. guarded against looters.
Morocco’s Berber granaries are a Tribes elected amins to
national heritage. Now officials will guard the granaries. An amin
include them on the United Nations was a man who lived at the
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural site of the granary. He served
Organization’s world heritage site list. as a security guard.
The Berbers were a tribe of These ancient Berber banks
traveling tradesmen. They lived in have existed at least since the
These ancient pieces of wood have the
the Sahara Desert. But some settled 1400s. They display the granaries’ regulations written on them.
around Morocco. There, they built creativity of people who need
Genesis chapters 41 and How did Joseph know to Ancient Egyptians harvest seasons might have
42 tell the story of Joseph’s store all that grain? God measured wealth in grain. been like.
TELL EDFU: THE ORIENTAL INSTITUTE OF THE UNIVERSIT Y OF CHIC AGO
business savvy. When there allowed Joseph to interpret They built silos and filled Famine did come to
was plenty of food, he (understand) a troubling them with wheat and barley. Egypt. Genesis 41:54 says,
gathered it in. “And Joseph dream Pharaoh had. That The silos were like banks in a “There was famine in all the
stored up grain in great dream is recorded in Genesis way. The grain they held lands, but in all the land of
abundance, like the sand of 41:17-31. Joseph knew it meant was like Egyptian money! Egypt there was bread.”
the sea, until he ceased to that God was sending famine. Tell Edfu is a 3,500-year- Joseph sent hungry, worried
measure it, for it could not be Joseph worked to prepare old city site in Egypt. (A tell people to the silos. Genesis
measured.” (Genesis 41:49) Egypt before famine hit. is a mound or hill.) Archae- 41:56-57 says, “Joseph
ologists uncovered seven opened all the storehouses
silos there. Egyptians built and sold to the Egyptians,
the large, mud-brick for the famine was severe in
buildings in a city courtyard. the land of Egypt. Moreover,
They were easy for people all the Earth came to Egypt
MOROCCO: REUTERS
to get to. They show us what to Joseph to buy grain.”
the granaries Joseph used The food provided for
during the people in need. God
Egypt’s always provides for His
The silos in Tell Edfu, Egypt
plentiful people.
SEPTEMBER/OC TOBER 20 2 1 • worldkids 19
1WK22_18-21_TAS.indd 19 8/7/21 5:07 PMMrrn-snuff-snuff-SWISH. Two men named Joel Belz and then put the information on a floppy
Hear the printer sounds? Smell Norm Bomer had some very big disk. (What’s that? Ask you parents
the ink? See the pages rolling off the ideas. Christian journalists love God if they remember.) The disk traveled
presses? Behold! WORLDkids and love people, they thought. They by snail mail to a printing company.
magazine is born! want to help people understand and Meanwhile, Mr. Belz encouraged
But it isn’t called WORLDkids yet. appreciate truth. Christian journalists people to pray and give money to the
Not by a long shot. It’s called It’s want readers to see God at work in His brand-new newspaper.
God’s World (IGW). It’s printed in two world. Each story reported the facts.
colors and has only eight pages. Read Mr. Belz had publishing experi- Each also included biblical world-
through and you’ll see . . . ence. Mr. Bomer was a teacher. They view. Some stories had editorials
• stories about workers’ strikes decided to publish a weekly news- alongside. Those are opinion pieces.
• decisions made by then- paper for young people. The paper They helped readers grasp how to
President Ronald Reagan would report on news. But “the think about the news—not just to
• news of the newest Supreme important purpose,” says Mr. Bomer, know what the news was about. The
Court Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor. “was to teach Christian worldview” fi rst issue also included a recipe for
Wow! That’s old news! And it to the glory of God. egg-in-a-hole, a word search, and a
should be. It’s God’s World premiered Mr. Bomer was IGW’s fi rst writer Bible reading schedule.
40 years ago in 1981. That was six and editor. He was known for his Readers liked the paper. Why?
U.S. presidents ago! quick wit, ready laugh, and eagle It explained complex topics in a way
So . . . how did it all get started? eye. (Th is means he was good at kids could understand. It also
catching mistakes in writing.) He revealed to readers the God behind
would continue as editor for 30 the facts of the news.
years. Mr. Bomer wrote Soon adults began asking, “Why
every article in the don’t you publish a magazine for us?”
fi rst issue of IGW—and Mr. Belz and Mr. Bomer listened.
he used a typewriter! Five years later, WORLD Magazine
The internet wouldn’t was born. But that’s a story for
come along for another another day.
year and a half. Someone The Earth is the Lord’s and the
re-entered Mr. Bomer’s fullness thereof, the world and those
words into a computer, and who dwell therein. — Psalm 24:1
Norm Bomer and his
wife Carol in 1983
Joel Belz in
1981
20 worldkids • S EP TEM B ER/ O CTO B ER 2 02 1
1WK22_18-21_TAS.indd 20 8/7/21 5:09 PM“I believed then as I do now, in the goodness of the
published word: It seemed to contain an essential
goodness, like the smell of leaf mold.” — E.B. White
You might remember the fellow who wrote those words.
He also authored the books Stuart Little, Charlotte’s Web,
and The Trumpet of the Swan. Like Mr. Bomer, E.B. White
did his joyful work on a typewriter. We think of typerwriters
as old tech. But that’s because we’ve never had to write in
a scriptorium.
How many books do you have in your house? How
many do you see just in the room where you’re sitting?
Once upon a time, almost nobody owned books. Why?
Because for a copy of a book to exist, someone had to
A monk copying text in a scriptorium write it out by hand!
Those someones were usually monks. Before the
invention of the printing press, monks toiled away in cold
This woodcut from 1568 shows rooms called scriptoriums copying out books. One book
people at work printing books.
could take months. They wrote on expensive animal skins.
Mistakes cost money. These monks could only dream of
having something like a backspace key!
The printing press changed everything. Printers lined
up little letters in trays. The letters pressed ink
onto pages. Then the letters came out.
They could be rearranged and
re-used for the next page or project.
Books became available to
everyone. Suddenly, it made sense for
most people to learn to read.
God cares deeply about the written
(and printed!) word. Reading leads to
pleasure, knowledge, and freedom.
Readers with access to truth
can make good decisions.
Best of all, readers of God’s
word can learn to love, enjoy,
and obey their Creator.
In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God.
— John 1:1
Does not connect to wifi: A reproduction of an old printing press
1. What are 2. What is one 3. It’s God’s World _______ . 4. A scriptorium _______ . 5. Why do
igoudar? thing ancient a) was a magazine for adults a) was a room where you think it
a) types of wheat Egyptians used b) was the old name for monks copied books is important
b) Berber as money? WORLD Magazine b) was where the printing to have
tradesmen a) sand c) was the first name for press was invented news
c) security b) silos the magazine that led to c) was a farm where publications
guards c) fabric WORLDkids animals were raised for and other
d) granaries d) grain d) was mainly a magazine their skins news media?
Answers of recipes and games d) was a library
on page 5
SEPTEMBER/OC TOBER 20 2 1 • worldkids 21
1WK22_18-21_TAS.indd 21 8/9/21 12:02 PMAustralotitan cooperensis
is the largest dinosaur ever
discovered in Australia.
Scott Hocknull and
Robyn Mackenzie hold
a 3-D reconstruction
and the actual bone of
the Australotitan.
Scientists in Queensland, Australia, found a “pothole
to the past,” says Robyn Mackenzie. They’re digging up
dry, old bones. Those bones belong to a very old Australian
animal—an enormous dinosaur.
Australotitan cooperensis is the official name of the new
dinosaur. Its name means “the southern titan.” (A titan is
something that is strong and powerful.)
Mrs. Mackenzie describes fi nding the dinosaur’s
skeleton. “There’s nothing quite like walking up to a
dinosaur site and seeing all this bone on the surface and
not having a clue what type of animal, initially, because Genesis 1:24 says, “And God said, “Let the Earth bring
you’ve just spotted it, it is,” she says. The Mackenzies forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock
(Robyn, her husband Stuart, and son Sandy) discovered and creeping things and beasts of the Earth according to
the bones on their own property. According to Smithsonian, their kinds.” And it was so.” What did the mighty
the Mackenzies were riding motorbikes on their sheep Australotitan look like when God made it? What sounds
and cattle farm when they noticed what looked like big did it make? Did the ground tremble when it walked?
black rocks in the ground. Those rocks were actually Was it gentle or scary and fierce?
dinosaur bones! It took over 10 years to identify the Paleontologists believe that Australotitan was a
bones. They were very fragile and heavy. A forklift had to sauropod. That’s a four-legged animal with a long neck
move them. and tail. It had a small head but huge limbs. That long
EROM ANGA NATUR AL HISTORY MUSEUM
Mrs. Mackenzie is now a field paleontologist. She says neck helped the herbivore snag high-up veggie snacks.
that with a closer look at the dirt, “you can actually pick (A herbivore does not eat meat.) Imagine how many
up bits of bone and start figuring out what animal it is plants the largest dinosaur in Australia would eat!
and what part of the body the bones “Our study looked at dinosaurs from not just Australia
are coming from.” It looks like the but across the world. We compared Australotitan’s bones
Australotitan was as long as a to all of these gigantic sauropods and it’s in the top 10 to
CRITTER basketball court. It stood as tall as 15 largest in the world,” explains paleontologist Scott
FILE a two-story building. That makes Hocknull.
it one of the biggest dinosaurs in There’s more to discover about the ancient Australotitan.
the world’s history! That makes paleontologists very excited.
22 worldkids • S EP TEM B ER/ O CTO B ER 2 02 1
1WK22_22-25_CF.indd 22 8/7/21 7:38 PMPaleontologists are Big Yellow Bus: Tyrannosau-
scientists. They study rus Rex was likely a ferocious
history by examining predator dinosaur. At 40 feet
things left behind in long and 12 feet tall, it was
dirt and rocks. They about the size of a school bus.
look at fossils for clues
about the animals that
lived long ago. Fossils Long and Tall: Sauropods were the
are preserved remains biggest dinosaurs that scientists have
like bones and foot- discovered. They stood six building
prints. Paleontologists stories high. Some of these big beasts
imagine what it was like may have been more than half the length
to live in the age of of a football field from nose to tail!
dinosaurs. You do the
same as you consider
these size comparisons:
Bowling Alley: The dino formerly known as Brontosaurus
got a name change: Apatosaurus. This dinosaur was the
length of two telephone poles, one and a half tractor trailer
trucks, or one bowling alley lane. That’s a very long dinosaur!
Gobble, Gobble: A Compsognathus dinosaur was Dino-Golf: Scientists believe
a meat-eating powerhouse. These small dinosaurs Velociraptor was fast! But
with big appetites were about the size of a turkey. speedy was good if you were
so small. Velociraptor stood
just about 39 inches tall—
barely over three feet.
That’s nuts! Stegosaurus might
have been as big as a bus,
but its brain was only
the size of a nut.
17 Elephants: A Brachiosaurus Jumbo Dino: Big dinosaur
weighed as much as 17 elephants. bodies meant big dino-sized
It was four-fifths as heavy as a parts. A Tyrannosaurs Rex
space shuttle. And it stood two and had extra-large teeth. They
a half times taller than measured as long as half a
a giraffe. bowling pin. A Torosaurus skull
was eight feet long! That’s the
length of an average female
elephant. In 1998, scientists at
the University of Kansas found
a giant dinosaur foot in Christmas Tree
EROM ANGA NATUR AL HISTORY MUSEUM
Wyoming. It was the largest Tower: Pterosaurs were
dino foot fossil ever found. flying reptiles. They had huge
The Brachiosaur foot measured wingspans! (Wingspan is the
3.3 feet. That’s almost as wide distance from the tip of one
as a mailbox is tall. wing to the tip of the other.)
The largest Pterosaurs’
wingspans could be as much as
40 feet! That’s about the height
of five average Christmas trees
standing on top of one another.
SEPTEMBER/OC TOBER 20 2 1 • worldkids 23
1WK22_22-25_CF.indd 23 8/7/21 7:39 PMimagine that otter in
: A sea ott er mu nc hes sea urchins. Now
Imagine
a superhero cape. roes right now.
sea ott ers alo ng the California coast are he
It’s true— be adorable?)
e tha t the y we ar cap es. But wouldn’t that
(It’s not tru the day?
ddly mammals saving
Just how are these cu grow in the waters
the be gin nin g. Nutrient-rich algae
Let’s be gin at But the spiny globs
d like din ne r? Maybe not to you.
off Californi a. So un als . Kelp is a large,
hin s lov e alg ae . So do other marine anim
called sea urc osed of kelp.
sea we ed . Ke lp for est s are ecosystems comp
brown algae e in them too.
m the forests. They liv
Sea creatures eat fro len out of balance.
rni a, the ke lp for est ecosystem has fal
But in Ca lifo at sea star used to
wi pe d ou t the sunflower sea star. Th
A disease alm os t ltiplied fast—and
s. Wi th no ma jor pre dator, the urchins mu
eat sea urchin go
home. When urchins
res out of house and
ate the other sea creatu urc hin ba rre n: sea floor
the y can als o cre ate what’s called an
unchecked, grow in an urchin barre
n.
urchins. Kelp cannot
covered in rocks and are a ke ys ton e sp ecies.
ott ers ! In ke lp forests, otters
In come . . . the nd. If a keystone
eci es is on e up on wh ich other species depe
A keystone sp system suffer.
er creatures in an eco
species is removed, oth m in California have
Monterey Bay Aquariu
Researchers from the body of water called
the
cued sea otters into a
been introducing res with blu e). Ov er tim e, the
ounced slue—rhymes
Elkhorn Slough (pron urchin s alo ng the wa y—
they did—gobbling up
otters multiplied. As re tha n 10 0 endangered otters
swim
thr ive d too . No w mo th
other species their home waters wi
every day. They share
through this tidal bay ny oth er an im als .
licans , egrets, and ma
harbor seals, brown pe co me to the
tters wi ll
Perhaps these cute cri
mo re of the Ca lifornia coast .
rescue along
g acr oss the sea
ea di n flo
s pr or
ns
i
ch
Ur
ELKHORN SLOUGH: AP PHOTO
SUPER OTTER: KRIEG BARRIE
A sign warns motorists
of sea otters at the
Elkhorn Slough in
AP PHOTOS
Moss Landing,
California.
24 worldkids • S EP TEM B ER/ O CTO B ER 2 02 1
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