library(data.table)
library(quanteda)## quanteda version 0.9.9.50## Using 3 of 4 cores for parallel computing##
## Attaching package: 'quanteda'## The following object is masked from 'package:utils':
##
## Viewlibrary(stringr)
library(tidyverse)## Loading tidyverse: ggplot2
## Loading tidyverse: tibble
## Loading tidyverse: tidyr
## Loading tidyverse: readr
## Loading tidyverse: purrr
## Loading tidyverse: dplyr## Conflicts with tidy packages ----------------------------------------------## between(): dplyr, data.table
## filter(): dplyr, stats
## first(): dplyr, data.table
## lag(): dplyr, stats
## last(): dplyr, data.table
## tokenize(): readr, quanteda
## transpose(): purrr, data.tablelibrary(pander)
library(acs)## Loading required package: plyr## -------------------------------------------------------------------------## You have loaded plyr after dplyr - this is likely to cause problems.
## If you need functions from both plyr and dplyr, please load plyr first, then dplyr:
## library(plyr); library(dplyr)## -------------------------------------------------------------------------##
## Attaching package: 'plyr'## The following objects are masked from 'package:dplyr':
##
## arrange, count, desc, failwith, id, mutate, rename, summarise,
## summarize## The following object is masked from 'package:purrr':
##
## compact## Loading required package: XML##
## Attaching package: 'acs'## The following object is masked from 'package:dplyr':
##
## combine## The following object is masked from 'package:base':
##
## applycorpus<-read.csv("TestCorpus.csv", header=TRUE)
corpus$Passage<-as.character(corpus$Passage)
#corpus$Passage<-char_tolower(corpus$Passage)
corpus$State<-tolower(str_trim(as.character(corpus$State)))
text<-as.vector(corpus$Passage)
#passages<-c(text, text2)
cleanpassage<-function(text){
#text<-tolower(text)
text<-gsub("<92>|<93>|<94>","'",text)
text<-gsub("<95>","",text)
text<-gsub("\n"," ",text)
text<-gsub("\x92","'",text)
text<-gsub("\x94","",text)
text<-gsub("\x93"," ",text)
text<-gsub("\x95","",text)
text<-gsub("\x97","-",text)
text<-gsub("\\s\\s\\s"," ", text)
text<-gsub("\\s\\s"," ",text)
return(text)
}
text<-map(text, cleanpassage)
corpus$Passage<-text
corpus$Passage<-as.character(corpus$Passage)
PASSAGES<-corpus(corpus$Passage)
PASSAGES[["state"]]<-corpus$State
PASSAGES[["grade"]]<-corpus$Grade
PASSAGES[["passage"]]<-corpus$Passage
PASSAGES[["genre"]]<-corpus$Passage_Type
PASSAGES[["title"]]<-corpus$Passage_Title
PASSAGES[["year"]]<-corpus$Year
corpus_summary <-summary(PASSAGES)## Corpus consisting of 57 documents.
##
## Text Types Tokens Sentences state grade
## text1 88 256 29 ny 3
## text2 142 273 25 ny 3
## text3 190 487 47 ny 3
## text4 137 303 20 ny 3
## text5 103 173 19 ny 3
## text6 136 289 22 ny 3
## text7 155 512 69 ny 3
## text8 136 272 25 ny 3
## text9 57 203 12 ny 3
## text10 155 509 44 ny 3
## text11 162 310 22 ny 3
## text12 125 420 36 ny 3
## text13 186 392 38 ny 3
## text14 61 116 8 ny 3
## text15 174 398 22 ny 3
## text16 153 310 27 ny 3
## text17 57 120 4 ny 3
## text18 105 222 21 ny 3
## text19 204 596 67 ny 3
## text20 77 121 11 tx 3
## text21 295 677 51 tx 3
## text22 316 874 62 tx 3
## text23 318 858 68 tx 3
## text24 325 927 77 tx 3
## text25 283 2022 117 tx 3
## text26 287 648 46 tx 3
## text27 86 187 17 tx 3
## text28 280 623 41 tx 3
## text29 259 572 41 tx 3
## text30 306 750 51 tx 3
## text31 65 118 6 tx 3
## text32 309 900 74 tx 3
## text33 276 635 39 tx 3
## text34 292 793 55 tx 3
## text35 237 703 66 tx 3
## text36 218 464 31 tx 3
## text37 121 270 17 tx 3
## text38 231 540 30 tx 3
## text39 300 657 45 tx 3
## text40 269 882 108 tx 3
## text41 329 719 47 tx 3
## text42 108 185 15 tx 3
## text43 326 875 66 tx 3
## text44 90 153 11 tx 3
## text45 276 666 47 tx 3
## text46 180 422 32 ny 3
## text47 529 1634 163 ny 3
## text48 281 772 63 ny 3
## text49 338 872 75 ny 3
## text50 172 290 26 ny 3
## text51 274 714 61 ny 3
## text52 262 600 41 ny 3
## text53 365 944 79 ny 3
## text54 285 668 40 ny 3
## text55 308 681 41 ny 3
## text56 350 735 48 ny 3
## text57 331 941 93 ny 3
## passage
## One hot summer day, Turtle found a tent in the sand. \xd2Cool!\xd3 he said. \xd2Now I can escape from the hot sun,\xd3 and he crawled inside. \xd2Hey, Mouse! Come and see the tent I found,\xd3 said Turtle. \xd2It is a great place to escape from the hot sun!\xd3 \xd2Thank you,\xd3 said Mouse, and he crawled into the tent. \xd2Hey, Frog!\xd3 called Turtle and Mouse. \xd2Come and see our tent. It is nice and shady in here.\xd3 \xd2Thanks,\xd3 said Frog as he crawled inside. \xd2Hey, Rabbit!\xd3 they called. \xd2Come into our tent and cool off!\xd3 \xd2Thank you,\xd3 said Rabbit, crawling inside. \xd2Hello, Elephant!\xd3 said Turtle, Mouse, Frog, and Rabbit. \xd2We would ask you to join us inside our tent, but there is no more room. We are very sorry.\xd3 \xd2I am the one who is sorry,\xd3 said Elephant. \xd2You see, this is not a tent. It is my hat.\xd3 \xd2Oh,\xd3 said Turtle. \xd2We will look for shade somewhere else.\xd3 \xd2That\xd5s OK, friends,\xd3 said Elephant. \xd2We can share it!\xd3
## Reporter: How long have you been a\xcafire fighter? Regina Wilson: Eight years. Reporter: How did you get started? Wilson: First, I had to take a lot of tests. Then, I went to\xcafire fighter school for 13 weeks. I learned how to put out\xcafires and how to use equipment, such as the ax and the fire hose. I also had to work out every day! Reporter: How do you stay safe on the job? Wilson: I wear special clothing called bunker gear. It helps keep me protected (safe) from\xcafire. I also carry an oxygen tank and a mask. They help me to breathe in a smoke-filled building. Reporter: Are there any new tools that\xcafire fighters use? Wilson: We have a special camera that can see in the dark. It can detect (find) heat. That way, we can tell where a fire is located. Reporter: Do you save pets? Wilson: I recently helped save some kittens. They were hiding under the beds. Pets usually hide during a\xcafire because they are scared. Reporter: Do you ever get afraid? Wilson: There is no time to be afraid. I think about what I have to do to put out the\xcafire safely. Reporter: What do you like best about being a fire fighter? Wilson: Helping people!
## Bill went in to see Mr. Majors. Bill stood tall and said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI want to join the Pony Express.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mr. Majors laughed, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcA big wind could blow you away!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou are too young.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcGee whiz!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Bill. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm sixteen.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcDon\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct try to fool me!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mr. Majors. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf you are sixteen, then I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm a lizard.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI guess I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm closer to fifteen,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Bill. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCan you ride? Follow trails? Swim? Shoot?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Mr. Majors. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYes, sir,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Bill. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI roped cattle when I was nine, and I can ride like the wind.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt will be no picnic,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mr. Majors. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou must ride seventy or more miles each day. There may be trouble, too.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm not afraid,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Bill said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI like your spunk, son,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mr. Majors, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcbut you must promise not to lie, not to swear, and not to ght. And you must deliver the mail on time, no matter what.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI promise,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Bill. Mr. Majors showed Bill a map. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThere\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs St. Joseph, and there\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs Sacramento, California. Eighty riders and four hundred ponies carry the mail between these cities,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mr. Majors. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a long way!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Bill. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYup,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mr. Majors. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs about two thousand miles. The riders travel all day and night to carry the mail in ten days. They are twice as fast as stagecoaches.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mr. Majors marked Red Buttes [BEWTZ]. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThat is your home station,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYour job is to take the mail from Red Buttes to Three Crossings.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMore than seventy-five miles on one pony?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Bill. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOf course not!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mr. Majors. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAlong the way there are stations with food, shelter, and fresh ponies. After two days\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc rest, you ride back with more letters.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Bill put on his red flannel shirt, a red neckerchief, blue trousers, riding boots, and a ten-dollar hat to keep off the rain. A shiny horn hung from his shoulder. He was a real Pony Express rider now!
## When a snowman melts, it leaves us a gift that lasts all year. To find out what this gift is, let\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs take a closer look at what happens to the snowman. It has to be warm outside for a snowman to melt. As the sun shines, it makes heat. We can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct see heat, but we know it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs there because we feel the warmth on our hands and faces. The snowman gets smaller and smaller as it melts, until we can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct see it at all. Where did it go? As the snowman melts, it turns into water. If you look carefully at snow, you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll see that it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs actually small pieces of ice (called crystals) that are stuck together. When they get warm, the crystals change from ice into water. But where does the water from the snowman go? The ground acts like a sponge and soaks up the water. As the water seeps into the ground, it finds lots of things that are thirsty. The water might find grass roots, flower bulbs, or tree roots. So that\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs the snowman\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs year-round gift\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcit\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs water! Without water, we wouldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have colorful flowers to look at in the spring. Without water, we wouldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have soft, green grass to run barefoot on in the summer. Without water, we wouldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have strong, tall trees to climb in the fall. Water helps all of these things grow. The snowman\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs gift lasts all year.
## Have you ever seen a robin? Robins have dark heads and red chests. A good place to see robins is in your own backyard. Robins don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct seem to mind being around people. You may also see robins on lawns or in parks. They are looking for worms and bugs to eat. Early in spring, robins build their nests. They build them in trees. This way the nests will be hidden, so the birds will be safe. The nests are made from grass, sticks, and mud. The mud glues everything together. The mother robin lays one egg a day for three or four days. She sits on them to keep them warm. The eggs are blue. After the babies hatch, both the mother and father feed the babies. The young birds have spots on their chests. Do any robins live near you? Look around. You may be surprised!
## Look up in the sky. Do you see any clouds? What do they look like? Some clouds are fluffy and white, like cotton balls. Others are dark, almost black, and make you grab an umbrella. At sunrise and sunset, clouds can look red, purple, or yellow\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcas if they were colored with crayons. But what are clouds anyway? You can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct reach out and touch the clouds, but you can make your own in a bottle. You need \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc an adult helper \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc a huge, empty glass jar \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc metal strainer Do this \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc hot water \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc ice cubes Have your helper fill the jar with hot water, leave it there for two minutes, then pour out most of the water, leaving just an inch or two at the bottom of the jar. 2. It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs your turn now. Put the strainer over the mouth of the jar. Fill the strainer with ice cubes. Watch the jar. What happened? A cloud formed in the jar! Some of the hot water at the bottom of the jar turned into hot water vapor. The water vapor rose and bumped into the cold air coming off the ice cubes. When the water vapor condensed, it formed a cloud. Hot air rises and carries with it lots of water vapor. The higher the air rises, the more it cools down. Soon the cold air can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct hold all the water vapor so it starts turning into tiny water drops, and becomes a cloud.
## Mole tied a string to Troll\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs tooth. He tied the other end to the bedpost. He sat next to Troll. He held his hand. They waited for the tooth to pop out. But nothing happened. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHmmm,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mole. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe Old Mole Family Way is not working.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Troll looked worried. Mole thought again. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNow I remember,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe tie the string to a chair. Then the tooth will come out\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbczing-o!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mole untied the string from the bedpost and tied it to a chair. He sat next to Troll. They waited. But the tooth did not come out. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI know!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc cried Mole. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI was all mixed up. We tie the string to the doorknob. Then I slam the door. And the tooth will come right out\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcpresto!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcStink-o!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Troll. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI will not do that. That will really hurt.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut, Troll, that is the real Old Mole Family Way. I promise it won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct hurt.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPromise crisscross applesauce?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPromise crisscross applesauce.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAll right, Mole,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Troll. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut I am not ready. Don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct slam the door till I say \xfc\xbe\x8d\x86\x90\xbcnow.\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mole tied the string to the doorknob. He opened the door. He sat next to Troll. He waited for Troll to say \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcnow.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He waited for a long time. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAre you ready yet?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Mole. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPlease don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct rush me,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Troll. So they waited some more. A breeze came through the door. The room got chilly. Troll got chilly. He sneezed loudly, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcKER-SNORT!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBless you,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mole. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThank you,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Troll. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThat ith very nithe of you to thay.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThay?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc cried Mole. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet me see your tooth.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mole looked. The tooth was gone. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcTroll?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Mole. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcDid that hurt?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNot a bit,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Troll. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat happened?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou sneezed your tooth out.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Troll smiled hugely in the mirror. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThat ith the New Troll Family Way,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThat is a good way,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mole. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAnd you are a good friend,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Troll. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt really helped to have you next to me.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYes,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mole. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThat always helps a lot.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Then they went to look for the tooth.
## If someone asked you to draw a picture of a robot, how would it look? Like a person? That\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs how we often picture robots in our minds. But real robots look many different ways. Some robots have TV cameras for eyes. Some have special cells that help them touch. Many have computer brains. How robots look depends on the job they have to do. Some can even have their parts changed so they can do different jobs. Some robots look like huge bugs. NASA sent Viking Landers to Mars in 1976. They moved around on the surface, picked up soil, and did experiments. Robots can do boring jobs. They can do dangerous jobs with fast-moving machinery. They can do messy jobs, such as spray painting. They can do jobs no person could do, such as picking up hot metal. Robots don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct get bored. They don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct get tired. They don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct mind getting messy. Some people are afraid robots will take jobs away from people. But that doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have to happen. After all, people are in charge of robots. People must remember that robots are good at some things and humans are good at others. Some robots go around telling people that they don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have to be afraid of robots. These robots help people understand that robots can do dull, nasty jobs so people can do better ones.
## Is a Polar Bear happy in the North Where blizzards blow and the sea rolls gray? Though he may not turn cartwheels for joy, Still\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbc He doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct pack up and move away Oh no! He doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct pack up and move away. Is a Polar Bear happy in the North Where to find his dinner may take all day? Though he may not laugh and shout hooray, Still\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbc He doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct pack up and move away Oh no! He doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct pack up and move away. Is a Polar Bear happy in the North Where the swimming is frigid in the middle of May? Though he may not clap his furry paws, Still\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbc He doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct pack up and move away Oh no! He doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct pack up and move away. Is a Polar Bear happy in the North Where blizzards blow and the sea rolls gray? Though he may not turn cartwheels for joy, Still\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbc He doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct pack up and move away Oh no! He doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct pack up and move away.
## Miss Dinsmore lived all alone in a little gray house with a white front door. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a nice little house,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Miss Dinsmore said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut I wish it looked more cheerful. Maybe I should paint it a bright, pretty color. Then it will be as cheerful as cheerful can be.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Miss Dinsmore went to the paint store. She saw lots of cheerful colors there\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbc pink and blue and red and yellow and green. It was hard to choose. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI know what to do,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Miss Dinsmore said at last. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll paint picture after picture of my house with all of these cheerful colors. Then I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll choose the one I like best.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Miss Dinsmore set up her painting easel in the front yard and painted picture after picture of her little house. She painted a pink house. She painted a blue house. She painted a red one and a yellow one and a green one. She painted one with flower boxes under the windows. She painted doors and shutters in every color of the rainbow. She took each picture she painted into the house and hung it on the wall. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAll of my picture houses are pretty,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Miss Dinsmore. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut I still can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct decide which color will make my house look as cheerful as cheerful can be.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc And she went on painting pictures. One day, a neighbor came by while Miss Dinsmore was painting. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat a pretty picture,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc the neighbor said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI like pictures of houses.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou do?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Miss Dinsmore. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve painted picture after picture of my little house. Come inside and have a look at them.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Miss Dinsmore\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs neighbor liked the pictures. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll tell the whole town,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcEveryone will want to see your pictures.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc It was true. Lots of people came to the little gray house to see the pictures. Miss Dinsmore served them tea. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat pretty pictures,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc everyone said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAnd what a nice little house you have.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt is a nice little house,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Miss Dinsmore. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut I wish it looked more cheer\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbc\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc She stopped and looked around. Her little gray house was full of people looking at pictures, drinking tea, talking, laughing, and having fun. Miss Dinsmore smiled. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a nice little house,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she said again. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAnd it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a cheerful little house, too\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcespecially when good friends come to visit me. It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs as cheerful as cheerful can be.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc
## To have a farm, you don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct need tractors or plows or acres of land. All you need are a few things you can find in your kitchen and other corners of the house. Things like jelly glasses and coffee cans and pie tins. Spoons, toothpicks, and plastic baggies. Popsicle sticks and paper cups. Pits and seeds and other leftover parts of the foods you eat. And some potting soil and sand from the supermarket. Maybe your farm won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct grow a carrot or an orange. But with enough sunlight and water and love, you should get a carrot plant or a small orange tree. And lots of other leaves, vines, and sprouts. Now try this. When you suck on an orange, or slurp a grapefruit, or pucker on a lemon, save the seeds. Soak them overnight in warm water. Next stick your finger up to your knuckle in a pot of soil. Make a few holes like that and drop a seed into each hole. Be sure to plant the seeds about one inch apart or they won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have room to grow. Gently push the soil to fill up each hole. Water it all slowly until the soil is all wet and some trickles out the bottom of the pot. You have to trick these seeds into thinking they\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre home in the tropics or they won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct grow at all. So keep them in the sunniest window and give them a rainstorm when they feel dry. Not every seed will believe you and sprout. But in two weeks, you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll find out just how many fruits you can fool.
## Grandma took Abby fishing at the lake. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm going to catch a big fish for dinner,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Abby said. She swung her fishing pole, but her line didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct drop into the water. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhere did it go?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Abby asked. Grandma pointed to a tree. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf you want to catch dinner for us,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Grandma said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcyou have to get your line in the lake first.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Abby giggled while Grandma untangled her hook from the tree. Abby swung her fishing pole again. She smiled when her hook hit the water. Grandma shook her head. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf you want to catch dinner for us,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Grandma said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcyou have to bait your hook next time.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc A worm wiggled between Grandma\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs fingers, and Abby giggled. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI caught a fish!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc shouted Abby. She reeled in her line, but her hook was full of grass from the bottom of the lake. Grandma removed the grass and put a worm on the hook. Abby swung her fishing pole again and cheered when her hook dropped into the lake. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf you want to catch dinner for us,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Grandma said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcyou have to be quiet so you don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct scare the fish away.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Abby covered her mouth and giggled into her hand. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI caught a fish!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Abby shouted. This time when she reeled in her line, an old tin can hung from her hook. Grandma removed the tin can and put another worm on the hook. Abby swung her fishing pole again. She didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct say a word when her hook hit the water. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNow you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre going to catch dinner for us,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Grandma said, winking at Abby. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI caught a fish! A BIG fish!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Abby shouted. She struggled to pull in someone\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs muddy sneaker. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct eat grass, a tin can, or a sneaker for dinner,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Abby said. Grandma laughed. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf you want to catch dinner for us . . .\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she began. Abby exclaimed, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll have to take me to the nearest grocery store!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc
## It was a cold winter morning on February 22, 1732. This was more than 200 years ago. Inside a Virginia farmhouse where it was warm and cozy, a special baby boy was born. The baby\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs name was George Washington. As little George grew up, he loved the farm and all of the animals. He loved his horse best of all. George had two older brothers who lived away. He lived with a younger sister and three younger brothers. They followed George\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs every move. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs play Follow the Leader,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Betty. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcGeorge is the leader,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said John. Samuel and Charles agreed. George went to a small country school. He worked very hard. He was one of the smartest students. George was also the most honest boy in school. He grew up very fast. He was bigger and taller than all of the other boys. Everyone looked up to George. Sometimes George would choose games for his classmates to play. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcGeorge is a natural-born leader,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc his schoolmaster would say. In school George liked to read and to write. He liked numbers. But he liked to make maps and measure land best of all. This is called surveying. George practiced by measuring the vegetable gardens on his farm. Many farmers wanted George to survey their land. It would help them to know how much seed to buy when it was time to plant their crops. George was only a boy of sixteen. But the farmers trusted him. They knew George was very smart and honest. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHe will do a perfect job,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc one farmer said to another. George\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs big brother, Lawrence, took him on a surveying trip in the Virginia wilderness. They stayed many cold and rainy days and nights. There were many wild animals. George learned how to take care of himself in the woods. Living in the wilderness helped George to become an even greater leader. ** * Americans will never forget the first president of their land.
## How shall we go to Grandma\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs house? Shall we jump on a bike? Shall we take a train, or go there by bus, or maybe by plane? If we lived a long time ago, of course, we\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd go to see Grandma by donkey or horse. If we lived in the future, we\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd go there by rocket and bring Grandma a star in our space-suit pocket. How shall we go to Grandma\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs house? We could take the car, but let\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs use our feet. Grandma just lives a block down the street!
## It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a rainy, gloomy day again and there\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs nothing to do. You don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct feel like sitting quietly but you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre not allowed to make a lot of noise. What can you do for fun? Try balloon volleyball. Items needed for this game: \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc a balloon (or two, in case the first one bursts) \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc some string or yarn \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc two chairs \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc at least two people and a room Set up the room. If you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre in the living room, or a family room, be sure to move all the furniture out of the way. Get two chairs and set them in the middle, outer edges of the room. They should be at the same place you would put a volleyball net. Turn them so that the seat is facing the wall, not the \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcplaying\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc space. Tie the string or yarn onto the top of one chair, and run the rest of the string to the other chair. Now tie it on this chair at the same place as the first chair. You can decide the \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcout-of-bounds\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc lines, if you want to have them, but they really are not necessary in this game. Blow up the balloon. Choose sides. You will play this game on your knees (at least until they start hurting and you want to stand). Each side must get the balloon over the string in three hits. If it does not get over, the other side gets the balloon and a point. This game becomes more difficult because you must play without talking. You can also add other rules to make it more difficult; for example, you can only use your left hand or only your right hand to hit the balloon. Continue playing until one side gets 10 points. You can make your game longer or shorter by changing the number of points it takes to win. This is a fun way to get your energy out, have fun, and not make too much noise on a rainy, stay-in-the-house day!
## The book Chicks & Chickens tells about chickens. Most chickens live on farms where female chickens, called hens, lay eggs. This part of the story tells what happens to the eggs. Many farmers raise hens to lay eggs. Some breeds of hens lay white eggs. Others lay brown eggs. A few breeds lay green or blue eggs. A hen usually lays no more than one egg a day. After the hen has laid all her eggs, she sits on them gently, turning the eggs over now and then, keeping them warm all over. Warming the eggs is called incubation. The mother hen incubates her eggs for about 3 weeks. During this time, a chick is growing inside each egg. When the incubated eggs are about 3 weeks old, the brooding mother hears a cheeping sound. The eggshell of one of the eggs begins to crack. A chick using its egg tooth, a sharp part of its beak, is breaking out of its shell. The other eggs begin to hatch, too. At first the chicks are wet and sticky. They are very tired. Soon they dry and have fluffy yellow feathers called down. They become stronger. They can see and hear and begin to move about. The chicks make a cheeping sound to let their mother know where they are. The mother hen clucks and drops food in front of them. Chicks can eat the same food as their mothers. In a few weeks the chicks are bigger, but their mother still protects them. The chicks have grown feathers. In a few months these young chickens will look like their mother or father.
## If it was sunlight shining, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd know that it was day, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd gobble down my breakfast, then hurry out to play. If it was sunlight shining, I would not be indoors, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd race around the garden, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd fill the air with roars. If it was sunlight shining, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd be a chimpanzee, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd run, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd jump, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd tumble, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd clamber up a tree. But it is moonlight shining, my eyes are getting red, my head is full of cobwebs, and I am off to bed.
## It is easier to float in the ocean than it is to float in a swimming pool. Do you know why? Ocean water is full of salt\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcand salt water can hold up more weight than fresh water. See for yourself! (Ask an adult to help you.) You Will Need: \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc 3 cups warm water \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc Measuring cup \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc Wide-mouth jar \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc Salt \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc Spoon \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc Raw potato You Will Do: 1. Pour 1 12 cups of warm water into the jar. 2. Add 13 cup salt.3. Stir until the salt is completely dissolved. 4. Add another 1 12 cups of water. Pour it slowly over the back of the spoon into the jar so that the two liquids will not mix together.5. Gentlyplacethepotatointothejar. Do not drop it. What Will Happen: The potato will sink\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcbut only halfway! Why? Salt water is heavier than fresh water, so it will stay on the bottom. The fresh water will remain on top. The potato is heavier than the fresh water, but it is lighter than the salt water. That is why the potato will sink only halfway down.
## Harold counts the big red X\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs on the calendar. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNinety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He jumps up and down. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYay! Tomorrow is Hundreds Day.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs Hundreds Day?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asks his mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve been in school for one hundred days. We get to have a party. Everyone is supposed to bring one hundred of something to count and share. I need to find the absolutely most perfect thing ever!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Harold opens cupboards in the kitchen. He finds a box of cereal. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI could make a necklace out of one hundred pieces of cereal.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc His stomach growls. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut what if I get hungry and eat the cereal off my necklace? Then I won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have anything to share.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Harold runs into his bedroom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI know,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he says. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI bet I have more than one hundred rocks in my rock collection.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He pulls out a big box from under his bed. Harold puts rocks in his pockets. He stands up. His pants sag. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcUh-oh. These rocks are too heavy to take to school.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Harold puts back the rocks and walks down the hall. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI know,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he says. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMy sister has over one hundred stickers. I can stick them all over me.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He looks in his sister\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs room. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCan I have some of your stickers for school?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc His sister shakes her head. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSorry. I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm taking them to school tomorrow for show-and-tell.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Harold sighs. He walks all around the inside of the house. He walks all around the outside of the house. Finally he sits down at the kitchen table. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcTime is running out,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he says. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAnd I still need to find the absolutely most perfect thing ever to take to school.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Then he sees the grocery list on the wall. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMaybe I should make a list to help me think.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He starts to write. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI bet I have over one hundred ideas,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc says Harold. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut none of them is the absolutely most perfect thing ever.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He puts his head down on the table. All at once he gets another idea. The absolutely most perfect idea ever. He finds an old white shirt in the rag basket. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMom, may I write on this old shirt?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he asks. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhy?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asks his mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs for school. For Hundreds Day.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOK,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc says his mom. He gets a black pen. He starts to write. He writes and he writes and he writes. Harold takes his shirt to school the next day. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHarold, please show us what you brought for Hundreds Day,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc says the teacher. Harold pulls his shirt out of a bag. He puts it on and turns in a circle. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI couldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct make up my mind,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc says Harold. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSo I brought one hundred ideas.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc
## Lop-Eared Rabbit Village was on the north edge of a forest. The rabbits who lived there were called lop-eared because their ears drooped down around their faces. They were all very proud of their long, floppy ears. One young rabbit in Lop-Eared Rabbit Village was not so happy. His ears were different. They stood straight up. Everyone teased him and called him Sticks. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBe proud. Your grandfather had ears just like yours,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc his mother often said to him. But Sticks didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct like looking different. He wanted his ears to be long and floppy like everyone else\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs.
## Are you looking for a fun vacation spot? Do you like to sleep in a hotel, go shopping, and eat fancy meals? If so, Mona Island might NOT be the place for you! That\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs because Mona Island has no hotels, no museums, no shops, and no restaurants. None at all! But if you like nature, Mona Island is an amazing place to take a vacation. Some of the animals living there are not found anywhere else in the world. There are beautiful beaches and caves to explore. The sea around the island has colorful fish. There are many things that make Mona Island an unusual place. Why Is Mona Island Unusual? Mona Island is very small. On a map it looks like a tiny green lima bean floating in the big blue ocean. The only way to get there is by taking a long boat ride from the island of Puerto Rico. The government of Puerto Rico takes care of the island and has made it a natural reserve. That means the island\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs animals and plants are protected from being harmed by people. Mona Island is different from most places because people are not allowed to live there. Only a few park rangers are able to stay. The park rangers\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc job is to keep Mona Island safe and beautiful. They insist that rules be followed. One rule is that only 100 people at a time can visit the island. That way, the park rangers can make sure the land and animals remain safe. Visitors to Mona Island must prepare wisely for their trip. Visitors can sleep only in certain areas and must bring their own tents. And if they want anything to eat or drink, they have to bring that along too. But people who take the trouble to come to Mona Island are rewarded with many wonderful sights.What Is There to See on Mona Island? One thing that most people enjoy is getting to see the Mona Island iguana. This type of reptile grows to be about four feet long and lives only on Mona Island. It has scales that look like horns on top of its nose. The huge muscles on its face droop down and look like fat cheeks. It likes to lie around and warm itself in the sun. Almost 2,000 of these iguanas live on Mona Island. Several types of sea turtles also live on Mona Island. They nest along the white sandy beaches. Some of these turtles weigh as much as 600 pounds. That\031s almost as heavy as two refrigerators! People also come to the island to get a close-up view of many kinds of fish and other sea life. Visitors can scuba dive and snorkel in the crystal-blue waters. They wear masks and special equipment to be able to breathe underwater. They can swim far below the surface. The water is almost transparent. Through the clear water, divers can see the bright colors of the fish. Visitors can also explore caves. Some of the caves even have paintings and drawings on the walls. This artwork was made by the Arawak and Tai\001no Indians who lived on the island hundreds of years ago. After a full day of fun activities, visitors can settle in, listen to the night sounds, and view the stars in the huge sky. The night sky is a stunning sight. Because the island is far away from other places, it is surrounded by darkness, and the stars are easier to see. Visitors say that watching the stars is amazing. It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs the perfect end to a perfect day.
## There was no doubt about it. The new kid who was moving in next door to Jason was good. Jason sat on the front steps of his house. He had watched in he park was filled with kids, some riding on skateboards and others on skates. Several guys waved to Jason as he showed Amanda around. Soon, though, Amanda was showing everyone what she could do on her skateboard. Sometimes she looked as if she were flying in the air. Jason began to panic when he realized that all his friends had stopped skating and were watching her, especially his best friend Patrick. Jason wondered if he could sneak out of the park without anyone noticing. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs awesome!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Patrick said, skating over to Jason. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcJust moved in next door to me today,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jason said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcDo you think I could learn some of those tricks?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Patrick wondered aloud. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI always crash when I try to flip my skateboard like that.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jason took a deep breath and motioned Amanda over to him and Patrick. If Patrick judged Amanda on her skating abilities rather than on the fact that she was a girl, then things would be all right. Jason just hoped that Patrick would decide Amanda was O.K. As Amanda skated up to the two boys and took off her helmet, Jason tried to think of what to say. Before he could open his mouth, Patrick said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWow, I never met a girl who could skate like that\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcor even a boy! Can you teach me that flip trick?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbcadmiration as the new kid jumped out of the movers\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc truck that was parked in the driveway and right onto a skateboard. Wearing a bright red helmet and knee and elbow pads, the kid had traveled quickly down the sidewalk in front of Jason\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs house, weaving around anything in the way. As Jason watched, Mrs. Tuttle\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs fluffy little white dog suddenly ran out onto the sidewalk. The kid jumped his skateboard over the ball of fur and flipped the skateboard up into his hands, just like a professional. Then he grabbed the leash and set off to return the runaway dog. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWow!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jason exclaimed. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI need to learn how to do those cool tricks!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc After returning the dog to Mrs. Tuttle, the kid rode his skateboard back to his house. Jason saw the kid make his way between workers who were carrying boxes and chairs into his new home. Jason felt shy about talking to the new kid, but he wanted to find out where that kid had learned to skateboard so well. Jason sat on the porch steps, waiting for the kid to come back out. When he did, he was still wearing his helmet and other gear, and he was carrying the skateboard under one arm. Jason got up his courage and walked over to the new kid. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHey, I saw you riding your skateboard,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jason said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre good.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc The kid smiled and quietly said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThanks.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhere are you from?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jason asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCalifornia,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc the kid answered. Jason nodded and said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMy name\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs Jason.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc The helmet came off, and Jason watched long brown hair tumble down. The kid said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm Amanda.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbcJason almost swallowed his gum. The new kid was a girl! After a few seconds he finally managed to say, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHi.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMy mom told me that there\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a skate park in the neighborhood. Is that right?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Amanda asked. Jason shrugged. He knew Amanda was really good at riding a skateboard, and he could learn some things from her, like that flip she had just done. But he didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want his friends to know he was learning something from a girl. His friends would tease him forever! Then he had an idea. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs not too far, but you have to wear your helmet and knee and elbow pads,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jason said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNo problem,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Amanda said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet me ask my parents if I can go.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc As Amanda ran inside to get permission from her parents, Jason stared down at his feet. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf she can just keep her helmet on, everything will be fine,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he thought to himself. Amanda came running out of her house, and she and Jason stopped by his house so he could get his gear and his parents\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc permission. Then they rode away.
## Patrick woke to a loud whump-whump-whump. He had just turned ten and thought he was pretty brave, but his heart was pounding. It was very dark in his room at the cabin, not like his room at home. As he reached for the lamp, he heard the sound again. He quickly switched on the light and sighed in relief. Buffy\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs tail was beating against the floor. He had forgotten about Buffy. Patrick wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct used to dogs. His parents had always said pets were too much of a burden and a lot of work. His family was busy and didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct think they could care for an animal. But a week ago Uncle Jack had pleaded with Patrick\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs parents to keep Buffy until he returned. Uncle Jack would be working in another country for six months and couldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct take Buffy with him. He had promised that Buffy would be no trouble. Surprisingly, Patrick\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs parents had agreed to keep her, even though they were about to leave for the lake cabin. At breakfast Patrick shared his scary story with his parents. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcDo you see the trouble a dog can cause?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc his mother asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPets like company. After breakfast take Buffy outside to play. Your father and I have some repairs to make on the cabin.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Soon Patrick went out the door toward the lake behind the cabin. Buffy followed Patrick like a shadow on a sunny day. Patrick\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs father watched them go. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLooks like Buffy may be a good pet,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll see,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Patrick\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs mother grumbled. Patrick and Buffy spent the morning running and playing. Patrick\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs new friend showed that she could roll over, fetch a stick,and even play tag. The sun had warmed the air, and Patrick said to Buffy, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMaybe we could cool off in the lake. Mom and Dad can see us from the cabin.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc When he got to the lake, Patrick was a little hesitant. He hadn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct visited the cabin since last year, and he wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct a very good swimmer. His mother had told him he could wade in the water up to his knees. So after thinking it over for a while, he decided to go in the lake. After all, he wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct alone. Buffy was with him. The two friends jumped and splashed together in the lake. Patrick threw a stick, and Buffy retrieved it. No matter where Patrick threw it, Buffy swam after it like a trained athlete and returned it every time. Patrick was having so much fun playing with Buffy that he didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct realize he was so far from shore. Suddenly, the bottom of the lake seemed to disappear beneath his feet, and he went below the surface of the water. Patrick sank like a rock to the bottom of the lake. When his feet finally touched squishy mud, he pushed up with all his might. He struggled to get to the top. His face came out of the water, and he rolled over on his back to float. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHelp!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he cried. His body was too tired to move. Just when Patrick felt hopeless, he heard a bark. He turned his head to see Buffy swimming toward him. She grabbed Patrick\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs shirt and began to swim, pulling him toward the shore. Patrick was relieved when his feet could touch the bottom of the lake again. He slowly started walking toward shore and saw his mother running from the cabin. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPatrick! Are you O.K.?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she screamed. Patrick could only nod and wave.Patrick\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs mother ran into the water and walked with him to shore. When they reached dry ground, Patrick sat down to catch his breath. Buffy sat on one side of him, and his mother sat on the other. Patrick looked up at his mother and then hung his head. In between breaths he said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm sorry, Mom. I got busy playing with Buffy, and I forgot to be careful.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Patrick\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs mother wrapped one arm around Patrick, and with the other she reached out to pat Buffy. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm sorry, too,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she said, smiling. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAnd I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm glad your uncle left Buffy with us. She\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a good lifeguard. I guess she\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs not really that much trouble.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc
## My problems started when I learned that Mrs. Reno would be my fourth-grade teacher. She had a lizard in her classroom, and lizards were on my list of terrifying things. And it wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct a little lizard. It was a Uromastyx, as long as my arm and with a spiky tail. Worse, Trent Dillard was in my class again. Last year, I had to sit in front of him because Amy Carlson comes before Trent Dillard in alphabetical order. He knows I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm afraid of spiders, and all year he pretended to put them in my hair. If he found out lizards were on my list, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd be finished. On the first day of school, I tried not to look at the terrarium1 in the corner, but Mrs. Reno pulled out the lizard and set him against her shoulder like a baby. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThis is Ripley,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she said. Trent whispered, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBet you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre scared of him.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI am not!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I said. Mrs. Reno looked toward Trent and me. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs wrong?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAmy\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs scared of Ripley,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Trent announced. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNo, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm not.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc My chest tightened. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI love lizards. They\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre my favorite animals.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mrs. Reno smiled. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI was going to ask for a volunteer to feed Ripley at recess, but since you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre a lizard lover, how would you like the job?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc She probably thought I was speechless with joy. Before recess, Mrs. Reno gave me instructions. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou can hold Ripley, but don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct keep him away from his heat lamp too long.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbcShe showed me Ripley\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs bag of greens. I can handle that, I told myself. I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll just lift the terrarium lid, drop in the greens, and run. As Mrs. Reno led the class out the door, she said to me, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcTomorrow I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll bring in live crickets as a treat for him.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I was frozen in a block of ice. I wanted to cry, but my tears were frozen, too. Ripley sat still, watching. I knew he was waiting to jump at me the second I lifted the lid. I just stood there for a long time, staring back at Ripley. Voices in the hall told me recess was over. I closed my eyes, lifted the lid, threw in the greens, and slammed the lid shut. Mrs. Reno said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou must be enjoying your job, Amy. You didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct come out for recess at all.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Trent\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs eyes got wide. I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd fooled him. But now I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd have to spend every recess with a lizard. The only way I got the nerve to dump the crickets in the terrarium the next day was by picturing Trent putting them in my hair if he found out I was scared. My heart raced when I lifted the lid, but I shut it so fast Ripley never had a chance to jump at me. Maybe I could survive this, as long as I didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have to touch that slimy lizard. After a few weeks, Trent said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhy does Amy always get to feed Ripley? I want a turn.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc A way out! Mrs. Reno said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOK. I guess Amy can have an assistant.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I was doomed. \xfc\xbe\x8e\x96\x84\xbc 2009 Highlights for Children, Inc., Columbus, Ohio.Reading Page 4 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 After the class left, Trent raised the lid and grabbed Ripley. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCareful!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I cried, surprised that I was worried about the slimy monster. Trent held Ripley while I slowly arranged greens in the terrarium. Trent looked out the window. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHey, the guys are playing football. Take Ripley.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc A shiver ran over my skin. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou can just put him down.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I meant for Trent to put him down inside the terrarium, but Trent set him on the floor and ran outside. What now? Ripley walked toward the door. I took a deep breath and grabbed Ripley. He wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct slimy. His skin was dry and cool. And he didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct jump at me. He crawled into the crook of my arm. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre not so bad,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I whispered to Ripley. The next day, I held him again. Soon, I was even letting him sit against my shoulder. Tonight I pulled out my list of terrifying things and officially crossed off lizards. I thought about it, then crossed off crickets. Spiders were next on my list. Hmm . . . I decided I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd crossed off enough things for one year.
## Growing up, Norman Bridwell was not considered a very good artist. But he loved to use his imagination to draw. Although many people didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct think his art was The big red dog has appeared in more than just books. In the late 1990s a giant-size Clifford balloon was in a famous parade in New York City. In 2000, Clifford the Big Red Dog became a popular cartoon television show. In 2004, Bridwell\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs famous dog came to the big screen in Clifford\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs Really Big Movie. Clifford\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs image can also be seen on everything from puzzles to backpacks and clothes. Bridwell has written and illustrated many other books for children that do not include Clifford. Bridwell says he\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs also written other books that have not been accepted by publishers. Bridwell doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct let the rejection stop him. He tells children who like to write or draw not to give up. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf you like doing it and keep working at it, then someday you will succeed,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Bridwell says. He speaks from experience. Without Bridwell\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs determination and passion, the world would never have been introduced to Clifford the big red dog. good, Bridwell did not let it bother him. Bridwell once commented, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIn school, there was always someone better than me; the art teacher always liked their work better than mine.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Bridwell loved art so much, though, that he decided to make it his career. He attended art school and later moved to New York to take even more art classes. He found a job drawing cartoons for filmstrips, but soon he needed to earn more money because he was married and had a child. Bridwell needed a better job so that he could support his new family. He displayed his art in a special book called a portfolio and tried to find work drawing pictures for children\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs books. Bridwell showed his portfolio to about 15 companies that publish children\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs books. None of the companies hired Bridwell to draw pictures for their books, but an editor at one of the companies offered him some advice. She told him to try writing his own stories. She looked through his portfolio again and stopped at a picture of a baby and a red dog that was the size of a horse. She told Bridwell to think of a story that would match that picture. Bridwell didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct waste any time. He went home and wrote a story about a huge red dog and the little girl he belonged to. This time when he drew more pictures, he made the dog as big as a house! He named the girl Emily Elizabeth, after his daughter. He called the dog Tiny because he thought it would be a funny name for such a big dog. But his wife thought that Clifford was a better name, so Bridwell changed it. Then he took his story and artwork to another publishing company and hoped for the best. Three weeks later Bridwell got a phone call. The publisher wanted to print Clifford the Big Red Dog! At the time, Bridwell probably had no idea that his Clifford would become the most loved big red dog of all time! Since the book was first released in 1963, Bridwell has created more than 80 books about Emily Elizabeth and the big red dog. More than a hundred million copies of Clifford books have been printed all over the world and in 13 languages. In some countries Clifford\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs name isn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct even Clifford. For example, in France he is called Ketchup. Growing up, Norman Bridwell was not considered a very good artist. But he loved to use his imagination to draw. Although many people didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct think his art was The big red dog has appeared in more than just books. In the late 1990s a giant-size Clifford balloon was in a famous parade in New York City. In 2000, Clifford the Big Red Dog became a popular cartoon television show. In 2004, Bridwell\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs famous dog came to the big screen in Clifford\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs Really Big Movie. Clifford\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs image can also be seen on everything from puzzles to backpacks and clothes. Bridwell has written and illustrated many other books for children that do not include Clifford. Bridwell says he\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs also written other books that have not been accepted by publishers. Bridwell doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct let the rejection stop him. He tells children who like to write or draw not to give up. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf you like doing it and keep working at it, then someday you will succeed,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Bridwell says. He speaks from experience. Without Bridwell\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs determination and passion, the world would never have been introduced to Clifford the big red dog. good, Bridwell did not let it bother him. Bridwell once commented, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIn school, there was always someone better than me; the art teacher always liked their work better than mine.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Bridwell loved art so much, though, that he decided to make it his career. He attended art school and later moved to New York to take even more art classes. He found a job drawing cartoons for filmstrips, but soon he needed to earn more money because he was married and had a child. Bridwell needed a better job so that he could support his new family. He displayed his art in a special book called a portfolio and tried to find work drawing pictures for children\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs books. Bridwell showed his portfolio to about 15 companies that publish children\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs books. None of the companies hired Bridwell to draw pictures for their books, but an editor at one of the companies offered him some advice. She told him to try writing his own stories. She looked through his portfolio again and stopped at a picture of a baby and a red dog that was the size of a horse. She told Bridwell to think of a story that would match that picture. Bridwell didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct waste any time. He went home and wrote a story about a huge red dog and the little girl he belonged to. This time when he drew more pictures, he made the dog as big as a house! He named the girl Emily Elizabeth, after his daughter. He called the dog Tiny because he thought it would be a funny name for such a big dog. But his wife thought that Clifford was a better name, so Bridwell changed it. Then he took his story and artwork to another publishing company and hoped for the best. Three weeks later Bridwell got a phone call. The publisher wanted to print Clifford the Big Red Dog! At the time, Bridwell probably had no idea that his Clifford would become the most loved big red dog of all time! Since the book was first released in 1963, Bridwell has created more than 80 books about Emily Elizabeth and the big red dog. More than a hundred million copies of Clifford books have been printed all over the world and in 13 languages. In some countries Clifford\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs name isn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct even Clifford. For example, in France he is called Ketchup. Growing up, Norman Bridwell was not considered a very good artist. But he loved to use his imagination to draw. Although many people didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct think his art was The big red dog has appeared in more than just books. In the late 1990s a giant-size Clifford balloon was in a famous parade in New York City. In 2000, Clifford the Big Red Dog became a popular cartoon television show. In 2004, Bridwell\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs famous dog came to the big screen in Clifford\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs Really Big Movie. Clifford\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs image can also be seen on everything from puzzles to backpacks and clothes. Bridwell has written and illustrated many other books for children that do not include Clifford. Bridwell says he\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs also written other books that have not been accepted by publishers. Bridwell doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct let the rejection stop him. He tells children who like to write or draw not to give up. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf you like doing it and keep working at it, then someday you will succeed,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Bridwell says. He speaks from experience. Without Bridwell\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs determination and passion, the world would never have been introduced to Clifford the big red dog. good, Bridwell did not let it bother him. Bridwell once commented, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIn school, there was always someone better than me; the art teacher always liked their work better than mine.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Bridwell loved art so much, though, that he decided to make it his career. He attended art school and later moved to New York to take even more art classes. He found a job drawing cartoons for filmstrips, but soon he needed to earn more money because he was married and had a child. Bridwell needed a better job so that he could support his new family. He displayed his art in a special book called a portfolio and tried to find work drawing pictures for children\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs books. Bridwell showed his portfolio to about 15 companies that publish children\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs books. None of the companies hired Bridwell to draw pictures for their books, but an editor at one of the companies offered him some advice. She told him to try writing his own stories. She looked through his portfolio again and stopped at a picture of a baby and a red dog that was the size of a horse. She told Bridwell to think of a story that would match that picture. Bridwell didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct waste any time. He went home and wrote a story about a huge red dog and the little girl he belonged to. This time when he drew more pictures, he made the dog as big as a house! He named the girl Emily Elizabeth, after his daughter. He called the dog Tiny because he thought it would be a funny name for such a big dog. But his wife thought that Clifford was a better name, so Bridwell changed it. Then he took his story and artwork to another publishing company and hoped for the best. Three weeks later Bridwell got a phone call. The publisher wanted to print Clifford the Big Red Dog! At the time, Bridwell probably had no idea that his Clifford would become the most loved big red dog of all time! Since the book was first released in 1963, Bridwell has created more than 80 books about Emily Elizabeth and the big red dog. More than a hundred million copies of Clifford books have been printed all over the world and in 13 languages. In some countries Clifford\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs name isn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct even Clifford. For example, in France he is called Ketchup.
## \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNever say never. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbcThis is a quotation that Conner Long lives by. Conner is a young boy who has two great loves: sports and his younger brother Cayden. Conner always wished Cayden could play sports with him. But Cayden has cerebral palsy, a movement disorder. As a result, he is unable to walk and talk without help. Cayden uses a wheelchair to move around, and he communicates using sign language. Conner thought they might not ever be able to play sports together. But that all changed in the spring of 2011 when Conner, age seven at the time, saw an advertisement for the Nashville Kids Triathlon. Getting Ready A triathlon is a sporting event in which athletes swim, bike, and run. When Conner saw the advertisement, he knew right then that he wanted to participate, and he wanted Cayden to participate with him. The boys\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc mother talked to race officials about Conner\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs idea. The request was unusual because children who have special needs usually compete in triathlons with the help of a parent. However, the race officials allowed the boys to compete together. The next step was to find a coach who could help the boys prepare for the triathlon. The boys\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc mother contacted Mandy Gildersleeve. Coach Gildersleeve had trained children with special needs before. She helped Conner and Cayden get the special equipment they would need. Then she focused on working with Conner to help him become stronger. The Big Day The boys\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc first triathlon began with a swim. Conner entered the swimming pool. Then he pulled Cayden on a raft behind him for the 100-yard swim. Conner held the rope in one hand and paddled with the other. Cayden smiled and laughed the whole way. Next came the biking part of the race. Conner rode his bike for 3 miles. At first Gildersleeve raced alongside Conner, pulling Cayden in a special trailer behind her bike. Conner did not like this situation. Conner wanted to pull Cayden himself, and Cayden wanted to be with Conner. After the last large hill, Gildersleeve attached the trailer to Conner\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs bike so he could pull Cayden himself. After that \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbche just took off,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Gildersleeve said. The final part of the race was the run. Conner ran while he pushed Cayden\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs trailer the entire half mile. The boys completed the race in 43 minutes 10 seconds. Conner was thrilled when they finished. Later he told reporters, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcEverybody wants to win, but it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs not all about winning. Really it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs all about fun.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc More Races Both boys take great pleasure in being involved in the events, but the family needs to plan in order for the boys to continue racing together. As Cayden grows older and bigger, his equipment will need to grow, too. The Longs participate in fund-raising events to raise money for Cayden\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs equipment. Conner and Cayden want to someday participate in the Ironman World Championship competition in Kona, Hawaii. It is one of the most difficult races in the world. They will be grown men when they are old enough to compete. Until then all the races the boys participate in over the years will help prepare them for it. In 2012 a sports magazine named Conner and Cayden \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSportskids of the Year.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc The boys\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc experience certainly shows what can happen when you never say never!
## We go everywhere together. You carry my treasures for me. When I find grass on your knees and sand in your pockets, I know where I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve been. We go everywhere together except the washing machine. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcDon\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct let them put me in there!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc you beg. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOr at least come with me!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc But all I can do is watch you go round and round in the little window, tumbling in the suds, like me when I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm caught in an ocean wave. I hear your buttons clicking in the spinning dryer. You emerge, limp and lifeless, till I slip my legs inside you. You\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre alive again! Eager for our next adventure! when I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm caught in an ocean wave. 25 I hear your buttons clicking in the spinning dryer. You emerge, limp and lifeless, 30 till I slip my legs inside you. You\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre alive again! Eager for our next 35 adventure!
## Have you ever hiccupped in a quiet room full of people? Or have you ever hiccupped so hard that you had to stop what you were doing? If you have ever made the familiar \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbchic\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc sound of hiccups, you are not alone. Hiccups are a problem that almost everyone has experienced. What Is a Hiccup? Hiccups start in your diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscle between your chest and your abdomen. When the diaphragm suddenly tightens, air strikes the vocal cords. This creates a single hiccup with its \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbchic\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc sound. For most people a case of hiccups will stop after a few minutes. People get hiccups for a variety of reasons. Hiccups might result from eating or drinking too much or too quickly. A sudden change in the stomach\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs temperature, such as from drinking hot liquid immediately after cold liquid, may also cause hiccups. They may even occur from being excited or being under a lot of stress. Making Hiccups Go Away Ideas on how to stop hiccup shave been created, shared, and tried for years. However, what works for one person to cure hiccups may not work for everyone. Perhaps the most common method people use is to hold their breath for a few seconds. If this doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct work, you can try swallowing hard while briefly holding your breath. There are also some strange-sounding ways to cure hiccups, like drinking a glass of water upside down. Someone might even try to scare away your hiccups. Some people believe that getting startled causes you to focus on something other than your hiccups, which may relax the muscles in your throat and cure your hiccups. Ideas for curing hiccups often include ingredients found in the kitchen. Some homemade recipes combine water with sweet and sour ingredients. They may include saltwater or pickle juice. Many people believe that eating a spoonful of sugar can make hiccups go away. So the next time you have the hiccups, try looking in your kitchen for something that will help get rid of them. Award-Winning Recipe In 2010 a young girl named Mallory Kievman couldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct make her irritating hiccups go away. None of the ideas that she researched worked for her every time. So she decided to find her own cure for hiccups. She knew that sweet and sour ingredients were commonly used to cure hiccups, and she knew that swallowing hard could also be effective. She decided to use the two ideas to make a special lollipop. She thought that the sweet and sour ingredients combined with sucking on a lollipop would cure her hiccups. She experimented with different recipes in her family\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs kitchen. After many failed attempts Mallory invented a lollipop that worked by combining water, sugar, and apple-cider vinegar. She named her invention Hiccupops. Mallory wanted to find out whether her lollipops would help others cure their hiccups. She gave her lollipops to friends and family members. Mallory found that most of them were cured of their hiccups after sucking on the lollipop. Mallory entered her lollipop in a competition for new inventions made by children. She won three awards for her creative idea, and a patent was filed for her product as part of her winnings. Perhaps one day you will see Mallory\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs invention in a store near you.
## A stationmaster is a person who keeps a train station running smoothly. At Kishi Station in western Japan, however, the stationmaster is not a person at all\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcit is a cat named Tama! As a kitten Tama was a stray without a real home. She spent most of her time at Kishi Station. A nearby grocery store owner gave her food. Although she had no real owner or home, Tama seemed to enjoy watching people at the station. Tama also enjoyed the attention and affection she received from passengers. In the early 2000s, the train company that ran Kishi Station was losing money. Not enough people were riding the trains. By April 2006 the company could no longer afford to pay the people who worked at the station. With no employees to help them, passengers now had to manage their own travel. Even though the employees were gone, Tama stayed at the station. She continued to greet train riders with a warm nuzzle and a purr. Soon visitors shared stories with others about the cat at Kishi Station. People wanted to see the sweet cat that was always on duty. The train company had fun with the unusual situation. It gave Tama the title of \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcKishi stationmaster.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc The job even came with a stationmaster\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs uniform. It is a simple black cap. Tama wears the hat every day at work. Instead of paying Tama with money, the company pays her with cat food. Perhaps Tama\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs title was originally meant as a joke, but Tama continues to perform her job wonderfully, like any hardworking employee. She walks around the station in her uniform and greets passengers. The black, white, and orange cat allows passengers to pet her and take photographs with her. People continue to visit the station just to see Tama. When people come to Kishi Station to meet Tama, they spend money on train tickets and gift items that will remind them of her. This helps the train station. The visitors that Tama attracts also help the town near the station. Visitors spend money at local shops and restaurants. The money from these purchases adds up. In 2007, Tama\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs presence brought about 10 million dollars to her region of Japan. Most importantly, this hardworking cat has helped the Kishi Station remain open and provide transportation for community members. Tama was such a good stationmaster that she was promoted. Now called the \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcsuper stationmaster,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Tama has her own small office. It is an empty ticket booth. Since Tama is getting older and now likes to nap more, she has been given two assistants that help her greet passengers. They are both cats, of course. Tama\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs fame continues to grow. Tama has been featured in many newspaper and magazine articles as well as on television shows and in video clips. There is even a picture book called Diary of Tama the Station Master, which includes photographs of Tama at work. From stray cat to famous stationmaster, life is sweet for Tama!
## Dr. Hunter \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPatch\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Adams decided early in his life that he wanted to help make the world better. Many of the patients who have visited his hospital would agree that he has done just that. Adams was born in Washington, D.C., but lived in many parts of the world while growing up. His father was in the army, so the family moved often. Moving to new places helped Adams become good at making friends and accepting people for who they are. As a child Adams performed well in school. He especially excelled at math and science. Above all, like most kids, Adams liked to play and have fun. Adams decided to become a doctor. During his medical training he developed his own style of working with patients. When he talked with sick people, he wanted to understand how they were feeling. He was friendly and thought of ways to make them laugh, hoping to make them feel better. Some of Adams\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs teachers were not pleased with his way of treating patients. These teachers believed that being friends with patients could get in the way of being a good doctor. Adams did not let his teachers\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc attitude stop him from trying to make patients laugh. One day he dressed in a clown costume. His bright clothes and red nose made patients smile. After that, Adams continued to wear silly costumes while studying to be a doctor. After he finished medical school, Adams and 20 of his friends opened their own hospital. They converted a large house with six bedrooms into a hospital, where they provided free medical care. They named their hospital the Gesundheit! Institute. Gesundheit means \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbchealth\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc in the German language. It is also a funny- sounding word, which makes it a perfect name for Adams\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hospital. Like at all hospitals, the doctors and nurses at Adams\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hospital worked to make sick patients well again. But Adams\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hospital also provided fun activities for patients. They could garden and fish. They could watch a play or see a dance performance. Adams thought the patients would begin to feel better if they were engaged in things they enjoyed doing. The doctors and nurses at Adams\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hospital were also trained to be funny and kind to patients. According to Adams, humor is very important. He thinks laughter and joy can sometimes help a sick person as much as any medicine. Some days Adams dresses as a clown and rides a unicycle through the halls of the hospital! He believes taking the time to be friendly and silly with people shows them that someone cares. In the 1980s, Adams took his red clown nose and left the United States to visit other countries. His goal was to make people around the world feel better by providing them with medical care. He hoped to make patients feel comfortable by talking with them and telling jokes. He also brought medical supplies to the places that needed them most. Whether Adams was giving medical care or supplies, he made sure there was always a friendly smile under that bright red nose! Cracking funny jokes and making people laugh is an effortless talent for some. However, it does not come naturally to everyone. For those doctors who feel they need help, Adams spends time teaching them how to be friendly and silly with their patients. He gives speeches all over the world, and he still wears a clown costume. The Gesundheit! Institute is raising money to build a teaching center and a bigger hospital. This hospital will also provide free care for patients. And of course, Adams wants it to be a fun and playful place. Adams has written books about his style of healing patients. He writes that you don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have to be a doctor to help someone feel better. The most important thing anyone can do is visit people who are sick. Sometimes letting someone know you care can be the most powerful cure of all.
## The trunk of a tree is the road for me on a sunny summer day. Up the bark that is brown and dark through tunnels of leaves that sway and tickle my knees in the trembly breeze, that\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs where I make my way. Leaves in my face and twigs in my hair in a squeeze of a place, but I don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct care! Some people talk 15 of a summer walk through clover and weeds and hay. Some people stride where the hills are wide and the rocks are speckled gray. But the trunk of a tree is the road for me on a sunny summer day.
## My name is Chelsea Chowderhead. A chowder is a stew or thick soup. My father says that our early ancestors may have invented chowder. I wonder if our early ancestors got made fun of all the time, too. For me, the last name teasing began as soon as I started school. So when my family moved to South Carolina, I decided that it was my chance for a fresh start. I asked my dad if I could change my name. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut the Chowderhead name has a long and rich history\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbc,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Dad started. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI know, I know. We were makers of thick soups or stews.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhy do you want to change it?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he asked. My dad always asks lots of questions. I didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want to hurt his feelings, but I didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want to go through another school year as a Chowderhead, either. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI get teased all the time. Even a compliment like \xfc\xbe\x8d\x86\x90\xbcGood idea, Chowderhead\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc sounds mean.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI know it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs not always easy being a Chowderhead,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Dad. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve been a Chowderhead my whole life, and I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve been teased a lot. But you shouldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct change who you are. Let people get to know you first and your name later.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHow can people get to know me before they know my name?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I asked. He said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAsk good questions.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I looked at him blankly. He went on, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhen you meet someone new, ask them a question. It can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct be a mean question, and it has to be something that you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre really curious about. Once people start talking about themselves, they don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct judge you. They\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre just happy that someone is interested in what they have to say.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Two days later I headed to my new school for the first day of class. As soon as I got to my classroom, a girl named Claire introduced herself. I noticed that Claire was wearing pretty woven bracelets. I asked her where she got them. Her face lit up, and she explained that she made them herself. She\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd gotten a bracelet-making kit for her birthday, and these were her first try. She offered to make me one. By lunch, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd talked to lots of people and was getting the hang of finding the right question. But there were two kids, twin brothers, who didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct seem to talk to anyone but each other. When they looked at me, I felt as if they already knew that I was a Chowderhead. Still, my dad\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs advice had worked out well, so I decided to give it one more try. I asked Claire if we should sit with the twins. She looked a little surprised, but shrugged her shoulders and followed me. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcDo you mind if we sit with you?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I asked. The twins stared at us. I sat down and opened my milk. No one said anything. I realized that if the twins never said anything, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd never think of a question. Claire didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct say anything, either. I looked at their lunches for some kind of clue and noticed that the lunchboxes were identical. That\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs when it came to me. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs it like being a twin?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I asked. The twins looked astonished. Then they both started talking at the same time. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNo one has ever asked us that!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc one said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMost of the time it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs good,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc the other said. It turns out that being a twin is as complicated as being a Chowderhead. When you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre a twin you always have someone to talk to and have lunch with, but people think that you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre exactly alike. In no time at all we were laughing and talking. Then one of the brothers said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm Nicholas, and this is my brother, Nathaniel. What\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs your name?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I gulped, took a deep breath, and said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm Chelsea Chowderhead.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcChowder? Like the soup?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Nathaniel. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYes,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I replied, looking down and blushing. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLike a thick soup or stew.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHey, cool. Do you and Claire want to come over after school and play basketball with us?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Nathaniel asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd love to,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMe too,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Claire agreed. And that is how I learned to ask good questions and became friends with Nicholas and Nathaniel Noodlenoggin.
## The Wright brothers made their famous first airplane flight in North Carolina in 1903. More than 100 years later, 12-year-old Arturo Valdenegro enjoyed his own kind of fame when a giant paper airplane that he helped design flew over the desert in Arizona. The Great Paper Airplane Fly-Off Arturo\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs adventure started with a contest called the Great Paper Airplane Fly-Off. It was organized by the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona. The goal of the contest is to help children learn more about how airplanes fly and to encourage them to explore science and inventing. The rules of the contest say that all airplanes have to be constructed from one piece of letter-size paper. The paper can be folded and cut as many times as needed. But the finished plane cannot contain any glue, tape, staples, or paper clips. Arturo and about 200 other children ages 6 to 14 entered the contest. The winner of the contest would be the person who made the paper airplane that flew the farthest. The 2012 Great Paper Airplane Fly-Off had four rounds of competition. In the first three rounds, the children were put into small groups and took turns flying their planes. The plane that flew the farthest in each group was the winner of the round. Each winner went to the next round and repeated the same process. But the final round was different. The children did not fly their own paper airplanes. Instead, a paper-airplane Guinness World Record holder named Ken Blackburn flew each of the planes. Arturo\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs paper airplane flew the farthest. He won the contest. But winning was just the start of his adventure. As part of the contest, the winner\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs plane design was used to create a giant paper airplane. The museum brought together a team of experts to build a much larger version of Arturo\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs airplane, with Arturo\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs help. They used a similar design but with materials that could fly higher and farther than a small paper airplane. The team built the huge plane out of a strong type of paper. By the time the plane was finished, it was 45 feet long and weighed 800 pounds. They named it Arturo\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs Desert Eagle. The next step was to see whether the giant paper airplane could fly. At 800 pounds this plane was too heavy to throw like a typical paper airplane. Instead, a helicopter lifted the plane into the air with a strong chain. Once the plane reached a height of 2,703 feet, it was released over an open, unpopulated area in the desert. During its short flight the plane reached a speed of 98 miles per hour. Then it crashed into the desert. It was a messy landing, with broken parts scattered all over the ground. But because the plane flew for six seconds, the team had a reason to celebrate. The Museum Display Arturo\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs Desert Eagle will not be forgotten. A part of the wing and several other pieces are now on permanent display at the Pima Air and Space Museum. The museum plans to continue offering its paper airplane contest to young scientists. The museum hopes that Arturo\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs Desert Eagle will inspire young paper airplane designers to practice their skills. Just like Arturo, their winning designs may soar into history one day!
## Owning a dog can be a lot of fun. But taking care of a dog is a lot of work. Dogs need their owners to walk them, feed them, and play with them. According to Cesar Millan, a dog owner also has to be a strong leader so that the dog knows that the owner is the boss. Millan should know. After all, he\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs known as the Dog Whisperer. As a young boy growing up in Mexico, Millan spent a lot of time at his grandfather\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs ranch. He loved watching the pack, or group, of wild dogs that roamed there. In fact, Millan spent so much time watching the dogs that he was given the nickname \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcEl Perrero.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc This means \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcdog boy\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc in Spanish. Millan also watched dogs in television shows and movies. His favorite show was about a dog named Lassie. As a teenager Millan dreamed of going to Hollywood to train animals for the movies. Millan came to the United States in 1990. He was 21 years old, alone in a new country, and had no place to live. A month after arriving in California, Millan found a job as a dog groomer. He calmed the dogs as he cleaned and brushed them. Many of the dog owners noticed this. Some even asked Millan if he could train their dogs in addition to grooming them. Soon Millan moved to another city and got a job washing cars. This wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct Millan\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs dream job, so he decided to start his own business. Millan noticed that many people had trouble getting their dogs to behave. He knew he could help. He saved his money and bought a van. The van became an office on wheels, where he began his dog-training business. Millan was a hard worker. Sometimes he kept difficult dogs with him full-time for weeks in order to train them. Millan\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs success with the dogs got the attention and admiration of dog owners. Soon he had many dogs to train, and his business grew. In 1998 Millan opened the Dog Psychology Center, where he was able to help a greater number of dogs. The goal of Millan\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs center was to help dogs with behavior problems. Some of the dogs were brought there by their owners, but many of the dogs were strays. News of Millan\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs skills quickly spread. In 2002 he was mentioned in an article in People magazine. The article was about a famous movie director and his two dogs. The director told the magazine that his dogs used to bite. After Millan trained them, they were well-behaved. Through his dog training, Millan met many other famous people. These relationships led to a new job for Millan. The job wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct training dogs to be television stars like Lassie. Instead, it was Millan who became the star! His reality show, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, first appeared on television in 2004. Each episode features Millan working with a different dog and its owner. Millan uses exercise, discipline, and love in order to teach the dogs to behave. While training the dogs, Millan also trains the owners. Learning to be calm and strong helps owners show their dogs that they are the pack leader. Dogs usually respect the leader of their pack. In 2007, Millan moved the Dog Psychology Center to the mountains. The new location is so big that Millan was able to expand the size of the center. The center now has room for Millan to swim and hike with the dogs. More than 50 dogs can stay at the center at one time. Millan also travels to other cities to teach dog owners about dogs and about being a pack leader. Dog owners who can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct go to see Millan in person can learn about his training methods in his magazine, DVDs, and books. Although he isn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct training animals for movies the way he dreamed of doing as a child, it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs easy to see that Millan enjoys what he does. His ability to train dogs and their owners proves that he is the leader of the pack.
## \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI have some exciting news, class,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mrs. Pike. It was almost lunchtime, and Jenny Archer was starving. She drew a piece of apple pie in her notebook. Sometimes Mrs. Pike\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs exciting news wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct very exciting. Once, Mrs. Pike had said it would be exciting to watch a filmstrip called Tommy Tooth and the Whole Truth About Teeth. But it wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct. She had said it would be exciting to study how wheat is turned into bread. But it wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct. Jenny drew a scoop of ice cream on the apple pie. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre going to have a contest,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mrs. Pike. Jenny put down her pencil. She pushed her glasses back on her nose. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe whole school will take part,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mrs. Pike went on. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre going to collect empty tin cans to sell to a scrap-metal dealer. We\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll use the money to buy a video camcorder1 and a TV monitor for the school.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat kind of contest is that?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Clifford Stern. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcJust collecting cans?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe class that collects the most cans,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mrs. Pike, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcwill use the camera first. We will make our own class movie. You could all be stars!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Me, a movie star! Jenny thought. Now, that was exciting. She pictured herself accepting an Academy Award. She would say, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt all started when I was in a little school . . .\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe person in the class who brings in the most cans will direct the first movie,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mrs. Pike finished. Wow! Directing a movie might be even better than starring in one. The director could make up the whole story. She would choose the actors and tell everybody what to do. Jenny loved to make up stories. And she was good at telling people what to do. She was sure she\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd be a great director. The whole class was buzzing now. Jenny forgot she was starving. She looked over at her friend Beth. Beth\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs eyes were bright. She thought this was a great idea, too. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou can be the star of my movie,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jenny whispered to her. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat do you mean, your movie?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Beth asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhen I win the contest,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jenny said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat if I win the contest?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Beth said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut I have to win,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc answered Jenny. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve always wanted to make a movie.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSince when?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWell, I just realized it now,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jenny admitted. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct you think I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd make a good director?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI think I might make a good director,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Beth said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhy should you be the director?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Beth was one of Jenny\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs two best friends. Jenny didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want to fight with her. But she really wanted to win this contest. She just had to direct the class movie. Yet, someday, when she was a famous moviemaker, she would still want Beth to be her friend. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs not fight,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jenny said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd both be good directors.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc 27 28 29 \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre right.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Beth grinned. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct fight. Let\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs just say, may the best can collector win.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jenny shook Beth\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hand. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMay the best can collector win,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she repeated. As long as it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs me, she told herself.
## Children grasp metal bars as the merry-go-round spins. One child jumps off and gives his friends a push. This is not an ordinary merry-go-round, however. It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a PlayPump, and it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs unlike the merry-go-round you may see at a park. These PlayPumps offer hope to people in southern Africa. Getting clean water in some areas of Africa is difficult. PlayPumps make it easier to get water needed for cooking, bathing, and drinking. This new water system can bring fresh, healthful water to many people living in southern Africa. A man named Trevor Field wanted to do something to help people in the parts of Africa where clean water can be hard to find. So he teamed up with an inventor, and together they created PlayPump. The way a PlayPump works is simple. Children push the merry-go-round, and the energy the merry-go-round makes helps draw water up from deep underground. The water then travels to a large tower, where it is stored in a tank. Finally the water is routed to a tap that controls the flow of the water. People in the community are able to use the tap to get the fresh water they need. Making sure the pumps work correctly can be expensive. However, Field found a creative way to help maintain them. Since the storage tank is tall and rectangular, he thought that all four of its sides could be used to advertise to the community or make public announcements. Two sides of the tank may show tips for good health, such as how to wash your hands. The other two sides show advertisements from businesses. These businesses pay to have their messages on the tank. The money they pay is used to help keep the pumps working properly. PlayPumps can be used in areas where there is already a water source nearby. The pumps are usually located near schools or community centers. This allows families to collect water whenever they choose. Having clean water close by helps families stay healthy. PlayPumps also give children a chance to play. People in southern Africa are excited about the PlayPumps. Not only do the pumps make clean water readily available, but the water is also easy to access. Several other companies have also decided to build and install these pumps in some countries in southern Africa. With PlayPumps, clean water just may be one spin closer.
## Mom got a package, a great big package. Inside were these Styrofoam things. And I thought to myself, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI just might fly if I made some Styrofoam wings.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc So I got myself some wrapping tape and a ball of old kite string. And I put those things upon my back, and I made myself some wings. My parents said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHow very cute, 10 but, honey, they won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct fly.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThey might, they surely might. To know I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll have to try.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc My brother said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou nutty kid. You know those things won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct fly.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct know that at all, and I won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct until I try.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc And my little sister looked at me with great big trusting eyes. And she said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPlease bring me something back from wherever you go fly.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc And then she said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcGood-bye.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I went outside and I flapped real fast, I watched as the larks went flying past, I jumped to give myself a blast, and then I started to fly at last. I flew through the sky above the trees, I fluttered along with the birds and the bees, I felt the cool of the gentle breeze, and I knew I could fly wherever I pleased. And all because I tried.
## One spring morning Leonie Allan took her dog Rex for a walk. She thought the walk down the road and back would be simple. Instead, the walk changed her from pet owner to wildlife rescuer. Allan lives in an area of Australia where people often find wildlife grazing in their yards. While people living in the United States might find deer, raccoons, and skunks roaming their yards, people in Australia might see kangaroos. Allan\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs walk was uneventful that morning, but Rex was acting strangely afterward. As Allan worked in the yard, Rex kept looking down the road they had taken on their walk. Then he began standing very still, with his nose pointing toward what he wanted Allan to notice. Rex, a mixed breed, is part pointer. Pointers are dogs that naturally stand very still and point with their entire body in the direction of wildlife they see or smell. They are trained not to chase animals but simply to point to where they are. They are excellent tracking dogs and can find animals with their keen sense of smell. Allan became worried when Rex began pointing. When Rex left to investigate, Allan thought he might have found something dangerous. She called the dog back. But when Rex returned, in his mouth he had a joey, a baby kangaroo about four months old. Picking up an animal was unusual behavior for Rex, since he had not been trained to do so. Allan was surprised that Rex had picked up the joey so gently. The baby didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct appear to be afraid at all. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHe obviously sensed the baby \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcroo was still alive,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Allan said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcand somehow had gently grabbed it by the neck, gently retrieved it, and brought it to me.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Rex and the joey, which Allan named Rex Jr., spent the afternoon playing together. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe joey was snuggling up to him, jumping up to him, and Rex was sniffing and licking him\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcit was quite cute,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Allan told a newspaper reporter. Wildlife experts were amazed, too. Tehree Gordon works at the wildlife sanctuary1 where the joey was later taken. She was surprised that Rex had been so careful with the joey and knew to take it to his owner. She was also amazed that the joey was not afraid of Rex and did not think he was a predator. Rex Jr. was bottle-fed and raised at the wildlife sanctuary. A year and a half later, he was released back into the wild in an area where he could be monitored by workers at the sanctuary. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHis progress and release went well,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Gordon commented. Now Rex Jr. is part of a group of kangaroos, called a mob, living a normal kangaroo life\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcthanks to Rex, a gentle dog that knew how to point.
## Many people will offer their home to a stray cat or dog. But few people would adopt a lost hippopotamus. Most wouldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct even know what to feed it. When disaster struck and a baby hippo got lost, it was fortunate to find just the right home. Hippos have their babies underwater. One day a mother hippo went into the Blyde River in Africa to give birth while the river was flooding. The rushing water moved so fast that it swept the newborn hippo away from its mother. No one knows how far the baby hippo traveled down the river before it washed up on the lawn of Tonie Joubert. Joubert was taking a walk. He was surprised to see a baby hippo lying next to the river. It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a good thing that the baby hippo was found by someone who could save its life. Joubert was a retired game warden.1 He had nursed many orphaned animals back to health. He knew the baby hippo was very young and weak. He carried the 26-pound animal into his house and named her Jessica.Newborn hippos need a special type of milk, and Joubert knew just how to make it. He mixed egg yolks and cream and fed it to Jessica from a bottle. She was very hungry and drank well. Joubert let Jessica sleep on his bed so that he could feed and take care of her throughout the night. Soon Jessica was healthy. Joubert knew that his experience with animals made him well qualified to care for Jessica. He decided to keep Jessica, and she became an official member of the family. At first Jessica lived in Joubert\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs house. She made friends with the family dogs and seemed happy. When she got bigger, Joubert moved her bed onto the back porch. Still, Jessica was able to wander in and out of the house as she pleased\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcthat is, until she started breaking the furniture! By the time she was three years old, Jessica had grown so large that she broke a couch. Soon after, she broke another couch. Then she broke a bed. Joubert decided it was best to lock the back door when he went outside. That way he could be sure Jessica stayed off the furniture when he was not able to watch her in the house. But Joubert made the mistake of leaving the key in the lock. Within a week Jessica had learned how to turn the key and open the door. Even after Joubert removed the key, Jessica forced her way in. Finally, Joubert bought a superstrong security door. Now Jessica comes inside only when invited. Hippos are social animals, but no one can tell whether Jessica thinks she is human or thinks the rest of her family are hippos. Today Jessica is fully grown and spends time with other hippos. Some nights she will wander down to the river to visit wild hippos when they come by. Jessica is free to leave anytime, but it seems she would rather stay with Joubert and the dogs. Jessica\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs story has made worldwide news. People around the globe are interested in learning about her. She has appeared in a South African film. She has also starred in an Animal Planet TV special called \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcJessica the Hippo.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Joubert has created a website with information about Jessica, and she even has a fan club. People from all areas of the world enjoy hearing about how Jessica\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs scary situation turned into such a positive one!
## PLIP! Judy Moody woke up. Drip, drip, drip went rain on the roof. Blip, blip, blip went drops on the window. Not again! It had been raining for seven days straight. Bor-ing! She, Judy Moody, was sick and tired of rain. Judy put her head under the pillow. If only she was sick. Being sick was the greatest. You got to stay home and drink pop for breakfast and eat toast cut in special strips and watch TV in your room. You got to read Cherry Ames, Student Nurse, mysteries all day. And you got to eat yummy cherry cough drops. Hey! Maybe Cherry Ames was named after a cough drop! Judy took out her mom\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs old Cherry Ames book and popped a cough drop in her mouth anyway. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcGet up, Lazybones!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Stink, knocking on her door. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCan\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Judy. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcToo much rain.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNever mind. Just go to school without me.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMom, Judy\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs skipping school!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Stink yelled. Mom came into Judy\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs room. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcJudy, honey. What\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs wrong?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm sick. Of rain,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she whispered to Mouse. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSick? What\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs wrong? What hurts?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMy head, for one thing. From all that noisy rain.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou have a headache?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYes. And a sore throat. And a fever. And a stiff neck.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs from sleeping with the dictionary under your pillow,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Stink. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcTo ace your spelling test.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIs not.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIs too!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSee, look. My tongue\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs all red.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Judy stuck out her Cherry- Ames-cough-drop tongue at Stink. Mom felt Judy\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs head. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct seem to have a fever.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcFaker,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Stink. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCome back in five minutes,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Judy. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll have a fever by then.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcFaker, faker, faker,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Stink. If only she had measles. Or chicken pox. Or . . . MUMPS! Mumps gave you a headache. Mumps gave you a stiff neck and a sore throat. Mumps made your cheeks stick out like Humpty Dumpty. Judy pushed the cough drop into her cheek and made it stick out, Humpty-Dumpty style. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMumps!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Dr. Judy. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI think I have the mumps! For real!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMumps!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Stink. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNo way. You got a shot for that. A no- mumps shot. We both did. Didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct we, Mom?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYes,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcStink\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs right.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMaybe one mump got through.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSounds like somebody doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want to go to school today,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCan I? Can I stay home, Mom? I promise I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll be sick. All day.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs take your temperature,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. She took the thermometer out of the case. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCat hair?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIs this cat hair on the thermometer?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcShe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs always making Mouse stick out her tongue and taking the cat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs temperature,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Stink. Mom shook her head and went to wash off the thermometer. When she came back, she took Judy\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs temperature. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs 98.6,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNormal!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcFaker, fakey, not-sick, big fat faker,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Stink. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAt least my temperature\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs normal,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Judy. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcEven if my brother isn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBetter get dressed,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcDon\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want to be late.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcStink? You\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre a rat fink. Stink Rat-Fink Moody. That\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs what I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll call you from now on.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWell, you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll have to call me it at school \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbccause you don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct get to stay home.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Judy stuck out her cherry-red, no-mumps tongue at Stink. She was down in the dumps. She had a bad case of the grumps. The no-mumps Moody Monday blues. She, Judy Moody, felt like Mumpty Dumpty! Mumpty Dumpty without a temperature, that is.
## Do you have a favorite snack food? Of course you do\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbceverybody does. If your favorite snack food is potato chips, then you are like millions of other people. Crunchy, salty potato chips are one of the best-loved snack foods in the world. They are also one of the oldest snack foods. People have been enjoying them for more than 150 years. An Accidental Success Potato chips weren\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct invented on purpose. In 1853 a chef named George Crum fried some potatoes at a restaurant in Saratoga Springs, New York. The man who had ordered the potatoes said that they were too thick and sent them back to the kitchen. Crum made another batch. This time he sliced the potatoes thinner. He sent them out again, but the man still complained. After the fried potatoes were returned a second time, Crum became angry. He wanted to teach the dissatisfied man a lesson. This time Crum sliced the potatoes as thin as he could get them. The slices looked as thin as a sheet of paper. When the potato pieces were fried, they became so crispy that Crum thought the man would never be able to pick them up with his fork. But theman was very pleased with this tasty new dish. He ate every one of the crispy potatoes piled on his plate! Soon these new crispy fried potatoes became well known. They were added to the restaurant\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs menu. People referred to them as Saratoga Chips. When Crum later opened his own restaurant, he set a basket of chips on each table for customers to enjoy. Other restaurants began to serve them as well.5 6 From Restaurants to Store Shelves It was not long before people wanted potato chips without having to go to a restaurant to get them. In 1895 a man named William Tappenden started cooking potato chips in his kitchen in Cleveland, Ohio. He sold the potato chips to local grocery stores, making it easier for people to get chips whenever they wanted. At some stores the chips were kept in big wooden barrels. Storekeepers scooped the chips out and put them into paper bags for customers. In 1926 a woman named Laura Scudder thought of a better way to package the potato chips. Scudder put two sheets of wax-coated paper together to form a bag. She used hot irons to press the edges of the bag. The heat from the irons melted the wax enough to seal the edges on three sides. The bags were then filled with chips, and the fourth edge was ironed shut. Now the bags could be placed on shelves in stores for customers to buy.Over the years many more people began making and selling potato chips. Bigger and better kinds of packages were designed, and different flavors of chips started appearing. Cheese and onion was one of the first flavor combinations to be sold, as well as salt and vinegar. These flavors are still available today. Chips with Different Tastes Other kinds of chips can be found around the world. Instead of white potatoes, some people use bright-orange sweet potatoes or carrots. And for a different crispy treat, some chips aren\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct made from a vegetable at all but from rice or corn instead. Many different seasonings can be used to add flavor to chips. For example, there are chips flavored with tomato sauce and smoked beef. Others are flavored to taste like roasted chicken or lamb with mint. Maybe the most unusual chip flavor is used in China, where there\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a chip that tastes like a blueberry! What an unusual history the potato chip has, from its accidental beginning in New York State to being perhaps the most popular snack food in the world. What do you suppose Chef Crum would think if he knew how his invention had ended up?
## Saw my teacher on a Saturday! I can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct believe it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs true! I saw her buying groceries, like normal people do! She reached for bread and turned around, and then she caught my eye. She gave a smile and said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHello.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I thought that I would die! \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOh, hi . . . hello, Miss Appleton,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc 10 I mumbled like a fool. I guess I thought that teacher types spend all their time at school. To make the situation worse, my mom was at my side. So many rows of jars and cans. So little room to hide. Oh, please, I thought, don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct tell my mom what I did yesterday! I closed my eyes and held my breath and hoped she\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd go away. Some people think it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs fine to let our teachers walk about. But when it comes to Saturdays, they shouldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct let them out!
## \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcKwan, isn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct that your art teacher?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Halmoni said, pointing at a woman walking out of the grocery store. Kwan waved, and Mrs. Gibbs walked over to him and his grandmother. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs very nice to see you,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mrs. Gibbs said. Then she saw the cloths wrapped around the groceries Kwan and his grandmother were loading into their van. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOh, how beautiful!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she exclaimed. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThank you. These are pojagi, or Korean wrapping cloths,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Halmoni explained. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcKwan and I embroider2 them together.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Kwan looked away. Although he enjoyed helping Halmoni make the cloths, he didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want anyone at school to know about it. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIn Korea, they are mostly used to wrap gifts or cover food. Kwan and I use them to carry our groceries,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Halmoni continued. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcKwan, you should bring your cloths to school tomorrow. Your classmates would enjoy seeing them. You have a unique skill,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mrs. Gibbs said. Kwan appreciated his teacher\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs comments, but he was hesitant. The kids might laugh at the idea of a boy who liked to stitch patterns with a needle and thread. He thought about the pojagi. His grandmother\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs wide smile showed how proud of him she would be for sharing this Korean custom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcO.K. I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll bring some to class tomorrow,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Kwan replied quietly. Kwan usually spent some time each evening working on a cloth, but that evening he did not. Halmoni sensed that something was wrong. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcKwan, are you worried about tomorrow?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she asked. Kwan stared at the floor. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat are the other kids going to think?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThis isn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct the kind of thing they do for fun. Creating embroidered patterns isn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct like playing an instrument or a sport.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre right,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Halmoni said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt is different. But that is why it is so special.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Then she brought out a fine cloth with detailed floral designs. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhen your grandfather and I were married, we received a gift from his mother wrapped in this cloth she made. In Korea gifts given in wrapping cloths are extra special because they are a symbol of love and good luck. Even though the cloths have many uses today, they also have a rich history,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she explained. The next morning Kwan took several wrapping cloths to school. During art class his heart began to beat faster. He knew Mrs. Gibbs would eventually call on him. Just as he began to hope time would run out, he heard his name. As Kwan walked to the front of the room, his face felt hot. His hands trembled as he took the cloths out of his backpack. Kwan took a deep breath and began to tell the class about the cloths. Then he showed everyone how to use a needle and thread to stitch a tree design onto a cloth. His classmates just stared. When he finished, he saw a classmate\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hand shoot into the air. Kwan held his breath as Mrs. Gibbs called on Greg. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWow, Kwan! I can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct believe you did that by yourself,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Greg said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThat looks awesome.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbcThen a student named Carrie spoke up. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMy sister is learning to sew in one of her high school classes, but she\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs not all that good,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Carrie said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcShe brought home something she made the other day, and I couldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct even tell what it was!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc As Kwan listened to his classmates, he noticed that his forehead no longer felt hot. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI thought you would be interested in Kwan\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs cloths, so I brought some extra material,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mrs. Gibbs said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs have Kwan show us how the cloths are used to wrap and carry things.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Several students said they wanted to use a cloth to carry their lunch to school. Soon, though, they realized they would need more practice if they didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want their sandwiches to end up on the sidewalk. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcFolding these cloths is another real talent,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mrs. Gibbs said, laughing as her cloth came undone. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcKwan, you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll have to give us more lessons on cloth folding.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThis isn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct as easy as it looks,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc David said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcKwan, you must be a professional wrapper!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Kwan smiled as he walked around the room helping his classmates.
## You scampered down this well-worn path when you were just a pup. And as we grew, I ran with you. I struggled to keep up. My legs grew long. Your legs grew slow. You\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre happy now to walk, ignoring all those squirrels and birds you once would chase and stalk. And as we walk I think of all 10 the moments that we shared. The day we found you at the pound,1 you looked so small and scared. The times I fed you table scraps in spite of Mother\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs rule. The days you greeted me with joy when I came home from school. And as we walk this well-worn path, no longer running free, I hope I was as good to you as you have been to me.
## Long before there were cowboys in Texas, there were vaqueros. A vaquero could tame a wild horse. He could stop a steer without using a rope. Vaqueros worked well with their horses and could perform amazing stunts. Caring for Cattle At one time, Spanish ranchers in parts of Mexico, Texas, and California owned huge herds of cattle. The cattle lived on large areas of land. And all those cows needed a lot of food. The animals were allowed to roam freely across the land so they could find enough food to eat. Caring for the cattle was a big job. Ranchers hired vaqueros to keep the cattle safe. Vaqueros spent long days in their saddles, riding their horses across the open land. They scared away any animals that might harm the cattle. And if a cow was injured or sick, it was the vaquero\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs job to help it. Spring was a busy time for vaqueros because that was when the calves were born. Each rancher sent a team of vaqueros to search for the new babies and their mothers. The vaqueros would bring the entire herd back to the ranch to be counted and sorted. Each team was responsible for searching a specific area. Together they would search hundreds of miles to find stray cattle. Sometimes the cattle were hard to locate among the rocky hills and in the small valleys. Which Cow Belongs Where? Once the cows and calves were found, it was the vaquero\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs job to bring all the cattle to a large fenced area so they could be counted. Getting cattle to move in one direction was not an easy job. Using their horses, the vaqueros worked together to surround the cattle. Then they herded the animals into the fenced area. Next the cattle were sorted and counted. Vaqueros checked the brand, or special mark, on a cow\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs body to tell which rancher owned it. Each calf would receive the same brand as its mother. Getting the Job Done Special tools and clothing helped vaqueros with their work. They wore sombreros to protect them from the sun, wind, and rain. Vaqueros tied a sarape to their saddles. They could use it to protect themselves in cold or wet weather and at night while they slept. The sarape also helped them herd the cattle. Vaqueros would swing their sarape over their head to get the cattle to move. Something vaqueros didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct wear while doing their job was a pair of boots. They usually worked barefoot or in sandals. A lariat was another important tool for vaqueros. It was used to catch cattle or animals that could harm the cattle, such as coyotes. If a vaquero roped a coyote, everyone knew he was good at his job. Every good vaquero needed a well-trained horse that could make quick, sharp turns. The horses were also trained to step in front of a cow that was trying to escape from the herd. And they could stop suddenly if the vaquero pulled back on the reins. Training the Cowboys of Texas Spanish ranchers didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct stay in Texas. When they moved to other areas, their cattle and the vaqueros often remained. The new settlers who moved into Texas didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct know what to do with the cattle. But the vaqueros did. The vaqueros worked with the new settlers and taught them how to care for cattle. Soon some of these settlers were able to do the same work as the vaqueros, but they became known by a different name\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcTexas cowboys.
## What do elephants and parrots have in common? You may have seen a talking parrot on a TV show, in a movie, or even in someone\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs home. The parrot has learned to copy sounds that people make. Birds are not the only animals that can copy the noises they hear. Dolphins, bats, and some apes also mimic sounds. Now we can add elephants to this list of copycats. Dr. Joyce H. Poole is a zoologist. She studies the sounds of elephants. While she was in Kenya, she would hear strange noises made by Mlaika after sunset. Mlaika was a 10-year-old African elephant. Mlaika lived near a highway. Dr. Poole says, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI could not tell the difference between Mlaika\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs call and the distant truck noise.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc She and other scientists studied Mlaika\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs sounds. It turned out that Mlaika was copying the sounds of the trucks driving by. Chirping Elephants \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMlaika was not the only copycat elephant,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Dr. Poole says. Calimero is a 23-year-old male African elephant. He spent 18 years with two female Asian elephants. Asian elephants make chirping sounds to talk with one another. African elephants usually do not make chirping sounds. But Calimero now does. He is copying his Asian elephant friends. Only a few other mammals, such as bats, dolphins, and humans, have learned to copy noises around them. Many of them seem to copy the sounds of friends to create a special bond. Dr. Poole says that elephants, too, need to form bonds with their family and friends. She says, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThey make sounds to communicate with each other. When they are separated, they use sound to keep in contact.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbcWhy would Mlaika copy trucks that she heard going by on the highway? Animals that are able to mimic sounds may enjoy practicing new sounds. When they are kept outside of their natural environment, they may copy unusual sounds. That may be why an elephant would copy the sound of a truck. Parrots, dolphins, humans, and elephants show that being a copycat is one way that animals and people make new friends and keep old ones.
## I rub the goose bumps on my arms as a kid struts to the end of the diving board. He gives a friend on the ground the thumbs-up and launches into a cannonball. Boing! SPLASH! He comes up laughing. See, Taylor? I tell myself. It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs easy. Fun. Four kids to go until my turn. At the front of the line, a girl in a pink suit giggles with her friend. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcGo!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc my little brother, Travis, yells to them. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs jump together,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Pink Girl tells her friend. The gigglers reach the sixth rung of the ladder before the lifeguard whistles. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcJust one at a time!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she shouts. Pink Girl goes on alone, slowly. Will she change her mind, like I did last week? Will the lifeguard have to help her down the ladder while everyone stares? In front of me, Travis hops around like a monkey. Pink Girl jumps, her hair shooting out like a parachute. SPLASH! Three kids to go. Travis steps on my foot. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWatch it!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I snap. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSorry.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He moves away, just as Pink Girl\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs friend does a first-class belly flop. My brother\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs face lights up. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcDid you see that?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct answer. Only two kids to go. My stomach bubbles like a pot of oatmeal on the stove. You don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have to do this, I tell myself. But next week is the pool party, my brain argues. You\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll be the only one who can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct go on the diving board. The board clunks, and a girl dives gracefully into the pool. Life is so unfair. Travis is next. He scampers up the ladder and waves his skinny arms. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWatch this!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I close my eyes, then open them just in time to see him hop off the end of the board. He pops out of the water, grinning. I can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct help smiling, too. Nothing scares that kid. The boy behind me taps my shoulder. It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs my turn. I count the rungs as I climb. One. Two, three. Four, five, six. Seven, eight. Nine. Blue water stretches out in front of me. Kids are shooting off the waterslide at the other end of the pool. A boy runs across the concrete. A lifeguard blows her whistle at him. Everywhere, everyone is moving. Except me. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat are you waiting for?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc demands a kid on the ground. I step forward. The water looks so far away. Then I see Travis standing by the lifeguard\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs chair, shivering. His eyes lock on mine. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou can do it!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he yells. That\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs what I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve always told him: When he was learning to tie his shoes. Or write his name. Or ride his bike without training wheels. You can do it. 1534 35 36 I take a deep breath and step out into nothing. My body drops, my stomach rises. Then my toes slice the water and I plunge deep. I flap my arms and pull myself to the surface, where my face finds the sun. I DID IT! Travis is doing a happy dance. I climb out, dripping. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHey,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I say, like I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve been doing this forever. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs go again.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHow long do we have to be patient?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Thomas asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAs long as it takes,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Grandfather. This didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct sound good. Thomas scowled, scratched his arm, his head, his ankle. He shifted from one leg to the other. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcObserve, Thomas, how quietly they wait\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcthe pelicans and our friend the heron. They don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct wriggle and writhe, like some I could name.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThey don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have anything to do but wait.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThomas, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve said it before and I say it again, you are a restless boy.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI know,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Thomas said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcGrandfather?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYes, Thomas?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhen you were a boy, were you restless?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Grandfather tipped his head till his beard pointed at the sky. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll cast my mind back.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Thomas waited. Grandfather lowered his chin, looked into Thomas\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs eyes. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI was,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOh, good.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Grandfather threw out their lines again, handed Thomas his pole. They went on being patient. They\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd had a few strikes, but each time the fish got the bait and Thomas and Grandfather got nothing. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAll part of the game,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Grandfather would say, calmly Thomas landed a blowfish. It came out of the water already starting on its defense. Breathing deeply, it began to puff up, swelling until it looked like a bubblegum bubble with spines. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThinks he looks pretty fierce, doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct he, Grandfather?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHe does look fierce, for a fellow his size.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Grandfather dropped the stiff little blown-up blowfish into the water, where it slimmed down and swam off as if nothing unusual had happened. They caught a flounder. Flounders are bottom fish, and mostly spend their lives buried in sand. Their eyes are on top of their heads, they are flat as plates, and the one they caught was too small to keep. Carefully, Grandfather slid it back into the water. Too bad. Flounder were good eating. Especially the way Grandfather prepared them. Thinking about Grandfather\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs cooking made Thomas\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs mouth water. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre a very good cook, Grandfather,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcTrue.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm getting kind of hungry.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSo am I,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Grandfather. He did not sound ready to quit. Thomas sighed and moved his rod gently up and down. They caught a ladyfish. These are not good eating. Grandfather was about to toss it back when the heron darted forward and took it right from his hand, then tossed his head up and set about swallowing. Thomas watched as the bony fish went down the bird\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs long neck. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm glad we don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have to swallow whole fish that way,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSo am I,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Grandfather. Suddenly Thomas\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs rod dipped. A fish flipped out of the water a long way off. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSpeckled trout,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Grandfather. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcA big one. Gently, now, Thomas. You don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want him to throw the hook.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm trying,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Thomas said, turning the reel as slowly as he could. He wished Grandfather would take over, but didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct ask. Grandfather believed it was every man to his own fish. Slowly, slowly, he reeled in his trout until it was close enough for Grandfather to scoop up with the net. He was willing to do that. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBy golly, Thomas!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he shouted. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLook at the size of him!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Thomas, swelling like a blowfish, regarded his catch proudly. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll have to go in the book, won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct he, Grandfather?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHe certainly will. A page to himself, like the snook we caught.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou caught.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAll right. I caught. But this is your fish, and you are the one to write him in the book.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOh, good,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Thomas said happily. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNow\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbclet\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs go to it,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Grandfather. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThis crowd of trout is here, and we have to strike before they take off....\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc In the excitement, Thomas forgot to be tired. Side by side, he and his grandfather caught fifteen trout and had to send only three of them back to sea\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcto grow bigger and maybe be caught another day. Twelve good-sized fish. Grandfather would keep out enough for tonight and tomorrow\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs dinner, and freeze the rest for later eating. Thomas swallowed hungrily, thinking about dinner. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAll right,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Grandfather said at last. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs go home.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Collecting their gear, richer by twelve speckled trout, they clanked back up the beach.
## One day, as Niel was strolling down the road, he spotted a snake trapped between two rocks. Niel hated seeing a creature in trouble. He pulled apart the rocks carefully so that the snake could slither away. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI owe you a reward,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said the snake. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHold out your hand.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc And the snake dropped a snake tooth into his palm. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWear it around your neck,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he whispered, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcand you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll understand everything that animals say. But if you reveal your secret, the charm won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct work anymore.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct tell anyone,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Niel assured him. The snake flicked out his tongue. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBeware! Secrets are hard to keep, my friend.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc That night, lying on the cot next to his wife, Niel heard mice scurrying across the floor. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWill we find any injera bread in this hut, I wonder?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc one mouse squeaked at another Niel sat up in surprise, clasping his charm. He could understand the mouse\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs squeaking. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe people in this house never put food away correctly,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc replied the second mouse. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe are going to feast like emperors.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Niel couldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct help laughing. The poor mice would be disappointed. He and his wife had eaten everything. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhy are you laughing, Niel?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked his wife. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct tell you,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc replied Niel, remembering the snake\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs warning. In the morning, a milk seller knocked on the door of the hut. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI hope that these people aren\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct foolish enough to part with their money,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Niel heard one cat say to another. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe master has watered down the milk.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Niel laughed out loud again. Being able to understand animals seemed to have a lot of benefits. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs the big joke?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked his wife. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhy can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct you tell me?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI have my reasons,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc answered Niel. And he refused to say anything else. Later that afternoon, Niel\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs old aunt came to visit, riding on her big cow. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs not fair, that woman riding on me in this heat,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc the cow complained to a stray cat. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcShe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs heavier than a cartload of mangoes.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Niel tried hard not to giggle. Aunt Sora would be furious if she found out what the big cow was saying about her! \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve had enough!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc fumed his wife. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf you don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct tell me what\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs making you laugh, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm going home to my parents.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Niel didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want to lose his wife\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbche loved her too much. He told her his secret immediately, but his wife didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct believe him. Niel gave her the charm. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHere, you try it.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc But the charm had stopped working. Niel\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs wife couldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct understand what the animals were saying, and when he put the charm around his neck again, neither could Niel. The fun was over! A few days later, Niel was resting under the mango tree when the snake slithered past. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI see that you have revealed your secret, my friend.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI did it for my wife,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Niel ruefully. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcTrue love should be rewarded,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said the snake. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPut out your hand again.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc The snake gave Niel a feather. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWear it around your neck,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcand you will be able to understand everything that the birds say. But do not reveal the secret to anyone, or the charm will stop working.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve learned my lesson,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Niel. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNothing on this earth will make me tell again.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc The snake rattled his tail and laughed. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI told you that secrets are hard to keep, my friend. We\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll see how long you last this time.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc
## Digging for dinosaurs was hot work. Benny sat back on his heels and took a long drink from his water bottle. At first, when Mom and Dad had told him they were going on a dinosaur dig for vacation, he\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd been excited. He\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd bragged to his friends that he\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd find the skeleton of a never-before-discovered dinosaur. The Benosaurus, they\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd probably name it. But the real dig wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct at all what he\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd expected. For starters, he wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct even digging. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNo shovels,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Dave, the paleontologist in charge, told them. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAny dinosaur bones buried here should be within a couple of feet of the surface. We don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want to risk clunking around and breaking them.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Then he\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd handed out ice picks and paint brushes and showed everyone how to chip and brush away sand and dirt, slowly and carefully, a little bit at a time. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe most important thing is knowing where to look,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Dave said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSome rocks aren\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct old enough to have dinosaur bones. Other rocks are too old. We\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve studied this area before and found lots of fossils, so I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm hopeful you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll find some too!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Well, that had been two days ago, and so far the most exciting thing Benny had found was that his front tooth was loose. He wiggled it now. If he couldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct find any dinosaur bones, at least he could show his friends back home that he\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd lost another tooth. Dave crouched beside Benny. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHow\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs it going?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOK,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Benny said. It didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct seem very nice to say that he was bored. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThis is pretty slow.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Dave nodded. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYep,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he agreed. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hard work. Sometimes paleontologists and fossil hunters look for weeks without finding anything. And we hardly ever find a whole skeleton.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He added, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou know, Ben, if you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre tired of searching, you can always help someone else on the crew.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Benny looked around the dry, rocky hillside. Dave\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs assistants were busy taking photographs and drawing pictures and making charts. Some were using GPS devices to make maps of the area. Some were writing in notebooks. Dave said it was important to take good field notes, to record exactly what you did and where you were when you looked for fossils. Benny thought holding the GPS tool might be fun, but he wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct giving up. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll keep looking,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he added, thinking out loud, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcthe pictures always show dinosaurs in swampy places. Did they live in deserts, too?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAhh,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Dave. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSome probably did, but not around here. Millions of years ago, this wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct desert. It was wet and green and lush. The Earth\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs changed a lot since the time of the dinosaurs.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Dave slapped Benny on the back and got to his feet. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcKeep up the good work, Ben,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said encouragingly. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI think today will be your lucky day!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Pick, chip, brush, and sweep. Benny bent over his patch of rocky ground and carefully cleared away the sand and gravel. When he needed a break, he wiggled his loose tooth. The sun climbed higher and hotter into the sky. He was getting into the rhythm of things. Either that, or the heat was just making him drowsy. And then it happened. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMy tooth!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Benny said, surprised. He stared down at the dirt. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMY TOOTH!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Benny whooped. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMy dinosaur tooth! I found a real, live dinosaur tooth!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Dave hurried over to look, careful not to disturb the ground in front of Benny\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs find. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWell, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll be!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a tooth all right!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat kind is it?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Benny asked excitedly. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIs it T. rex? Apatosaurus? Triceratops?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Dave laughed, but he kept studying the fossil in the ground. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWell, Ben,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he finally said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve seen a lot of dinosaur teeth, but this one\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs different. I think you may have found one we haven\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct seen before. Good job!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc
## Much like human children, young dolphins love to play with toys. Wild dolphins are very curious. They explore their world, looking for interesting items. A piece of seaweed might inspire a game. The frisky calves will chase one another, passing the seaweed from snout, to flipper, to tail. When most young animals wrestle, race, or chase, it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs not about winning. Each youngster is building its strength and skills. And they are learning to cooperate. If one youngster plays too rough, the others will let him know they are unhappy with his behavior. Even when everyone cooperates, play can get dangerous. But animals play anyway! Young mountain goats live all their lives on steep slopes. The kids bump each other and butt heads in fun. If they\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre not careful, kids can fall and hurt their legs or even break their bones. When they play, the young animals learn to keep their footing no matter what might happen. Groups of young vervet monkeys sometimes sneak away from the adults in their family. All wrapped up in their games, the little ones may not notice when danger is near. So an adult monkey will go looking for the straying youngsters. The adult will yell out a warning. Watch out! Be careful! You\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve heard parents or teachers say these things when you play. Animals have to learn about the dangers in their world too. Playing helps them learn. Playing helps them get along. Playing makes them strong and confident.
## When Ma Ma left Shanghai for America, I didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct know it would be so long before I saw her again that I forgot her smell. Not quite, but when I did finally see her, more than one year had passed and her smell had changed. There was no more of her soft perfume along with the anise that she put in the soup. Ma Ma had a sharp soap smell instead. It was so strange to me that I almost didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct recognize her. The flight attendant brought me to her. I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd been asleep on the plane so my careful pigtails were all messed up. At first I wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct even sure that it really was Ma Ma, and I held tightly to the hand of the lady. Grandma Po Po had asked her to deliver me safely to my mother. I wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct scared. When Po Po told me to be brave on the long trip, I wondered why she said that. Sitting on a plane with a nice lady to watch over me wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct scary. But now when I smelled the sharp soap, I knew what she meant. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcTing, you have grown so tall,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Ma Ma said, scooping me into her arms. The lady left and tears came out of my eyes. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcDon\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct cry, Ting,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Ma Ma said, wiping my face with her palm. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll go home and have some soup. Noodle soup to celebrate that you are in America.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I listened to Ma Ma\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs words. Her voice was the same as I remembered it. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhere is Ba Ba?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHe had to go to Chicago. He\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll come back to see you very soon.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I tried to imagine how my father looked, but all I could remember was the smoky smell of his clothes. I held tightly to Ma Ma\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hand as we went through the airport. The voices around us were so flat. No up and down sounds. When I was in Shanghai, Uncle said I should learn English. He found an English teacher who came to our apartment every Wednesday and Friday after school. She had ten English books and I finished all of them. But at the airport, I didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct hear the words in my books. I gripped Ma Ma\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hand, so much smoother than Po Po\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs. The noodle soup was almost the same but not quite. In my mouth it was fine, but the smell was not right. I had only a few spoonfuls. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct like soup anymore? Now you like meat?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I shook my head. The room was spinning. The kitchen stove was gigantic. It even had a door like a room. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs that?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOven,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Ma Ma said in English. She explained in Chinese. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt gets very hot inside.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc In Shanghai, we didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have an oven. Po Po cooked everything on an electric hot plate on the landing. Soup, noodles, everything. Ma Ma showed me my bed. It had a blue plaid blanket on it. The room was like a closet with a small window at the end. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCan I sleep with you?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I asked. In China I slept with my cousin Hong. She took all the covers and pushed me into a small space against the wall, but still I was not alone. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIn America you have your own room,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Ma Ma said. The bed was so fresh and new. My nightgown had the same soapy smell as the noodles. The air was too quiet.
## It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs winter in Alaska\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcmidnight\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcnine degrees above zero. And yet, there are people\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcgrown-ups bundled against the cold; children are clothed in scarves, gloves, and fur-lined boots, outside, looking at the sky. Why? It is because the sky is putting on a show for them, a show we call the northern lights. Scientists call it the aurora borealis. Sometimes the northern lights are soft clouds of white. Sometimes they dance across the sky in streaks of blue and green, yellow and red. What causes the northern lights? Why can they be seen only at night? And why do they change from night to night? Scientists give us some answers. The Earth is a huge magnet, with two poles, the North Pole and the South Pole. The sun has storms that send out streams of tiny particles called electrons. Scientists call this stream the solar wind. It races off into space and is pulled toward our two poles by their magnetic force. Reaching the Earth\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs atmosphere, the wind hits a stone wall, the magnetic field that surrounds the Earth, called the magnetosphere. Energy from the solar wind creates an electric charge. That is what makes the aurora borealis, or northern lights, near the North Pole; the aurora australis, or southern lights, are near the South Pole. What makes the different colors? There is an easy answer for scientists. We\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve seen different-colored, neon signs. Imagine such huge lights hanging high in space\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbc100 miles high. When electricity heats up gases, they turn colors. The electric charge in the magnetosphere goes through nitrogen in the air, and it glows with a blue light. Oxygen turns green or sometimes red. The stronger the solar wind, the stronger the electric charge and the more colorful the aurora are. Because the southern aurora can be seen only in or near Antarctica, most people see the northern lights. To see them best, people look for them in 2015 ELA Grade 3 Released Questions 2324 2015 ELA Grade 3 Released Questions 7 8 9 September or March. At that time, there are 12 hours of darkness, and the solar winds are usually stronger. But why is this only at night? The auroras shine all day and all night, just as stars do. During daylight, the sun outshines them. The best time to see the northern lights is between midnight and 2:00 a.m. Is it worth staying up that late? You bet, especially when the solar wind is so strong that the lights are as colorful as they can be. The northern lights take on different shapes: shimmering curtains, colored clouds twisting and turning, and arcs of colors covering the entire sky. They appear close to the North Pole. If you do not live in places like Alaska, Norway, or Canada, you probably won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct see them. But you can see pictures of them on an aurora website. Our world is filled with beautiful sights. A midnight sky filled with color in a cold, cold climate is one of the most beautiful.
## \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMom, why do we always have to wait in line?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Eli. He slumped against the grocery cart. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre waiting our turn,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. Eli sighed and rolled his head back to stare at the ceiling. An escaped pirate balloon bobbed up and down against the flat white lights. One of the pirate\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs eyes was covered with a coal-black patch, and the other winked down at Eli. If I were a pirate, I wouldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have to wait in line, thought Eli. He flashed his jeweled saber and shouted to the trusty crew, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAarrr, maties! Clear the bloomin\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc decks!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc A band of swashbuckling pirates dashed through the line of shoppers. They danced a feisty jig and tossed gold doubloons in the air. While shoppers chased the rolling coins, Eli and Mom rushed to the front of the checkout line. They escaped in a magnificent pirate ship and sailed the seven seas home. There, Eli searched for hidden treasure with his friend, Max, for the rest of the afternoon. Pirates never had to wait in line at the grocery store. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs go, Eli,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom as they left the checkout line. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe need to stop at the bank.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWill there be a line there, too?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Eli. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMaybe,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAargh,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc grumbled Eli. The line at the bank looked even longer than the grocery store line. Whoosh! What was that sound? Eli peered over the bank counter to the drive-through. Customers were placing plastic tubes in some sort of portal, pressing a button, and swoosh\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcthe tubes zoomed through the air to the bank teller inside. It looked like a starship launcher! Starship commanders don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have to wait in line at the bank, thought Eli. He switched on his light laser and flipped open his star command communication device. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCommand Control, come in! We\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve got a long line here at Galactic Bank. Please send backup!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he ordered. A fleet of starships swooped down to the bank parking lot. The people in line rushed out the door to gape at the sleek, blinking starships. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCan we have a ride?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc they begged. While the starship commanders took turns giving rides, Mom and Eli swept to the front of the line. Eli whisked out his tele- transporter gadget and beamed them home to watch back-to-back episodes of Star Guys Planet. Starship commanders never had to wait in line at the bank. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcEli,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom as they left the bank, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcwant to pick up dinner at Burger Barn on the way home?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWill we get to wait in line?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Eli. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPossibly,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. Eli smiled. They left the bank and zoomed over to Burger Barn, where the line was longer than a clippety-cloppin\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc mule train. But Eli didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct mind. Cowboy sheriffs never have to wait in line at Burger Barn! \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPlease step aside, mister. Step aside, ma\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcam.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Sheriff Eli tipped his ten-gallon hat, gave his silver spurs a whirl, and swaggered to the front of the line. No one minded. Sheriff Eli was the hero of Goldtown. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHave you caught any cattle rustlers today, Sheriff?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc the pigtailed waitress asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOnly \xfc\xbe\x8d\x86\x90\xbcbout twenty or thirty. Got \xfc\xbe\x8d\x86\x90\xbcem all locked up so Goldtown is safe once more.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Everyone in Burger Barn whooped and hollered. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAll in a day\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs work,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Sheriff Eli. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNow my throat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs full of trail dust, and my belly\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs growlin\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc somethin\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc fierce.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc While he waited for his food he let the young \xfc\xbe\x8d\x86\x90\xbcuns twirl his sparkling silver spurs and tie knots in his lasso. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThank ye kindly,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said to the Burger Barn waitress. She piled on extra fries. Sheriff Eli tipped his hat and rode off into the sunset eating his Golden Chicken Nuggets, French fries, and milk. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcO.K., Eli, let\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs go,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWh-what?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Eli. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre finished with our errands for today,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHow about meeting Max at the park?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMax, me matey?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Eli. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBloomin\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc great idea!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou might have to wait in line for the slide.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcStar command check!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAnd maybe the swings, too.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAlways glad to step aside until my turn, ma\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcam,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Eli drawled. Mom laughed as Eli hoisted himself into the car and swashbuckled his seatbelt. She fired up their sleek galactic starship and they followed the winding, dusty trail to the park.
## Wintertime gym class means ball tag and jumping jacks, right? SNOW WAY! Teachers say snowshoes are improving their students\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc: \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc hearts and lungs, \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc muscles, \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc and spirits. Kids just say it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs fun! \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs sort of like you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre walking on thin air,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Troy Pierce, eight. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe snowshoes sort of keep you up on the snow.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc And that\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs pretty important where they live, said Alex Almquist. Alex and Troy are students at Hancock Elementary School in the far northern part of Michigan. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThere\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs lots and lots of snow,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc laughed Alex. That means snowshoes are perfect for gym class in the winter. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe benefit of snowshoeing for kids is getting their heart rate up near maximum,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc says Julie Hamar, a PE teacher at Hancock Elementary School in Hancock, Michigan. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a good all around activity for kids.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc In other words, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hard to walk and it gets your legs all strong,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Troy. Nearly 400 students in Ms. Hamar\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs PE classes get to use the snowshoes, taking hikes, running relay races, and doing outside exercises. The school\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs PTO purchased the snowshoes for the kids recently. Not only do PE classes use them, but regular classes strap them on for outside nature hikes and wildlife study, too. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI teach them the basic technique: how to put on the snowshoes and the proper ways of walking in snowshoes,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Ms. Hamar says. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou have to lift your feet up or you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre going to trip,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc cautions Alex, eight. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSnowshoes are huge.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc The classes take a short hike around the school. Then they hit the slopes and trails nearby. It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs not unusual to see animal signs. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe saw tracks and a den,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Troy. The rabbit that made them had something in common with the kids. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcTheir feet are really flat, like snowshoes,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Troy said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThey\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre better for walking.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs good for the kids because it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs extra hard work walking on the snowshoes in deep snow,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc says Ms. Hamar. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou can tell. They start to unzip their jackets; they\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre starting to sweat underneath their hats.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc All that means the kids are getting good exercise and having fun instead of sitting around all winter. Making tracks outside means getting strong inside. Snow Toes Sam Watson has been on the snowshoe crew longer than he can remember. His father started making children\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs snowshoes when Sam was only two or three. But he recalls lots of snowshoeing from about age 5 or 6, as his father, Jim Watson, the founder of Little Bear Snowshoes, created new shoes. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOf course, I was the logical one to test them,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc says Sam, now 11. But snowshoes are also a great way to reach the hidden skiing and ice shing spots that Sam loves. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre strapped onto a big oval-shaped sort of platform and that allows more surface on the snow, so you don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct sink,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he says. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSnowshoes spread your weight out over the snow,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc says Sam, showing the wide working surface of snowshoes above. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou can go out in the wintertime and not worry about getting snow in your pants and freezing your legs off.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc
## All the way there David had saved this moment for himself, struggling not to peek until the proper time came. When the car finally stopped, the rest of them got out stiffly and went into the new house. But David walked slowly into the back yard with his eyes fixed on the ground. For a whole minute he stood there, not daring to look up. Then he took a deep breath, clenched his hands tightly, and lifted his head. There it was!\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcas Dad had described it, but infinitely more grand. It swept upward from the valley floor, beautifully shaped and soaring, so tall that its misty blue peak could surely talk face to face with the stars. To David, who had never seen a mountain before, the sight was almost too much to bear. He felt so tight and shivery inside that he didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct know whether he wanted to laugh, or cry, or both. And the really wonderful thing about the mountain was the way it looked at him. He was certain that it was smiling at him, like an old friend who had been waiting for years to see him again. And when he closed his eyes, he seemed to hear a voice which whispered, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCome along, then, and climb.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc It would be so easy to go! The back yard was hedged in (with part of the hedge growing right across the toes of the mountain), but there was a hole in the privet large enough to crawl through. And just beyond the hedge the mountainside awaited him, going up and up in one smooth sweep until the green and tawny faded into hazy heights of rock. It was waiting for him. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCome and climb,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc it whispered, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbccome and climb.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc But there was a great deal to do first. They were going to move into the new house. The moving van was standing out in front, the car must be unloaded. David would be needed to carry things. Regretfully, he waved his hand at the peak and whispered, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt shouldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct take long\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll be back as soon as I can.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Then he went around to the front door to see what could be done about speeding things up. Inside, everything was in confusion. Dad was pushing chairs and tables around in an aimless way. Mother was saying, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThey\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll all have to go out again; we forgot to put down the rug first.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Aunt Amy was making short dashes between the kitchen and the dining room, muttering to herself. And Beckie was roaring in her crib because it was time for her bottle. David asked, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCan I do anything?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbchoping that the answer would be no. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcC\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcmere,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Aunt Amy said, grabbing him by the arm. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHelp me look for that ironing board.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc When the ironing board was finally located, Mother had something for him to do. And when he was finished with that, Dad called for his help. So the afternoon wore on without letup\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcand also without any signs of progress in their moving. When David finally got a chance to sneak out for a breathing spell, he felt his heart sink. Somehow, in all the rush and confusion, the afternoon had disappeared. Already the evening sun was throwing shadows across the side of the mountain and touching its peak with a ruddy blaze. It was too late now. He would have to wait until morning before he could climb.
## SHELL STORY The first thing you notice about a sea turtle is its big, beautiful shell. And that brings up one of the main differences between sea turtles and most other kinds of turtles. Most turtles have shells like houses that they can pull their heads and limbs into. But a sea turtle can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct pull into its shell at all. The shells of most kinds of sea turtles are made of bone and cartilage (the same bendable stuff your ears are made of). These are covered with thin plates called scutes. But the leatherback\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs shell is different. Its shell is made up of cartilage and tiny bones, but covering these is a layer of leathery skin. SUITED FOR THE SEA Sea turtles breathe air with lungs, just as you can do. But they can hold their breath a lot longer than you ever could. The green sea turtle is the champ. It can stay underwater for as long as five hours! To swim, sea turtles use their strong, paddle-shaped front flippers. Their hind flippers help with steering. But sea turtles are more than just great swimmers. Some of them are great divers. The leatherback can dive more than a thousand feet deep, looking for food. That\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs the length of three football fields. And its deepest dives can be three times deeper than that! CHOW TIME Did someone mention food? Depending on the species, sea turtles can be animal-eaters, plant-eaters, or both. They don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct even have teeth, but their beaks can give clues as to what they eat. The sharp, strong beak of the loggerhead turtle, for example, is great for crushing the shells of crabs and shrimp. A hawksbill\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs narrow, pointed beak helps it pull prey such as sponges from tight spaces in a coral reef. A leatherback has a soft, delicate beak\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcjust the thing for eating squishy foods such as jellyfish. And the green sea turtle\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs jagged-edged beak is great for snipping sea grasses and scraping algae off coral and rocks. NESTING TIME Sea turtles spend almost their entire lives in the water. But when it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs nesting time, the females come ashore to lay their eggs. They often return to the same beaches where they themselves hatched. In most species, a female sea turtle comes ashore at night. She crawls clumsily along the sand. Next, she uses her flippers to dig a nest. Depending on the species, she lays from 50 to 200 round, white eggs. Then she covers them up with sand and lumbers back into the sea. Later, the baby turtles hatch from the eggs and dig their way out of the nest. They crawl down to the shoreline and then disappear into the waves. TURTLE TROUBLES Sea turtles have been around for millions of years. But these days they face their share of troubles. Many get caught in fishing nets or tangled in fishing lines. Turtles are also harmed by pollution, litter, and oil spills. Lights along the streets and on buildings near the beach can cause problems, too. Newly hatched babies can become lost and crawl toward the artificial light instead of the ocean where they belong. HOPE FOR THE FUTURE The good news is that lots of people are trying hard to help sea turtles. Many laws have been passed to protect them. In some places, for example, beach communities are required to turn off outside lights at night during nesting season. And to keep eggs safe from predators, pollution, and other dangers, people sometimes carefully dig them up and move them to \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcnurseries\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc protected by high fences. Thanks to conservation efforts like these, sea turtle numbers are actually going up in some places. With a little luck, these ancient reptiles will be flapping through the sea for another hundred million years!
## She went to various clothes heaps in my room and revealed the slices of bread, which ranged from slightly moldy to totally overgrown. Benji picked up the pieces and laid them out on my desk. If the bread hadn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct been buried in my wardrobe like some sort of ancient Egyptian funeral offering, I probably would have found it pretty fascinating. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm sorry,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Ellen said again. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll explain to your mom that this was my fault. And I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll help you clean your room. Okay? If there\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs one thing I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm really good at, it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs straightening up.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc She looked at me like she expected me to turn her down. She seemed really sorry. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSure. You can help. That would be wonderful.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll help too,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Benji said. George nodded. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThanks,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I said as we tackled the top layer. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThis is great. But we still don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have a project.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSure we do.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I was so shocked by the voice, I just stared at George. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe do?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Benji asked. George nodded and pointed at the bread. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMold!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Ellen said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe have a whole display of the stages of mold growth.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYeah,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I said. George was right. We had pieces of bread for each week. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut is that enough?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc It was hard to imagine a whole project from some slices of moldy bread. Then I realized it wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct just about mold growth. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLook,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I said, flipping a piece over. Ellen nodded. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMayonnaise. It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs acidic.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYup. We have an example of mold inhibition too. We just have to figure out a way to display it so you can see both sides.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcGreat,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Ellen said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut what if it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs still not enough?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOh, there might be some more . . .\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Benji said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat do you mean?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPromise you won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct kill me?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNo.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPromise you won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct make it slow and painful?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNo.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He shrugged. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI sorta don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct like turkey a whole lot.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOh, please don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct tell me you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve been stashing meat in my room.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He nodded. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhere?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I sniffed and looked around. Benji pointed at the top of my bookcase. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou slimeball,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I said as I climbed a chair to take a look. Oh, yuck. There were five piles of turkey in various stages of decomposition, neatly laid out from left to right. It was absolutely disgusting. It was also pretty fascinating. And I guess I was relieved to know the smell wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct coming from my clothes. I looked over at George. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat about you? Is there anything you don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct like?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He lifted a stack of books to reveal baby carrots. We got back to work. At five, I asked Ellen, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcDon\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct you have a piano lesson?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct hurt me to miss one.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc She flipped open her cell phone and made a call. Right after that, George left. I figured he had some sort of appointment he couldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct cancel. But I was grateful he\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd helped for as long as he could. There was still plenty to do. The rest of us kept working. Just as we were finishing, George returned, holding a beautiful display case with sections for the bread, turkey, and carrots. It even had mirrors in it to show both sides of the specimens. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWow,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcthat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs perfect. Did you build it?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He nodded. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre a genius with your hands,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I said. He smiled. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll do the captions,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Benji said. He started coming up with these awful puns that made everyone groan, like, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSpore score and seven weeks ago,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcRot and roll,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc and \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBacterial Girl.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc But we laughed too. And I knew Ms. Adler had a great sense of humor, so I figured it wouldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct hurt to use Benji\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs titles. Ellen, who had beautiful handwriting, lettered the signs. I typed a report to go along with the display. As we all finished up the project together, I realized I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd discovered an important scientific principle. It had nothing to do with mold, but everything to do with chemistry. Some elements combined quickly. Others combined slowly. And some didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct combine at all unless you mixed them together under high heat and intense pressure.
## genre title year
## fiction The Tent 2010
## nonfiction Hot Job 2010
## nonfiction Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express 2010
## poem The Snowman's Gift 2010
## poem A Backyard Bird 2006
## Instructional Where do clouds come from 2006
## fiction The loose tooth 2006
## nonfiction Robots 2007
## poem song of the polar bear 2007
## nonfiction As Cheerful as Cheerful Can Be 2007
## nonfiction Food a Fruit 2007
## fiction Fishing for Dinner 2008
## nonfiction George Washington 2008
## poem How Shall We Go To Grandma's House? 2008
## nonfiction Balloon Volleyball 2008
## nonfiction Chicks & Chickens 2009
## poem If It was Sunlight Shining 2009
## nonfiction Float in the Ocean 2009
## fiction Harold's Hundered Days of School 2009
## nonfiction A Rabbit Named Sticks 2009
## nonfiction Islands of the Worlds 2009
## fiction Skateboard Tricks 2009
## fiction Patricks Hero 2009
## fiction Lizard Problems 2009
## nonfiction Norman Bridwell and the Big Red Dog 2016
## nonfiction Amazing Kids 2016
## poem Pants 2016
## nonfiction A Sweet Way to Stop Hiccups 2016
## fiction A Hardworking Cat 2016
## nonfiction Healing with Happiness 2016
## poem Climbing 2016
## fiction Good Question, Chowder Head 2016
## nonfiction One Giant Paper Airplane 2016
## nonfiction Lead the Pack 2014
## fiction Can Do, Jenny Archer 2014
## fiction A New Way to Play 2014
## poem Styrofoam Wings 2014
## fiction The Dog and the Joey 2014
## fiction Jessica The Hippo 2013
## fiction M.D. = A Moody Day 2013
## nonfiction The Story Behind the Crunch 2013
## poem Saw My Teacher on A Saturday 2013
## fiction Kwan's Secret Talent 2013
## poem A Well-Worn Path 2011
## nonfiction Vaqueros: The Original Cowboys 2011
## nonfiction Copycat Elephants 2013
## fiction Jump 2013
## fiction Secrets are hard to keep 2015
## nonfiction Digging for Dinos 2015
## nonfiction Why Do Animals Play 2015
## fiction Excerpt from Honey Suckle House 2015
## nonfiction The Aurora Borealis 2015
## fiction Eli Escapes 2015
## fiction Snow Fun on The Run 2014
## fiction Excerpt from David and the Pheonix 2014
## nonfiction Sea Turtles 2014
## Fiction Science Friction 2014
##
## Source: /Users/TomCurran/Documents/GitHub/TextMiningProjects/TextMiningProjects/QTA_FinalProject/* on x86_64 by TomCurran
## Created: Thu Jun 1 10:56:40 2017
## Notes:#View(corpus_summary,"Corpus Summary")library(pander)
library(quanteda)
#Combined Heap
pander(summary(lm(log(corpus_summary$Types) ~log(corpus_summary$Tokens))))| Â | Estimate | Std. Error | t value | Pr(>|t|) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| log(corpus_summary$Tokens) | 0.7681 | 0.03718 | 20.66 | 1.371e-27 |
| (Intercept) | 0.5443 | 0.2296 | 2.371 | 0.0213 |
| Observations | Residual Std. Error | \(R^2\) | Adjusted \(R^2\) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 57 | 0.1865 | 0.8858 | 0.8838 |
#Texas Heap
pander(summary(lm(log(corpusTX$Types) ~log(corpusTX$Tokens))))| Â | Estimate | Std. Error | t value | Pr(>|t|) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| log(corpusTX$Tokens) | 0.6847 | 0.04946 | 13.84 | 6.151e-13 |
| (Intercept) | 1.09 | 0.3121 | 3.493 | 0.001876 |
| Observations | Residual Std. Error | \(R^2\) | Adjusted \(R^2\) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 0.1766 | 0.8887 | 0.8841 |
#plot(lm(log(corpusTX$Types) ~log(corpusTX$Tokens)))#New York Heap
pander(summary(lm(log(corpusNY$Types) ~log(corpusNY$Tokens))))| Â | Estimate | Std. Error | t value | Pr(>|t|) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| log(corpusNY$Tokens) | 0.8476 | 0.05397 | 15.71 | 1.021e-15 |
| (Intercept) | 0.04626 | 0.327 | 0.1414 | 0.8885 |
| Observations | Residual Std. Error | \(R^2\) | Adjusted \(R^2\) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 0.1837 | 0.8948 | 0.8912 |
#plot(lm(log(corpusNY$Types) ~log(corpusNY$Tokens)))library(plotly)##
## Attaching package: 'plotly'## The following objects are masked from 'package:plyr':
##
## arrange, mutate, rename, summarise## The following object is masked from 'package:ggplot2':
##
## last_plot## The following object is masked from 'package:stats':
##
## filter## The following object is masked from 'package:graphics':
##
## layoutggplotly(ggplot(corpus_summary, aes(log(corpus_summary$Types), log(corpus_summary$Tokens))) +
geom_smooth(method='lm')+geom_point()+facet_wrap(~state)+ylab("Tokens")+xlab("Types"))#NY Readability
readabilityNY <-corpus_subset(PASSAGES, state == 'ny')
readbilityNY <- textstat_readability(readabilityNY, measure="Flesch.Kincaid")
corpusNY$readbility<-readbilityNY
yr_readability_ny<-corpusNY[,c("year", "readbility")]
yr_readability_ny<-aggregate(yr_readability_ny$readbility, by=list(yr_readability_ny$year), FUN=mean)
names(yr_readability_ny)=c("Year","Average Readability")
yr_readability_ny$state<-"New York"
pander(yr_readability_ny)| Year | Average Readability | state |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 3.484 | New York |
| 2007 | 4.098 | New York |
| 2008 | 3.815 | New York |
| 2009 | 2.676 | New York |
| 2010 | 2.572 | New York |
| 2013 | 3.261 | New York |
| 2014 | 2.662 | New York |
| 2015 | 4.539 | New York |
#TX readability
readabilityTX <-corpus_subset(PASSAGES, state == 'tx')
readbilityTX <- textstat_readability(readabilityTX, measure="Flesch.Kincaid")
corpusTX$readability<-readbilityTX
yr_readability_tx<-corpusTX[,c("year", "readability")]
yr_readability_tx<-aggregate(yr_readability_tx$readability, by=list(yr_readability_tx$year), FUN=mean)
names(yr_readability_tx)=c("Year","Average Readability")
yr_readability_tx$state<-"Texas"
pander(yr_readability_tx)| Year | Average Readability | state |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 3.877 | Texas |
| 2011 | 3.829 | Texas |
| 2013 | 3.964 | Texas |
| 2014 | 4.915 | Texas |
| 2016 | 5.701 | Texas |
OverallReadability <- textstat_readability(PASSAGES, measure="Flesch.Kincaid")
corpus_summary$readbility<-OverallReadability
yr_readability<-corpus_summary[,c("year", "state","readbility")]
yr_readability<-aggregate(yr_readability$readbility, by=list("Year"=yr_readability$year), FUN = mean)
names(yr_readability)<- c("Year","Mean Readability")
pander(yr_readability)| Year | Mean Readability |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 3.484 |
| 2007 | 4.098 |
| 2008 | 4.133 |
| 2009 | 5.076 |
| 2010 | 2.572 |
| 2011 | 2.602 |
| 2013 | 3.638 |
| 2014 | 3.095 |
| 2015 | 4.539 |
| 2016 | 5.015 |
bothstates<-rbind(yr_readability_ny, yr_readability_tx)
ggplotly(ggplot(bothstates, aes(x=bothstates$Year,y=bothstates$`Average Readability`, color = factor(bothstates$state)))+geom_line()+geom_point() + ylab("Mean Flesch Kincaid Readbility Score")+xlab("Year")+ labs(color='State')+ggtitle("Flesch Kincaid Readbility Score by State"))read_combined <- textstat_readability(PASSAGES, measure="Flesch.Kincaid")
corpus_summary$readbility<-read_combined
combined <-corpus_summary[,c("year", "state","readbility")]
ggplotly(
ggplot(
combined,
aes(x=year, y=readbility),
group=factor(state)
)+
geom_point(aes(color=factor(state)))+
geom_smooth(method="lm")+
labs(color = "State")+
ggtitle("Mean Flesch-Kincaid Score by Test Passage"))nonfiction<-corpus_subset(PASSAGES, genre =="nonfiction")
nonfiction_sum <-summary(nonfiction)## Corpus consisting of 24 documents.
##
## Text Types Tokens Sentences state grade
## text2 142 273 25 ny 3
## text3 190 487 47 ny 3
## text8 136 272 25 ny 3
## text10 155 509 44 ny 3
## text11 162 310 22 ny 3
## text13 186 392 38 ny 3
## text15 174 398 22 ny 3
## text16 153 310 27 ny 3
## text18 105 222 21 ny 3
## text20 77 121 11 tx 3
## text21 295 677 51 tx 3
## text25 283 2022 117 tx 3
## text26 287 648 46 tx 3
## text28 280 623 41 tx 3
## text30 306 750 51 tx 3
## text33 276 635 39 tx 3
## text34 292 793 55 tx 3
## text41 329 719 47 tx 3
## text45 276 666 47 tx 3
## text46 180 422 32 ny 3
## text49 338 872 75 ny 3
## text50 172 290 26 ny 3
## text52 262 600 41 ny 3
## text56 350 735 48 ny 3
## passage
## Reporter: How long have you been a\xcafire fighter? Regina Wilson: Eight years. Reporter: How did you get started? Wilson: First, I had to take a lot of tests. Then, I went to\xcafire fighter school for 13 weeks. I learned how to put out\xcafires and how to use equipment, such as the ax and the fire hose. I also had to work out every day! Reporter: How do you stay safe on the job? Wilson: I wear special clothing called bunker gear. It helps keep me protected (safe) from\xcafire. I also carry an oxygen tank and a mask. They help me to breathe in a smoke-filled building. Reporter: Are there any new tools that\xcafire fighters use? Wilson: We have a special camera that can see in the dark. It can detect (find) heat. That way, we can tell where a fire is located. Reporter: Do you save pets? Wilson: I recently helped save some kittens. They were hiding under the beds. Pets usually hide during a\xcafire because they are scared. Reporter: Do you ever get afraid? Wilson: There is no time to be afraid. I think about what I have to do to put out the\xcafire safely. Reporter: What do you like best about being a fire fighter? Wilson: Helping people!
## Bill went in to see Mr. Majors. Bill stood tall and said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI want to join the Pony Express.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mr. Majors laughed, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcA big wind could blow you away!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou are too young.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcGee whiz!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Bill. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm sixteen.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcDon\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct try to fool me!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mr. Majors. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf you are sixteen, then I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm a lizard.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI guess I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm closer to fifteen,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Bill. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCan you ride? Follow trails? Swim? Shoot?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Mr. Majors. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYes, sir,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Bill. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI roped cattle when I was nine, and I can ride like the wind.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt will be no picnic,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mr. Majors. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou must ride seventy or more miles each day. There may be trouble, too.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm not afraid,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Bill said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI like your spunk, son,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mr. Majors, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcbut you must promise not to lie, not to swear, and not to ght. And you must deliver the mail on time, no matter what.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI promise,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Bill. Mr. Majors showed Bill a map. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThere\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs St. Joseph, and there\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs Sacramento, California. Eighty riders and four hundred ponies carry the mail between these cities,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mr. Majors. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a long way!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Bill. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYup,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mr. Majors. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs about two thousand miles. The riders travel all day and night to carry the mail in ten days. They are twice as fast as stagecoaches.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mr. Majors marked Red Buttes [BEWTZ]. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThat is your home station,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYour job is to take the mail from Red Buttes to Three Crossings.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMore than seventy-five miles on one pony?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Bill. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOf course not!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mr. Majors. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAlong the way there are stations with food, shelter, and fresh ponies. After two days\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc rest, you ride back with more letters.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Bill put on his red flannel shirt, a red neckerchief, blue trousers, riding boots, and a ten-dollar hat to keep off the rain. A shiny horn hung from his shoulder. He was a real Pony Express rider now!
## If someone asked you to draw a picture of a robot, how would it look? Like a person? That\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs how we often picture robots in our minds. But real robots look many different ways. Some robots have TV cameras for eyes. Some have special cells that help them touch. Many have computer brains. How robots look depends on the job they have to do. Some can even have their parts changed so they can do different jobs. Some robots look like huge bugs. NASA sent Viking Landers to Mars in 1976. They moved around on the surface, picked up soil, and did experiments. Robots can do boring jobs. They can do dangerous jobs with fast-moving machinery. They can do messy jobs, such as spray painting. They can do jobs no person could do, such as picking up hot metal. Robots don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct get bored. They don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct get tired. They don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct mind getting messy. Some people are afraid robots will take jobs away from people. But that doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have to happen. After all, people are in charge of robots. People must remember that robots are good at some things and humans are good at others. Some robots go around telling people that they don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have to be afraid of robots. These robots help people understand that robots can do dull, nasty jobs so people can do better ones.
## Miss Dinsmore lived all alone in a little gray house with a white front door. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a nice little house,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Miss Dinsmore said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut I wish it looked more cheerful. Maybe I should paint it a bright, pretty color. Then it will be as cheerful as cheerful can be.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Miss Dinsmore went to the paint store. She saw lots of cheerful colors there\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbc pink and blue and red and yellow and green. It was hard to choose. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI know what to do,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Miss Dinsmore said at last. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll paint picture after picture of my house with all of these cheerful colors. Then I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll choose the one I like best.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Miss Dinsmore set up her painting easel in the front yard and painted picture after picture of her little house. She painted a pink house. She painted a blue house. She painted a red one and a yellow one and a green one. She painted one with flower boxes under the windows. She painted doors and shutters in every color of the rainbow. She took each picture she painted into the house and hung it on the wall. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAll of my picture houses are pretty,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Miss Dinsmore. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut I still can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct decide which color will make my house look as cheerful as cheerful can be.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc And she went on painting pictures. One day, a neighbor came by while Miss Dinsmore was painting. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat a pretty picture,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc the neighbor said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI like pictures of houses.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou do?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Miss Dinsmore. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve painted picture after picture of my little house. Come inside and have a look at them.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Miss Dinsmore\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs neighbor liked the pictures. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll tell the whole town,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcEveryone will want to see your pictures.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc It was true. Lots of people came to the little gray house to see the pictures. Miss Dinsmore served them tea. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat pretty pictures,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc everyone said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAnd what a nice little house you have.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt is a nice little house,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Miss Dinsmore. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut I wish it looked more cheer\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbc\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc She stopped and looked around. Her little gray house was full of people looking at pictures, drinking tea, talking, laughing, and having fun. Miss Dinsmore smiled. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a nice little house,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she said again. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAnd it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a cheerful little house, too\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcespecially when good friends come to visit me. It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs as cheerful as cheerful can be.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc
## To have a farm, you don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct need tractors or plows or acres of land. All you need are a few things you can find in your kitchen and other corners of the house. Things like jelly glasses and coffee cans and pie tins. Spoons, toothpicks, and plastic baggies. Popsicle sticks and paper cups. Pits and seeds and other leftover parts of the foods you eat. And some potting soil and sand from the supermarket. Maybe your farm won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct grow a carrot or an orange. But with enough sunlight and water and love, you should get a carrot plant or a small orange tree. And lots of other leaves, vines, and sprouts. Now try this. When you suck on an orange, or slurp a grapefruit, or pucker on a lemon, save the seeds. Soak them overnight in warm water. Next stick your finger up to your knuckle in a pot of soil. Make a few holes like that and drop a seed into each hole. Be sure to plant the seeds about one inch apart or they won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have room to grow. Gently push the soil to fill up each hole. Water it all slowly until the soil is all wet and some trickles out the bottom of the pot. You have to trick these seeds into thinking they\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre home in the tropics or they won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct grow at all. So keep them in the sunniest window and give them a rainstorm when they feel dry. Not every seed will believe you and sprout. But in two weeks, you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll find out just how many fruits you can fool.
## It was a cold winter morning on February 22, 1732. This was more than 200 years ago. Inside a Virginia farmhouse where it was warm and cozy, a special baby boy was born. The baby\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs name was George Washington. As little George grew up, he loved the farm and all of the animals. He loved his horse best of all. George had two older brothers who lived away. He lived with a younger sister and three younger brothers. They followed George\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs every move. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs play Follow the Leader,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Betty. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcGeorge is the leader,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said John. Samuel and Charles agreed. George went to a small country school. He worked very hard. He was one of the smartest students. George was also the most honest boy in school. He grew up very fast. He was bigger and taller than all of the other boys. Everyone looked up to George. Sometimes George would choose games for his classmates to play. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcGeorge is a natural-born leader,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc his schoolmaster would say. In school George liked to read and to write. He liked numbers. But he liked to make maps and measure land best of all. This is called surveying. George practiced by measuring the vegetable gardens on his farm. Many farmers wanted George to survey their land. It would help them to know how much seed to buy when it was time to plant their crops. George was only a boy of sixteen. But the farmers trusted him. They knew George was very smart and honest. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHe will do a perfect job,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc one farmer said to another. George\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs big brother, Lawrence, took him on a surveying trip in the Virginia wilderness. They stayed many cold and rainy days and nights. There were many wild animals. George learned how to take care of himself in the woods. Living in the wilderness helped George to become an even greater leader. ** * Americans will never forget the first president of their land.
## It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a rainy, gloomy day again and there\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs nothing to do. You don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct feel like sitting quietly but you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre not allowed to make a lot of noise. What can you do for fun? Try balloon volleyball. Items needed for this game: \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc a balloon (or two, in case the first one bursts) \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc some string or yarn \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc two chairs \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc at least two people and a room Set up the room. If you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre in the living room, or a family room, be sure to move all the furniture out of the way. Get two chairs and set them in the middle, outer edges of the room. They should be at the same place you would put a volleyball net. Turn them so that the seat is facing the wall, not the \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcplaying\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc space. Tie the string or yarn onto the top of one chair, and run the rest of the string to the other chair. Now tie it on this chair at the same place as the first chair. You can decide the \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcout-of-bounds\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc lines, if you want to have them, but they really are not necessary in this game. Blow up the balloon. Choose sides. You will play this game on your knees (at least until they start hurting and you want to stand). Each side must get the balloon over the string in three hits. If it does not get over, the other side gets the balloon and a point. This game becomes more difficult because you must play without talking. You can also add other rules to make it more difficult; for example, you can only use your left hand or only your right hand to hit the balloon. Continue playing until one side gets 10 points. You can make your game longer or shorter by changing the number of points it takes to win. This is a fun way to get your energy out, have fun, and not make too much noise on a rainy, stay-in-the-house day!
## The book Chicks & Chickens tells about chickens. Most chickens live on farms where female chickens, called hens, lay eggs. This part of the story tells what happens to the eggs. Many farmers raise hens to lay eggs. Some breeds of hens lay white eggs. Others lay brown eggs. A few breeds lay green or blue eggs. A hen usually lays no more than one egg a day. After the hen has laid all her eggs, she sits on them gently, turning the eggs over now and then, keeping them warm all over. Warming the eggs is called incubation. The mother hen incubates her eggs for about 3 weeks. During this time, a chick is growing inside each egg. When the incubated eggs are about 3 weeks old, the brooding mother hears a cheeping sound. The eggshell of one of the eggs begins to crack. A chick using its egg tooth, a sharp part of its beak, is breaking out of its shell. The other eggs begin to hatch, too. At first the chicks are wet and sticky. They are very tired. Soon they dry and have fluffy yellow feathers called down. They become stronger. They can see and hear and begin to move about. The chicks make a cheeping sound to let their mother know where they are. The mother hen clucks and drops food in front of them. Chicks can eat the same food as their mothers. In a few weeks the chicks are bigger, but their mother still protects them. The chicks have grown feathers. In a few months these young chickens will look like their mother or father.
## It is easier to float in the ocean than it is to float in a swimming pool. Do you know why? Ocean water is full of salt\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcand salt water can hold up more weight than fresh water. See for yourself! (Ask an adult to help you.) You Will Need: \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc 3 cups warm water \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc Measuring cup \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc Wide-mouth jar \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc Salt \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc Spoon \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc Raw potato You Will Do: 1. Pour 1 12 cups of warm water into the jar. 2. Add 13 cup salt.3. Stir until the salt is completely dissolved. 4. Add another 1 12 cups of water. Pour it slowly over the back of the spoon into the jar so that the two liquids will not mix together.5. Gentlyplacethepotatointothejar. Do not drop it. What Will Happen: The potato will sink\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcbut only halfway! Why? Salt water is heavier than fresh water, so it will stay on the bottom. The fresh water will remain on top. The potato is heavier than the fresh water, but it is lighter than the salt water. That is why the potato will sink only halfway down.
## Lop-Eared Rabbit Village was on the north edge of a forest. The rabbits who lived there were called lop-eared because their ears drooped down around their faces. They were all very proud of their long, floppy ears. One young rabbit in Lop-Eared Rabbit Village was not so happy. His ears were different. They stood straight up. Everyone teased him and called him Sticks. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBe proud. Your grandfather had ears just like yours,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc his mother often said to him. But Sticks didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct like looking different. He wanted his ears to be long and floppy like everyone else\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs.
## Are you looking for a fun vacation spot? Do you like to sleep in a hotel, go shopping, and eat fancy meals? If so, Mona Island might NOT be the place for you! That\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs because Mona Island has no hotels, no museums, no shops, and no restaurants. None at all! But if you like nature, Mona Island is an amazing place to take a vacation. Some of the animals living there are not found anywhere else in the world. There are beautiful beaches and caves to explore. The sea around the island has colorful fish. There are many things that make Mona Island an unusual place. Why Is Mona Island Unusual? Mona Island is very small. On a map it looks like a tiny green lima bean floating in the big blue ocean. The only way to get there is by taking a long boat ride from the island of Puerto Rico. The government of Puerto Rico takes care of the island and has made it a natural reserve. That means the island\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs animals and plants are protected from being harmed by people. Mona Island is different from most places because people are not allowed to live there. Only a few park rangers are able to stay. The park rangers\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc job is to keep Mona Island safe and beautiful. They insist that rules be followed. One rule is that only 100 people at a time can visit the island. That way, the park rangers can make sure the land and animals remain safe. Visitors to Mona Island must prepare wisely for their trip. Visitors can sleep only in certain areas and must bring their own tents. And if they want anything to eat or drink, they have to bring that along too. But people who take the trouble to come to Mona Island are rewarded with many wonderful sights.What Is There to See on Mona Island? One thing that most people enjoy is getting to see the Mona Island iguana. This type of reptile grows to be about four feet long and lives only on Mona Island. It has scales that look like horns on top of its nose. The huge muscles on its face droop down and look like fat cheeks. It likes to lie around and warm itself in the sun. Almost 2,000 of these iguanas live on Mona Island. Several types of sea turtles also live on Mona Island. They nest along the white sandy beaches. Some of these turtles weigh as much as 600 pounds. That\031s almost as heavy as two refrigerators! People also come to the island to get a close-up view of many kinds of fish and other sea life. Visitors can scuba dive and snorkel in the crystal-blue waters. They wear masks and special equipment to be able to breathe underwater. They can swim far below the surface. The water is almost transparent. Through the clear water, divers can see the bright colors of the fish. Visitors can also explore caves. Some of the caves even have paintings and drawings on the walls. This artwork was made by the Arawak and Tai\001no Indians who lived on the island hundreds of years ago. After a full day of fun activities, visitors can settle in, listen to the night sounds, and view the stars in the huge sky. The night sky is a stunning sight. Because the island is far away from other places, it is surrounded by darkness, and the stars are easier to see. Visitors say that watching the stars is amazing. It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs the perfect end to a perfect day.
## Growing up, Norman Bridwell was not considered a very good artist. But he loved to use his imagination to draw. Although many people didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct think his art was The big red dog has appeared in more than just books. In the late 1990s a giant-size Clifford balloon was in a famous parade in New York City. In 2000, Clifford the Big Red Dog became a popular cartoon television show. In 2004, Bridwell\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs famous dog came to the big screen in Clifford\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs Really Big Movie. Clifford\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs image can also be seen on everything from puzzles to backpacks and clothes. Bridwell has written and illustrated many other books for children that do not include Clifford. Bridwell says he\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs also written other books that have not been accepted by publishers. Bridwell doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct let the rejection stop him. He tells children who like to write or draw not to give up. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf you like doing it and keep working at it, then someday you will succeed,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Bridwell says. He speaks from experience. Without Bridwell\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs determination and passion, the world would never have been introduced to Clifford the big red dog. good, Bridwell did not let it bother him. Bridwell once commented, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIn school, there was always someone better than me; the art teacher always liked their work better than mine.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Bridwell loved art so much, though, that he decided to make it his career. He attended art school and later moved to New York to take even more art classes. He found a job drawing cartoons for filmstrips, but soon he needed to earn more money because he was married and had a child. Bridwell needed a better job so that he could support his new family. He displayed his art in a special book called a portfolio and tried to find work drawing pictures for children\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs books. Bridwell showed his portfolio to about 15 companies that publish children\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs books. None of the companies hired Bridwell to draw pictures for their books, but an editor at one of the companies offered him some advice. She told him to try writing his own stories. She looked through his portfolio again and stopped at a picture of a baby and a red dog that was the size of a horse. She told Bridwell to think of a story that would match that picture. Bridwell didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct waste any time. He went home and wrote a story about a huge red dog and the little girl he belonged to. This time when he drew more pictures, he made the dog as big as a house! He named the girl Emily Elizabeth, after his daughter. He called the dog Tiny because he thought it would be a funny name for such a big dog. But his wife thought that Clifford was a better name, so Bridwell changed it. Then he took his story and artwork to another publishing company and hoped for the best. Three weeks later Bridwell got a phone call. The publisher wanted to print Clifford the Big Red Dog! At the time, Bridwell probably had no idea that his Clifford would become the most loved big red dog of all time! Since the book was first released in 1963, Bridwell has created more than 80 books about Emily Elizabeth and the big red dog. More than a hundred million copies of Clifford books have been printed all over the world and in 13 languages. In some countries Clifford\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs name isn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct even Clifford. For example, in France he is called Ketchup. Growing up, Norman Bridwell was not considered a very good artist. But he loved to use his imagination to draw. Although many people didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct think his art was The big red dog has appeared in more than just books. In the late 1990s a giant-size Clifford balloon was in a famous parade in New York City. In 2000, Clifford the Big Red Dog became a popular cartoon television show. In 2004, Bridwell\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs famous dog came to the big screen in Clifford\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs Really Big Movie. Clifford\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs image can also be seen on everything from puzzles to backpacks and clothes. Bridwell has written and illustrated many other books for children that do not include Clifford. Bridwell says he\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs also written other books that have not been accepted by publishers. Bridwell doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct let the rejection stop him. He tells children who like to write or draw not to give up. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf you like doing it and keep working at it, then someday you will succeed,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Bridwell says. He speaks from experience. Without Bridwell\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs determination and passion, the world would never have been introduced to Clifford the big red dog. good, Bridwell did not let it bother him. Bridwell once commented, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIn school, there was always someone better than me; the art teacher always liked their work better than mine.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Bridwell loved art so much, though, that he decided to make it his career. He attended art school and later moved to New York to take even more art classes. He found a job drawing cartoons for filmstrips, but soon he needed to earn more money because he was married and had a child. Bridwell needed a better job so that he could support his new family. He displayed his art in a special book called a portfolio and tried to find work drawing pictures for children\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs books. Bridwell showed his portfolio to about 15 companies that publish children\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs books. None of the companies hired Bridwell to draw pictures for their books, but an editor at one of the companies offered him some advice. She told him to try writing his own stories. She looked through his portfolio again and stopped at a picture of a baby and a red dog that was the size of a horse. She told Bridwell to think of a story that would match that picture. Bridwell didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct waste any time. He went home and wrote a story about a huge red dog and the little girl he belonged to. This time when he drew more pictures, he made the dog as big as a house! He named the girl Emily Elizabeth, after his daughter. He called the dog Tiny because he thought it would be a funny name for such a big dog. But his wife thought that Clifford was a better name, so Bridwell changed it. Then he took his story and artwork to another publishing company and hoped for the best. Three weeks later Bridwell got a phone call. The publisher wanted to print Clifford the Big Red Dog! At the time, Bridwell probably had no idea that his Clifford would become the most loved big red dog of all time! Since the book was first released in 1963, Bridwell has created more than 80 books about Emily Elizabeth and the big red dog. More than a hundred million copies of Clifford books have been printed all over the world and in 13 languages. In some countries Clifford\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs name isn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct even Clifford. For example, in France he is called Ketchup. Growing up, Norman Bridwell was not considered a very good artist. But he loved to use his imagination to draw. Although many people didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct think his art was The big red dog has appeared in more than just books. In the late 1990s a giant-size Clifford balloon was in a famous parade in New York City. In 2000, Clifford the Big Red Dog became a popular cartoon television show. In 2004, Bridwell\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs famous dog came to the big screen in Clifford\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs Really Big Movie. Clifford\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs image can also be seen on everything from puzzles to backpacks and clothes. Bridwell has written and illustrated many other books for children that do not include Clifford. Bridwell says he\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs also written other books that have not been accepted by publishers. Bridwell doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct let the rejection stop him. He tells children who like to write or draw not to give up. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf you like doing it and keep working at it, then someday you will succeed,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Bridwell says. He speaks from experience. Without Bridwell\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs determination and passion, the world would never have been introduced to Clifford the big red dog. good, Bridwell did not let it bother him. Bridwell once commented, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIn school, there was always someone better than me; the art teacher always liked their work better than mine.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Bridwell loved art so much, though, that he decided to make it his career. He attended art school and later moved to New York to take even more art classes. He found a job drawing cartoons for filmstrips, but soon he needed to earn more money because he was married and had a child. Bridwell needed a better job so that he could support his new family. He displayed his art in a special book called a portfolio and tried to find work drawing pictures for children\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs books. Bridwell showed his portfolio to about 15 companies that publish children\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs books. None of the companies hired Bridwell to draw pictures for their books, but an editor at one of the companies offered him some advice. She told him to try writing his own stories. She looked through his portfolio again and stopped at a picture of a baby and a red dog that was the size of a horse. She told Bridwell to think of a story that would match that picture. Bridwell didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct waste any time. He went home and wrote a story about a huge red dog and the little girl he belonged to. This time when he drew more pictures, he made the dog as big as a house! He named the girl Emily Elizabeth, after his daughter. He called the dog Tiny because he thought it would be a funny name for such a big dog. But his wife thought that Clifford was a better name, so Bridwell changed it. Then he took his story and artwork to another publishing company and hoped for the best. Three weeks later Bridwell got a phone call. The publisher wanted to print Clifford the Big Red Dog! At the time, Bridwell probably had no idea that his Clifford would become the most loved big red dog of all time! Since the book was first released in 1963, Bridwell has created more than 80 books about Emily Elizabeth and the big red dog. More than a hundred million copies of Clifford books have been printed all over the world and in 13 languages. In some countries Clifford\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs name isn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct even Clifford. For example, in France he is called Ketchup.
## \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNever say never. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbcThis is a quotation that Conner Long lives by. Conner is a young boy who has two great loves: sports and his younger brother Cayden. Conner always wished Cayden could play sports with him. But Cayden has cerebral palsy, a movement disorder. As a result, he is unable to walk and talk without help. Cayden uses a wheelchair to move around, and he communicates using sign language. Conner thought they might not ever be able to play sports together. But that all changed in the spring of 2011 when Conner, age seven at the time, saw an advertisement for the Nashville Kids Triathlon. Getting Ready A triathlon is a sporting event in which athletes swim, bike, and run. When Conner saw the advertisement, he knew right then that he wanted to participate, and he wanted Cayden to participate with him. The boys\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc mother talked to race officials about Conner\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs idea. The request was unusual because children who have special needs usually compete in triathlons with the help of a parent. However, the race officials allowed the boys to compete together. The next step was to find a coach who could help the boys prepare for the triathlon. The boys\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc mother contacted Mandy Gildersleeve. Coach Gildersleeve had trained children with special needs before. She helped Conner and Cayden get the special equipment they would need. Then she focused on working with Conner to help him become stronger. The Big Day The boys\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc first triathlon began with a swim. Conner entered the swimming pool. Then he pulled Cayden on a raft behind him for the 100-yard swim. Conner held the rope in one hand and paddled with the other. Cayden smiled and laughed the whole way. Next came the biking part of the race. Conner rode his bike for 3 miles. At first Gildersleeve raced alongside Conner, pulling Cayden in a special trailer behind her bike. Conner did not like this situation. Conner wanted to pull Cayden himself, and Cayden wanted to be with Conner. After the last large hill, Gildersleeve attached the trailer to Conner\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs bike so he could pull Cayden himself. After that \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbche just took off,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Gildersleeve said. The final part of the race was the run. Conner ran while he pushed Cayden\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs trailer the entire half mile. The boys completed the race in 43 minutes 10 seconds. Conner was thrilled when they finished. Later he told reporters, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcEverybody wants to win, but it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs not all about winning. Really it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs all about fun.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc More Races Both boys take great pleasure in being involved in the events, but the family needs to plan in order for the boys to continue racing together. As Cayden grows older and bigger, his equipment will need to grow, too. The Longs participate in fund-raising events to raise money for Cayden\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs equipment. Conner and Cayden want to someday participate in the Ironman World Championship competition in Kona, Hawaii. It is one of the most difficult races in the world. They will be grown men when they are old enough to compete. Until then all the races the boys participate in over the years will help prepare them for it. In 2012 a sports magazine named Conner and Cayden \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSportskids of the Year.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc The boys\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc experience certainly shows what can happen when you never say never!
## Have you ever hiccupped in a quiet room full of people? Or have you ever hiccupped so hard that you had to stop what you were doing? If you have ever made the familiar \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbchic\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc sound of hiccups, you are not alone. Hiccups are a problem that almost everyone has experienced. What Is a Hiccup? Hiccups start in your diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscle between your chest and your abdomen. When the diaphragm suddenly tightens, air strikes the vocal cords. This creates a single hiccup with its \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbchic\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc sound. For most people a case of hiccups will stop after a few minutes. People get hiccups for a variety of reasons. Hiccups might result from eating or drinking too much or too quickly. A sudden change in the stomach\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs temperature, such as from drinking hot liquid immediately after cold liquid, may also cause hiccups. They may even occur from being excited or being under a lot of stress. Making Hiccups Go Away Ideas on how to stop hiccup shave been created, shared, and tried for years. However, what works for one person to cure hiccups may not work for everyone. Perhaps the most common method people use is to hold their breath for a few seconds. If this doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct work, you can try swallowing hard while briefly holding your breath. There are also some strange-sounding ways to cure hiccups, like drinking a glass of water upside down. Someone might even try to scare away your hiccups. Some people believe that getting startled causes you to focus on something other than your hiccups, which may relax the muscles in your throat and cure your hiccups. Ideas for curing hiccups often include ingredients found in the kitchen. Some homemade recipes combine water with sweet and sour ingredients. They may include saltwater or pickle juice. Many people believe that eating a spoonful of sugar can make hiccups go away. So the next time you have the hiccups, try looking in your kitchen for something that will help get rid of them. Award-Winning Recipe In 2010 a young girl named Mallory Kievman couldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct make her irritating hiccups go away. None of the ideas that she researched worked for her every time. So she decided to find her own cure for hiccups. She knew that sweet and sour ingredients were commonly used to cure hiccups, and she knew that swallowing hard could also be effective. She decided to use the two ideas to make a special lollipop. She thought that the sweet and sour ingredients combined with sucking on a lollipop would cure her hiccups. She experimented with different recipes in her family\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs kitchen. After many failed attempts Mallory invented a lollipop that worked by combining water, sugar, and apple-cider vinegar. She named her invention Hiccupops. Mallory wanted to find out whether her lollipops would help others cure their hiccups. She gave her lollipops to friends and family members. Mallory found that most of them were cured of their hiccups after sucking on the lollipop. Mallory entered her lollipop in a competition for new inventions made by children. She won three awards for her creative idea, and a patent was filed for her product as part of her winnings. Perhaps one day you will see Mallory\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs invention in a store near you.
## Dr. Hunter \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPatch\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Adams decided early in his life that he wanted to help make the world better. Many of the patients who have visited his hospital would agree that he has done just that. Adams was born in Washington, D.C., but lived in many parts of the world while growing up. His father was in the army, so the family moved often. Moving to new places helped Adams become good at making friends and accepting people for who they are. As a child Adams performed well in school. He especially excelled at math and science. Above all, like most kids, Adams liked to play and have fun. Adams decided to become a doctor. During his medical training he developed his own style of working with patients. When he talked with sick people, he wanted to understand how they were feeling. He was friendly and thought of ways to make them laugh, hoping to make them feel better. Some of Adams\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs teachers were not pleased with his way of treating patients. These teachers believed that being friends with patients could get in the way of being a good doctor. Adams did not let his teachers\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc attitude stop him from trying to make patients laugh. One day he dressed in a clown costume. His bright clothes and red nose made patients smile. After that, Adams continued to wear silly costumes while studying to be a doctor. After he finished medical school, Adams and 20 of his friends opened their own hospital. They converted a large house with six bedrooms into a hospital, where they provided free medical care. They named their hospital the Gesundheit! Institute. Gesundheit means \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbchealth\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc in the German language. It is also a funny- sounding word, which makes it a perfect name for Adams\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hospital. Like at all hospitals, the doctors and nurses at Adams\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hospital worked to make sick patients well again. But Adams\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hospital also provided fun activities for patients. They could garden and fish. They could watch a play or see a dance performance. Adams thought the patients would begin to feel better if they were engaged in things they enjoyed doing. The doctors and nurses at Adams\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hospital were also trained to be funny and kind to patients. According to Adams, humor is very important. He thinks laughter and joy can sometimes help a sick person as much as any medicine. Some days Adams dresses as a clown and rides a unicycle through the halls of the hospital! He believes taking the time to be friendly and silly with people shows them that someone cares. In the 1980s, Adams took his red clown nose and left the United States to visit other countries. His goal was to make people around the world feel better by providing them with medical care. He hoped to make patients feel comfortable by talking with them and telling jokes. He also brought medical supplies to the places that needed them most. Whether Adams was giving medical care or supplies, he made sure there was always a friendly smile under that bright red nose! Cracking funny jokes and making people laugh is an effortless talent for some. However, it does not come naturally to everyone. For those doctors who feel they need help, Adams spends time teaching them how to be friendly and silly with their patients. He gives speeches all over the world, and he still wears a clown costume. The Gesundheit! Institute is raising money to build a teaching center and a bigger hospital. This hospital will also provide free care for patients. And of course, Adams wants it to be a fun and playful place. Adams has written books about his style of healing patients. He writes that you don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have to be a doctor to help someone feel better. The most important thing anyone can do is visit people who are sick. Sometimes letting someone know you care can be the most powerful cure of all.
## The Wright brothers made their famous first airplane flight in North Carolina in 1903. More than 100 years later, 12-year-old Arturo Valdenegro enjoyed his own kind of fame when a giant paper airplane that he helped design flew over the desert in Arizona. The Great Paper Airplane Fly-Off Arturo\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs adventure started with a contest called the Great Paper Airplane Fly-Off. It was organized by the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona. The goal of the contest is to help children learn more about how airplanes fly and to encourage them to explore science and inventing. The rules of the contest say that all airplanes have to be constructed from one piece of letter-size paper. The paper can be folded and cut as many times as needed. But the finished plane cannot contain any glue, tape, staples, or paper clips. Arturo and about 200 other children ages 6 to 14 entered the contest. The winner of the contest would be the person who made the paper airplane that flew the farthest. The 2012 Great Paper Airplane Fly-Off had four rounds of competition. In the first three rounds, the children were put into small groups and took turns flying their planes. The plane that flew the farthest in each group was the winner of the round. Each winner went to the next round and repeated the same process. But the final round was different. The children did not fly their own paper airplanes. Instead, a paper-airplane Guinness World Record holder named Ken Blackburn flew each of the planes. Arturo\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs paper airplane flew the farthest. He won the contest. But winning was just the start of his adventure. As part of the contest, the winner\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs plane design was used to create a giant paper airplane. The museum brought together a team of experts to build a much larger version of Arturo\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs airplane, with Arturo\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs help. They used a similar design but with materials that could fly higher and farther than a small paper airplane. The team built the huge plane out of a strong type of paper. By the time the plane was finished, it was 45 feet long and weighed 800 pounds. They named it Arturo\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs Desert Eagle. The next step was to see whether the giant paper airplane could fly. At 800 pounds this plane was too heavy to throw like a typical paper airplane. Instead, a helicopter lifted the plane into the air with a strong chain. Once the plane reached a height of 2,703 feet, it was released over an open, unpopulated area in the desert. During its short flight the plane reached a speed of 98 miles per hour. Then it crashed into the desert. It was a messy landing, with broken parts scattered all over the ground. But because the plane flew for six seconds, the team had a reason to celebrate. The Museum Display Arturo\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs Desert Eagle will not be forgotten. A part of the wing and several other pieces are now on permanent display at the Pima Air and Space Museum. The museum plans to continue offering its paper airplane contest to young scientists. The museum hopes that Arturo\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs Desert Eagle will inspire young paper airplane designers to practice their skills. Just like Arturo, their winning designs may soar into history one day!
## Owning a dog can be a lot of fun. But taking care of a dog is a lot of work. Dogs need their owners to walk them, feed them, and play with them. According to Cesar Millan, a dog owner also has to be a strong leader so that the dog knows that the owner is the boss. Millan should know. After all, he\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs known as the Dog Whisperer. As a young boy growing up in Mexico, Millan spent a lot of time at his grandfather\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs ranch. He loved watching the pack, or group, of wild dogs that roamed there. In fact, Millan spent so much time watching the dogs that he was given the nickname \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcEl Perrero.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc This means \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcdog boy\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc in Spanish. Millan also watched dogs in television shows and movies. His favorite show was about a dog named Lassie. As a teenager Millan dreamed of going to Hollywood to train animals for the movies. Millan came to the United States in 1990. He was 21 years old, alone in a new country, and had no place to live. A month after arriving in California, Millan found a job as a dog groomer. He calmed the dogs as he cleaned and brushed them. Many of the dog owners noticed this. Some even asked Millan if he could train their dogs in addition to grooming them. Soon Millan moved to another city and got a job washing cars. This wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct Millan\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs dream job, so he decided to start his own business. Millan noticed that many people had trouble getting their dogs to behave. He knew he could help. He saved his money and bought a van. The van became an office on wheels, where he began his dog-training business. Millan was a hard worker. Sometimes he kept difficult dogs with him full-time for weeks in order to train them. Millan\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs success with the dogs got the attention and admiration of dog owners. Soon he had many dogs to train, and his business grew. In 1998 Millan opened the Dog Psychology Center, where he was able to help a greater number of dogs. The goal of Millan\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs center was to help dogs with behavior problems. Some of the dogs were brought there by their owners, but many of the dogs were strays. News of Millan\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs skills quickly spread. In 2002 he was mentioned in an article in People magazine. The article was about a famous movie director and his two dogs. The director told the magazine that his dogs used to bite. After Millan trained them, they were well-behaved. Through his dog training, Millan met many other famous people. These relationships led to a new job for Millan. The job wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct training dogs to be television stars like Lassie. Instead, it was Millan who became the star! His reality show, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, first appeared on television in 2004. Each episode features Millan working with a different dog and its owner. Millan uses exercise, discipline, and love in order to teach the dogs to behave. While training the dogs, Millan also trains the owners. Learning to be calm and strong helps owners show their dogs that they are the pack leader. Dogs usually respect the leader of their pack. In 2007, Millan moved the Dog Psychology Center to the mountains. The new location is so big that Millan was able to expand the size of the center. The center now has room for Millan to swim and hike with the dogs. More than 50 dogs can stay at the center at one time. Millan also travels to other cities to teach dog owners about dogs and about being a pack leader. Dog owners who can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct go to see Millan in person can learn about his training methods in his magazine, DVDs, and books. Although he isn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct training animals for movies the way he dreamed of doing as a child, it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs easy to see that Millan enjoys what he does. His ability to train dogs and their owners proves that he is the leader of the pack.
## Do you have a favorite snack food? Of course you do\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbceverybody does. If your favorite snack food is potato chips, then you are like millions of other people. Crunchy, salty potato chips are one of the best-loved snack foods in the world. They are also one of the oldest snack foods. People have been enjoying them for more than 150 years. An Accidental Success Potato chips weren\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct invented on purpose. In 1853 a chef named George Crum fried some potatoes at a restaurant in Saratoga Springs, New York. The man who had ordered the potatoes said that they were too thick and sent them back to the kitchen. Crum made another batch. This time he sliced the potatoes thinner. He sent them out again, but the man still complained. After the fried potatoes were returned a second time, Crum became angry. He wanted to teach the dissatisfied man a lesson. This time Crum sliced the potatoes as thin as he could get them. The slices looked as thin as a sheet of paper. When the potato pieces were fried, they became so crispy that Crum thought the man would never be able to pick them up with his fork. But theman was very pleased with this tasty new dish. He ate every one of the crispy potatoes piled on his plate! Soon these new crispy fried potatoes became well known. They were added to the restaurant\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs menu. People referred to them as Saratoga Chips. When Crum later opened his own restaurant, he set a basket of chips on each table for customers to enjoy. Other restaurants began to serve them as well.5 6 From Restaurants to Store Shelves It was not long before people wanted potato chips without having to go to a restaurant to get them. In 1895 a man named William Tappenden started cooking potato chips in his kitchen in Cleveland, Ohio. He sold the potato chips to local grocery stores, making it easier for people to get chips whenever they wanted. At some stores the chips were kept in big wooden barrels. Storekeepers scooped the chips out and put them into paper bags for customers. In 1926 a woman named Laura Scudder thought of a better way to package the potato chips. Scudder put two sheets of wax-coated paper together to form a bag. She used hot irons to press the edges of the bag. The heat from the irons melted the wax enough to seal the edges on three sides. The bags were then filled with chips, and the fourth edge was ironed shut. Now the bags could be placed on shelves in stores for customers to buy.Over the years many more people began making and selling potato chips. Bigger and better kinds of packages were designed, and different flavors of chips started appearing. Cheese and onion was one of the first flavor combinations to be sold, as well as salt and vinegar. These flavors are still available today. Chips with Different Tastes Other kinds of chips can be found around the world. Instead of white potatoes, some people use bright-orange sweet potatoes or carrots. And for a different crispy treat, some chips aren\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct made from a vegetable at all but from rice or corn instead. Many different seasonings can be used to add flavor to chips. For example, there are chips flavored with tomato sauce and smoked beef. Others are flavored to taste like roasted chicken or lamb with mint. Maybe the most unusual chip flavor is used in China, where there\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a chip that tastes like a blueberry! What an unusual history the potato chip has, from its accidental beginning in New York State to being perhaps the most popular snack food in the world. What do you suppose Chef Crum would think if he knew how his invention had ended up?
## Long before there were cowboys in Texas, there were vaqueros. A vaquero could tame a wild horse. He could stop a steer without using a rope. Vaqueros worked well with their horses and could perform amazing stunts. Caring for Cattle At one time, Spanish ranchers in parts of Mexico, Texas, and California owned huge herds of cattle. The cattle lived on large areas of land. And all those cows needed a lot of food. The animals were allowed to roam freely across the land so they could find enough food to eat. Caring for the cattle was a big job. Ranchers hired vaqueros to keep the cattle safe. Vaqueros spent long days in their saddles, riding their horses across the open land. They scared away any animals that might harm the cattle. And if a cow was injured or sick, it was the vaquero\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs job to help it. Spring was a busy time for vaqueros because that was when the calves were born. Each rancher sent a team of vaqueros to search for the new babies and their mothers. The vaqueros would bring the entire herd back to the ranch to be counted and sorted. Each team was responsible for searching a specific area. Together they would search hundreds of miles to find stray cattle. Sometimes the cattle were hard to locate among the rocky hills and in the small valleys. Which Cow Belongs Where? Once the cows and calves were found, it was the vaquero\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs job to bring all the cattle to a large fenced area so they could be counted. Getting cattle to move in one direction was not an easy job. Using their horses, the vaqueros worked together to surround the cattle. Then they herded the animals into the fenced area. Next the cattle were sorted and counted. Vaqueros checked the brand, or special mark, on a cow\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs body to tell which rancher owned it. Each calf would receive the same brand as its mother. Getting the Job Done Special tools and clothing helped vaqueros with their work. They wore sombreros to protect them from the sun, wind, and rain. Vaqueros tied a sarape to their saddles. They could use it to protect themselves in cold or wet weather and at night while they slept. The sarape also helped them herd the cattle. Vaqueros would swing their sarape over their head to get the cattle to move. Something vaqueros didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct wear while doing their job was a pair of boots. They usually worked barefoot or in sandals. A lariat was another important tool for vaqueros. It was used to catch cattle or animals that could harm the cattle, such as coyotes. If a vaquero roped a coyote, everyone knew he was good at his job. Every good vaquero needed a well-trained horse that could make quick, sharp turns. The horses were also trained to step in front of a cow that was trying to escape from the herd. And they could stop suddenly if the vaquero pulled back on the reins. Training the Cowboys of Texas Spanish ranchers didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct stay in Texas. When they moved to other areas, their cattle and the vaqueros often remained. The new settlers who moved into Texas didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct know what to do with the cattle. But the vaqueros did. The vaqueros worked with the new settlers and taught them how to care for cattle. Soon some of these settlers were able to do the same work as the vaqueros, but they became known by a different name\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcTexas cowboys.
## What do elephants and parrots have in common? You may have seen a talking parrot on a TV show, in a movie, or even in someone\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs home. The parrot has learned to copy sounds that people make. Birds are not the only animals that can copy the noises they hear. Dolphins, bats, and some apes also mimic sounds. Now we can add elephants to this list of copycats. Dr. Joyce H. Poole is a zoologist. She studies the sounds of elephants. While she was in Kenya, she would hear strange noises made by Mlaika after sunset. Mlaika was a 10-year-old African elephant. Mlaika lived near a highway. Dr. Poole says, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI could not tell the difference between Mlaika\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs call and the distant truck noise.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc She and other scientists studied Mlaika\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs sounds. It turned out that Mlaika was copying the sounds of the trucks driving by. Chirping Elephants \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMlaika was not the only copycat elephant,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Dr. Poole says. Calimero is a 23-year-old male African elephant. He spent 18 years with two female Asian elephants. Asian elephants make chirping sounds to talk with one another. African elephants usually do not make chirping sounds. But Calimero now does. He is copying his Asian elephant friends. Only a few other mammals, such as bats, dolphins, and humans, have learned to copy noises around them. Many of them seem to copy the sounds of friends to create a special bond. Dr. Poole says that elephants, too, need to form bonds with their family and friends. She says, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThey make sounds to communicate with each other. When they are separated, they use sound to keep in contact.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbcWhy would Mlaika copy trucks that she heard going by on the highway? Animals that are able to mimic sounds may enjoy practicing new sounds. When they are kept outside of their natural environment, they may copy unusual sounds. That may be why an elephant would copy the sound of a truck. Parrots, dolphins, humans, and elephants show that being a copycat is one way that animals and people make new friends and keep old ones.
## Digging for dinosaurs was hot work. Benny sat back on his heels and took a long drink from his water bottle. At first, when Mom and Dad had told him they were going on a dinosaur dig for vacation, he\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd been excited. He\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd bragged to his friends that he\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd find the skeleton of a never-before-discovered dinosaur. The Benosaurus, they\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd probably name it. But the real dig wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct at all what he\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd expected. For starters, he wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct even digging. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNo shovels,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Dave, the paleontologist in charge, told them. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAny dinosaur bones buried here should be within a couple of feet of the surface. We don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want to risk clunking around and breaking them.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Then he\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd handed out ice picks and paint brushes and showed everyone how to chip and brush away sand and dirt, slowly and carefully, a little bit at a time. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe most important thing is knowing where to look,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Dave said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSome rocks aren\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct old enough to have dinosaur bones. Other rocks are too old. We\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve studied this area before and found lots of fossils, so I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm hopeful you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll find some too!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Well, that had been two days ago, and so far the most exciting thing Benny had found was that his front tooth was loose. He wiggled it now. If he couldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct find any dinosaur bones, at least he could show his friends back home that he\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd lost another tooth. Dave crouched beside Benny. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHow\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs it going?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOK,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Benny said. It didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct seem very nice to say that he was bored. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThis is pretty slow.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Dave nodded. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYep,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he agreed. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hard work. Sometimes paleontologists and fossil hunters look for weeks without finding anything. And we hardly ever find a whole skeleton.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He added, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou know, Ben, if you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre tired of searching, you can always help someone else on the crew.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Benny looked around the dry, rocky hillside. Dave\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs assistants were busy taking photographs and drawing pictures and making charts. Some were using GPS devices to make maps of the area. Some were writing in notebooks. Dave said it was important to take good field notes, to record exactly what you did and where you were when you looked for fossils. Benny thought holding the GPS tool might be fun, but he wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct giving up. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll keep looking,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he added, thinking out loud, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcthe pictures always show dinosaurs in swampy places. Did they live in deserts, too?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAhh,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Dave. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSome probably did, but not around here. Millions of years ago, this wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct desert. It was wet and green and lush. The Earth\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs changed a lot since the time of the dinosaurs.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Dave slapped Benny on the back and got to his feet. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcKeep up the good work, Ben,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said encouragingly. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI think today will be your lucky day!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Pick, chip, brush, and sweep. Benny bent over his patch of rocky ground and carefully cleared away the sand and gravel. When he needed a break, he wiggled his loose tooth. The sun climbed higher and hotter into the sky. He was getting into the rhythm of things. Either that, or the heat was just making him drowsy. And then it happened. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMy tooth!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Benny said, surprised. He stared down at the dirt. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMY TOOTH!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Benny whooped. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMy dinosaur tooth! I found a real, live dinosaur tooth!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Dave hurried over to look, careful not to disturb the ground in front of Benny\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs find. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWell, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll be!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a tooth all right!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat kind is it?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Benny asked excitedly. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIs it T. rex? Apatosaurus? Triceratops?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Dave laughed, but he kept studying the fossil in the ground. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWell, Ben,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he finally said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve seen a lot of dinosaur teeth, but this one\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs different. I think you may have found one we haven\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct seen before. Good job!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc
## Much like human children, young dolphins love to play with toys. Wild dolphins are very curious. They explore their world, looking for interesting items. A piece of seaweed might inspire a game. The frisky calves will chase one another, passing the seaweed from snout, to flipper, to tail. When most young animals wrestle, race, or chase, it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs not about winning. Each youngster is building its strength and skills. And they are learning to cooperate. If one youngster plays too rough, the others will let him know they are unhappy with his behavior. Even when everyone cooperates, play can get dangerous. But animals play anyway! Young mountain goats live all their lives on steep slopes. The kids bump each other and butt heads in fun. If they\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre not careful, kids can fall and hurt their legs or even break their bones. When they play, the young animals learn to keep their footing no matter what might happen. Groups of young vervet monkeys sometimes sneak away from the adults in their family. All wrapped up in their games, the little ones may not notice when danger is near. So an adult monkey will go looking for the straying youngsters. The adult will yell out a warning. Watch out! Be careful! You\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve heard parents or teachers say these things when you play. Animals have to learn about the dangers in their world too. Playing helps them learn. Playing helps them get along. Playing makes them strong and confident.
## It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs winter in Alaska\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcmidnight\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcnine degrees above zero. And yet, there are people\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcgrown-ups bundled against the cold; children are clothed in scarves, gloves, and fur-lined boots, outside, looking at the sky. Why? It is because the sky is putting on a show for them, a show we call the northern lights. Scientists call it the aurora borealis. Sometimes the northern lights are soft clouds of white. Sometimes they dance across the sky in streaks of blue and green, yellow and red. What causes the northern lights? Why can they be seen only at night? And why do they change from night to night? Scientists give us some answers. The Earth is a huge magnet, with two poles, the North Pole and the South Pole. The sun has storms that send out streams of tiny particles called electrons. Scientists call this stream the solar wind. It races off into space and is pulled toward our two poles by their magnetic force. Reaching the Earth\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs atmosphere, the wind hits a stone wall, the magnetic field that surrounds the Earth, called the magnetosphere. Energy from the solar wind creates an electric charge. That is what makes the aurora borealis, or northern lights, near the North Pole; the aurora australis, or southern lights, are near the South Pole. What makes the different colors? There is an easy answer for scientists. We\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve seen different-colored, neon signs. Imagine such huge lights hanging high in space\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbc100 miles high. When electricity heats up gases, they turn colors. The electric charge in the magnetosphere goes through nitrogen in the air, and it glows with a blue light. Oxygen turns green or sometimes red. The stronger the solar wind, the stronger the electric charge and the more colorful the aurora are. Because the southern aurora can be seen only in or near Antarctica, most people see the northern lights. To see them best, people look for them in 2015 ELA Grade 3 Released Questions 2324 2015 ELA Grade 3 Released Questions 7 8 9 September or March. At that time, there are 12 hours of darkness, and the solar winds are usually stronger. But why is this only at night? The auroras shine all day and all night, just as stars do. During daylight, the sun outshines them. The best time to see the northern lights is between midnight and 2:00 a.m. Is it worth staying up that late? You bet, especially when the solar wind is so strong that the lights are as colorful as they can be. The northern lights take on different shapes: shimmering curtains, colored clouds twisting and turning, and arcs of colors covering the entire sky. They appear close to the North Pole. If you do not live in places like Alaska, Norway, or Canada, you probably won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct see them. But you can see pictures of them on an aurora website. Our world is filled with beautiful sights. A midnight sky filled with color in a cold, cold climate is one of the most beautiful.
## SHELL STORY The first thing you notice about a sea turtle is its big, beautiful shell. And that brings up one of the main differences between sea turtles and most other kinds of turtles. Most turtles have shells like houses that they can pull their heads and limbs into. But a sea turtle can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct pull into its shell at all. The shells of most kinds of sea turtles are made of bone and cartilage (the same bendable stuff your ears are made of). These are covered with thin plates called scutes. But the leatherback\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs shell is different. Its shell is made up of cartilage and tiny bones, but covering these is a layer of leathery skin. SUITED FOR THE SEA Sea turtles breathe air with lungs, just as you can do. But they can hold their breath a lot longer than you ever could. The green sea turtle is the champ. It can stay underwater for as long as five hours! To swim, sea turtles use their strong, paddle-shaped front flippers. Their hind flippers help with steering. But sea turtles are more than just great swimmers. Some of them are great divers. The leatherback can dive more than a thousand feet deep, looking for food. That\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs the length of three football fields. And its deepest dives can be three times deeper than that! CHOW TIME Did someone mention food? Depending on the species, sea turtles can be animal-eaters, plant-eaters, or both. They don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct even have teeth, but their beaks can give clues as to what they eat. The sharp, strong beak of the loggerhead turtle, for example, is great for crushing the shells of crabs and shrimp. A hawksbill\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs narrow, pointed beak helps it pull prey such as sponges from tight spaces in a coral reef. A leatherback has a soft, delicate beak\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcjust the thing for eating squishy foods such as jellyfish. And the green sea turtle\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs jagged-edged beak is great for snipping sea grasses and scraping algae off coral and rocks. NESTING TIME Sea turtles spend almost their entire lives in the water. But when it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs nesting time, the females come ashore to lay their eggs. They often return to the same beaches where they themselves hatched. In most species, a female sea turtle comes ashore at night. She crawls clumsily along the sand. Next, she uses her flippers to dig a nest. Depending on the species, she lays from 50 to 200 round, white eggs. Then she covers them up with sand and lumbers back into the sea. Later, the baby turtles hatch from the eggs and dig their way out of the nest. They crawl down to the shoreline and then disappear into the waves. TURTLE TROUBLES Sea turtles have been around for millions of years. But these days they face their share of troubles. Many get caught in fishing nets or tangled in fishing lines. Turtles are also harmed by pollution, litter, and oil spills. Lights along the streets and on buildings near the beach can cause problems, too. Newly hatched babies can become lost and crawl toward the artificial light instead of the ocean where they belong. HOPE FOR THE FUTURE The good news is that lots of people are trying hard to help sea turtles. Many laws have been passed to protect them. In some places, for example, beach communities are required to turn off outside lights at night during nesting season. And to keep eggs safe from predators, pollution, and other dangers, people sometimes carefully dig them up and move them to \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcnurseries\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc protected by high fences. Thanks to conservation efforts like these, sea turtle numbers are actually going up in some places. With a little luck, these ancient reptiles will be flapping through the sea for another hundred million years!
## genre title year
## nonfiction Hot Job 2010
## nonfiction Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express 2010
## nonfiction Robots 2007
## nonfiction As Cheerful as Cheerful Can Be 2007
## nonfiction Food a Fruit 2007
## nonfiction George Washington 2008
## nonfiction Balloon Volleyball 2008
## nonfiction Chicks & Chickens 2009
## nonfiction Float in the Ocean 2009
## nonfiction A Rabbit Named Sticks 2009
## nonfiction Islands of the Worlds 2009
## nonfiction Norman Bridwell and the Big Red Dog 2016
## nonfiction Amazing Kids 2016
## nonfiction A Sweet Way to Stop Hiccups 2016
## nonfiction Healing with Happiness 2016
## nonfiction One Giant Paper Airplane 2016
## nonfiction Lead the Pack 2014
## nonfiction The Story Behind the Crunch 2013
## nonfiction Vaqueros: The Original Cowboys 2011
## nonfiction Copycat Elephants 2013
## nonfiction Digging for Dinos 2015
## nonfiction Why Do Animals Play 2015
## nonfiction The Aurora Borealis 2015
## nonfiction Sea Turtles 2014
##
## Source: /Users/TomCurran/Documents/GitHub/TextMiningProjects/TextMiningProjects/QTA_FinalProject/* on x86_64 by TomCurran
## Created: Thu Jun 1 10:56:40 2017
## Notes:nonfiction_read <- textstat_readability(nonfiction, measure="Flesch.Kincaid")
nonfiction_sum$readability<-nonfiction_read
nonfiction_readability<-nonfiction_sum[,c("year","readability","state")]
nonfiction_readability## year readability state
## text2 2010 3.026196 ny
## text3 2010 3.547995 ny
## text8 2007 3.388403 ny
## text10 2007 4.575783 ny
## text11 2007 2.998245 ny
## text13 2008 3.670867 ny
## text15 2008 3.886947 ny
## text16 2009 3.062196 ny
## text18 2009 5.302917 ny
## text20 2009 6.528409 tx
## text21 2009 6.308907 tx
## text25 2016 7.463683 tx
## text26 2016 2.091510 tx
## text28 2016 6.263902 tx
## text30 2016 6.851504 tx
## text33 2016 5.362863 tx
## text34 2014 6.358009 tx
## text41 2013 5.668229 tx
## text45 2011 5.791042 tx
## text46 2013 3.564745 ny
## text49 2015 4.117097 ny
## text50 2015 5.504391 ny
## text52 2015 5.337188 ny
## text56 2014 3.896302 nyggplotly(ggplot(nonfiction_readability, aes(x=year, y=readability, color=factor(state)))+geom_smooth()+geom_point()+
xlab("Year")+ylab("Flesch-Kincaid Readability Score: NonFiction")+ggtitle("Flesch Kincaid Readability Score: Non-Fiction")+labs(color="State"))## `geom_smooth()` using method = 'loess'## Warning in simpleLoess(y, x, w, span, degree = degree, parametric =
## parametric, : pseudoinverse used at 2016## Warning in simpleLoess(y, x, w, span, degree = degree, parametric =
## parametric, : neighborhood radius 3.035## Warning in simpleLoess(y, x, w, span, degree = degree, parametric =
## parametric, : reciprocal condition number 0## Warning in simpleLoess(y, x, w, span, degree = degree, parametric =
## parametric, : There are other near singularities as well. 4## Warning in predLoess(object$y, object$x, newx = if
## (is.null(newdata)) object$x else if (is.data.frame(newdata))
## as.matrix(model.frame(delete.response(terms(object)), : pseudoinverse used
## at 2016## Warning in predLoess(object$y, object$x, newx = if
## (is.null(newdata)) object$x else if (is.data.frame(newdata))
## as.matrix(model.frame(delete.response(terms(object)), : neighborhood radius
## 3.035## Warning in predLoess(object$y, object$x, newx = if
## (is.null(newdata)) object$x else if (is.data.frame(newdata))
## as.matrix(model.frame(delete.response(terms(object)), : reciprocal
## condition number 0## Warning in predLoess(object$y, object$x, newx = if
## (is.null(newdata)) object$x else if (is.data.frame(newdata))
## as.matrix(model.frame(delete.response(terms(object)), : There are other
## near singularities as well. 4nonfiction<-corpus_subset(PASSAGES, genre =="fiction")
nonfiction_sum <-summary(nonfiction)## Corpus consisting of 21 documents.
##
## Text Types Tokens Sentences state grade
## text1 88 256 29 ny 3
## text7 155 512 69 ny 3
## text12 125 420 36 ny 3
## text19 204 596 67 ny 3
## text22 316 874 62 tx 3
## text23 318 858 68 tx 3
## text24 325 927 77 tx 3
## text29 259 572 41 tx 3
## text32 309 900 74 tx 3
## text35 237 703 66 tx 3
## text36 218 464 31 tx 3
## text38 231 540 30 tx 3
## text39 300 657 45 tx 3
## text40 269 882 108 tx 3
## text43 326 875 66 tx 3
## text47 529 1634 163 ny 3
## text48 281 772 63 ny 3
## text51 274 714 61 ny 3
## text53 365 944 79 ny 3
## text54 285 668 40 ny 3
## text55 308 681 41 ny 3
## passage
## One hot summer day, Turtle found a tent in the sand. \xd2Cool!\xd3 he said. \xd2Now I can escape from the hot sun,\xd3 and he crawled inside. \xd2Hey, Mouse! Come and see the tent I found,\xd3 said Turtle. \xd2It is a great place to escape from the hot sun!\xd3 \xd2Thank you,\xd3 said Mouse, and he crawled into the tent. \xd2Hey, Frog!\xd3 called Turtle and Mouse. \xd2Come and see our tent. It is nice and shady in here.\xd3 \xd2Thanks,\xd3 said Frog as he crawled inside. \xd2Hey, Rabbit!\xd3 they called. \xd2Come into our tent and cool off!\xd3 \xd2Thank you,\xd3 said Rabbit, crawling inside. \xd2Hello, Elephant!\xd3 said Turtle, Mouse, Frog, and Rabbit. \xd2We would ask you to join us inside our tent, but there is no more room. We are very sorry.\xd3 \xd2I am the one who is sorry,\xd3 said Elephant. \xd2You see, this is not a tent. It is my hat.\xd3 \xd2Oh,\xd3 said Turtle. \xd2We will look for shade somewhere else.\xd3 \xd2That\xd5s OK, friends,\xd3 said Elephant. \xd2We can share it!\xd3
## Mole tied a string to Troll\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs tooth. He tied the other end to the bedpost. He sat next to Troll. He held his hand. They waited for the tooth to pop out. But nothing happened. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHmmm,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mole. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe Old Mole Family Way is not working.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Troll looked worried. Mole thought again. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNow I remember,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe tie the string to a chair. Then the tooth will come out\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbczing-o!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mole untied the string from the bedpost and tied it to a chair. He sat next to Troll. They waited. But the tooth did not come out. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI know!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc cried Mole. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI was all mixed up. We tie the string to the doorknob. Then I slam the door. And the tooth will come right out\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcpresto!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcStink-o!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Troll. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI will not do that. That will really hurt.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut, Troll, that is the real Old Mole Family Way. I promise it won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct hurt.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPromise crisscross applesauce?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPromise crisscross applesauce.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAll right, Mole,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Troll. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut I am not ready. Don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct slam the door till I say \xfc\xbe\x8d\x86\x90\xbcnow.\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mole tied the string to the doorknob. He opened the door. He sat next to Troll. He waited for Troll to say \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcnow.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He waited for a long time. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAre you ready yet?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Mole. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPlease don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct rush me,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Troll. So they waited some more. A breeze came through the door. The room got chilly. Troll got chilly. He sneezed loudly, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcKER-SNORT!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBless you,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mole. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThank you,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Troll. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThat ith very nithe of you to thay.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThay?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc cried Mole. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet me see your tooth.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mole looked. The tooth was gone. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcTroll?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Mole. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcDid that hurt?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNot a bit,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Troll. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat happened?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou sneezed your tooth out.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Troll smiled hugely in the mirror. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThat ith the New Troll Family Way,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThat is a good way,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mole. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAnd you are a good friend,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Troll. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt really helped to have you next to me.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYes,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mole. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThat always helps a lot.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Then they went to look for the tooth.
## Grandma took Abby fishing at the lake. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm going to catch a big fish for dinner,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Abby said. She swung her fishing pole, but her line didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct drop into the water. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhere did it go?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Abby asked. Grandma pointed to a tree. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf you want to catch dinner for us,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Grandma said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcyou have to get your line in the lake first.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Abby giggled while Grandma untangled her hook from the tree. Abby swung her fishing pole again. She smiled when her hook hit the water. Grandma shook her head. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf you want to catch dinner for us,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Grandma said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcyou have to bait your hook next time.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc A worm wiggled between Grandma\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs fingers, and Abby giggled. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI caught a fish!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc shouted Abby. She reeled in her line, but her hook was full of grass from the bottom of the lake. Grandma removed the grass and put a worm on the hook. Abby swung her fishing pole again and cheered when her hook dropped into the lake. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf you want to catch dinner for us,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Grandma said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcyou have to be quiet so you don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct scare the fish away.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Abby covered her mouth and giggled into her hand. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI caught a fish!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Abby shouted. This time when she reeled in her line, an old tin can hung from her hook. Grandma removed the tin can and put another worm on the hook. Abby swung her fishing pole again. She didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct say a word when her hook hit the water. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNow you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre going to catch dinner for us,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Grandma said, winking at Abby. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI caught a fish! A BIG fish!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Abby shouted. She struggled to pull in someone\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs muddy sneaker. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct eat grass, a tin can, or a sneaker for dinner,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Abby said. Grandma laughed. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf you want to catch dinner for us . . .\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she began. Abby exclaimed, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll have to take me to the nearest grocery store!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc
## Harold counts the big red X\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs on the calendar. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNinety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He jumps up and down. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYay! Tomorrow is Hundreds Day.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs Hundreds Day?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asks his mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve been in school for one hundred days. We get to have a party. Everyone is supposed to bring one hundred of something to count and share. I need to find the absolutely most perfect thing ever!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Harold opens cupboards in the kitchen. He finds a box of cereal. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI could make a necklace out of one hundred pieces of cereal.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc His stomach growls. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut what if I get hungry and eat the cereal off my necklace? Then I won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have anything to share.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Harold runs into his bedroom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI know,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he says. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI bet I have more than one hundred rocks in my rock collection.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He pulls out a big box from under his bed. Harold puts rocks in his pockets. He stands up. His pants sag. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcUh-oh. These rocks are too heavy to take to school.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Harold puts back the rocks and walks down the hall. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI know,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he says. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMy sister has over one hundred stickers. I can stick them all over me.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He looks in his sister\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs room. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCan I have some of your stickers for school?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc His sister shakes her head. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSorry. I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm taking them to school tomorrow for show-and-tell.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Harold sighs. He walks all around the inside of the house. He walks all around the outside of the house. Finally he sits down at the kitchen table. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcTime is running out,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he says. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAnd I still need to find the absolutely most perfect thing ever to take to school.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Then he sees the grocery list on the wall. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMaybe I should make a list to help me think.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He starts to write. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI bet I have over one hundred ideas,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc says Harold. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut none of them is the absolutely most perfect thing ever.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He puts his head down on the table. All at once he gets another idea. The absolutely most perfect idea ever. He finds an old white shirt in the rag basket. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMom, may I write on this old shirt?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he asks. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhy?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asks his mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs for school. For Hundreds Day.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOK,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc says his mom. He gets a black pen. He starts to write. He writes and he writes and he writes. Harold takes his shirt to school the next day. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHarold, please show us what you brought for Hundreds Day,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc says the teacher. Harold pulls his shirt out of a bag. He puts it on and turns in a circle. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI couldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct make up my mind,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc says Harold. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSo I brought one hundred ideas.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc
## There was no doubt about it. The new kid who was moving in next door to Jason was good. Jason sat on the front steps of his house. He had watched in he park was filled with kids, some riding on skateboards and others on skates. Several guys waved to Jason as he showed Amanda around. Soon, though, Amanda was showing everyone what she could do on her skateboard. Sometimes she looked as if she were flying in the air. Jason began to panic when he realized that all his friends had stopped skating and were watching her, especially his best friend Patrick. Jason wondered if he could sneak out of the park without anyone noticing. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs awesome!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Patrick said, skating over to Jason. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcJust moved in next door to me today,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jason said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcDo you think I could learn some of those tricks?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Patrick wondered aloud. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI always crash when I try to flip my skateboard like that.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jason took a deep breath and motioned Amanda over to him and Patrick. If Patrick judged Amanda on her skating abilities rather than on the fact that she was a girl, then things would be all right. Jason just hoped that Patrick would decide Amanda was O.K. As Amanda skated up to the two boys and took off her helmet, Jason tried to think of what to say. Before he could open his mouth, Patrick said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWow, I never met a girl who could skate like that\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcor even a boy! Can you teach me that flip trick?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbcadmiration as the new kid jumped out of the movers\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc truck that was parked in the driveway and right onto a skateboard. Wearing a bright red helmet and knee and elbow pads, the kid had traveled quickly down the sidewalk in front of Jason\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs house, weaving around anything in the way. As Jason watched, Mrs. Tuttle\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs fluffy little white dog suddenly ran out onto the sidewalk. The kid jumped his skateboard over the ball of fur and flipped the skateboard up into his hands, just like a professional. Then he grabbed the leash and set off to return the runaway dog. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWow!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jason exclaimed. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI need to learn how to do those cool tricks!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc After returning the dog to Mrs. Tuttle, the kid rode his skateboard back to his house. Jason saw the kid make his way between workers who were carrying boxes and chairs into his new home. Jason felt shy about talking to the new kid, but he wanted to find out where that kid had learned to skateboard so well. Jason sat on the porch steps, waiting for the kid to come back out. When he did, he was still wearing his helmet and other gear, and he was carrying the skateboard under one arm. Jason got up his courage and walked over to the new kid. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHey, I saw you riding your skateboard,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jason said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre good.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc The kid smiled and quietly said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThanks.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhere are you from?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jason asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCalifornia,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc the kid answered. Jason nodded and said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMy name\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs Jason.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc The helmet came off, and Jason watched long brown hair tumble down. The kid said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm Amanda.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbcJason almost swallowed his gum. The new kid was a girl! After a few seconds he finally managed to say, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHi.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMy mom told me that there\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a skate park in the neighborhood. Is that right?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Amanda asked. Jason shrugged. He knew Amanda was really good at riding a skateboard, and he could learn some things from her, like that flip she had just done. But he didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want his friends to know he was learning something from a girl. His friends would tease him forever! Then he had an idea. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs not too far, but you have to wear your helmet and knee and elbow pads,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jason said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNo problem,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Amanda said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet me ask my parents if I can go.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc As Amanda ran inside to get permission from her parents, Jason stared down at his feet. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf she can just keep her helmet on, everything will be fine,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he thought to himself. Amanda came running out of her house, and she and Jason stopped by his house so he could get his gear and his parents\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc permission. Then they rode away.
## Patrick woke to a loud whump-whump-whump. He had just turned ten and thought he was pretty brave, but his heart was pounding. It was very dark in his room at the cabin, not like his room at home. As he reached for the lamp, he heard the sound again. He quickly switched on the light and sighed in relief. Buffy\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs tail was beating against the floor. He had forgotten about Buffy. Patrick wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct used to dogs. His parents had always said pets were too much of a burden and a lot of work. His family was busy and didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct think they could care for an animal. But a week ago Uncle Jack had pleaded with Patrick\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs parents to keep Buffy until he returned. Uncle Jack would be working in another country for six months and couldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct take Buffy with him. He had promised that Buffy would be no trouble. Surprisingly, Patrick\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs parents had agreed to keep her, even though they were about to leave for the lake cabin. At breakfast Patrick shared his scary story with his parents. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcDo you see the trouble a dog can cause?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc his mother asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPets like company. After breakfast take Buffy outside to play. Your father and I have some repairs to make on the cabin.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Soon Patrick went out the door toward the lake behind the cabin. Buffy followed Patrick like a shadow on a sunny day. Patrick\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs father watched them go. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLooks like Buffy may be a good pet,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll see,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Patrick\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs mother grumbled. Patrick and Buffy spent the morning running and playing. Patrick\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs new friend showed that she could roll over, fetch a stick,and even play tag. The sun had warmed the air, and Patrick said to Buffy, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMaybe we could cool off in the lake. Mom and Dad can see us from the cabin.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc When he got to the lake, Patrick was a little hesitant. He hadn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct visited the cabin since last year, and he wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct a very good swimmer. His mother had told him he could wade in the water up to his knees. So after thinking it over for a while, he decided to go in the lake. After all, he wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct alone. Buffy was with him. The two friends jumped and splashed together in the lake. Patrick threw a stick, and Buffy retrieved it. No matter where Patrick threw it, Buffy swam after it like a trained athlete and returned it every time. Patrick was having so much fun playing with Buffy that he didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct realize he was so far from shore. Suddenly, the bottom of the lake seemed to disappear beneath his feet, and he went below the surface of the water. Patrick sank like a rock to the bottom of the lake. When his feet finally touched squishy mud, he pushed up with all his might. He struggled to get to the top. His face came out of the water, and he rolled over on his back to float. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHelp!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he cried. His body was too tired to move. Just when Patrick felt hopeless, he heard a bark. He turned his head to see Buffy swimming toward him. She grabbed Patrick\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs shirt and began to swim, pulling him toward the shore. Patrick was relieved when his feet could touch the bottom of the lake again. He slowly started walking toward shore and saw his mother running from the cabin. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPatrick! Are you O.K.?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she screamed. Patrick could only nod and wave.Patrick\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs mother ran into the water and walked with him to shore. When they reached dry ground, Patrick sat down to catch his breath. Buffy sat on one side of him, and his mother sat on the other. Patrick looked up at his mother and then hung his head. In between breaths he said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm sorry, Mom. I got busy playing with Buffy, and I forgot to be careful.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Patrick\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs mother wrapped one arm around Patrick, and with the other she reached out to pat Buffy. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm sorry, too,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she said, smiling. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAnd I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm glad your uncle left Buffy with us. She\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a good lifeguard. I guess she\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs not really that much trouble.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc
## My problems started when I learned that Mrs. Reno would be my fourth-grade teacher. She had a lizard in her classroom, and lizards were on my list of terrifying things. And it wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct a little lizard. It was a Uromastyx, as long as my arm and with a spiky tail. Worse, Trent Dillard was in my class again. Last year, I had to sit in front of him because Amy Carlson comes before Trent Dillard in alphabetical order. He knows I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm afraid of spiders, and all year he pretended to put them in my hair. If he found out lizards were on my list, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd be finished. On the first day of school, I tried not to look at the terrarium1 in the corner, but Mrs. Reno pulled out the lizard and set him against her shoulder like a baby. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThis is Ripley,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she said. Trent whispered, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBet you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre scared of him.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI am not!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I said. Mrs. Reno looked toward Trent and me. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs wrong?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAmy\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs scared of Ripley,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Trent announced. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNo, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm not.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc My chest tightened. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI love lizards. They\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre my favorite animals.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mrs. Reno smiled. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI was going to ask for a volunteer to feed Ripley at recess, but since you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre a lizard lover, how would you like the job?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc She probably thought I was speechless with joy. Before recess, Mrs. Reno gave me instructions. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou can hold Ripley, but don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct keep him away from his heat lamp too long.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbcShe showed me Ripley\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs bag of greens. I can handle that, I told myself. I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll just lift the terrarium lid, drop in the greens, and run. As Mrs. Reno led the class out the door, she said to me, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcTomorrow I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll bring in live crickets as a treat for him.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I was frozen in a block of ice. I wanted to cry, but my tears were frozen, too. Ripley sat still, watching. I knew he was waiting to jump at me the second I lifted the lid. I just stood there for a long time, staring back at Ripley. Voices in the hall told me recess was over. I closed my eyes, lifted the lid, threw in the greens, and slammed the lid shut. Mrs. Reno said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou must be enjoying your job, Amy. You didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct come out for recess at all.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Trent\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs eyes got wide. I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd fooled him. But now I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd have to spend every recess with a lizard. The only way I got the nerve to dump the crickets in the terrarium the next day was by picturing Trent putting them in my hair if he found out I was scared. My heart raced when I lifted the lid, but I shut it so fast Ripley never had a chance to jump at me. Maybe I could survive this, as long as I didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have to touch that slimy lizard. After a few weeks, Trent said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhy does Amy always get to feed Ripley? I want a turn.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc A way out! Mrs. Reno said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOK. I guess Amy can have an assistant.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I was doomed. \xfc\xbe\x8e\x96\x84\xbc 2009 Highlights for Children, Inc., Columbus, Ohio.Reading Page 4 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 After the class left, Trent raised the lid and grabbed Ripley. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCareful!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I cried, surprised that I was worried about the slimy monster. Trent held Ripley while I slowly arranged greens in the terrarium. Trent looked out the window. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHey, the guys are playing football. Take Ripley.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc A shiver ran over my skin. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou can just put him down.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I meant for Trent to put him down inside the terrarium, but Trent set him on the floor and ran outside. What now? Ripley walked toward the door. I took a deep breath and grabbed Ripley. He wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct slimy. His skin was dry and cool. And he didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct jump at me. He crawled into the crook of my arm. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre not so bad,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I whispered to Ripley. The next day, I held him again. Soon, I was even letting him sit against my shoulder. Tonight I pulled out my list of terrifying things and officially crossed off lizards. I thought about it, then crossed off crickets. Spiders were next on my list. Hmm . . . I decided I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd crossed off enough things for one year.
## A stationmaster is a person who keeps a train station running smoothly. At Kishi Station in western Japan, however, the stationmaster is not a person at all\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcit is a cat named Tama! As a kitten Tama was a stray without a real home. She spent most of her time at Kishi Station. A nearby grocery store owner gave her food. Although she had no real owner or home, Tama seemed to enjoy watching people at the station. Tama also enjoyed the attention and affection she received from passengers. In the early 2000s, the train company that ran Kishi Station was losing money. Not enough people were riding the trains. By April 2006 the company could no longer afford to pay the people who worked at the station. With no employees to help them, passengers now had to manage their own travel. Even though the employees were gone, Tama stayed at the station. She continued to greet train riders with a warm nuzzle and a purr. Soon visitors shared stories with others about the cat at Kishi Station. People wanted to see the sweet cat that was always on duty. The train company had fun with the unusual situation. It gave Tama the title of \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcKishi stationmaster.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc The job even came with a stationmaster\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs uniform. It is a simple black cap. Tama wears the hat every day at work. Instead of paying Tama with money, the company pays her with cat food. Perhaps Tama\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs title was originally meant as a joke, but Tama continues to perform her job wonderfully, like any hardworking employee. She walks around the station in her uniform and greets passengers. The black, white, and orange cat allows passengers to pet her and take photographs with her. People continue to visit the station just to see Tama. When people come to Kishi Station to meet Tama, they spend money on train tickets and gift items that will remind them of her. This helps the train station. The visitors that Tama attracts also help the town near the station. Visitors spend money at local shops and restaurants. The money from these purchases adds up. In 2007, Tama\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs presence brought about 10 million dollars to her region of Japan. Most importantly, this hardworking cat has helped the Kishi Station remain open and provide transportation for community members. Tama was such a good stationmaster that she was promoted. Now called the \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcsuper stationmaster,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Tama has her own small office. It is an empty ticket booth. Since Tama is getting older and now likes to nap more, she has been given two assistants that help her greet passengers. They are both cats, of course. Tama\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs fame continues to grow. Tama has been featured in many newspaper and magazine articles as well as on television shows and in video clips. There is even a picture book called Diary of Tama the Station Master, which includes photographs of Tama at work. From stray cat to famous stationmaster, life is sweet for Tama!
## My name is Chelsea Chowderhead. A chowder is a stew or thick soup. My father says that our early ancestors may have invented chowder. I wonder if our early ancestors got made fun of all the time, too. For me, the last name teasing began as soon as I started school. So when my family moved to South Carolina, I decided that it was my chance for a fresh start. I asked my dad if I could change my name. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut the Chowderhead name has a long and rich history\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbc,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Dad started. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI know, I know. We were makers of thick soups or stews.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhy do you want to change it?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he asked. My dad always asks lots of questions. I didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want to hurt his feelings, but I didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want to go through another school year as a Chowderhead, either. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI get teased all the time. Even a compliment like \xfc\xbe\x8d\x86\x90\xbcGood idea, Chowderhead\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc sounds mean.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI know it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs not always easy being a Chowderhead,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Dad. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve been a Chowderhead my whole life, and I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve been teased a lot. But you shouldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct change who you are. Let people get to know you first and your name later.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHow can people get to know me before they know my name?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I asked. He said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAsk good questions.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I looked at him blankly. He went on, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhen you meet someone new, ask them a question. It can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct be a mean question, and it has to be something that you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre really curious about. Once people start talking about themselves, they don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct judge you. They\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre just happy that someone is interested in what they have to say.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Two days later I headed to my new school for the first day of class. As soon as I got to my classroom, a girl named Claire introduced herself. I noticed that Claire was wearing pretty woven bracelets. I asked her where she got them. Her face lit up, and she explained that she made them herself. She\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd gotten a bracelet-making kit for her birthday, and these were her first try. She offered to make me one. By lunch, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd talked to lots of people and was getting the hang of finding the right question. But there were two kids, twin brothers, who didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct seem to talk to anyone but each other. When they looked at me, I felt as if they already knew that I was a Chowderhead. Still, my dad\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs advice had worked out well, so I decided to give it one more try. I asked Claire if we should sit with the twins. She looked a little surprised, but shrugged her shoulders and followed me. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcDo you mind if we sit with you?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I asked. The twins stared at us. I sat down and opened my milk. No one said anything. I realized that if the twins never said anything, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd never think of a question. Claire didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct say anything, either. I looked at their lunches for some kind of clue and noticed that the lunchboxes were identical. That\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs when it came to me. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs it like being a twin?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I asked. The twins looked astonished. Then they both started talking at the same time. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNo one has ever asked us that!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc one said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMost of the time it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs good,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc the other said. It turns out that being a twin is as complicated as being a Chowderhead. When you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre a twin you always have someone to talk to and have lunch with, but people think that you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre exactly alike. In no time at all we were laughing and talking. Then one of the brothers said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm Nicholas, and this is my brother, Nathaniel. What\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs your name?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I gulped, took a deep breath, and said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm Chelsea Chowderhead.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcChowder? Like the soup?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Nathaniel. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYes,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I replied, looking down and blushing. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLike a thick soup or stew.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHey, cool. Do you and Claire want to come over after school and play basketball with us?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Nathaniel asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd love to,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMe too,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Claire agreed. And that is how I learned to ask good questions and became friends with Nicholas and Nathaniel Noodlenoggin.
## \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI have some exciting news, class,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mrs. Pike. It was almost lunchtime, and Jenny Archer was starving. She drew a piece of apple pie in her notebook. Sometimes Mrs. Pike\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs exciting news wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct very exciting. Once, Mrs. Pike had said it would be exciting to watch a filmstrip called Tommy Tooth and the Whole Truth About Teeth. But it wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct. She had said it would be exciting to study how wheat is turned into bread. But it wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct. Jenny drew a scoop of ice cream on the apple pie. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre going to have a contest,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mrs. Pike. Jenny put down her pencil. She pushed her glasses back on her nose. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe whole school will take part,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mrs. Pike went on. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre going to collect empty tin cans to sell to a scrap-metal dealer. We\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll use the money to buy a video camcorder1 and a TV monitor for the school.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat kind of contest is that?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Clifford Stern. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcJust collecting cans?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe class that collects the most cans,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mrs. Pike, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcwill use the camera first. We will make our own class movie. You could all be stars!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Me, a movie star! Jenny thought. Now, that was exciting. She pictured herself accepting an Academy Award. She would say, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt all started when I was in a little school . . .\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe person in the class who brings in the most cans will direct the first movie,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mrs. Pike finished. Wow! Directing a movie might be even better than starring in one. The director could make up the whole story. She would choose the actors and tell everybody what to do. Jenny loved to make up stories. And she was good at telling people what to do. She was sure she\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd be a great director. The whole class was buzzing now. Jenny forgot she was starving. She looked over at her friend Beth. Beth\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs eyes were bright. She thought this was a great idea, too. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou can be the star of my movie,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jenny whispered to her. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat do you mean, your movie?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Beth asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhen I win the contest,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jenny said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat if I win the contest?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Beth said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut I have to win,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc answered Jenny. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve always wanted to make a movie.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSince when?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWell, I just realized it now,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jenny admitted. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBut don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct you think I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd make a good director?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI think I might make a good director,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Beth said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhy should you be the director?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Beth was one of Jenny\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs two best friends. Jenny didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want to fight with her. But she really wanted to win this contest. She just had to direct the class movie. Yet, someday, when she was a famous moviemaker, she would still want Beth to be her friend. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs not fight,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jenny said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd both be good directors.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc 27 28 29 \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre right.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Beth grinned. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct fight. Let\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs just say, may the best can collector win.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Jenny shook Beth\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hand. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMay the best can collector win,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she repeated. As long as it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs me, she told herself.
## Children grasp metal bars as the merry-go-round spins. One child jumps off and gives his friends a push. This is not an ordinary merry-go-round, however. It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a PlayPump, and it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs unlike the merry-go-round you may see at a park. These PlayPumps offer hope to people in southern Africa. Getting clean water in some areas of Africa is difficult. PlayPumps make it easier to get water needed for cooking, bathing, and drinking. This new water system can bring fresh, healthful water to many people living in southern Africa. A man named Trevor Field wanted to do something to help people in the parts of Africa where clean water can be hard to find. So he teamed up with an inventor, and together they created PlayPump. The way a PlayPump works is simple. Children push the merry-go-round, and the energy the merry-go-round makes helps draw water up from deep underground. The water then travels to a large tower, where it is stored in a tank. Finally the water is routed to a tap that controls the flow of the water. People in the community are able to use the tap to get the fresh water they need. Making sure the pumps work correctly can be expensive. However, Field found a creative way to help maintain them. Since the storage tank is tall and rectangular, he thought that all four of its sides could be used to advertise to the community or make public announcements. Two sides of the tank may show tips for good health, such as how to wash your hands. The other two sides show advertisements from businesses. These businesses pay to have their messages on the tank. The money they pay is used to help keep the pumps working properly. PlayPumps can be used in areas where there is already a water source nearby. The pumps are usually located near schools or community centers. This allows families to collect water whenever they choose. Having clean water close by helps families stay healthy. PlayPumps also give children a chance to play. People in southern Africa are excited about the PlayPumps. Not only do the pumps make clean water readily available, but the water is also easy to access. Several other companies have also decided to build and install these pumps in some countries in southern Africa. With PlayPumps, clean water just may be one spin closer.
## One spring morning Leonie Allan took her dog Rex for a walk. She thought the walk down the road and back would be simple. Instead, the walk changed her from pet owner to wildlife rescuer. Allan lives in an area of Australia where people often find wildlife grazing in their yards. While people living in the United States might find deer, raccoons, and skunks roaming their yards, people in Australia might see kangaroos. Allan\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs walk was uneventful that morning, but Rex was acting strangely afterward. As Allan worked in the yard, Rex kept looking down the road they had taken on their walk. Then he began standing very still, with his nose pointing toward what he wanted Allan to notice. Rex, a mixed breed, is part pointer. Pointers are dogs that naturally stand very still and point with their entire body in the direction of wildlife they see or smell. They are trained not to chase animals but simply to point to where they are. They are excellent tracking dogs and can find animals with their keen sense of smell. Allan became worried when Rex began pointing. When Rex left to investigate, Allan thought he might have found something dangerous. She called the dog back. But when Rex returned, in his mouth he had a joey, a baby kangaroo about four months old. Picking up an animal was unusual behavior for Rex, since he had not been trained to do so. Allan was surprised that Rex had picked up the joey so gently. The baby didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct appear to be afraid at all. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHe obviously sensed the baby \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcroo was still alive,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Allan said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcand somehow had gently grabbed it by the neck, gently retrieved it, and brought it to me.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Rex and the joey, which Allan named Rex Jr., spent the afternoon playing together. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe joey was snuggling up to him, jumping up to him, and Rex was sniffing and licking him\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcit was quite cute,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Allan told a newspaper reporter. Wildlife experts were amazed, too. Tehree Gordon works at the wildlife sanctuary1 where the joey was later taken. She was surprised that Rex had been so careful with the joey and knew to take it to his owner. She was also amazed that the joey was not afraid of Rex and did not think he was a predator. Rex Jr. was bottle-fed and raised at the wildlife sanctuary. A year and a half later, he was released back into the wild in an area where he could be monitored by workers at the sanctuary. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHis progress and release went well,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Gordon commented. Now Rex Jr. is part of a group of kangaroos, called a mob, living a normal kangaroo life\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcthanks to Rex, a gentle dog that knew how to point.
## Many people will offer their home to a stray cat or dog. But few people would adopt a lost hippopotamus. Most wouldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct even know what to feed it. When disaster struck and a baby hippo got lost, it was fortunate to find just the right home. Hippos have their babies underwater. One day a mother hippo went into the Blyde River in Africa to give birth while the river was flooding. The rushing water moved so fast that it swept the newborn hippo away from its mother. No one knows how far the baby hippo traveled down the river before it washed up on the lawn of Tonie Joubert. Joubert was taking a walk. He was surprised to see a baby hippo lying next to the river. It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a good thing that the baby hippo was found by someone who could save its life. Joubert was a retired game warden.1 He had nursed many orphaned animals back to health. He knew the baby hippo was very young and weak. He carried the 26-pound animal into his house and named her Jessica.Newborn hippos need a special type of milk, and Joubert knew just how to make it. He mixed egg yolks and cream and fed it to Jessica from a bottle. She was very hungry and drank well. Joubert let Jessica sleep on his bed so that he could feed and take care of her throughout the night. Soon Jessica was healthy. Joubert knew that his experience with animals made him well qualified to care for Jessica. He decided to keep Jessica, and she became an official member of the family. At first Jessica lived in Joubert\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs house. She made friends with the family dogs and seemed happy. When she got bigger, Joubert moved her bed onto the back porch. Still, Jessica was able to wander in and out of the house as she pleased\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcthat is, until she started breaking the furniture! By the time she was three years old, Jessica had grown so large that she broke a couch. Soon after, she broke another couch. Then she broke a bed. Joubert decided it was best to lock the back door when he went outside. That way he could be sure Jessica stayed off the furniture when he was not able to watch her in the house. But Joubert made the mistake of leaving the key in the lock. Within a week Jessica had learned how to turn the key and open the door. Even after Joubert removed the key, Jessica forced her way in. Finally, Joubert bought a superstrong security door. Now Jessica comes inside only when invited. Hippos are social animals, but no one can tell whether Jessica thinks she is human or thinks the rest of her family are hippos. Today Jessica is fully grown and spends time with other hippos. Some nights she will wander down to the river to visit wild hippos when they come by. Jessica is free to leave anytime, but it seems she would rather stay with Joubert and the dogs. Jessica\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs story has made worldwide news. People around the globe are interested in learning about her. She has appeared in a South African film. She has also starred in an Animal Planet TV special called \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcJessica the Hippo.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Joubert has created a website with information about Jessica, and she even has a fan club. People from all areas of the world enjoy hearing about how Jessica\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs scary situation turned into such a positive one!
## PLIP! Judy Moody woke up. Drip, drip, drip went rain on the roof. Blip, blip, blip went drops on the window. Not again! It had been raining for seven days straight. Bor-ing! She, Judy Moody, was sick and tired of rain. Judy put her head under the pillow. If only she was sick. Being sick was the greatest. You got to stay home and drink pop for breakfast and eat toast cut in special strips and watch TV in your room. You got to read Cherry Ames, Student Nurse, mysteries all day. And you got to eat yummy cherry cough drops. Hey! Maybe Cherry Ames was named after a cough drop! Judy took out her mom\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs old Cherry Ames book and popped a cough drop in her mouth anyway. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcGet up, Lazybones!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Stink, knocking on her door. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCan\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Judy. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcToo much rain.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNever mind. Just go to school without me.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMom, Judy\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs skipping school!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Stink yelled. Mom came into Judy\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs room. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcJudy, honey. What\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs wrong?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm sick. Of rain,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she whispered to Mouse. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSick? What\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs wrong? What hurts?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMy head, for one thing. From all that noisy rain.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou have a headache?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYes. And a sore throat. And a fever. And a stiff neck.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs from sleeping with the dictionary under your pillow,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Stink. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcTo ace your spelling test.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIs not.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIs too!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSee, look. My tongue\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs all red.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Judy stuck out her Cherry- Ames-cough-drop tongue at Stink. Mom felt Judy\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs head. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct seem to have a fever.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcFaker,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Stink. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCome back in five minutes,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Judy. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll have a fever by then.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcFaker, faker, faker,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Stink. If only she had measles. Or chicken pox. Or . . . MUMPS! Mumps gave you a headache. Mumps gave you a stiff neck and a sore throat. Mumps made your cheeks stick out like Humpty Dumpty. Judy pushed the cough drop into her cheek and made it stick out, Humpty-Dumpty style. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMumps!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Dr. Judy. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI think I have the mumps! For real!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMumps!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Stink. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNo way. You got a shot for that. A no- mumps shot. We both did. Didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct we, Mom?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYes,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcStink\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs right.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMaybe one mump got through.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSounds like somebody doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want to go to school today,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCan I? Can I stay home, Mom? I promise I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll be sick. All day.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs take your temperature,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. She took the thermometer out of the case. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCat hair?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIs this cat hair on the thermometer?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcShe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs always making Mouse stick out her tongue and taking the cat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs temperature,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Stink. Mom shook her head and went to wash off the thermometer. When she came back, she took Judy\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs temperature. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs 98.6,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNormal!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcFaker, fakey, not-sick, big fat faker,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Stink. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAt least my temperature\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs normal,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Judy. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcEven if my brother isn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBetter get dressed,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcDon\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want to be late.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcStink? You\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre a rat fink. Stink Rat-Fink Moody. That\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs what I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll call you from now on.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWell, you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll have to call me it at school \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbccause you don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct get to stay home.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Judy stuck out her cherry-red, no-mumps tongue at Stink. She was down in the dumps. She had a bad case of the grumps. The no-mumps Moody Monday blues. She, Judy Moody, felt like Mumpty Dumpty! Mumpty Dumpty without a temperature, that is.
## \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcKwan, isn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct that your art teacher?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Halmoni said, pointing at a woman walking out of the grocery store. Kwan waved, and Mrs. Gibbs walked over to him and his grandmother. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs very nice to see you,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mrs. Gibbs said. Then she saw the cloths wrapped around the groceries Kwan and his grandmother were loading into their van. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOh, how beautiful!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she exclaimed. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThank you. These are pojagi, or Korean wrapping cloths,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Halmoni explained. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcKwan and I embroider2 them together.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Kwan looked away. Although he enjoyed helping Halmoni make the cloths, he didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want anyone at school to know about it. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIn Korea, they are mostly used to wrap gifts or cover food. Kwan and I use them to carry our groceries,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Halmoni continued. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcKwan, you should bring your cloths to school tomorrow. Your classmates would enjoy seeing them. You have a unique skill,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mrs. Gibbs said. Kwan appreciated his teacher\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs comments, but he was hesitant. The kids might laugh at the idea of a boy who liked to stitch patterns with a needle and thread. He thought about the pojagi. His grandmother\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs wide smile showed how proud of him she would be for sharing this Korean custom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcO.K. I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll bring some to class tomorrow,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Kwan replied quietly. Kwan usually spent some time each evening working on a cloth, but that evening he did not. Halmoni sensed that something was wrong. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcKwan, are you worried about tomorrow?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she asked. Kwan stared at the floor. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat are the other kids going to think?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThis isn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct the kind of thing they do for fun. Creating embroidered patterns isn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct like playing an instrument or a sport.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre right,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Halmoni said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt is different. But that is why it is so special.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Then she brought out a fine cloth with detailed floral designs. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhen your grandfather and I were married, we received a gift from his mother wrapped in this cloth she made. In Korea gifts given in wrapping cloths are extra special because they are a symbol of love and good luck. Even though the cloths have many uses today, they also have a rich history,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she explained. The next morning Kwan took several wrapping cloths to school. During art class his heart began to beat faster. He knew Mrs. Gibbs would eventually call on him. Just as he began to hope time would run out, he heard his name. As Kwan walked to the front of the room, his face felt hot. His hands trembled as he took the cloths out of his backpack. Kwan took a deep breath and began to tell the class about the cloths. Then he showed everyone how to use a needle and thread to stitch a tree design onto a cloth. His classmates just stared. When he finished, he saw a classmate\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hand shoot into the air. Kwan held his breath as Mrs. Gibbs called on Greg. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWow, Kwan! I can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct believe you did that by yourself,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Greg said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThat looks awesome.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbcThen a student named Carrie spoke up. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMy sister is learning to sew in one of her high school classes, but she\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs not all that good,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Carrie said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcShe brought home something she made the other day, and I couldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct even tell what it was!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc As Kwan listened to his classmates, he noticed that his forehead no longer felt hot. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI thought you would be interested in Kwan\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs cloths, so I brought some extra material,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mrs. Gibbs said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs have Kwan show us how the cloths are used to wrap and carry things.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Several students said they wanted to use a cloth to carry their lunch to school. Soon, though, they realized they would need more practice if they didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want their sandwiches to end up on the sidewalk. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcFolding these cloths is another real talent,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Mrs. Gibbs said, laughing as her cloth came undone. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcKwan, you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll have to give us more lessons on cloth folding.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThis isn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct as easy as it looks,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc David said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcKwan, you must be a professional wrapper!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Kwan smiled as he walked around the room helping his classmates.
## I rub the goose bumps on my arms as a kid struts to the end of the diving board. He gives a friend on the ground the thumbs-up and launches into a cannonball. Boing! SPLASH! He comes up laughing. See, Taylor? I tell myself. It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs easy. Fun. Four kids to go until my turn. At the front of the line, a girl in a pink suit giggles with her friend. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcGo!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc my little brother, Travis, yells to them. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs jump together,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Pink Girl tells her friend. The gigglers reach the sixth rung of the ladder before the lifeguard whistles. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcJust one at a time!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc she shouts. Pink Girl goes on alone, slowly. Will she change her mind, like I did last week? Will the lifeguard have to help her down the ladder while everyone stares? In front of me, Travis hops around like a monkey. Pink Girl jumps, her hair shooting out like a parachute. SPLASH! Three kids to go. Travis steps on my foot. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWatch it!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I snap. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSorry.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc He moves away, just as Pink Girl\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs friend does a first-class belly flop. My brother\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs face lights up. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcDid you see that?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct answer. Only two kids to go. My stomach bubbles like a pot of oatmeal on the stove. You don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have to do this, I tell myself. But next week is the pool party, my brain argues. You\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll be the only one who can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct go on the diving board. The board clunks, and a girl dives gracefully into the pool. Life is so unfair. Travis is next. He scampers up the ladder and waves his skinny arms. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWatch this!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I close my eyes, then open them just in time to see him hop off the end of the board. He pops out of the water, grinning. I can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct help smiling, too. Nothing scares that kid. The boy behind me taps my shoulder. It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs my turn. I count the rungs as I climb. One. Two, three. Four, five, six. Seven, eight. Nine. Blue water stretches out in front of me. Kids are shooting off the waterslide at the other end of the pool. A boy runs across the concrete. A lifeguard blows her whistle at him. Everywhere, everyone is moving. Except me. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat are you waiting for?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc demands a kid on the ground. I step forward. The water looks so far away. Then I see Travis standing by the lifeguard\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs chair, shivering. His eyes lock on mine. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou can do it!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he yells. That\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs what I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve always told him: When he was learning to tie his shoes. Or write his name. Or ride his bike without training wheels. You can do it. 1534 35 36 I take a deep breath and step out into nothing. My body drops, my stomach rises. Then my toes slice the water and I plunge deep. I flap my arms and pull myself to the surface, where my face finds the sun. I DID IT! Travis is doing a happy dance. I climb out, dripping. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHey,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I say, like I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve been doing this forever. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs go again.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHow long do we have to be patient?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Thomas asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAs long as it takes,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Grandfather. This didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct sound good. Thomas scowled, scratched his arm, his head, his ankle. He shifted from one leg to the other. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcObserve, Thomas, how quietly they wait\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcthe pelicans and our friend the heron. They don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct wriggle and writhe, like some I could name.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThey don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have anything to do but wait.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThomas, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve said it before and I say it again, you are a restless boy.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI know,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Thomas said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcGrandfather?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYes, Thomas?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhen you were a boy, were you restless?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Grandfather tipped his head till his beard pointed at the sky. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll cast my mind back.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Thomas waited. Grandfather lowered his chin, looked into Thomas\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs eyes. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI was,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOh, good.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Grandfather threw out their lines again, handed Thomas his pole. They went on being patient. They\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd had a few strikes, but each time the fish got the bait and Thomas and Grandfather got nothing. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAll part of the game,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Grandfather would say, calmly Thomas landed a blowfish. It came out of the water already starting on its defense. Breathing deeply, it began to puff up, swelling until it looked like a bubblegum bubble with spines. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThinks he looks pretty fierce, doesn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct he, Grandfather?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHe does look fierce, for a fellow his size.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Grandfather dropped the stiff little blown-up blowfish into the water, where it slimmed down and swam off as if nothing unusual had happened. They caught a flounder. Flounders are bottom fish, and mostly spend their lives buried in sand. Their eyes are on top of their heads, they are flat as plates, and the one they caught was too small to keep. Carefully, Grandfather slid it back into the water. Too bad. Flounder were good eating. Especially the way Grandfather prepared them. Thinking about Grandfather\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs cooking made Thomas\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs mouth water. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre a very good cook, Grandfather,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcTrue.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm getting kind of hungry.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSo am I,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Grandfather. He did not sound ready to quit. Thomas sighed and moved his rod gently up and down. They caught a ladyfish. These are not good eating. Grandfather was about to toss it back when the heron darted forward and took it right from his hand, then tossed his head up and set about swallowing. Thomas watched as the bony fish went down the bird\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs long neck. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm glad we don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have to swallow whole fish that way,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSo am I,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Grandfather. Suddenly Thomas\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs rod dipped. A fish flipped out of the water a long way off. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSpeckled trout,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Grandfather. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcA big one. Gently, now, Thomas. You don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want him to throw the hook.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm trying,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Thomas said, turning the reel as slowly as he could. He wished Grandfather would take over, but didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct ask. Grandfather believed it was every man to his own fish. Slowly, slowly, he reeled in his trout until it was close enough for Grandfather to scoop up with the net. He was willing to do that. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBy golly, Thomas!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he shouted. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLook at the size of him!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Thomas, swelling like a blowfish, regarded his catch proudly. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll have to go in the book, won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct he, Grandfather?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHe certainly will. A page to himself, like the snook we caught.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou caught.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAll right. I caught. But this is your fish, and you are the one to write him in the book.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOh, good,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Thomas said happily. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNow\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbclet\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs go to it,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Grandfather. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThis crowd of trout is here, and we have to strike before they take off....\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc In the excitement, Thomas forgot to be tired. Side by side, he and his grandfather caught fifteen trout and had to send only three of them back to sea\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcto grow bigger and maybe be caught another day. Twelve good-sized fish. Grandfather would keep out enough for tonight and tomorrow\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs dinner, and freeze the rest for later eating. Thomas swallowed hungrily, thinking about dinner. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAll right,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Grandfather said at last. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs go home.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Collecting their gear, richer by twelve speckled trout, they clanked back up the beach.
## One day, as Niel was strolling down the road, he spotted a snake trapped between two rocks. Niel hated seeing a creature in trouble. He pulled apart the rocks carefully so that the snake could slither away. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI owe you a reward,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said the snake. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHold out your hand.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc And the snake dropped a snake tooth into his palm. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWear it around your neck,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he whispered, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcand you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll understand everything that animals say. But if you reveal your secret, the charm won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct work anymore.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI won\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct tell anyone,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Niel assured him. The snake flicked out his tongue. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBeware! Secrets are hard to keep, my friend.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc That night, lying on the cot next to his wife, Niel heard mice scurrying across the floor. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWill we find any injera bread in this hut, I wonder?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc one mouse squeaked at another Niel sat up in surprise, clasping his charm. He could understand the mouse\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs squeaking. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe people in this house never put food away correctly,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc replied the second mouse. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe are going to feast like emperors.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Niel couldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct help laughing. The poor mice would be disappointed. He and his wife had eaten everything. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhy are you laughing, Niel?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked his wife. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct tell you,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc replied Niel, remembering the snake\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs warning. In the morning, a milk seller knocked on the door of the hut. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI hope that these people aren\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct foolish enough to part with their money,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Niel heard one cat say to another. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe master has watered down the milk.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Niel laughed out loud again. Being able to understand animals seemed to have a lot of benefits. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs the big joke?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked his wife. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhy can\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct you tell me?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI have my reasons,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc answered Niel. And he refused to say anything else. Later that afternoon, Niel\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs old aunt came to visit, riding on her big cow. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs not fair, that woman riding on me in this heat,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc the cow complained to a stray cat. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcShe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs heavier than a cartload of mangoes.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Niel tried hard not to giggle. Aunt Sora would be furious if she found out what the big cow was saying about her! \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve had enough!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc fumed his wife. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIf you don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct tell me what\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs making you laugh, I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcm going home to my parents.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Niel didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct want to lose his wife\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbche loved her too much. He told her his secret immediately, but his wife didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct believe him. Niel gave her the charm. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHere, you try it.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc But the charm had stopped working. Niel\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs wife couldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct understand what the animals were saying, and when he put the charm around his neck again, neither could Niel. The fun was over! A few days later, Niel was resting under the mango tree when the snake slithered past. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI see that you have revealed your secret, my friend.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI did it for my wife,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Niel ruefully. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcTrue love should be rewarded,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said the snake. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPut out your hand again.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc The snake gave Niel a feather. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWear it around your neck,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcand you will be able to understand everything that the birds say. But do not reveal the secret to anyone, or the charm will stop working.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve learned my lesson,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Niel. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNothing on this earth will make me tell again.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc The snake rattled his tail and laughed. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI told you that secrets are hard to keep, my friend. We\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll see how long you last this time.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc
## When Ma Ma left Shanghai for America, I didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct know it would be so long before I saw her again that I forgot her smell. Not quite, but when I did finally see her, more than one year had passed and her smell had changed. There was no more of her soft perfume along with the anise that she put in the soup. Ma Ma had a sharp soap smell instead. It was so strange to me that I almost didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct recognize her. The flight attendant brought me to her. I\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcd been asleep on the plane so my careful pigtails were all messed up. At first I wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct even sure that it really was Ma Ma, and I held tightly to the hand of the lady. Grandma Po Po had asked her to deliver me safely to my mother. I wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct scared. When Po Po told me to be brave on the long trip, I wondered why she said that. Sitting on a plane with a nice lady to watch over me wasn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct scary. But now when I smelled the sharp soap, I knew what she meant. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcTing, you have grown so tall,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Ma Ma said, scooping me into her arms. The lady left and tears came out of my eyes. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcDon\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct cry, Ting,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Ma Ma said, wiping my face with her palm. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll go home and have some soup. Noodle soup to celebrate that you are in America.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I listened to Ma Ma\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs words. Her voice was the same as I remembered it. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhere is Ba Ba?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHe had to go to Chicago. He\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll come back to see you very soon.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I tried to imagine how my father looked, but all I could remember was the smoky smell of his clothes. I held tightly to Ma Ma\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hand as we went through the airport. The voices around us were so flat. No up and down sounds. When I was in Shanghai, Uncle said I should learn English. He found an English teacher who came to our apartment every Wednesday and Friday after school. She had ten English books and I finished all of them. But at the airport, I didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct hear the words in my books. I gripped Ma Ma\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hand, so much smoother than Po Po\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs. The noodle soup was almost the same but not quite. In my mouth it was fine, but the smell was not right. I had only a few spoonfuls. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct like soup anymore? Now you like meat?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I shook my head. The room was spinning. The kitchen stove was gigantic. It even had a door like a room. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWhat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs that?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOven,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Ma Ma said in English. She explained in Chinese. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt gets very hot inside.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc In Shanghai, we didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have an oven. Po Po cooked everything on an electric hot plate on the landing. Soup, noodles, everything. Ma Ma showed me my bed. It had a blue plaid blanket on it. The room was like a closet with a small window at the end. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCan I sleep with you?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc I asked. In China I slept with my cousin Hong. She took all the covers and pushed me into a small space against the wall, but still I was not alone. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIn America you have your own room,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Ma Ma said. The bed was so fresh and new. My nightgown had the same soapy smell as the noodles. The air was too quiet.
## \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMom, why do we always have to wait in line?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Eli. He slumped against the grocery cart. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre waiting our turn,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. Eli sighed and rolled his head back to stare at the ceiling. An escaped pirate balloon bobbed up and down against the flat white lights. One of the pirate\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs eyes was covered with a coal-black patch, and the other winked down at Eli. If I were a pirate, I wouldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have to wait in line, thought Eli. He flashed his jeweled saber and shouted to the trusty crew, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAarrr, maties! Clear the bloomin\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc decks!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc A band of swashbuckling pirates dashed through the line of shoppers. They danced a feisty jig and tossed gold doubloons in the air. While shoppers chased the rolling coins, Eli and Mom rushed to the front of the checkout line. They escaped in a magnificent pirate ship and sailed the seven seas home. There, Eli searched for hidden treasure with his friend, Max, for the rest of the afternoon. Pirates never had to wait in line at the grocery store. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcLet\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs go, Eli,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom as they left the checkout line. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe need to stop at the bank.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWill there be a line there, too?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Eli. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMaybe,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAargh,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc grumbled Eli. The line at the bank looked even longer than the grocery store line. Whoosh! What was that sound? Eli peered over the bank counter to the drive-through. Customers were placing plastic tubes in some sort of portal, pressing a button, and swoosh\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcthe tubes zoomed through the air to the bank teller inside. It looked like a starship launcher! Starship commanders don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct have to wait in line at the bank, thought Eli. He switched on his light laser and flipped open his star command communication device. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCommand Control, come in! We\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcve got a long line here at Galactic Bank. Please send backup!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he ordered. A fleet of starships swooped down to the bank parking lot. The people in line rushed out the door to gape at the sleek, blinking starships. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCan we have a ride?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc they begged. While the starship commanders took turns giving rides, Mom and Eli swept to the front of the line. Eli whisked out his tele- transporter gadget and beamed them home to watch back-to-back episodes of Star Guys Planet. Starship commanders never had to wait in line at the bank. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcEli,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom as they left the bank, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcwant to pick up dinner at Burger Barn on the way home?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWill we get to wait in line?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc asked Eli. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPossibly,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. Eli smiled. They left the bank and zoomed over to Burger Barn, where the line was longer than a clippety-cloppin\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc mule train. But Eli didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct mind. Cowboy sheriffs never have to wait in line at Burger Barn! \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcPlease step aside, mister. Step aside, ma\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcam.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Sheriff Eli tipped his ten-gallon hat, gave his silver spurs a whirl, and swaggered to the front of the line. No one minded. Sheriff Eli was the hero of Goldtown. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHave you caught any cattle rustlers today, Sheriff?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc the pigtailed waitress asked. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOnly \xfc\xbe\x8d\x86\x90\xbcbout twenty or thirty. Got \xfc\xbe\x8d\x86\x90\xbcem all locked up so Goldtown is safe once more.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Everyone in Burger Barn whooped and hollered. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAll in a day\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs work,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Sheriff Eli. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcNow my throat\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs full of trail dust, and my belly\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs growlin\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc somethin\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc fierce.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc While he waited for his food he let the young \xfc\xbe\x8d\x86\x90\xbcuns twirl his sparkling silver spurs and tie knots in his lasso. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThank ye kindly,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he said to the Burger Barn waitress. She piled on extra fries. Sheriff Eli tipped his hat and rode off into the sunset eating his Golden Chicken Nuggets, French fries, and milk. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcO.K., Eli, let\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs go,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWh-what?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Eli. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre finished with our errands for today,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Mom. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHow about meeting Max at the park?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcMax, me matey?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Eli. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcBloomin\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc great idea!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou might have to wait in line for the slide.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcStar command check!\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAnd maybe the swings, too.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcAlways glad to step aside until my turn, ma\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcam,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Eli drawled. Mom laughed as Eli hoisted himself into the car and swashbuckled his seatbelt. She fired up their sleek galactic starship and they followed the winding, dusty trail to the park.
## Wintertime gym class means ball tag and jumping jacks, right? SNOW WAY! Teachers say snowshoes are improving their students\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbc: \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc hearts and lungs, \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc muscles, \xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x84\xbc and spirits. Kids just say it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs fun! \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs sort of like you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre walking on thin air,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Troy Pierce, eight. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe snowshoes sort of keep you up on the snow.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc And that\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs pretty important where they live, said Alex Almquist. Alex and Troy are students at Hancock Elementary School in the far northern part of Michigan. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThere\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs lots and lots of snow,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc laughed Alex. That means snowshoes are perfect for gym class in the winter. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThe benefit of snowshoeing for kids is getting their heart rate up near maximum,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc says Julie Hamar, a PE teacher at Hancock Elementary School in Hancock, Michigan. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs a good all around activity for kids.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc In other words, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs hard to walk and it gets your legs all strong,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Troy. Nearly 400 students in Ms. Hamar\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs PE classes get to use the snowshoes, taking hikes, running relay races, and doing outside exercises. The school\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs PTO purchased the snowshoes for the kids recently. Not only do PE classes use them, but regular classes strap them on for outside nature hikes and wildlife study, too. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcI teach them the basic technique: how to put on the snowshoes and the proper ways of walking in snowshoes,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Ms. Hamar says. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou have to lift your feet up or you\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre going to trip,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc cautions Alex, eight. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSnowshoes are huge.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc The classes take a short hike around the school. Then they hit the slopes and trails nearby. It\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs not unusual to see animal signs. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcWe saw tracks and a den,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc said Troy. The rabbit that made them had something in common with the kids. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcTheir feet are really flat, like snowshoes,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Troy said. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThey\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre better for walking.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs good for the kids because it\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs extra hard work walking on the snowshoes in deep snow,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc says Ms. Hamar. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou can tell. They start to unzip their jackets; they\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre starting to sweat underneath their hats.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc All that means the kids are getting good exercise and having fun instead of sitting around all winter. Making tracks outside means getting strong inside. Snow Toes Sam Watson has been on the snowshoe crew longer than he can remember. His father started making children\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcs snowshoes when Sam was only two or three. But he recalls lots of snowshoeing from about age 5 or 6, as his father, Jim Watson, the founder of Little Bear Snowshoes, created new shoes. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcOf course, I was the logical one to test them,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc says Sam, now 11. But snowshoes are also a great way to reach the hidden skiing and ice shing spots that Sam loves. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcre strapped onto a big oval-shaped sort of platform and that allows more surface on the snow, so you don\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct sink,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc he says. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcSnowshoes spread your weight out over the snow,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc says Sam, showing the wide working surface of snowshoes above. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcYou can go out in the wintertime and not worry about getting snow in your pants and freezing your legs off.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc
## All the way there David had saved this moment for himself, struggling not to peek until the proper time came. When the car finally stopped, the rest of them got out stiffly and went into the new house. But David walked slowly into the back yard with his eyes fixed on the ground. For a whole minute he stood there, not daring to look up. Then he took a deep breath, clenched his hands tightly, and lifted his head. There it was!\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcas Dad had described it, but infinitely more grand. It swept upward from the valley floor, beautifully shaped and soaring, so tall that its misty blue peak could surely talk face to face with the stars. To David, who had never seen a mountain before, the sight was almost too much to bear. He felt so tight and shivery inside that he didn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct know whether he wanted to laugh, or cry, or both. And the really wonderful thing about the mountain was the way it looked at him. He was certain that it was smiling at him, like an old friend who had been waiting for years to see him again. And when he closed his eyes, he seemed to hear a voice which whispered, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCome along, then, and climb.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc It would be so easy to go! The back yard was hedged in (with part of the hedge growing right across the toes of the mountain), but there was a hole in the privet large enough to crawl through. And just beyond the hedge the mountainside awaited him, going up and up in one smooth sweep until the green and tawny faded into hazy heights of rock. It was waiting for him. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCome and climb,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc it whispered, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbccome and climb.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc But there was a great deal to do first. They were going to move into the new house. The moving van was standing out in front, the car must be unloaded. David would be needed to carry things. Regretfully, he waved his hand at the peak and whispered, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcIt shouldn\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbct take long\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcI\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll be back as soon as I can.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Then he went around to the front door to see what could be done about speeding things up. Inside, everything was in confusion. Dad was pushing chairs and tables around in an aimless way. Mother was saying, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcThey\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcll all have to go out again; we forgot to put down the rug first.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Aunt Amy was making short dashes between the kitchen and the dining room, muttering to herself. And Beckie was roaring in her crib because it was time for her bottle. David asked, \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcCan I do anything?\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbchoping that the answer would be no. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcC\xfc\xbe\x8d\x96\x90\xbcmere,\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc Aunt Amy said, grabbing him by the arm. \xfc\xbe\x8c\xa6\x90\xbcHelp me look for that ironing board.\xfc\xbe\x8c\xb6\x90\xbc When the ironing board was finally located, Mother had something for him to do. And when he was finished with that, Dad called for his help. So the afternoon wore on without letup\xfc\xbe\x8c\x96\x90\xbcand also without any signs of progress in their moving. When David finally got a chance to sneak out for a breathing spell, he felt his heart sink. Somehow, in all the rush and confusion, the afternoon had disappeared. Already the evening sun was throwing shadows across the side of the mountain and touching its peak with a ruddy blaze. It was too late now. He would have to wait until morning before he could climb.
## genre title year
## fiction The Tent 2010
## fiction The loose tooth 2006
## fiction Fishing for Dinner 2008
## fiction Harold's Hundered Days of School 2009
## fiction Skateboard Tricks 2009
## fiction Patricks Hero 2009
## fiction Lizard Problems 2009
## fiction A Hardworking Cat 2016
## fiction Good Question, Chowder Head 2016
## fiction Can Do, Jenny Archer 2014
## fiction A New Way to Play 2014
## fiction The Dog and the Joey 2014
## fiction Jessica The Hippo 2013
## fiction M.D. = A Moody Day 2013
## fiction Kwan's Secret Talent 2013
## fiction Jump 2013
## fiction Secrets are hard to keep 2015
## fiction Excerpt from Honey Suckle House 2015
## fiction Eli Escapes 2015
## fiction Snow Fun on The Run 2014
## fiction Excerpt from David and the Pheonix 2014
##
## Source: /Users/TomCurran/Documents/GitHub/TextMiningProjects/TextMiningProjects/QTA_FinalProject/* on x86_64 by TomCurran
## Created: Thu Jun 1 10:56:40 2017
## Notes:nonfiction_read <- textstat_readability(nonfiction, measure="Flesch.Kincaid")
nonfiction_sum$readability<-nonfiction_read
nonfiction_readability<-nonfiction_sum[,c("year","readability","state")]
nonfiction_readability## year readability state
## text1 2010 0.9380952 ny
## text7 2006 2.7744733 ny
## text12 2008 1.9062998 ny
## text19 2009 4.2804127 ny
## text22 2009 3.7232919 tx
## text23 2009 3.0169413 tx
## text24 2009 7.0236600 tx
## text29 2016 3.0643971 tx
## text32 2016 2.6827247 tx
## text35 2014 6.6644719 tx
## text36 2014 6.7719892 tx
## text38 2014 6.1039120 tx
## text39 2013 0.8546667 tx
## text40 2013 4.0706486 tx
## text43 2013 2.3170559 tx
## text47 2013 3.1805348 ny
## text48 2015 2.4044298 ny
## text51 2015 3.3698581 ny
## text53 2015 5.3143667 ny
## text54 2014 4.9910842 ny
## text55 2014 -0.1924117 nyggplotly(ggplot(nonfiction_readability, aes(x=year, y=readability, color=factor(state)))+geom_smooth()+geom_point()+
xlab("Year")+ylab("Flesch-Kincaid Readability Score: NonFiction")+ggtitle("Flesch Kincaid Readability Score")+labs(color="State"))## `geom_smooth()` using method = 'loess'## Warning in simpleLoess(y, x, w, span, degree = degree, parametric =
## parametric, : pseudoinverse used at 2009## Warning in simpleLoess(y, x, w, span, degree = degree, parametric =
## parametric, : neighborhood radius 5.035## Warning in simpleLoess(y, x, w, span, degree = degree, parametric =
## parametric, : reciprocal condition number 5.2848e-17## Warning in simpleLoess(y, x, w, span, degree = degree, parametric =
## parametric, : There are other near singularities as well. 9.2112## Warning in predLoess(object$y, object$x, newx = if
## (is.null(newdata)) object$x else if (is.data.frame(newdata))
## as.matrix(model.frame(delete.response(terms(object)), : pseudoinverse used
## at 2009## Warning in predLoess(object$y, object$x, newx = if
## (is.null(newdata)) object$x else if (is.data.frame(newdata))
## as.matrix(model.frame(delete.response(terms(object)), : neighborhood radius
## 5.035## Warning in predLoess(object$y, object$x, newx = if
## (is.null(newdata)) object$x else if (is.data.frame(newdata))
## as.matrix(model.frame(delete.response(terms(object)), : reciprocal
## condition number 5.2848e-17## Warning in predLoess(object$y, object$x, newx = if
## (is.null(newdata)) object$x else if (is.data.frame(newdata))
## as.matrix(model.frame(delete.response(terms(object)), : There are other
## near singularities as well. 9.2112tx_dfm<-dfm(corpus_subset(PASSAGES,state=='tx'))
textstat_lexdiv(tx_dfm, measure="TTR")## text20 text21 text22 text23 text24 text25 text26
## 19.322314 3.453471 2.675057 2.724942 2.522114 1.156281 3.608025
## text27 text28 text29 text30 text31 text32 text33
## 12.502674 3.752809 4.087413 3.117333 19.813559 2.597778 3.681890
## text34 text35 text36 text37 text38 text39 text40
## 2.948298 3.325747 5.038793 8.659259 4.329630 3.558600 2.650794
## text41 text42 text43 text44 text45
## 3.251739 12.637838 2.672000 15.281046 3.510511ny_dfm<-dfm(corpus_subset(PASSAGES,state=='ny'))
textstat_lexdiv(ny_dfm, measure="TTR")## text1 text2 text3 text4 text5 text6 text7
## 9.210938 8.637363 4.841889 7.782178 13.630058 8.159170 4.605469
## text8 text9 text10 text11 text12 text13 text14
## 8.669118 11.615764 4.632613 7.606452 5.614286 6.015306 20.327586
## text15 text16 text17 text18 text19 text46 text47
## 5.924623 7.606452 19.650000 10.621622 3.956376 5.587678 1.443084
## text48 text49 text50 text51 text52 text53 text54
## 3.054404 2.704128 8.131034 3.302521 3.930000 2.497881 3.529940
## text55 text56 text57
## 3.462555 3.208163 2.505845overall_dfm<-dfm(PASSAGES)
lexdiv<-textstat_lexdiv(overall_dfm, measure="TTR")
corpus_summary$lexdiv<-lexdiv
#Individual Text Lexical Diversity Score
lexdiv_df<-select(corpus_summary,year,lexdiv,state)
pander(lexdiv_df)| Â | year | lexdiv | state |
|---|---|---|---|
| text1 | 2010 | 14.32 | ny |
| text2 | 2010 | 13.43 | ny |
| text3 | 2010 | 7.528 | ny |
| text4 | 2010 | 12.1 | ny |
| text5 | 2006 | 21.19 | ny |
| text6 | 2006 | 12.69 | ny |
| text7 | 2006 | 7.16 | ny |
| text8 | 2007 | 13.48 | ny |
| text9 | 2007 | 18.06 | ny |
| text10 | 2007 | 7.202 | ny |
| text11 | 2007 | 11.83 | ny |
| text12 | 2008 | 8.729 | ny |
| text13 | 2008 | 9.352 | ny |
| text14 | 2008 | 31.6 | ny |
| text15 | 2008 | 9.211 | ny |
| text16 | 2009 | 11.83 | ny |
| text17 | 2009 | 30.55 | ny |
| text18 | 2009 | 16.51 | ny |
| text19 | 2009 | 6.151 | ny |
| text20 | 2009 | 30.3 | tx |
| text21 | 2009 | 5.415 | tx |
| text22 | 2009 | 4.195 | tx |
| text23 | 2009 | 4.273 | tx |
| text24 | 2009 | 3.955 | tx |
| text25 | 2016 | 1.813 | tx |
| text26 | 2016 | 5.657 | tx |
| text27 | 2016 | 19.6 | tx |
| text28 | 2016 | 5.884 | tx |
| text29 | 2016 | 6.409 | tx |
| text30 | 2016 | 4.888 | tx |
| text31 | 2016 | 31.07 | tx |
| text32 | 2016 | 4.073 | tx |
| text33 | 2016 | 5.773 | tx |
| text34 | 2014 | 4.623 | tx |
| text35 | 2014 | 5.215 | tx |
| text36 | 2014 | 7.901 | tx |
| text37 | 2014 | 13.58 | tx |
| text38 | 2014 | 6.789 | tx |
| text39 | 2013 | 5.58 | tx |
| text40 | 2013 | 4.156 | tx |
| text41 | 2013 | 5.099 | tx |
| text42 | 2013 | 19.82 | tx |
| text43 | 2013 | 4.19 | tx |
| text44 | 2011 | 23.96 | tx |
| text45 | 2011 | 5.505 | tx |
| text46 | 2013 | 8.687 | ny |
| text47 | 2013 | 2.244 | ny |
| text48 | 2015 | 4.749 | ny |
| text49 | 2015 | 4.204 | ny |
| text50 | 2015 | 12.64 | ny |
| text51 | 2015 | 5.134 | ny |
| text52 | 2015 | 6.11 | ny |
| text53 | 2015 | 3.883 | ny |
| text54 | 2014 | 5.488 | ny |
| text55 | 2014 | 5.383 | ny |
| text56 | 2014 | 4.988 | ny |
| text57 | 2014 | 3.896 | ny |
ggplotly(
ggplot(
lexdiv_df,
aes(
x=year,
y=lexdiv,
color = factor(state)
)
)+geom_point() + geom_smooth()+labs(color="State")+xlab("Year")+ylab("Lexical Diversity Score")
)## `geom_smooth()` using method = 'loess'## Warning in simpleLoess(y, x, w, span, degree = degree, parametric =
## parametric, : pseudoinverse used at 2016## Warning in simpleLoess(y, x, w, span, degree = degree, parametric =
## parametric, : neighborhood radius 3.035## Warning in simpleLoess(y, x, w, span, degree = degree, parametric =
## parametric, : reciprocal condition number 1.166e-16## Warning in simpleLoess(y, x, w, span, degree = degree, parametric =
## parametric, : There are other near singularities as well. 4## Warning in predLoess(object$y, object$x, newx = if
## (is.null(newdata)) object$x else if (is.data.frame(newdata))
## as.matrix(model.frame(delete.response(terms(object)), : pseudoinverse used
## at 2016## Warning in predLoess(object$y, object$x, newx = if
## (is.null(newdata)) object$x else if (is.data.frame(newdata))
## as.matrix(model.frame(delete.response(terms(object)), : neighborhood radius
## 3.035## Warning in predLoess(object$y, object$x, newx = if
## (is.null(newdata)) object$x else if (is.data.frame(newdata))
## as.matrix(model.frame(delete.response(terms(object)), : reciprocal
## condition number 1.166e-16## Warning in predLoess(object$y, object$x, newx = if
## (is.null(newdata)) object$x else if (is.data.frame(newdata))
## as.matrix(model.frame(delete.response(terms(object)), : There are other
## near singularities as well. 4#Mean Lexical Diversity Score
lexdiv_mean <- aggregate(lexdiv_df$lexdiv, by=list("Year"=lexdiv_df$year), FUN = mean)
names(lexdiv_mean)<- c("Year","mean lexical diversity")
pander(lexdiv_mean)| Year | mean lexical diversity |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 13.68 |
| 2007 | 12.64 |
| 2008 | 14.72 |
| 2009 | 12.57 |
| 2010 | 11.84 |
| 2011 | 14.73 |
| 2013 | 7.11 |
| 2014 | 6.429 |
| 2015 | 6.12 |
| 2016 | 9.463 |
ggplotly(
ggplot(
lexdiv_mean,
aes(
x=lexdiv_mean$Year,
y=lexdiv_mean$`mean lexical diversity`
)
)+geom_point()+geom_smooth(method="lm")
)#Mean Lexical Diversity Score NY
lexdiv_ny<-filter(lexdiv_df, state=='ny')
ny_lexdiv_mean <- aggregate(lexdiv_ny$lexdiv, by=list("Year"=lexdiv_ny$year), FUN = mean)
names(ny_lexdiv_mean)<- c("Year","mean lexical diversity")
pander(ny_lexdiv_mean)| Year | mean lexical diversity |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 13.68 |
| 2007 | 12.64 |
| 2008 | 14.72 |
| 2009 | 16.26 |
| 2010 | 11.84 |
| 2013 | 5.465 |
| 2014 | 4.939 |
| 2015 | 6.12 |
ggplotly(
ggplot(
ny_lexdiv_mean,
aes(
x=ny_lexdiv_mean$Year,
y=ny_lexdiv_mean$`mean lexical diversity`
)
)+geom_point()+geom_smooth(method="lm")
)#Mean Lexical Diversity Score TX
lexdiv_tx<-filter(lexdiv_df, state=='tx')
tx_lexdiv_mean <- aggregate(lexdiv_tx$lexdiv, by=list("Year"=lexdiv_tx$year), FUN = mean)
names(tx_lexdiv_mean)<- c("Year","mean lexical diversity")
pander(tx_lexdiv_mean)| Year | mean lexical diversity |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 9.627 |
| 2011 | 14.73 |
| 2013 | 7.768 |
| 2014 | 7.621 |
| 2016 | 9.463 |
ggplotly(
ggplot(
tx_lexdiv_mean,
aes(
x=tx_lexdiv_mean$Year,
y=tx_lexdiv_mean$`mean lexical diversity`
)
)+geom_point()+geom_smooth(method="lm")
)#Mean Lexical Diversity Score
lexdiv_nonfic_df<-filter(corpus_summary, corpus_summary$genre=="nonfiction")
lexdiv_nonfic_mean <- aggregate(lexdiv_nonfic_df$lexdiv, by=list("Year"=lexdiv_nonfic_df$year), FUN = mean)
names(lexdiv_nonfic_df)<- c("Year","mean lexical diversity")
pander(lexdiv_nonfic_mean)| Year | x |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 10.84 |
| 2008 | 9.282 |
| 2009 | 16.01 |
| 2010 | 10.48 |
| 2011 | 5.505 |
| 2013 | 6.893 |
| 2014 | 4.805 |
| 2015 | 7.652 |
| 2016 | 4.803 |
lexdiv_fic_df<-filter(corpus_summary, corpus_summary$genre=="fiction")
lexdiv_fic_mean <- aggregate(lexdiv_fic_df$lexdiv, by=list("Year"=lexdiv_fic_df$year), FUN = mean)
names(lexdiv_fic_mean)<- c("Year","mean lexical diversity")
pander(lexdiv_fic_mean)| Year | mean lexical diversity |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 7.16 |
| 2008 | 8.729 |
| 2009 | 4.643 |
| 2010 | 14.32 |
| 2013 | 4.042 |
| 2014 | 6.155 |
| 2015 | 4.589 |
| 2016 | 5.241 |