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Here’s another picture book for you. The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry depicts the beautiful, endangered rainforest in full color. Walking through the forest are two men: one tall and one small. The larger man tells the smaller man to cut down a giant kapok tree, and then leaves the smaller man to do his bidding.

The tree towers above the small man, who is having trouble cutting it down. Soon, he grows tired, and sits at the base of the ancient tree to rest. Soon, he falls asleep, and the animals of the rainforest approach him, one by one. They whisper reasons not to cut down the tree into his ears. When he wakes up, he sees all of the creatures that have gathered around him. He notices that among the animals is a human child as well.

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Did you know that the first bike was made of wood? Yep, it’s true! Can you imagine what it would feel like to ride a bicycle that didn’t have rubber tires, but wagon style wheels instead? Not only would it be a bumpy ride, but boy, would those splinters smart!

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There exists a bird that flies gracefully, but has the ability to run after its prey, while using its wings for balance. While it might look awkward running and flapping its wings, this bird can easily outrun a human. And though this bird does not have webbed feet, it can swim.

Sounds like a riddle, doesn’t it? Like, what’s red and black and white and runs across the sandy shores, swims without webbed feet and is a symbol of peace, loyalty and vitality the world over? Who else but the glorious crane?

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If you read last week’s edition the Tribune (which we know you did), you learned all about three of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The Pyramids of Egypt, The Hanging Gardens of Babylon and The Statue of Zeus at Olympia. It’s now time to learn about the other four.

These four structures are just as amazing and spectacular as the first three and they all have an interesting history. We mentioned last week that you might be familiar with some of the ancient wonders but you probably have not seen any of these structures since only one still stands today.

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In The Table Where Rich People Sit, a picture book by Byrd Baylor, a girl takes a look around her and sees that her family’s house is not what she thinks it should be. It dawns on her that her parents don’t realize how poor they really are, so she calls a family meeting. The family gathers around the table, and the girl points out that the very table at which they are sitting is in terrible condition. It is dilapidated and worn, because the family has gotten so much use from it. She tells her family that they are not sitting at a table where rich people should sit, and proceeds to instruct her parents to seek better jobs in order to earn more money.

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If you have watched tennis played on television, you might notice something that makes it different from watching say, basketball or football. Of course it is a spots where the individual is spotlighted, as opposed to the team. Also, unlike golf, tennis is a very fast-paced game where it’s not unlikely to see someone dive for the ball (which is very unlikely in golf.) One other thing that you might notice is the absence of very many African-American tennis players. Though the Williams sisters are currently prominent in the sport, most of the players are Caucasian.

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Imagine that you are with your family on vacation—the sun is warm, the gulf waters are perfect for swimming. So you leave your sandcastle behind, since you are feeling hot and want to take a dip in the crystal blue waters. You are a pretty good swimmer, but your Red Cross safety instruction did not prepare you for what you think you just saw.

Treading water, you wipe he salt water from your eyes and look towards the gleaming horizon again. Nothing. So, you decide to resume your swim. A few minutes pass, and you see it again: a slithering black figure, shining in the sun for just a second, has caught your attention.

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Everyone loves chocolate…especially around Valentine’s Day. Try this great recipe for some fantastic fudge. Make sure you ask a responsible adult to help you with the stove part.

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Have you ever looked at a building or statue in awe of its size and beauty? Well, thousands of years ago, people were also impressed by amazing structures built by different civilizations.

A list of seven amazing and spectacular structures was originally compiled around the second century BC but the final and complete list was documented in the Middle Ages. This is the list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. You are probably familiar with some of these structures but not all.

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Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Do you have someone in mind to be your Valentine? One of the most popular gifts to give on February 14th is chocolate. This delicious candy comes in so many forms, and it is a nice way to tell someone that you like them. Have you ever wondered where chocolate came from? The history of chocolate may surprise you.

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Here’s a yummy recipe that is sure to tempt your favorite Valentine. It is easy to make, and should provide for a satisfying treat for someone you love, or like, or someone who might just be yourself!

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Have you ever had the hiccups and wondered what caused them? They are actually a really weird sound and are hard to control. Hiccups are caused by a sudden jerk in your diaphragm that causes you to breathe in air very quickly.

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