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BOOK NAME: Number the Stars
AUTHOR: Lois Lowry

As Denmark surrendered to Germany during the war in 1940, life became harder for the Danish Jews. It was 1943. Annemarie Johansen and her Jewish neighbor Ellen Rosen were best friends. Annemarie had a little sister Kristi, and she had another sister Lise, who died in an accident two years earlier. Her parents never told her what had really happened to Lise. Ellen, the Jewish girl, was an only child.

Soon, the Germans started capturing Danish Jews and relocating them. Ellen came to live with Annemarie and the rest of the Johansens, and pretended to be part of their family. Peter, the boy who was originally engaged to Lise, helped hide Ellen's parents in a safer place. It was very dangerous for a non-Jewish family to hide Jews in their homes. If they were caught by the Germans, they too would be killed! But even though times were tough for both families, through much courage, Annemarie managed to save her friend.

When the war ended, Annemarie found out that Peter was a member of a group that tried to destroy the Germans, and he was killed. That's when the truth is uncovered about Lise. Lise was also part of that group, and the Germans had caught her, too. Annemarie decided to wear Ellen's necklace with the Jewish star, until she sees her friend again.

I really enjoyed this book. The character I think I am most like is Ellen, because I am Jewish, just like her character was. I follow all the traditions she does in the book. I also loved Annemarie's character, because I really admire what a great friend she was.

Tyler and Stefan, two brothers, went on a year-long trip of a lifetime around the world. They share some of their favorite memories from their trip.




Check out the rotating globe to see all of the places Tyler and Stefan visited during their journey.

The average shower lasts about eight minutes long and uses 15 gallons of water. If you can shorten your shower, you can save several gallons!

Play the Water Wiz game and test your water knowledge.

Ever since I went to South Africa as a part of the 2007 team, there isn't a single moment that doesn't make me long for just on more dance of the local kids of the Sam Nzima School (now the Ezweni School) or just to be two feet away from an African elephant (that isn't in a zoo). Of course when I got the call saying that I was among the fifteen winners who were offered the amazing opportunity, it all seemed somewhat surreal. It wasn't until we got off the airplane that I realized that we were actually in South Africa! Though the scenery was utterly and completely amazing, it was in Africa that I discovered my love for people. While being able to just breathe in the crisp African air was just breath-taking, what I really loved was being amongst the people of the village township. Just being able to talk and laugh with them when they were living in buildings with tin roofs was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. Thanks to them I realized that I wanted to be a social anthropologist and devote my life to studying people. Whether it be a homeless person on the street corner or a mother in a Swiss village--everyone has a story worth telling. Why not spend my life hearing as many as I can?

By attending the 2011 Explorer Symposium this week and hearing the members of the panel talk about their lives' work, I was motivated to follow my dreams (cliche but true). I couldn't help but hear the passion in their voices. It was inspiring. Many people spend their lives searching for what it is that they actually want to do. Well, I'm not one of them. I have found my passion and I have National Geographic to thank for it.

Two new Explorers-in-Residence were named at National Geographic's 2011 Explorer's Symposium: Dr. Enric Sala and James Cameron. Enric Sala is a marine ecologist who studies ocean environments. He was formerly a National Geographic Fellow. James Cameron is a filmmaker who is passionate about exploring.

Read an interview with Enric Sala on National Geographic Kids.

Get to know the National Geographic explorers in the in this interactive mural.

Hi everyone! I am very happy to say that finally I went around Sydney with a camera and my mum (everyone thought we were tourists). We took a picture of the Opera house and the Harbour bridge.

This is my last post on the Olympics, and frankly, it's been great writing for you guys. I've really enjoyed writing this blog, as it's helped me do things I wouldn't normally do--like interview athletes, trade pins, learn about the mascots and the torch relay. This enhanced my Olympic experience, too! The last Olympic event I went to was the men's beach volleyball.  The U.S. team got the gold medal, and I got to see them raise the American flag and sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" in the middle of Beijing! What a great way to end this Olympics!

Another highlight was getting to see Nadal and Federer play on the same day. It has inspired me to work hard on my tennis and I will try out for my middle school tennis team again this year (I didn't make it last year).  I also learned how a lot of different sports were played & judged (canoe/kayak slalom, beach volleyball, badminton, diving, etc.). Being able to watch a few events in person helped me appreciate how hard the athletes have to work before and during the Olympics.

Today, I'll tell you about a normal day at school. I still have to go to school until the end of the month of June.  My school specializes in music and presents concerts here and also outside of Canada.

I walk to school with my friends. It takes us ten minutes to get there. Classes start at 8:30 am. At this moment all students are very excited because this is the last month of school, but also the time for exams. I have four classes of 75 minutes and between each class a break of 15 minutes.

During lunch time I eat at the cafeteria and have fun with my friends in the park around the school. School ends at 3:15 pm. I walk back home were I do my homework and I relax. I often take the subway to go to the library Plateau-Mont-Royal were my mother is chief librarian. We have dinner together and then I go to my fencing class. The library is in downtown. I like to go in that part of the city, where it's full of people and very buzzy.


The swimming pool will open soon!

First, I want to show you a video of me weaving.



I have been weaving for about three years--since I was 11.

Last year I met Meg Cabot, the author of The Princess Diaries, when she came to South Africa. It was so cool and she was so nice!

Last week I met John van de Ruit, the author of Spud, during the launch of his latest book, Spud - Learning to Fly at this cool mall called Melrose Arch.

Every year Grade Five puts on a huge production, a play  that my drama teacher writes, and this year it was my turn!!!

My friend Sukayna and I were the lead along with two boys.

Sukayna and I were the two angels: Goodness and  Evil, who come down from the heavens to Earth and meet two crazy people, and they all go looking for the reason of evil spreading everywhere. And guess what? I was the evil angel! And Sukayna was the good angel.

Nampayo
We learned different lessons, but the one I like best is science. This subject is very interesting. I understand it well. When the teacher is in class I sit upright and listen to what the teacher is saying. We read as many books as we can. Whenever there is no teacher in class everybody is busy reading and doing some corrections.

My school is a French school in the middle of London, which is a bit strange but loads of schools are like that in London. We do not wear uniforms, because  in France they do not wear uniforms.

There is a Spanish school which we did a exchange with this year. There is also a Italian school in south London. My school is in South Kensington near the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum where we do visits all the time. My school has existed for about 80 years and it now almost holds 4000 pupils which is about 11 classes per year.