March 2018 HIGHLIGHTS™ PUZZLE TOWN!

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 Welcome

Welcome, Spring
After a dark, cold winter, I’m always on the lookout for signs of
spring. Sometimes early spring days start off sunny but bring snow
later, just like in the poem “A Day in March” (page 4). Soon enough,
though, I catch a warm breeze or spy crocuses popping up.
I’m not the only one looking for flowers during this time. In the
story “Jack Grants a Wish” (pages 12–15), Jack’s mom wishes the
We love to hear from you! flowers in their garden would start growing. Jack uses his creativity
eds@highlights.com and problem-solving skills to come up with a delightful solution that
surprises Mom on her birthday. (It’s a colorful idea I might have to try!)
As you and your child wait for the new season, you might recite and
act out this month’s action rhyme, “I’m a Little Seedling” (page 31).
As sunshine and water are introduced, your little “seedling” grows into
a straight, tall plant.
Have fun this month looking for signs of spring.
Sincerely
Sincerely,

Meghan D
Megh Dombrink-Green,
b Editor

™
Highlights High Five celebrates the early years of childhood—a time of discovery when learning
happens at every turn. Our magazine is dedicated to helping parents, educators, and other
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self-confidence . . . for children are the world’s most important people .
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Photos: (top) by Kyle Anderson;
(bottom) by Guy Cali Associates, Inc.
Cover photo by Gl0ck/Alamy Stock Photo
 March 2018

Reading
4 A Day in March
Highlights High Five ™
March 2018 • Volume 12 • Number 3 5 The Adventures of Spot
Issue No. 135 6 Tex Helps a Friend (Tex and Indi)
Editor in Chief: Christine French Cully
Vice President, Magazine Group Editorial: 12 Jack Grants a Wish
Jamie Bryant
Creative Director: Marie O’Neill
20 More than a Box (English/Spanish)
Editor: Meghan Dombrink-Green 26 Stairs
Senior Art Director:
Kelley Cunningham Lanuto
Copy Editor: Joan Prevete Hyman
Puzzles
Editorial Offices: 807 Church Street,
Honesdale, PA 18431-1895.
10 My First Hidden Pictures Puzzle
TM

E-mail: eds@highlights.com 16 Spring Search

CEO: Kent S. Johnson
Vice President, International:
18 That’s Silly!
TM

Andy Shafran 24 A Barnyard Spring

Senior Editor, International:
Julie Stoehr (Look and Look Again)
Copyright © 2018, Highlights for Children, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Designed for use in all the classrooms of early
Activities
childhood, including child-care centers,
preschools, schools, and the home.
31 I’m a Little Seedling
Highlights High Five is published monthly. 32 Colorful Confetti Eggs
ISSN 1943-1465 (print)
ISSN 2330-6955 (online)
34 Noodle-y Kugel-y
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Cover art by Macky Pamintuan
Printed by LSC Communications, Seymour, IN, March 2018 3
and Glasgow, KY
 Reading

A Day in March
By Marilyn Kratz

The sun rose high to start the day,

Then billowy clouds hid it away.
Soon, down came raindrops—
spitter, splat—
and changed to snowflakes, just like that!

Photo by iStock/Marilyn Nieves

4
 Reading

By Marileta Robinson • Art by Ron Zalme

Where is everyone? No one is home.

The house is quiet. “We’re back!”

Too quiet.

That’s better.
March 2018 5
 Reading

Tex Helps a Friend

By Lissa Rovetch • Art by Amy Wummer

“Let’s pretend we’re animals playing in the jungle!”

Ms. French said at recess.
“Ribbit, ribbit,” Carley croaked. “I’m a frog, hopping
over lily pads.”
“Glub, glub. I’m a pufferfish,” said Jack.
“I’m a sneaky snake slithering down the slide,”
Indi said. She giggled as she wiggled.

6 March 2018
 x and Ind
e

i
“Wheee!” Tex squealed, grabbing the monkey bars.
“I’m a monkey, swinging through the trees!”
“Look out below!” Eli called from the swings.
“I’m a parrot flying in the sky!”

Eli jumped
off and landed
hard on
the ground.
“Ouch!” he
yelled. “I hurt
my knee!”

7
 “Are you OK?” Tex asked.
“It hurts to walk,” said Eli.
“I’ll help you over to the bench,” said Tex.
“What happened? Are you OK?” asked Ms. French.
“I was a parrot flying through the jungle and I fell on
my knee,” said Eli.
“That’s why we say it’s not safe for kids to jump off
the swings,” said Ms. French.
“But I wasn’t a kid,” said Eli. “I was a parrot.”

8 March 2018
 “All right, Mr. Parrot, let’s get you an ice pack,”
said Ms. French. “And, Tex, thank you for being the
most helpful monkey in the jungle.”

March 2018 9
 Puzzle

My First

Puzzle
Find t h ese objects hidden in the big picture.

Mug Ball Comb Boomerang

Ruler Golf Club

Straw Paintbrush Needle

I Brush My Teeth
By Philippa Rae

I have a little toothbrush that’s red and blue and white.

I squeeze on the toothpaste and brush from left to right.
I brush my teeth each morning, and then again at night,
’cause I always want to have a smile that’s super bright.

10 March 2018
Art by Gary LaCoste
March 2018 11
 Reading

Jack Grants a Wish

By Rosi Hollinbeck • Art by Deborah Melmon

“What’s wrong, buddy?” Jack’s mom said at breakfast.

“Tomorrow’s your birthday and I don’t have a present,”
said Jack.
“You can give me a big hug, Jack,” said Mom. “And we
can make brunch together.”

12 March 2018
 After breakfast, Jack helped wash the dishes.
His mom looked out the window and said, “I wish the
snow would hurry up and melt. I miss our flowers.”

That gave Jack an idea. When the dishes were done,

he took some straws to his room. He used his crayons
to draw some flowers. Then he cut them out and
glued each one to a straw.

March 2018 13
 The next morning, Jack woke up early. He planted
his flowers just outside the kitchen window. Then he
ran back inside to wake his mom.

14 March 2018
 “Happy birthday, Mom!” he shouted.
When they went into the kitchen, Jack’s mom saw the
flowers he had planted.
“They’re snow flowers, Mom,” said Jack with a big smile.
“What a great present! I love them. Thanks, buddy.
Now, shall we fix a birthday brunch?”
“Yes,” said Jack. “I’ll help!”

March 2018 15
 Puzzle

Spring
Search
By Eileen Spinelli • Art by Debbie Palen

Blue jay looks for

shiny things:
strips of foil,
sparkly rings,
a silver button
from a vest—
blue jay likes
a fancy nest.

16 March 2018
What did blue jay
put in his nest?
How many
animals do
you see?
What else
do you see? 17
 Puzzle

hat’s Silly!
TM

Art by Chris Jones

18 March 2018
 W hat
silly things
do you see?

19
 Read Aloud in English and Spanish

More
Grandma Hen and
Chica-Chick live
in a small farming

than a Box
town in California.
Chica-Chick
loves to help her
grandma.

By Ana Galán • Art by Francesca Assirelli

Grandma Hen received a package in the mail.

“My new pot!” she exclaimed.
“¡Una caja!” said Chica-Chick, looking at the
big box.
“Would you like to play with the box while
I make dinner?” asked Grandma Hen.
“Sí, gracias,” said Chica-Chick.
20 March 2018
 Chica-Chick went to her room and returned to the
kitchen with all her stuffed animals. She put them into
the box and lifted the box into the air.
“¡Mira, abuela!” she said. “Es un avión.”
Grandma Hen smiled and waved to the passengers
on the plane.

¡Una caja! Sí, gracias.

OO-nah KAH-hah SEE GRAH-syahs
A box! Yes, thank you.

¡Mira, abuela! Es un avión.

MEE-rah ah-BWEH-lah EHS oon ah-VEEOHN
Look, Grandma! It’s a plane.

Spanish pronunciation by Linda Elman

March 2018 21
 Then Chica-Chick put the box on the floor and pushed it
around. “¡Mira, abuela!” she said. “Es un tren.”
Grandma Hen waved to the passengers on the train.

Chica-Chick closed the

flaps and turned the box
upside down. She decorated
it with crayons. “¡Mira,
abuela!” she said.
“Es una casa.”
“What a colorful house,”
said Grandma Hen. “But
now it’s time to clean up.
Dinner is ready.”

¡Mira, abuela! Es un tren. Es una casa. . . . caja!

MEE-rah ah-BWEH-lah EHS oon TREHN EHS OO-nah KAH-sah KAH-hah
Look, Grandma! It’s a train. It’s a house. . . . a box!

22 March 2018
 Chica-Chick put all her stuffed animals into the box.
Then she placed the box in a corner of the room.
“What is it now?” asked Grandma Hen.
“¡Es una caja!” said Chica-Chick.
“Why, of course. It’s a box!” said Grandma Hen.
March 2018 23
 Puzzle

A Barnyard Spring
Art by Rocco Baviera

How are these pictures the same?

24 March 2018
 Look and
Look Again

How are they different?

March 2018 25
 Reading

Stairs
By Marileta Robinson

rs go up,
Stai

Stairs
go do
wn,

Some go straight,
Some go round.
a

narrow,
Stairs are
Stairs are wide,

26
 Photos: page 26 (top) by iStock/ftwitty, iStock/Lya_Cattel,
(center left) by iStock/EvgeniiAnd, (center right) by iStock/
piovesempre, (bottom left) by iStock/baona, (bottom right) by
iStock/Imgorthand; page 27 by iStock/solidcolours

Climb
to
the top
and
down
you
slide.
March 2018 27
 Stairs are short,

Stairs are tall,

Some have rails

so you don’t fa
ll.

Photos: page 28 (top left) by

iStock/jhorrocks, (top right)
by iStock/Mlenny,
(bottom) by iStock/Imgorthand;
page 29 (top) by
iStock/martinedoucet,
(bottom) by iStock/baona
28
Some stairs lead
to
frie e s ,
ndly fac
Some lead to
mysterious places.

March 2018 29
 Photo by iStock/Geber86

If you’re going
p or dow
u n,
stairs are good
to have around.

30 March 2018
 Activity

I’m a Little Seedling

An Action Rhyme
(To the tune of “I’m a Little Teapot”)
By Barbara L. Scanlan

1. I’m a little seedling

sleeping in the ground.

2. I reach for the sun,

but I don’t make a sound.

3. I open up my leaves
when the raindrops fall.

4. They help me grow up

straight and tall!

Photos by Guy Cali Associates, Inc.

Art by iStock/hajdukstanko 31
 Activity

C
By Jill Do
lC
You Need
• Butter knife
• Eggs
• Small bowl
• Paint or crayons
• Paintbrush
• Paper
• Confetti
• Scissors
• Tissue paper
• Glue

1. Use the butter knife to

make a small hole in the 2. Empty the egg into a
bottom of the egg. nside
small bowl. Rinse the in
of the egg with water. L
Let dry.

4. Roll a piece of paper to

3. Decorate the create a funnel. Place the 5. Cut a small piece
eggshells with paint small end inside the hole. Pour of tissue paper.
or crayons. the confetti through the funnel. Glue it over the hole.
Let dry.
32 March 2018 Photos by Guy Cali Associates, Inc.
Background photo by iStock/J33P3l2
 Eggshells filled with confetti, called
cascarones, are a Mexican tradition
during Easter.

Surprise! Gently crush

the eggs over a friend’s head.
 Activity

odle-y Kugel
You Need Before You Beg in
• 16-ounce package Wash your hands. Grease
wide egg noodles
(save the bag for later) the bottom of a 9-inch-by-
• 6 tablespoons unsalted 13-inch glass baking dish
butter, cut into pieces with butter.
• 5 eggs Adult: Preheat the oven
• 1 cup whole milk
to 350°F. Cook the
• ½ cup sugar
noodles according to
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 16 ounces sour cream the package directions.
• 16 ounces cottage cheese Drain well. Return the
• 20-ounce can crushed noodles to the pot.
pineapple, drained
For topping
• 2 cups cornflakes
1. Add the butter pieces to the warm noodles.
• 2 tablespoons sugar Stir the noodles to coat.
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons unsalted
butter, cut into pieces

4. Stir in the sour cream,

cottage cheese, and pineapple.
2. Beat the eggs 3. Add the milk, sugar, Pour the mixture into the pot
in a large bowl. and salt. Whisk together. with the noodles. Stir to coat.

Photos by Guy Cali Associates, Inc.

34
Art by iStock/briddy_
-y
Kugel
(koo-gull)
is a baked
noodle
pudding.

7. Sprinkle the
topping over the
6. Make the topping. noodles. Add the
Pour the cornflakes into remaining pieces of
the noodle bag. Close butter on top.
the top with a clip. Crush
Adult: Bake for 45–50
the cornflakes with your
minutes, or until the
hands. Add the sugar
5. Pour the noodle mixture
edges are golden brown.
and cinnamon. Shake Let stand 5 minutes
into the baking dish. the bag. before serving.

March 2018 35
 Thanks for reading

Chica-Chick is pretending
the box is an airplane.
What do you like to pretend?

B
Which
kite has a
match?

A
C

D
Look for these pictures
inside the magazine.
A. page 12 B. page 11 C. page 19 D. page 16

Look for the hidden “Smiling ”

on the front cover.
Art by iStock/VectorMoon