In the November issue of Chirp, we featured a wordless story by author and illustrator John Martz. The story is about a young girl who has many dinosuars for pets!
If you could have a dinosaur for a pet, what would it be? Would you ride it to school or keep it in your backyard? What would it eat, and where would it sleep?
Let me know in the comments!
Don’t forget to pick up the latest Chirp and check out this cool story!
The Dr. Seuss Experienceis a new exhibit featuring interactive elements from some of your favourite Dr. Seuss books! Right now, the exhibit is being shown in Mississauga, Ontario’s Square One Mall, but it will be travelling to other cities in the future. Chickadee readers, Abbott, 7, and Vivian, 7, got to explore the exhibit—follow along!
Abbott and Vivian outside of the Seuss Experience.
The Oh, The Places You’ll Go! maze was lots of fun!
Listen closely and you’ll hear the Lorax read through the tubes!
If I Ran the Circus room featured a huge horn and a merry-go-round.
You can fish for presents in How the Grinch stole Christmas! room
Can you be like Horton and hear a Who in the Jungle of Nool?
Abbott and Vivian had a great time at the exhibit and gave it a 8 out of 10—they wished it was longer!
What’s your favourite Dr. Seuss book? Leave a comment below!
In the November issue of Chickadee, we got to know the amazing white-lipped island pit viper. Click on the image below to learn about this beautiful blue reptile!
For more cool animal facts, check out the latest issue of Chickadee!
Happy World Science Day! To celebrate, check out this fun science experiment! Chirp editor Jackie and reader Elyse make a jar of cool crystals, as seen in the December 2018 issue of Chirp!
Check out our latest contest for a chance to win one of the silliest llamas you’ll ever meet!
Who’s Your Llama is a line of mini collectible llamas, and each one is dressed in a cute outfit and has 1 of 4 silly features: winking, spitting, grinning, or sticking its tongue out. Each toy is packaged in a reusable camper, and you’ll have to open it to find out Who’s Your Llama!
For a chance to WIN 1 of 4 Who’s Your Llama collectibles, tell us your age, name, and favourite animal in the comments below.
Contest deadline: November 17 @ 11:59 p.m.
Prizes courtesy of Jakks Pacific.
For full contest rules and regulations click here.
Are you ready for a hair-raising adventure with your favourite Trolls? Poppy, Branch and all their friends are coming to life on stage in Trolls LIVE! for their first-ever tour! Jam-packed with epic music, glitter, humour and happiness, Trolls LIVE! will visit Toronto at the Meridian Hall from April 3rd – 5th for six Trolls-tastic performances. Tickets are on sale now! But we’re giving you a chance to win four (4) tickets for your family for the opening night performance on April 3rd at 6:30 p.m.
Here’s how to enter:
Just tell us the name of your favourite Trolls character for a chance to WIN!
*Remember to include your first name and age.
Contest Deadline: November 17th, 2019 at 11:59pm.
Winners will be chosen by random draw. Click here for full contest rules and regulations.
Tickets courtesy of VStar Entertainment Group. Winner will be responsible for their own transportation to and from the show.
Where Are You Now? is a beautiful picture book written and illustrated by Tyler Clark Burke. Told in simple and poetic verse, this story explores what happens to things that have vanished from our lives, be it the setting sun, melting snowflakes, or an eaten apple. The story encourages kids to look for what has disappeared in other places. For instance, sunlight is reflected on the moon, snowflakes turn into water, and seeds from an apple core can grow into a tree. The book also opens the door to conversations about loss and difficult times of change.
For a chance to WIN 1 of 2 signed copies of this book, tell us your name and age in the comments below.
Contest deadline: November 13 @ 11:59 p.m.
Prizes courtesy of Owlkids.
For full contest rules and regulations click here.
Embrace your inner magician (and scientist!) by creating this colourful magic potion. You’ll need a glass jar, food colouring, vinegar, dish soap, baking soda, and an adult’s help to make this cool concoction.
We spoke with author Kristen Calis about her story Scaredy Cat, which appeared in the October issue of Chirp! This fun rhyming story is about a black cat named Pepper who learns to overcome his fears on Halloween.
Read on to learn more about Kristen (including her favourite Halloween costume) and her story!
What inspired you to write Scaredy Cat?
I was inspired to write Scaredy Cat because I know some people are superstitious and believe black cats are bad luck. I have a black cat named Henri, and I know they are anything but.
Do you have any pets at home?
I have three cats: Kinsey, Henri, and King.
When did you start writing stories?
This is my very first published story, but I have been writing for fun ever since I was little.
What was your favourite Halloween costume growing up?
My favourite costume was Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. I loved wearing the ruby slippers.
Do you have any advice for young writers?
My advice is to write every day, even if it’s just a couple of sentences.
Thanks so much, Kristen!
Readers, you can listen to an audio version of this story (read by the author herself!), by clicking HERE.
To help you get in the Halloween spirit, try solving these spooky riddles!
1. What do witches learn in school?
2. What do ghosts use to to wash their hair?
3. What’s a monster’s favourite dessert?
4. What position does a ghost play in hockey?
We love science at Owlkids, which is why we partnered with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to host the National Science Reading Day contest!
To celebrate Science Literacy Week 2019 and take part in the contest, kids and classrooms across Canada spent time reading about all-things science for a chance to WIN. All they had to do was read a science book, whether it was about crazy cool robots or amazing scientific discoveries, and send us photos or lists of the books they read that day.
We want to send a huge thank you to all of the students and teachers who took part in the event! Once again, we’ve selected four classrooms and five students as winners in this year’s contest. Congratulations to the lucky winners below!
Classroom Winners
Arin Turner’s Grade 4 class at Saskatoon Misbah School in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Karen Strong’s Grade 1 class at St. John Chrysostom in Newmarket, Ontario.
Isabel Hoglund’s Grade 5 class in Calgary, Alberta.
Jennifer Dalley’s Grade 3 class at Riverwood Academy in Wing’s Point, Newfoundland.
Student Winners
Grace Jamieson
Emmanuel Oniwide
Darian Alemzadeh
Carly Stevens
Miranda Kraft
We hoped you enjoyed taking part in National Science Reading Day! Best of luck in next year’s contest, readers!
Frogs might be super cute, but the desert rain frog is adorable.
Check out the video below to hear it squeak!
While most frogs live in wet environments in swamps or forests, this little reptile likes to bury itself in sandy beaches across South Africa and Namibia.
To learn more cool facts about amazing animals, pick up the latest issues of Chirp and Chickadee!
The November issue of Chirp is full of DINOSAUR fun! Get ready to make a dinosaur costume, meet some famous dinosaurs, and bake a fossil cookie you can eat. What is your favourite dinosaur? We hope you see it in this issue!
It’s time to talk about the November issue! Meet a super-cool and colourful pit viper. Find out what this snake likes to eat and how it hunts. Do you love crafts? Try making bowls out of recycled paper. We also dive deep into the world of clocks. How did we used to keep time? How do we keep time now? Find out in this issue!
As always, we have a fun contest in Clubhouse. Enter for your chance to win a prize!
Calling all dog lovers! We have an exciting contest for you on the Chirp blog this month.
Rescue Runts are adorable pets that you care for, snuggle, and love! Comb your pet’s messy fur, heal their bandaged paws, wipe away their tears, and even pick out their fleas using the included grooming kit. You can clean up your pet again and again for repeated playtime fun!
For a chance to WIN 1 of 5 Rescue Runts, tell us your name and favourite animal in the comments below.
Contest deadline: October 29 @ 11:59 p.m.
Prizes courtesy of Rescue Runts.
For full contest rules and regulations click here.
Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered if there is alien life beyond the stars? Us too!
That’s why in the October issue of Chickadee, we took a look at how scientists are searching for life on other planets. Check out this fun fact from the issue below!
Check out the latest issue of Chickadee to learn more cool facts about aliens, animals, and more!
In the October issue of Chickadee, we featured the amazing the nudibranch! While this critter looks like it might have come from outer space, this sea slug lives on the the ocean floor. Did you know there are over 3,000 nudibranch species, many of which come in eye catching colours?
You can learn more about nudibranchs in the latest issue of Chickadee.
Check out our latest contest for some science fun!
The Science4You Spectacular Science Kit comes with 10 experiments that encourage learning and a love for science! From building a car using physics to writing secret messages using chemistry, there’s so much to learn and discover inside each Spectacular Science kit. The kit is loaded with everything you’ll need to perform the experiments along with an information booklet written by scientists to help you learn the science and history behind each experiment.
For a chance to WIN 1 of 3 Science4You Spectacular Science Kits, tell us your name and age in the comments below.
Contest deadline: October 21 @ 11:59 p.m.
Prizes courtesy of Imports Dragon and Toys “R” Us.
For full contest rules and regulations click here.
If you’re still on the lookout for Halloween costume ideas, look no further! Check out the instructions below to make your own spook-tacular wizard costume!
You’ll need:
Thick blue or purple paper
Yellow paper or craft foam
Dark fabric
Scissors
Tape or glue
Hat:
Form a piece of thick paper into a cone. Tape or glue the edges down.
Cut stars out of paper of craft foam and attach them to the cone.
Wand:
Roll a piece of paper into a tube. Tape or glue the edges.
Cut out a yellow star and tape or glue it to the top of the tube.
Cape:
Cut a large piece of fabric into a half-circle.
Drape the fabric around your body and tie the ends in front.
If you end of making this costume, let me know in the comments below!
Grab your helmet and kneepads for roller skating month! Celebrated every October, this fun holiday is all about getting some exercise, enjoying the outdoors, an letting the good times roll.
Check out these cool facts you might not know about roller blades:
Roller skates were invented in London in 1760. The inventor John Joseph Merlin created roller skates so he could roll into a party while playing the violin!
In the 60s and 70s, many workers at fast food joints served their customers while wearing roller blades! These kinds of restaurants were called carhops.
The largest parade of roller skaters took place in Paris and involved over 1,188 people!
Do you love roller skating? Let me know in the comments below!
If you haven’t yet decided on your Halloween costume, look no further! In the October issue of Chickadee, we made some fun (and super easy!) emoji costumes. All you need is some yellow bristol board and art supplies!
What to do:
Cut the bristol board into a large circle.
Decorate the circle using markers or paper cut-outs to look like your favourite emoji.
Punch two holes in the top and tie string through them so the emoji hand down your front.
You can learn how to make even more cool costumes in the latest issue of Chickadee!
Readers, what’s your favourite emoji? Do you have your Halloween costume ready? Let me know in the comments below!
Fall is here, and so is Pumpkin Seed Day! Did you know pumpkin seeds are loaded with nutrients like magnesium and zinc that are good for your body? They’re pretty tasty, too!
If you end up carving jack-o’-lanterns this year, be sure to save some pumpkin seeds to make a delicious treat! Check out this simple recipe to make with your friends and family.
*Always ask an adult for help in the kitchen.
You’ll need:
1 1/2 cups raw pumpkin seeds
2 tsp melted butter
1 pinch salt
What to do:
Preheat oven to 150 °C (300 °F).
Toss seeds in a bowl with the melted butter and salt.
Spread seeds on a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown.
Unicorns 101, written and illustrated by Cale Atkinson, is a book about the science behind unicorns. We asked Kevin, 6, to tell us what he thought about this book. Check it out!
This book is about unicorns that are smart. The main character was Pete the lab assistant and there were lots of pictures of him doing silly things, like hiding in bushes and being in his underwear. My favourite part was when I learned that unicorns poop cupcakes and that is why you will never see a unicorn at a bake sale. I know that unicorns are not real, but this book pretends like they are. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about unicorns, because after reading the book I feel like I am a unicorn expert.
Thanks for the review, Kevin! Find this book in your local library or bookstore!
In the October issue of Chickadee, Dr. Zed shows you how to turn your jack-o’-lantern into a Halloween experiment!
All you need are some simple ingredients from around the house!
You’ll Need:
medium-sized pumplin
pumpkin-carving tools
tall drinking glass
30 mL (2 tbsp.) baking soda
5 mL (1 tsp.) dish soap
green food colouring
250 mL (1 cup) vinegar
large plate or tray
What to do:
With a grown-up’s help, carve your pumpkin into a jack-o’-lantern. TIP: Make sure the mouth is low on the pumpkin.
Place your jack-o’-lantern on a plate or tray.
Put a tall drinking glass inside the jack-o’-lantern.
Add baking soda, dish soap, and a few drops of food colouring to the glass.
Pour the vinegar into the glass. What happens?
If you try this fun experiment, let me know how it went in the comments below! And don’t forget you can find lots more science and Halloween fun in this month’s issue.
We have an exciting back-to-school giveaway for you this month!
We’re giving away four Playmobil City Life School Bus playsets. Each playset comes with a school bus that has front and rear lights that really work! The set also includes four Playmobil figures can bend sit, and turn their heads, along with additional accessories.
For a chance to WIN 1 of 4 Playmobil City Life School Bus playsets, tell us your name and age in the comments sections below.
Contest deadline: October 14, 2019 @ 11:59 p.m.
Prize courtesy of Playmobil.
For full contest rules and regulations, click here.
Chirp editor Jackie and reader Genna put on their lab coats and made a bouncy glowing egg!
All you need is an egg, vinegar, and a highlighter pen along with a container and a flashlight to create a glow-in-the-dark egg! Check out the video below to learn how to make it:
If you try this cool experiment, don’t forget to take a photo and send it to chirpblog@owlkids.com.
You can also find this science experiment in the October issue of Chirp!
If you’re looking to spruce up your lunch box, look no further!
Check out the below video to learn how to make some beautiful sandwich art. To get started, you’ll need some bread, lettuce, cheese and crackers, or you can use whatever ingredients you have at home!
*Remember to ask an adult for help with slicing cheese and veggies.
Which sandwich is your favourite? (I think the cat is pretty cute!)
If you’re looking for a new book to read check out When Molly Drew Dogs by Deborah Kerbel. It’s a story about a girl who draws dogs when she feels nervous and how it helps her handle her feelings, even though some people think it’s a strange habit. Let’s hear what Chirp readers Clark and Grant thought of this story!
Then scroll down for a chance to win your own copy of this book.
“I like this story because it has dogs in it. If you are afraid of dogs this book helps you see them differently. I like that only Molly can see the dogs because it let’s kids know that it is okay to have an imagination and make what you are dreaming become true. The pictures are different; they look smudged but they help me think about when I dream. The pictures are like my dreams. I like that. Best Part: The dogs with the hats on made me laugh.” – Clark, 7
“The story was scary sometimes because there is a storm and a bad guy in it but in the end they get rescued by the dogs and that’s not scary. The dogs are funny because they like to play even if Molly doesn’t want them to play.” – Grant, 5
Thanks, Clark and Grant!
To WIN a copy of When Molly Drew Dogs send your first name, age, and one thing you like to draw to chirpblog@owlkids.com or comment on this post.
Trick or treat? I think the October issue is definitely a treat! Are you fascinated by space and what might be out there? This month in Chickadee, read what scientists are doing to explore space for signs of life. Do you know what you’re going to dress up as for Halloween yet? We show you how to turn bristol board into 4 fun costumes! We have tons more Halloween fun—we also have monster cookies, Halloween poems, puzzles and comics. Happy Halloween!
Are there things you do every day before school? Like brush your teeth, eat breakfast, pack your school bag? Here is Chirp’s handy checklist that you can use every morning to help you remember to do everything on your list. Have fun!
To celebrate, Owlkids has partnered with Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to present the National Science Reading Day contest!
For a chance to WIN some amazing prizes, spend part of the day on September 17, 18, or 19 to science reading. Then head to the contest page to enter your classroom or personal information. Finally, share your reading list or photos from the day.
There is $3,000 in prizes to be won! NSERC is giving away four classroom prizes filled with magazines, books, and an $100 Indigo gift card. Five individual winners will also receive a prize pack filled with magazine and books.
Listen to Chickadee editor Mandy talk about her favourite science book in the video below!
For more great science reading suggestions, click here.
As part of Science Literacy Week 2019, Owlkids has partnered with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to present the National Science Reading Day contest!
To enter, simply devote part of the day on September 17, 18, or 19 to science reading. Then head to the contest page (where you can finds lots of great reading suggestions!) to enter your classroom or personal information. Finally, share your reading list or photos from the day.
There is $3,000 in prizes to be won! NSERC is giving away four classroom prizes filled with magazines, books, and an $100 Indigo gift card. Five individual winners will also receive a prize pack filled with magazine and books.
Get excited about National Science Reading Day with Chirp editor Jackie and reader Michaela in the video below!
Every September, cities across Canada hold marathons to celebrate Terry Fox and raise money for cancer research. In the latest issue of Chickadee, we featured Terry Fox’s story to celebrate the Canadian hero.
We talked with author and illustrator Josh Holinaty about retelling Terry’s story. Let’s hear what he had to say!
What inspired you to write the Terry Fox story for Chickadee?
Initially, the fine folks over at Chickadee approached me to see if I was interested in writing and illustrating a comic about Terry Fox, and I was more than happy to take part! Terry is such a huge Canadian hero with such an inspiring story, and he’s also a personal hero of mine. Also, I was up for the challenge to try telling the story of Terry Fox in only four short pages, while also giving him the respect he deserves.
What is your favourite panel in the comic?
There are a couple panels in the comic where Terry is running with the sun setting behind him, and I think those are my favourite. They feel epic and hopeful—or at least I hope they do! What I was hoping to get across in those panels is Terry’s determination and the legacy he left behind. All of Canada, and even the world, was behind him and his cause, but in the end he was just one person filled with huge determination to make change.
What did you enjoy most about writing and drawing this story?
I think my favourite part of working on this comic was researching and reading about Terry’s story to make sure I got the details right. (A tip to young writers and artists out there: researching your subject is important). Also, I’ve always had a soft spot for Terry’s story–he’s a real hero of mine. The story of his life never ceases to amaze and inspire me, even though I’ve heard and read about it since I was a kid myself. Being able to re-read his story was once again very enjoyable.
What do you admire most about Terry Fox?
His sheer determination is so inspiring. I’m still blown away at how far he ran in such a short time while also battling cancer. It’s truly powerful, heartbreaking, and inspiring all at the same time.
Are you taking part this year in the Marathon of Hope?
You bet! I’ve been a an avid runner for years, and every time I hop out for a run, the thought of Terry Fox crosses my mind. I’ll be sure to go for a run on that day and donate to the cause.
Thanks, Josh!
Readers, are you taking part in the Terry Fox Run in your community? Let us know in the comments below!
Every year, Guinness World Records comes out with a new book about record-breaking achievements around the world.
In the Guinness World Records 2020 edition, learn about records from the natural world (the heaviest flying bird is the kori bustard) to amazing human feats (first ice-climb of Niagara Falls was by Canadian Will Gadd) to wacky records (largest hula hoop was spun by Getti Kehayova) and much, much more!
Do you want to read about more awesome records? We’re giving Chickadee readers a chance to WIN their own copy of the Guinness World Records 2020 book!
For a chance to win 1 of 2 books, tell us: Which world record would you try to break? Please leave your name and age, too!
Contest deadline: September 23, 2019 at 11:59pm.
Prize courtesy of Guinness World Records.
For full contest rules and regulations click here.
If you’re love stories about superheroes, check out Captain Carlos and the Kindergarten Cape by Jeff Szpirglas and Danielle Saint-Onge (read by authors).
This story originally appeared in the September 2019 issue of Chirp.
National Science Reading Day is just around the corner! As part of Science Literacy Week, kids across Canada will spend time reading about science on September 18 to take part in National Science Reading Day.
To celebrate, were giving away $3,000 in prizes to kids and classrooms. Head to our contest page to learn more about National Science Reading Day where you can also finds lots of great science reading suggestions.
We caught up with illustrator and author Ashley Spires to talk about her new book, Fairy Science.
The story is about a fairy scientist named Esther who doesn’t believe in magic. Read on to learn more about the book and Ashley’s inspiration behind it!
What was your favorite thing about working on this book?
I’ve been wanting to do a book about fairies for years now! So finally getting to draw the world of pixies was so much fun. Their wildly-coloured hair, sparkly wings, and even the wild plants in the background were such a delightful change from my other projects. Also, I loved getting to add so many little details to the illustrations. Fairyland is all about the details, so I tried to add lots of tiny things that kids can discover over multiple readings.
Esther is such a funny and sweet character. What inspired you to write about a fairy who doesn’t believe in magic?
I have always been drawn to characters who see the world differently from those around them. As I mentioned, I had been playing around with stories about fairies for years, but nothing seemed to stick. There are so many fairy stories and I wanted to create something different. I couldn’t think of anything more different than a fairy who doesn’t believe in magic, and the story took off from there.
What was your favourite fairytale growing up?
I was addicted to Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes. I’ve always loved fairytales that are twisted and unexpected. His retelling of Little Red Riding Hood is beyond brilliant.
If you could make a scientific discovery that could change the world, what would it be?
Teleportation. It would solve so many problems! No more pollution and traffic jams, and world travel in the blink of an eye without motion sickness? Count me in!
Thanks so much, Ashley!
Readers, you can find out more about Fairy Science by clicking here.
National Science Reading Day is just around the corner! As part of Science Literacy Week, kids across Canada will spend time reading about science on September 18 to take part in National Science Reading Day.
To celebrate, were giving away $3,000 in prizes to kids and classrooms. Head to our contest page to learn more about National Science Reading Day where you can also finds lots of great science reading suggestions.
Today is Toasted Marshmallow Day, and to celebrate we’re sharing a yummy marshmallow dip recipe! This dip is great with fruit for a sweet and healthy treat!
You’ll need:
One jar of marshmallow creme (7 ounces)
One stick of cream cheese (8 ounces)
Your favourite fruits
What to do:
Put the marshmallow cream and cream cheese into a large bowl.
Ask an adult to blend them in the bowl with an electric mixer.
Scoop mixture into a small dish.
Dip your favourite fruits and dig in!
Do you like marshmallows? Let us know in the comments below!
Summer calls for lots of outdoor fun! If you’re on the lookout for outside activities, try making these gigantic bubbles! This activity is sure to be loads of fun for you and your friends!
*Be sure to ask an adult for help to make the bubble wand and mixture.
You’ll need:
String
2 wooden dowels
Eye bolts
Drill
Washers
2 cups dish soap
4 tbsp glycerin
2 tbsp baking powder or corn starch
Wide bucket
Water
What to do:
Note: Make sure an adult helps with this part of the activity! Drill a hole into one end of each dowel and screw in the eye bolts. Cut two different lengths of string (about two metres and one metre long). Feed the short string through the eye bolts and tie them tight. Then take the long string and add a washer to weigh it down. Then tie that string to the eye bolts as well. Tie a tiny knot where the washer hangs so it doesn’t get knotted.
For the bubble solution, mix the dish soap, baking powder or corn starch, and glycerin in your bucket. Add lukewarm water and stir.
Bubble time! Dip the wand into the mixture (make sure the entire string gets covered) and gently pull it out. Move your wand through the air to create giant bubbles. Yay!
This is a great way to spend time outdoors on a sunny day! If you try this fun activity out, let us know in the comments below how it went.
Today I’m going to tell you about an app that lets you take loving care of six adorable pandas.
Panda Babies Playhome is an interactive app that gives you the responsibility of caring for six pandas. You’ll give them baths, feed them, play hide-and-seek with them, and more. Each day is an adventure as you get to decide what the panda babies do. It’s a cute, user-friendly app with so much to explore.
Did you know about 70 percent of the Earth is covered in water, and only three percent of which is freshwater? World Water Week is dedicated to bringing awareness to global water issues and creating a sustainable approach to using the water we have. A little difference can go a long way! If you want to help in your day-to-day routine, try out these water conserving tips below!
Turn off the taps when they’re not in use. When you’re brushing your teeth or washing your face, make sure to turn the faucet off!
Don’t shower for too long. Get yourself clean as quickly as you can to save water.
Use old water from pots (after boiling spaghetti or eggs) to water your plants. Reusing this water instead of pouring it down the drain will save you from turning on the hose.
Wash your fruits and vegetables in a bowl of water instead of under the faucet.
Carry a reusable water bottle with you wherever you go! This way you’ll save on having to buy water and you won’t be throwing the plastic bottle into a landfill.
There’s your five tips for getting involved in World Water Week! Which ones will you try out? Let us know in the comments below!
If you’re spending this Sunday relaxing indoors, check out this video of adorable goats meeting giraffes for the first time! It’s sure to fill you with warm fuzzy feelings.
I love this video so much! The giraffes being scared of the tiny goats is so funny! Let us know in the comments below what you thought of it, too.
Summer hasn’t left us yet! There’s so many fun summer activities you can do outside while the weather is still warm. Check out the outdoor activities listed below for some fun ideas!
Have a tea party with your friends. Bring out your favourite ice tea (or lemonade!) and cookies for a refreshing afternoon!
“Paint” words and shapes onto a driveway or sidewalk with water and a paintbrush. No cleanup needed!
For a bit of a messier playtime, make mud cakes! Add decorations on top by using pine cones or wildflowers.
Go on a nature scavenger hunt! Have a parent or guardian choose some items in your backyard or the park, and see who in your friend group finds all of the items first!
Make cute designs with chalk. Then use water and a paintbrush to make a new watercolour drawing!
Do you want to try any of these outdoor activities? Leave a comment below telling us which one!
What’s one thing the human body can’t live without? Food!
This weeks edition of Would You Rather Wednesday is all about this essential ingredient to life so get your plates ready because this round starts now!
***
Would you rather:
Eat pizza with a strawberry sauce OR fries with fish sauce?
Sleep on a bed made of gumballs or sit in a chair made of pop rocks?
Live in a house made of spaghetti OR drive a car made of onion rings?
Never have another slice of chocolate cake or never have another ice cream cone?
There’s nothing quite like a delicious banana split on a hot day. All that ice cream, bananas, and chocolatey goodness…yum! Have you tasted a mini-version of this dessert? With the help of an adult, try out the recipe below and let us know in the comments what you think!
You’ll need:
4 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3 small bananas, peeled
⅓ cup walnuts, finely chopped
⅓ cup heavy cream
2 tsp pineapple preserves
12 halved maraschino cherries
Multicoloured tiny sprinkles
What to do:
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Put the chocolate in a small bowl and microwave it for 30 seconds or until the chocolate is smooth. Transfer to a mug.
Put the walnuts in another small bowl and slice the bananas into six pieces. Dip one end of each banana piece into the chocolate, then dip it into the walnut bowl. Set the bananas on the baking sheet and refrigerate for two hours.
Whip the cream in a bowl until peaks form. Stir in the pineapple. Using a fork, place a dollop of cream onto each banana. Decorate with a cherry and sprinkles.
There you have it! Tiny banana splits (without the ice cream!) that you can share with your friends and family.
There are so many tongue twisters to learn, and the classic ones are some of the best to say! Have fun trying out these ones with your family and friends. Maybe you’ll master a new tongue twister!
I saw Susie sitting in a shoe shine shop.
How can a clam cram in a clean cream can?
Sheena leads, Sheila needs.
Seth sells thick socks.
Sammy’s short suit shrunk
Which ones can you say two, three, or four times in a row? Let us know in the comments!
Hooray, it’s Cupcake Day! These pretty, colourful, and delicious treats are the perfect dessert for any occasion. There are so many flavours to choose from like chocolate, vanilla, red velvet, cookies and cream, strawberry, and more! Cupcakes are tasty, but did you also know that they can be tiny works of art, too?
Check out the video below to see a number of amazing cupcakes made by bakers around the world!
What creative cupcake in the video was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
Are you heading to a new school or daycare this September? Or back to school but into a new grade? Then this issue of Chirp is for you! It’s all about SCHOOL and it’s full of fun crafts, recipes, stories, and science experiments to get you into the school spirit. Let’s get ready to learn!
Flexo is a super cool (and the world’s only!) flexible brick system that let’s you build bendy creations and “flex” your imagination!
Flexo reimagines your typical building blocks set with its silicone connectors and unique brick design. Let your imagination run wild as you bend and bounce your inventions!
For a chance to WIN a Flexo Inventor Set, tell us your name and age in the comments sections below.
Contest deadline: August 31, 2019 @ 11:59 p.m.
Prize courtesy of Flexo.
For full contest rules and regulations, click here.
The September issue is here! This month, we have handy school tips to help you get back into the spirit. Buying school supplies? We show you how to make a crafty caddy to store all your new stationery! Need breakfast ideas to get your tummy and brain ready for learning? We have a tasty overnight oats recipe! Have you ever participated in a Terry Fox Run at your school? Get to know the hero that inspired Canadians to raise money for a great cause. Finally, get ready to laugh! Every month, we’ll have a one-page comic that’ll make you chuckle.
Today I’m here to share an app that is designed to help you learn tons of information in a super fun way.
The Montessori Preschool app is a colourful and user-friendly app that teaches you how to recognize sounds, read and write, count numbers, code, and much more! It has 11 sections in total, each with tons of games that were created to make learning fun and easy. It even teaches a bit of Korean and Chinese, and is available in Spanish and French.
Today is Relaxation Day! Relaxation Day is a time to slow down and let yourself feel calm and relaxed. And here’s a fun fact for you: Relaxation Day was first created by a nine-year-old boy!
If you’re wondering how you can take part in Relaxation Day, here are some tips you can follow:
Stretch: stretching is a great way to relax your muscles and feel better. Sometimes when you’re stressed, your muscles can tighten. Stretching helps loosen them again!
Read: reading is an activity that can be fun and calming. So sit back with a book, relax, and read!
Breathe: taking deep breaths can help relax your mind and body. An easy breathing exercise you can try is repeatedly inhaling for four seconds then exhaling for four seconds. If four seconds feels uncomfortable, try three seconds.
Think: thinking about the things that relax you and writing them down is a great way to relax. If you ever feel stressed or nervous, look back at your list to help you feel better!
What are some things you do to relax? Let us know in the comments below.
Looking for some fun riddles to solve on a quiet afternoon? Try out the ones below with your family and friends before checking the answers at the bottom of the page!
1. What has a face and two hands, but no arms or legs?
2. What has to be broken before you can use it?
3. Which letter of the alphabet has the most water?
4. What begins with a T, ends with a T, and has T in it?
5. What is so delicate that saying its name breaks it?
Come up with your guesses before peeking at the answers below! How many did you guess correctly? Let us know in the comments!
Check out our latest contest for a chance to win a colourful collecting game!
Friends of a Feather comes equipped with 50 feather cards, 4 bird card holders, and 1 nest board. To play, help four little birds find their tail feathers! Add matching feathers to your bird during your turn and discard your unwanted ones to the nest. Collect as many matching feathers as you can to score points. The player with the most points is the winner!
For a chance to WIN 1 of 3 Friends of a Feather games, tell us your name and age in the comments below.
Contest deadline: August 31 @ 11: 59 p.m.
Prize courtesy of Ravensuburger.
For full contest rules and regulations click here.
Happy World Elephant Day! These big, adorable animals are known for their large ears, ivory tusks, and long trunks. They’re also the world’s largest land animal! To celebrate, enjoy this cute and funny video of baby elephants!
World Lion Day is a day to learn all about lions and think of ways to protect them and their homes. To celebrate these fierce felines, check out these fun facts!
Lions can run super fast and reach speeds up to 80 kilometres per hour (50 miles per hour)!
A baby lion is called a cub, whelp, or lionet.
Lions live in groups called prides.
Adult lions are loud. You can hear them roar from eight kilometers (five miles) away!
Do you like lions? Let us know in the comments below!
Happy International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples! This day celebrates all the indigenous groups around the world and brings awareness to their languages, cultures, histories, and ways of life.
In celebration, we would like to highlight “Wolverine and the Little Thunder” by indigenous author and illustrator Alan Syliboy.
Today is International Cat Day! This day was created to celebrate the friendship we share with cats and to raise awareness for our feline friends. It’s the perfect day to learn about ways to help and protect them.
Here are some fun facts about cats to get your day started:
Cats are one of the most popular pet in the world.
Cats save energy by sleeping for 13 to 14 hours a day.
Cats have powerful night vision, excellent hearing and an amazing sense of smell.
A group of cats is called a clowder, a male cat is called a tom, a female cat is called a molly and young cats are called kittens.
Trying to find ways to celebrate? How about these ideas:
Dress the part! Whether you’re spending International Cat Day at school or at home, show your love by wearing a pair of cat ears.
Take a catnap! Cats are experts in napping so take a page from their book and have a great nap.
Share a catty selfie! Let the whole world know how you feel by snapping a selfie with your cat and posting it on social media.
Did you know Chirp loves cats? Yup! It’s true. The 2018 June issue of Chirp has tons of cool information about cats, fun cat-themed puzzles and even a tiger costume you can try out if you want to dress up like a big cat.
Do you have a cat of your own? Tell us their name in the comments below!
Do you know what’s cool about summer? Everything! There’s no school, lots of sun and tons of fun things to do outdoors!
This weeks edition of Would You Rather Wednesday is all about some of the awesome things we love about summer so grab some sunscreen because this round starts now!
***
Would you rather:
Go fishing to find food or hike up a hill to find food?
Tell ghost stories or play games around the campfire?
Eat seaweed flavoured ice cream or fish flavoured hotdogs?
Build the biggest sandcastle in history or surf the largest wave?
Go on your favourite amusement park ride only once in your life or your least favourite ride every day of your life?
Crafting is a great summer activity to do with your family or friends when you feel like staying inside. If you’re looking for ideas, try out this colourful (and super fun!) turtle craft!
*Remember to ask for help when crafting your colourful turtle!
You’ll need:
Colourful tissue paper (cut into 1-inch squares)
White paper
White school glue
Googly eyes
Scissors
Green marker
Paper plates
Paintbrush
Double-sided tape
Black marker
Glitter (optional)
What to do:
Spread glue over the bottom of a paper plate with a paintbrush. Next, cover the plate with square pieces of tissue paper.
Sprinkle glitter over the tissue while the glue is still drying.
Cut out shapes with white paper to create the turtle’s body. You’ll need to cut out a head, four legs, and a tail. Afterwards, colour the body parts with green marker.
Glue two googly eyes onto the turtle’s head, then draw a nose and smile with black marker.
Tape the body parts onto the shell of the turtle.
Once you’ve completed step five, your colourful turtle is done! If you make this craft, let us know in the comments below how your turtle turned out!
Mmm avocados! There’s so many types of dishes you can make with this bright green ingredient. You can make a simple and easy-to-share dish called guacamole (say: gu-wock-a-mole-eh). If you’re looking for a popular, yummy, and easy snack to make for you and friends this Avocado Day, try out the recipe below!
*Remember to always ask an adult for help when cooking in the kitchen.
You’ll need:
3-4 ripe avocados (Tip: the best way to tell if an avocado is ready to eat is by lightly squeezing it. The avocado should be as squishy as the softest part of your hand.)
1 lime
1/2 cup of cilantro (say: sil-an-tro)
1 small tomato
Salt
Garlic powder
Extra: Tortilla chips (for scooping!)
Steps:
Prepare your ingredients. Wash and chop the tomatoes and cilantro. Cut open the avocados.
In a large bowl, scoop out the avocados (remember to remove the pit!) and mash it with a fork.
Squeeze half a lime over the mashed avocado. Before adding more, take a spoon and taste it to see how much more lime juice is needed.
Add the cilantro and tomatoes. Mix all together.
Season with salt and garlic powder.
There you have it! A simple and tasty avocado recipe you can share with your family and friends. If you make the dish, let us know in the comments below what you thought of it!
Happy Paperback Book Day! Paperback books have soft covers you can fold and bend, and they’re usually less expensive than hardcovers. They’re a great way to save money and have a lighter, smaller book to carry!
If you’re looking for ways to celebrate paperbacks today, here are a few ideas:
Lend your favourite paperback to a friend or borrow one from them!
Reread your favourite paperback book from your collection.
Get a new paperback from a new or used bookstore or borrow one from your local library.
Read a paperback in a place you normally wouldn’t, like outside in a park!
Which do you like better, paperback or hardcover books? Let us know in the comments!
Looking for some fun riddles to figure out with your friends this summer? We’ve got you covered! Try solving the riddles below before checking the answers at the bottom of the page.
What gets wet the more it dries?
A cowboy rode into town on Friday. He stayed for three days and rode out on Friday. How was that possible?
It starts out tall, but the longer it stands, the shorter it grows. What is it?
I’m full of keys but I have no door. What am I?
What kind of coat can only be put on when wet?
How many riddles are you able to solve? When you’ve checked the answers, leave a comment below to tell us how many you got right!
This year, Chickadee is celebrating 40 years of making magazines! We wanted to celebrate by giving our readers a chance to win an amazing trip to Ottawa to visit Ingenium Museums and to stay at the Fairmont Château Laurier. The contest is now closed and the winners have been chosen.
Congratulations to the grand-prize winner Haylee S.!
Congratulations to runners-up Leia I., Lucas H., Angus P., Evan K., and Rylan A., who all received a Chickadee prize pack.
Thank you to everyone who entered and for celebrating this milestone with us!
It’s summer time! This bee-utiful craft is super easy and fun to make. Make a bunch to decorate your flower pots, windows, or walls, and make sure to ask a grown-up for help!
What you’ll need:
Yellow, black, and red paper
Two circle-shaped paper punches. (You can also use the bottoms of drinking glasses or bottles for tracing circles.)
Small flower or heart-shaped punch. (You can also cut these out by hand if you don’t have the punch tool.)
Black marker
Craft sticks
Glue
Scissors
What to do:
Make the bee’s head and body by cutting two circles (one large, one small) with the yellow paper.
Glue the small circle (head) onto the large circle (body).
Cut a few thin strips of black paper.
Glue two to three black strips onto the bee’s body. Cut off any excess (but don’t throw the pieces away!).
Using a black marker, draw on the bee’s eyes and mouth.
Using the black paper scraps, glue them as antennas onto the back of the bee’s head.
Cut out flowers or heart-shaped pieces of red paper for a pop of color! Glue them on top of the bee’s antennas.
Cut out a small triangle of black paper to make the bee’s stinger. Glue it onto the back of the bee’s body.
Bonus: glue a popsicle stick onto the back of the bee to make a puppet or houseplant decoration!
Let us know in the comments how your honey bees turned out!
It’s International Self-Care Day! The day raises awareness about the importance of taking care of yourself to stay healthy. Check out these easy tips to practice some self love!
Drink plenty of water. Our bodies need to stay hydrated! Try sipping on a glass of water instead of a juice or soda when you’re feeling thirsty.
Don’t be afraid to say no. There’s nothing wrong with saying no to things! If you’re feeling tired or need some time to yourself, let others know.
Practice gratitude. Take some time to write down three things you’re grateful for. Reminding yourself of things you’re thankful for can help spark positivity in yourself!
Spend time with the people you love. If you’re feeling blue, a great solution is to hang out with your family and friends. Playing board games, going for a walk, or playing in the park are a few ideas! Having fun (and hopefully lots of laughs!) with people you love can help boost your mood .
How will you spend International Self-Care Day? Comment below if you try out any of these ideas or if you have your own self-care tip to share.
Today I’m here to tell you about an app that lets you learn about different kinds of mammals!
Mammals is an app that lets you explore how mammals eat, see, run, fly, and more!
The app teaches you about the different bones, fur, heartbeats, whiskers, and other parts of mammals. You can also learn about things that are unique to certain animals. For example, how bats use echolocation (say: eh–kow–low–KEH–shun) to find food in the dark and how elephants use their trunks to drink water and carry objects.
Alis the Aviator, written by Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail and illustrated by Kalpna Patel, is a book about airplanes that has just landed in bookstores. We asked Violet, 8, and June, 6, to tell us what they thought of this book. Check it out!
Alis the Aviator is a children’s ABC book about different kinds of air transportation. The main character is Alis, who is based on Dr. Alis Kennedy, the first Canadian indigenous woman to get her pilot’s license. This is a unique book because the illustrator didn’t just use a pencil or pencil crayons, she used different coloured paper glued together so it would make the pictures. I like that the little girl Alis grows up throughout the book and that she has her dog or her best friend in almost every picture. I would recommend this book to kids who are interested in transportation or planes.
Thanks for the review, Violet and June! Do you love airplanes, readers? Leave a comment below!
Now that school is out, the days can feel long and slow. If you want to fight boredom this month, here are some fun activities you can do!
Balloon badminton: tape two paper plates to two popsicle sticks to make badminton racquets, and use a balloon as your birdie! This activity is best played in an open space where you have room to hit the balloon back and forth.
Chalk art: grab some chalk and head outside to make some good old fashioned chalk art! You can draw people, animals, words, or games like hopscotch.
Paper plate ring toss: cut the middles out of paper plates to use as your rings, and set up a paper towel tube as your peg to throw the rings on. For some added fun, you can decorate your paper plate rings!
What is your favourite way to beat boredom? Let us know in the comments below!
If you’re in need of a boredom buster this summer, enter the Chickadee blog’s latest contest!
Pop Pops Pets are a fun combination of fluffy slime, bubble popping, and collecting cute critters. Simply pop the slime bubble to see if you’ve found a new pet friend! There’s a pet surprise in every three bubbles, and over the 60 pets to collect. If you’re lucky, you might find a super rare glitter pet!
For a chance to WIN 1 of 10 Pop Pops Pets, tell us your favourite animal along with your name and age in the comments section below.
Contest deadline: July 30, 2019 @ 11:59 p.m.
Prize courtesy of Yulu.
For full contest rules and regulations, click here.
Here’s a sneak peek of Jackie and Chirp rehearsing for their stage show at CBC Kids Days today!
Catch their performance at 11 a.m., and drop by our booth for games, prizes, and more!
Watch our favourite birdie buddy march in the FIRST EVER CBC Kids Days Parade, check out awesome Owlkids merch, and toss beanbags to win big at our booth! Click here for more info about this awesome event.
Thanks to everyone who entered the Wonder Park Contest Giveaway! We asked you to tell us your favourite amusement park ride for a chance to WIN a Blue-ray copy of Wonder Park along with a Boomer plush toy.
And the winner is …
Allison, 4
“My very favourite amusement park ride is the merry-go round.”
(Please not that the winner has been contacted.)
Thanks to everyone who entered, and congrats to our winner, Allison!
Keep your eyes peeled for the next contest, readers!
Head to the CBC Toronto headquarters on July 17 and 18 to say hi to your favourite birdie buddy and participate in some super-fun activities with the Owlkids crew! Click here for more info about CBC Kids Days!
Summer is the perfect time to play outside but what about those rainy days? Those days are great for indoor games like puzzles!
Comment on this post with your first name and age or email us for a chance to win a cute set of chunky PUZZLE PLAY jigsaw puzzles courtesy of Laurence King Publishing.
Good luck, everyone!
Contest Deadline: July 30, 2019
See the Owlkids homepage for full contest rules and regs.
For more fun facts, head to the Did You Know section inside your latest issue.
Hi readers,
Hey readers,
