Dear
Highlights
A woodpecker
pecks on the
roof every
morning. It
scares me.
Abigail, South Carolina
Have you ever seen the
woodpecker? If you haven’t,
you and your parents might go
outside in the morning to try to spot it with binoculars. You
may feel less afraid once you know what the bird looks like.
You could also ask your parents to do some research with
you online or at the library. You might be able to find videos
of a woodpecker pecking at a tree—or a roof! Learning why
a woodpecker pecks may help you feel more at ease.
If the woodpecker still surprises you in the morning, you
might say to yourself “That’s just the woodpecker” and go
about your day. Maybe soon you won’t even notice the noise.
My brother is in the
military, and I miss him.
Lucie, Oregon
It must be hard to be apart
from your brother. Although
you are proud of the work he
is doing, not being able to see
him still hurts.
Talk to your parents about
how you feel. To g eth e r, you
can share how much each of you misses your brother. Write
to him, call him, or send him a care package full of his favorite
things. And ask your brother to write to you! He might love to
tell you about his job.
Be sure to spend time with your friends and family and stay
busy with activities you like. That will give you more news to share
with your brother. Being happy is a way to honor his service—you
will be enjoying the freedom he is working so hard to protect.
I go fast on tests and
quizzes for two reasons:
I have a lot of homework
that I want to start right
away, and I want to read
the magazines my teacher
has for us.
Grant, California
Reading can be a wonderful
pastime. And it sounds as if
you’re a dedicated student
who completes his homework
every day. Remember that your
priority is to focus on what your
teacher asks you to do. So when
you take a test or quiz, be sure
to give yourself as much time as
you can. Think carefully about
the questions before writing
down your answers. Then go
back to check your work. When
you know you’ve done your
best, you can feel good about
moving on to another activity.
It’s great that kids’ magazines
are available in your classroom.
Perhaps your teacher will let
you and your classmates take
them home sometimes. If not,
a librarian at school or the
public library may have issues
you can borrow.
Write to us!
Please include your name, age,
and full address. Mail to
Dear Highlights
803 Church Street
Honesdale, PA 18431
Or e-mail us at [email protected].
42 NOVEMBER 2019 Art by Keith Frawley.