The Week Junior

"When you are young, you’re naturally curious about the world and everything in it. But the world seems made for grown-ups; complex and unknowable. That’s why we’ve created The Week Junior. It explains the news and events in ways that children understand; immediate, colourful, exciting. From news to nature, science to geography, and sport to books, The Week Junior explores an extraordinary array of topics from around the globe. Written to engage a young person’s point of view, without spoon-feeding or patronising, it explains events in a safe, accessible and inspiring way."

The big picture

Something worth talking about… • Lost for words? Try starting a conversation with one of these discussion openers inspired by stories in this magazine.

Editor’s note

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

WORD OF THE WEEK

Listen to it!

India and Pakistan halt attacks

The Partition of India

Moon dust arrives in the UK from China

Leo XIV named as new Pope

IT’S AN AMAZING WEEK FOR…

US and UK agree trade deal

UK-India trade deal

Pair guilty of felling tree

Protecting puffins in Jersey

A tour of medieval graffiti

Books celebrated at the Nibbies

Around the world

Should pets be allowed on the furniture? • Some animals can wander wherever they like, but not all.

Turning maths into coloured art • Brook Tate wants everyone to love maths.

River protector honoured

Speedy record runner

THEY SAID IT!

Project gives hope for axolotls

Facts about axolotls

NATURE SPY • Yellow irises stand tall in waterways and wetlands

Sea lion is a head-bopping music star

ANIMAL OF THE WEEK • Kirk’s dik-dik

GOOD WEEK

BAD WEEK

How the Pope’s home became a tiny country • Vatican City has drawn Catholic worshippers for centuries.

Enclaves and exclaves

Europe helping UK scientists

A device inspired by wasps

Giant crocodile-like fossils found in Caribbean

Photos of the week

Big weekend for lawn bowls

Bowls at Glasgow 2026

THE WEEK’S WINNERS…

Making the school run fun • Walking to school gives you time to chat and to connect with your local area.

How to enjoy a calming mindful walk

Tips for a safe walk

Search for life in space • Explore an exhibition that is out of this world.

Behind the scenes with a curator

5 books about numbers • Numbers are the stars in these books for National Numeracy Day on 21 May.

The Blockbusters!

Frank Cottrell-Boyce • We go behind the scenes with the Children’s Laureate.

READERS RECOMMEND

The siblings creating brilliant books • The Mangans are on a mission to make young people laugh.

BOOK BITES

ON MY SHELF

Get ready to Rumble • Up to 32 players can run, jump and speed-boost in Sonic Rumble.

PODCAST OF THE WEEK

QUIZ OF THE WEEK

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

Make a Portuguese tile • Design a colourful, patterned tile.

REACH FOR THE STARS

That’s unbelievable!

Puzzles

Making cinnamon apples

TEACHER OF THE WEEK

CHARITY OF THE WEEK

GET INVOLVED

YOUR PHOTOS • We’d love to see your snaps. Send them to us at hello@theweekjunior.co.uk Don’t forget to tell us why you took them.

Quiz of the week

The Week Junior