Page 2 - Kind News Activity Guide, November/December 2023

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ANSWER KEY

Animal Friends
Critter Clues FROM PAGE 7
Crossword FROM PAGE 6
Our mystery critter is the house
mouse. Researchers say that house mice have
been thriving alongside humans since they were 1 2
first attracted to the grain stores of hunter-gatherers S A N C T U A R Y
in the Middle East about 15,000 years ago. They arrived in 3 P
the United States after boarding ships with European colonists, S P A Y
R
and have been sharing our homes ever since! These intelligent and social 4 V O L U N T E E R I N G
6
5
animals play together and sleep in groups, and often spend their lives in I C O
warm basements and attics without causing any problems, yet some of us L I L
notice their nibbling on food. And while they keep themselves clean — I A D
grooming themselves several times a day — like any animal, they will leave E T
their droppings behind. S I
7 V A C C I N E S
Mice love to snack — sometimes 15-20 times a day! — and are omnivorous,
loving seeds, nuts, fruits, veggies, and even meat. Oftentimes, larger stores E
of easy meals like open bird seed and bowls of pet kibble left overnight can
keep families of house mice thriving in a home. Across Down
According to The Humane Society of the US, live traps are the only humane 1. Sanctuary 2. Appreciative
option for capturing house mice. If you don’t want to share your home with 3. Spay 5. Lilies
house mice, opt for prevention. Keep your shrubs trimmed at least 18 inches 4. Volunteering 6. Gold
away from the foundation of your house. Clean up crumbs and keep all food 7. Vaccines
sources contained. That will often keep them from setting up house!

BOOK NOOK
COVER: MELISSA KORZUCH; THIS PAGE: MARCU GANAHL/UNSPLASH.COM.
Hate That Cat
Written by Sharon Creech | Recommended for grades 3-7

Jack is learning poetry in Ms. Stretchberry’s class. He’s also learning to come to terms with a big black
cat in his neighborhood who scratched him — and to understand the point of view of his mother, who
cannot hear. When she wants to come to class for their poetry presentations, will he find a way to make
her welcome? A little effort on Jack’s part and an act of caring by his feline nemesis makes everything
alright, and Jack is helped along by his favorite poets: William Carlos Williams, Valerie Worth, and Alfred
Lord Tennyson to name a few!

About the Author: Sharon Creech is the author of the Newbery Medal winner Walk Two Moons and the Newbery Honor Book
The Wanderer. Her other work includes Love That Dog, The Castle Corona, Replay, Heartbeat, Bloomability, Absolutely
Normal Chaos, and Chasing Redbird, as well as three picture books: A Fine, Fine School; Fishing in the Air; and Who's That
Baby? Ms. Creech and her husband live in upstate New York.
HATE THAT CAT © 2014 BY HARPERCOLLINS; AUTHOR PHOTO CREDIT: LYLE RIGG

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