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Author

From book reader to best-selling author

(Editor's note: When Young Saint Louis.com finds stories about kids elsewhere in the world which local kids might enjoy, we'll cover them. This is one such story.)

When Christopher Paolini was 11, he read his first fantasy book. After an extended, several-year "reading binge," he decided he could write a better one himself. He has.

Christopher's own fantasy book, "Eragon," is third on the New York Times' children's chapter book list. It's in its 14th printing with more than 500,000 copies in print.

It will be published in 14 different nations. He has a movie deal with 20th Century Fox.

He plans to write a three-book series about his make-believe world, Alagaesia.

Christopher's own path to becoming a best-seller author reads much like a fantasy story itself.

Christopher's parents, Kenneth Paolini and Talita Hodgkinson, met as members of the Church Universal and Triumphant. That was a survivalist group that owned a ranch at Corwin Springs in Montana.

The church broke up in 1999 when the founder retired. But, some members remained in the area. The Paolini family now lives in Paradise Valley, Mont. That's halfway between Yellowstone National Park and Livingston, Mont.

From the beginning, parents Kenneth and Talita decided to put their family first. Kenneth was quoted in the New York Times as saying, "All our financial decisions were based on how we can stay together."

Christopher and sister, Angela, have been home-schooled all their lives. Christopher has a degree from an accredited distance-learning school. As yet, he hasn't attended college.

At 11, Christopher read author David Eddings' fantasy novel, "Ruby Knight."

Christopher said, "Once I read that, I went on a reading binge that lasted three or four years." He said he's read over 3,000 books.

Always precocious, by age 14, he was doing more than just reading. He was beginning to look for writing imperfections and figured he could do better.

At first, he thought of rewriting one of the books. But, he said, "I felt it would be better if I wrote a story for myself."

His first step was to study how to improve his writing style and techniques. He gives credit to a book by Robert McKee, "Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting."

Then, he started to invent his own fantasy world, Alagaesia. That world is inspired by the rugged, forested Beartooth Mountains that surround Christopher's own home along the Yellowstone River.

He and his sister invented three languages for the characters, who are dwarves, elves and humanoids

At first, "Eragon" was going to be a movie script. "But, since I didn't have $300 million lying around, I wrote a book instead," he said.

It took him nearly three years before he was satisfied enough to show it to his parents. They liked it and the whole family set about editing it. Christopher said, "My parents didn't suggest changes in the plot line."

But, they and his sister did "move sentences around, corrected grammar and fixed continuity. "

They contracted out printing of a paperback book version. Then, they marketed it themselves in the western U.S. Christopher also visited schools, urging kids to read and write as much as possible.

Then, the story of Christopher and his book took another "fantasy world" turn.

Noted novelist Carl Hiaasen was in Montana with his wife and stepson, Ryan, to do some fly fishing. Ryan read a copy of "Eragon" and mentioned it to his father. Carl, in turn, mentioned the book to his publisher, Knopf, a division of Random House.

Knopf e-mailed Christopher a six-figure offer. After re-editing the book, Knopf published it on August 26. It has held its NYT best selling listing since September 2.

In an understatement, Christopher said, "It's still kind of a shock that all of this is happening."

And, his fantasy world story isn't over yet.

Christopher is at work on his second book. And there's still the movie to do.

And, then there is his sister. Angela's about ready to hand over her first book for parental approval.

As for Christopher, who is now 20, he said, "I enjoy telling stories, so I think I'll be doing something artistic in the future." There are many who would say he already has.

(Information for this story was provided by Tom Mason of the Livingston Enterprise newspaper and the New York Times newspaper.)

 

Lewis and Clark

One in a series

Lewis and Clark crew headed to St. Louis

The Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery reenactment crew is headed to St. Louis. With St. Louisan Scott Mandrell leading, the crew is scheduled to dock Friday, Dec. 12, at Hartford, Ill.

Clayton school teacher Mandrell is acting the part of Merriwether Lewis of the original Corps of Discovery crew. Mandrell has been on the road and river since last summer.

First, he rode a horse from Harper's Ferry, Va., to Pittsburgh to pick up the replica keelboat. From Pittsburgh, the party took the Monongahela and Ohio rivers to Cairo, Ill.

That's all downstream. But, since mid-November, the reenactors have been going upstream on the Mississippi.

When the original Lewis and Clark expedition made the trip 200 years ago, they used oars and poles to go upstream.

The current crew is getting a little help from technology. Both the keelboat and pirogue have motors.

But, the motors don't exactly make the upstream travel speedy. The keelboat's engine allows the crew to average just 3 to 5 mph.

Of course, the Mississippi River the reenactors are facing also has changed. Now, a series of locks and dams make the river deeper and current swifter to accommodate modern barge traffic.

Mandrell is on a leave of absence from Wydown Middle School to be Merriwether Lewis on the reenactment tour.

He said, "The most difficult part of the Ohio River trip was dealing with high water and heavy rainstorms." There were even storms left over from Hurricane Isabel.

On the Mississippi, it's the swift current and floating debris, he said.

For this reenactment, the biggest change in technology has been with communications. The group has satellite phone service and has a running trip diary on a special website.

Two other Clayton teachers are helping with communications. Tim Gore is the coordinator of the Lewis and Clark Education Initiative. He operates from St. Louis. Jim Strum is the technology coordinator traveling with the reenactors.

They use the satellite phone to stay in touch wherever the trip party is.

Along the way, the Discovery crew stops off to take part in Lewis and Clark celebrations. Also, they conduct video-conference classes. For instance, St. Louis school kids watched while Mandrell conducted a navigation class from Cairo, Ill.

(You can keep track of the Corps of Discovery reenactment tour via the internet. Apple Computer has provided a website at www.ali.apple.com/lewisandclark. On the site, Mandrell, Strum and Gore provide running accounts of the adventures.)

Also on the website are advance schedules for upcoming events.

For instance, you can log on now to get the schedule for the arrival weekend at Camp DuBois. After the arrival on December 12, there is a program of events on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 13-14.

The initial landing will be at the new Lewis and Clark Visitors Center in Hartford, Ill. That center also has a website at www.state.il.us/hpa or you can call (618) 251-5811.

From there, Mandrell will lead a troop of infantry reenactors north to where a replica of the Corps of Discovery winter camp is under construction. That's just across the river from where the Missouri River flows into the Mississippi.

The reenactors are going to winter there until May, 2004. That's when, 200 years previously, Lewis and Clark went to St. Charles for final outfitting for the westward expedition.

During this winter's encampment, the replica keelboat and pirogue will be taken to the new Lewis and Clark Boathouse and Nature Center in St. Charles. That center is built on stilts and the ground-floor is set up as a boat repair and storage area.

(You can learn more about the St. Charles center at www.lewisandclark.net.)

The keelboat and pirogue will undergo any repairs and refurbishing they need for the longer trip up the Missouri River and to the Pacific Ocean.

On the current Discovery trip, the role of William Clark is played by Bud Clark. He is a direct descendant of the original expedition co-leader.

 

Holidays

Some nearby fun visits during the holidays

(Editor's note: Young Saint Louis.com asked local travel author Julie Douglas to pick 10 of her favorite places for kids to visit during the upcoming holidays. Here are her selections from her book, "A Parent's Guide to St. Louis." If your family would like her whole book, just click here to order the book from Amazon.com )

Winter Fun in St. Louis

By Julie Douglas

Are you looking for ways to have fun with your family during your winter break? Don't let the cold stop you from exploring some of these St. Louis hot spots!

* Wild Lights at the Zoo, St. Louis Zoo, Forest Park. www.stlzoo.org . December 11-12, December 26-30.

The Zoo is a St. Louis favorite all summer long. But, have you ever wandered around the Zoo in the winter? Bundle up and take a magical evening walk through Wild Lights at the Zoo. From late November to the end of December, visitors can enjoy twinkling lights and special displays, craft activities, a ride on the Carousel and a trip to the Penguin and Puffin Coast.

* Upper Limits, 326 S. 21st St., St. Louis, MO 63103 Tel: (314) 241-ROCK. www.upperlimits.com

If being cooped up indoors has you climbing the walls, head over to Upper Limits near Union Station. Upper Limits is a state of the art climbing gym where even beginners can have fun. Not sure about climbing up a wall? Try bouldering, also know as unroped climbing. Great for beginning climbers, bouldering involves climbing sideways at very low heights and does not require instruction or a partner. Upper Limits is a fun place to get some exercise and learn a new sport.

* City Improv, Union Station, 1820 Market St., St. Louis, MO 63102. Tel: (314) 241-1527. www.cityimprov.com

If you love to laugh (and who doesn't), you'll find plenty to tickle your funny bone at City Improve. The "family-friendly" shows begin at 7:30 p.m. and feature non-offensive comedy for all ages. Call for specific dates and shows, as well as ticket prices.

* Butterfly House, 15193 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield, MO 63017. Tel: (636) 530-0076. www.butterflyouse.org

Winter won't last forever, but sometimes it seems like it might. The Butterfly House in Faust Park feels like spring all year long. That's because the butterflies who live there need a warm climate. You'll meet all kinds of colorful butterflies when you visit. If you like insects, the Butterfly House has some of the biggest, creepiest bugs you've ever seen.

* St. Louis Children's Aquarium, 416 Hanley Industrial Court, Brentwood, MO 63144. (Tel: (314) 647-9594. www.childrensaquarium.com

Would you like to pet a real, live shark? At the St. Louis Children's Aquarium, children can see and feel all kinds of sea creatures. The aquarium is home to sharks, hermit crabs, turtles and starfish, as well as a variety of fish. Exhibits also feature cave dwellers, Amazon wildlife and Mississippi River fish. The Children's Aquarium is a great place to get face to face with lots of different creatures.

* Dierberg's School of Cooking. www.dierbergs.com

Cook up some winter fun at a Dierberg's School of Cooking class. The classes are offered at several Dierberg's stores in the St. Louis area, so check your local store for schedules. Kids can learn to create delicious snacks, meals and desserts. Holiday cooking, gingerbread houses and classes with a "wizard" theme are popular this time of the year.

* Worldways Children's Museum, 15479 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63017. Tel: (636) 207-7405. www.worldways.org.

Can't get away for the winter holidays. Worldways has the next best thing. Visitors can explore hands-on exhibits and play areas featuring Senegal, China, the Philippines and Mexico. Learn the customs and play with real objects from these countries at this imaginative museum.

* Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, 11715 Cragwold Rd., Kirkwood, MO 63122. Tel: (314) 301-1500. www.conservation.state.mo.us

You'll still find plenty of nature to explore at Powder Valley in the winter. Hike the trails through the woods (weather permitting), check out the 3,000 gallon aquarium full of Mississippi River fish and learn about wildlife at one of the many educational displays.

* Repertory Theatre of St. Louis-Imaginary Theatre, 130 Edgar Rd., Webster Groves, MO 63119. Tel: (314) 968-4925. www.repstl.org

Take your family to see a special production of The Snow Queen on the main stage of the St. Louis Repertory Theatre. Playing on December 20, 22 and 23, The Snow Queen is the perfect tale for a wintry day. For ticket information, visit the website.

Steinberg Skating Rink, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63110. Tel: (314) 361-6404. www.stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/parks/forestpark.

Ice skating at Steinberg in Forest Park is a St. Louis tradition. Strap on your skates and zip around the outdoor rink. And while you are in Forest Park, you can stop in for a visit at the Art Museum, the History Museum and the Science Center--all great places to spend some time during your winter break.

(Another editor's note: In July, 2003, YSL.com featured another summary of choices by author Julie Douglas. In that article, she picked some of her favorites for nearby summer vacation trips. If you'd like to read that earlier article, click here.)

 

Books

This month's book reviews

A young man and his dragon companion
find adventure in a violent fantasy world

When the story starts, Eragon is only fifteen. He lives with his uncle and cousin, who are like father and brother to him. The three live on a small farm close to Carvahal, a town in the Alagaesia Empire. When Eragon isn't working on the farm, he enjoys hunting in remote areas, where other hunters fear to enter. On one of his hunting trips he finds what he believes is an unusual stone, blue and beautiful, which he hopes to sell to the traveling merchants who come though Carvahal. But those who see the stone react strangely to it and no one admits to having an idea of its true value.

Eragon takes the stone home and keeps it hidden. After a short while, strange sounds come from the stone, and to Eragon's astonishment a baby dragon hatches out of it. His pretty stone turned out to be a dragon's egg! The newly hatched dragon seemed to like Eragon and soon the two could transfer their thoughts to each other.

Even without knowing much about dragons, Eragon knew he should hide his new pet and keep its existence a secret. Unfortunately, the agents of the evil king of Alagaesia had already discovered that the dragon's egg was to be found near Carvahal. They would go to any lengths to possess the egg and to capture any person whom the dragon was willing to serve.

The plot becomes increasingly complex as Eragon is befriended by a mysterious resident of Carvahal, named Bron, and the two flee with the fast-growing dragon. Eragon barely escapes the king's evil agents who do destroy his farm home and murder his uncle. While fleeing for his life, Eragon finds that Bron can begin to train him as a "Dragon Rider," teaching him ancient magical powers and developing him as a warrior. The two, along with the dragon, now named Saphira, are on a mission to avenge the uncle's death and track down his killers.

Eragon battles monsters called urgals and and rescues a beautiful elfin princess. He becomes increasingly skilled and becomes a true dragon rider. He allies himself with citizens of an underground dwarf kingdom to fight an invading army of urgals. If this sounds like a book you would enjoy, the good news is that there are two more volumes to come that continue the adventures of Eragon.

 

A delinquent kid unwillingly becomes part
of a really wacky family of "artsy" characters

Jake Semple is described on the first page of "Surviving the Applewhites" as follows:

The boy slouching against the porch railing had scarlet spiked hair, a silver ring through one dark brown eyebrow, and too many earrings to count. He was dressed entirely in black - black T-shirt, black jeans, black high-top running shoes - and the look in his eyes was pure mean.

Jake's reputation was even worse than his mean appearance. He had been kicked out of every school he had attended. He was even rumored to have set fire to one of them. That was right after both his parents had been put in jail for growing and selling marijuana. No public school would any longer accept him as a student.

The Applewhite family ran a school called "The Creative Academy." The Academy was located on the family acreage called "Wits End." There was the main house, eight small cottages, the goat shed, a toolshed, and the barn. The sixteen-acre property had formerly been a motor lodge before the family purchased it for a homestead and more recently a school. Jake Semple's grandfather was a neighbor of the Applewhites. He had pleaded with them to take Jake into the school because in just the couple of weeks he had him, he had found out that he couldn't handle his grandson.

E. D. Applewhite, a girl about the same age as Jake, had been designated to introduce The Creative Academy to him. She really didn't want the job. She had been the only one of the whole Applewhite family to oppose their taking in of Jake. She knew Jake was bound for an institution for juvenile delinquents if they didn't take him in. But, she figured it was just a matter of time before he ended up there anyway. Meanwhile, she hoped he wouldn't burn down any of the Applewhite buildings.

E. D. was the only one of the Applewhites who didn't seem to have artistic talent. Her mother was a successful writer of mystery novels. Her father was a director of stage plays and was well known in theatrical circles. One brother was a painter and sculptor. A sister was a dancer and choreographer. Her grandfather was a wood worker, famous for his folk art furniture. Her four-year-old younger brother was still trying to decide what his talent was, although he did talk incessantly. A foul-mouthed parrot, two goats, and a basset hound named Winston were also members of the Applewhite group. E. D. seemed to be the only one who appreciated a structured and orderly environment. Her talent was to try to bring order to what was mostly chaos.

Jake discovered fairly quickly that his strange hair, body-piercing ornaments, and black clothes made no impression at all on the Applewhites. They were just too much into doing their own thing. It was no fun being rebelliously different if the people around you just didn't care. Jake had to decide whether to join in on the madness or leave to go to the juvenile detention center. By accident, he discovered he was a good singer and a fair stage actor. Before he knew what was happening, he was pulled into the chaos and found that he really liked it. When it all began to make some sense, he knew that the old Jake Semple no longer existed. He even accepted E. D.'s efforts to organize things and enforce a few rules.

The reader who goes along for the ride on this roller coaster of a story will have many laughs and end up appreciating individual differences.

 

A thirteen-year-old hides behind a new
identity in the witness protection program

Jack Osborne lived with his mom and dad and older sister. His life was fairly ordinary. His dad was a pilot and owned his own small air service. The business was doing well and the family had moved into a much nicer house and owned a couple of luxury automobiles. Jack was scared out of his wits one night when three armed men broke into the house and took him and his sister and mother captive for a short time. The three men finally left but only after threatening to kill them all if Jack's dad passed on any information to government agents about his drug smuggling activities.

It turns out that Jack's dad had been flying narcotics into the United States from South America. The armed men were from a South American drug cartel. These killers had found out that Jack's dad had been arrested and they wanted to make sure that Jack's dad did not cooperate with the Government agents by informing on his former bosses.

To keep the family from being killed, the three of them were put into a Government witness protection program. They had to leave their home quickly and secretly, assume new identities, and establish themselves in a different state. Jack found himself in an isolated town in Nevada along with his mom and sister. They had been placed in a small house and provided an older model car for transportation. Jack Osborne no longer was supposed to exist. His new identify was that of Zach Granger.

So, almost overnight Zach has to start out in a new school and make new friends. What he hates most of all is that nearly everything he tells anybody is now a lie. Even his blue eye color is a lie because he has contact lenses covering his own brown eyes. Zach is so angry that he loses his temper in the first few days in the new school and punches out a kid who taunts him. He ends up in the hands of the school disciplinarian, who is actually the custodian in the school. Sam, the custodian's name, takes a liking to Zach and helps him deal with his angry feelings. At school Zach also meets a neat girl, Catalin, who happens to be related to the Basque sheepherders who camp in the small mountains just outside of the town.

Zach is starting to like his new life and is finding out that he is quite comfortable with his friends Sam and Catalin . He very much enjoys his visits to the Basque camp up in the mountains. His enjoyment is short lived, however, when the killers from the drug cartel show up in his new hometown.

Now the question becomes can he save himself and his family from being kidnapped and taken to South America to be killed. Will Sam, who appears to be much more than a custodian, play some part in helping Zach stay alive?

 

A really weird and scary story about a girl
who lets her boredom get her into trouble

Coraline and her parents had just moved into a new home. Actually, it was a very old house with a garden and a lot of weeds. It was a big house, so big in fact that other people lived in different parts of it. Coraline liked to explore strange places and she found quite a few interesting things in the house and in the overgrown garden. She was especially curious about a large carved brown door in the corner of the drawing room. It was locked. She persuaded her mother to unlock the door and show her what was behind it. When her mom opened it, there was a brick wall just behind it. Her mom told Coraline that there was another apartment beyond the door and that it was for rent.

Coraline continued to explore but she became increasingly bored with so little to do. At night, she imagined strange figures roaming around that seemed to disappear through the unused door in the drawing room. When the opportunity presented itself, she decided to "borrow" the key to the mysterious door and look for herself at what might be behind it. A big mistake!

When she quietly slipped through the door, the brick wall was gone and instead there was a dark hallway. There was a cold, musty smell like something very old. She was surprised when she reached the end of the corridor to find a strange collection of rooms that sort of resembled her own home. She was really startled when a voice called her name. The figure sounded like her mother and even looked a little bit like her. Only this person had skin as white as paper and she was taller and thinner than Coralines's real mother was. Her fingers were too long and never stopped moving. Her dark red fingernails were curved and sharp.

The strange woman introduced herself as Coraline's "other mother" and said she had been waiting for Coraline for a long time. She said lunch was ready and told Coraline to go fetch her "other father" to join them for lunch. Both of her "other parents" had big black, shiny buttons for eyes. The lunch was roasted chicken and was delicious, much better than the food her real parents fixed. After lunch, the other mother told Coraline to go upstairs to her room and play with the rats she would find there!

Well, the story gets grosser and grosser. Coraline finds that for snacks her other mother eats large black beetles, still alive, from a brown paper bag. It becomes increasingly clear to Coraline that her new family members have no intention of ever letting her return to her real life on the other side of the door. In fact, she begins to suspect that her real mother and father are also being held captive in this new unreal world that she is imprisoned in.

Is Coraline smart enough and brave enough to save not only herself but her real parents as well? This is the kind of book that once you start reading it you will be too scared to put it down. You have to find out if Coraline ever gets back to her real life. And, of course, you know that if she does make it back, she will never complain about being bored again.

 

Movies

Former St. Louis kid is in the movies

Teenager Evan Peters wasn't involved in acting when he was growing up in west St. Louis County. But, he's certainly made up for lost time in recent years.

Evan was back in St. Louis last month to receive a Screen Actors Guild Emerging Actor award. He received the award at the St. Louis International Film Festival.

The presentation came just before the festival showing of the independent film, "Clipping Adam." Evan plays the lead as a freshman-to-be who faces all sorts of problems. .

The audience at the Tivoli Theater film showing was almost like a family reunion. Evan was there early to greet friends and family, who almost filled the theater.

Evan was born in St. Louis and was a student at St. Joseph Catholic School in Manchester before the family moved to Michigan. As a way to get involved in his new home, Evan got interested in acting and entertaining.

A photographer at one of his classes made a tape of some of his performances and sent it to friends in California.

After getting an agent, Evan and his mother, Julie, moved to Burbank, Calif., to go after an acting career full-time.

On just his second audition, he was picked by producer Michael Picchiottino for the role of Adam. Evan said the selection was a "stroke of luck."

Another stroke of luck for him was the selection of the rest of the cast. Many were veterans, including Oscar-winning Louise Fletcher to be his grandmother. Ms. Fletcher won an Oscar for her role in "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest," with Jack Nicholson.

"Clipping Adam" took 26 days to shoot. Evan said they were the toughest days of his life. "After all, this was the first time I was ever in front of a camera on stage," he said. But, he added, "I soaked up as much experience as I could."

The movie ended up as a 92-minute feature film.

The title of the movie refers to Adam's refusal to cut his very long hair. In the film, Evan had to use "hair extenders."

St. Louis Post-Dispatch movie reviewer Joe Williams said "Clipping Adam" isn't a movie where "every after-school conversation is a life-or-death encounter."

Because of the lack of emotional tension, Williams said, "Fortunately, the cast is strong and Peters gracefully carries his weight as an angel with a human face and clipped wings."

Since that movie, Evan has continued to be busy.

"When I'm not working, I'm always going to auditions," he said. His agent has him trying for all sorts of parts, not just movies.

Evan has a role in another movie, "Sleepover," which is now in production. Asked about his role, Evan said, "I'm a geek-loser type who happens to be a good dancer."

In the movie, the "geeks" never get to go out with the popular girls. But, because of his dancing ability, Evan gets to enter a contest with the most popular girl. Of course, in the end, his team wins the dancing contest.

Others in the cast include Alexa Vega, who was in "Spy Kids," and Mika Boorem, who acted in "Hearts in Atlantis."

Evan also has done work on commercials, for companies such as PlayStation, Progressive Insurance and Moviefone.

He also has a recurring role in an upcoming Disney TV show, "Phil of the Future." The sit-com is about a family from the past whose time machine breaks down in the present.

Evan said," I play a character named Seth. I'm only in a few episodes."

Asked about his time in California, Evan, who is now 16, said, "I love it."

About what he misses about St. Louis, he said, "Imo's Pizza."

A typical California working day consists of getting up, going to the set and then three hours of school work. He is taking part in a Options for Youth home-schooling program.

"Everything has been a huge learning experience," he said.

Evan said he wants to continue with his acting career. However, if that doesn't develop fully, he has a Plan B.

"I like weather. Maybe I'd be a meteorologist," he said.

 

Poetry

Kids find out what "onomatopoeia" means

The word "onomatopoeia" isn't in every-day use for most kids. But, 4th graders at Keysor Elementary School used it often while working on a unique poetry project.

With the help of two St. Louis area poets, the Keysor kids wrote and acted out a class poem. Their assigned subject was Thanksgiving. But, it was up to them to use their own Thanksgiving experiences and write an original poem.

That's where "onomatopoeia" comes in.

The dictionary defines the word as what you get when you use a word that imitates the sound or thing it describes.

For instance, you can hear the explosion when you say the word, "boom". Or you can almost hear a snake when you use the word, "hissing".

Eight-year-old Abby Lewis said one of her favorite things she likes to put in her poetry is "onomatopoeia" words. But, she likes to use another poetry technique that calls for repetition.

Earlier, she had written a poem entitled, "Sometimes I Wonder".

It included a series of questions, all starting with the words "Sometime I Wonder." The questions were like "why dogs have tails?" "why birds fly?" and "why are trees called trees? why aren't they called cars?"

Ten-year-old Megan Miener said she thinks the most fun in poetry writing is "putting the poem in order." Some of her earlier writing involved "dancing pigs" and "snow days."

Nine-year-old Leah Davidson said she's read "a ton of poetry books" and has even written her own book of poems. It was entitled, "A Poetry Book by Leah."

Ten-year-old Christine Hakenjos said her favorite book of poetry was "Video Games Crazy Day."

That's one of the books written by the two poets who helped them with their project.

St. Louis poets Amy Glaser Gage and Connie McIntyre conducted three video-conference lessons for selected St. Louis area schools. Their classes were called, "From Plain Words to Poetry: Write and Perform Original Poems."

One of their classes was for the teachers, to explain how the series would work.

But, the other two classes in November involved the kids. In the first kids' class, the students acted out a four-stanza poem about fall leaves. The poets gave them that poem.

The Keysor kids acted out their poem by raking and tossing colored-paper leaves.

Twenty kids were involved in the Keysor poetry project.

On November 20, the kids came back to perform their original Thanksgiving poem. (For the text of the Keysor kids' poem, see sidebar below.)

The first step in drafting the Thanksgiving poem was for the kids to offer suggestions about their family experiences. Also, they were to suggest some unique wordings.

Again, "onomatopoeia" reared it head.

For instance, Leah Davidson said she offered "mashy potatoes" and "greasy turkey skin." You can almost feel the "mashy" and the "greasy."

Abby Lewis offered the idea of "gooey corn pudding" and "squishy mashed potatoes."

Christine Hakenjos said one of her favorites for Thanksgiving is "sweet gravy." That's a special family recipe.

Megan Miener said her ideas were going to center around eating turkey.

Then, the kids had to decide what poetic devices they would use to spice up the poem.

The adult poets suggested they might like to use repetitive words to start each stanza. They also told the kids that surprise endings add a lot of life and excitement to a poem.

Keysor kids get a regular dose of poetry in their classes. Leah Davidson said she'd read and wrote poetry in first, second and third grades as well as this year.

Leah and Abby said they plan to be elementary teachers when they grow up. While Megan and Christine are planning to work with animals. Christine wants to be a veterinarian.

Megan said she wants to be a dolphin trainer. She got the interest during a trip to Sea World "when I got to feed the dolphins."

Here's the Keysor Thanksgiving poem

This is the original poem the Keysor school 4th graders came up with. Also, the kids created an entire Thanksgiving dinner out of paper for props to use to perform the poem.

Thanksgiving Dinner

The turkeys are coming. The turkeys are coming.

Get ready! Get your knives and forks in hand!
Mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, green bean casserole,
Sweet potatoes, my oh my.

The turkeys are coming! The turkeys are coming!

Thank you for the squishy mashed potatoes.
Thank you for the pumpkin pie as sweet as pixie sticks.
Thank you for the gooey, gushy green bean casserole.
Thank you for the mmmmmm sweet potatoes, my oh my.

Amen....
Charge!

 

Music

Two youth symphony spots at age 12

Late last month, violinist Nicole Schroeder made her debut with the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. At 12, she's one of the group's youngest players.

The seventh-grader also is concert master for the Young People's Symphonic Orchestra. That's the youth orchestra at the Webster University Community Music School.

She's among the youngest in both groups. Most members are in their mid to late teens.

The audience at the Saint Louis Symphony concert was the biggest one to watch a concert in which Nicole played. She admitted she gets nervous "when I'm in front of big audiences and playing pieces for the first time."

Nicole said she was particularly anxious earlier when she auditioned for the SLSO's Youth Orchestra. "I was all alone on the large Powell Hall stage," she said.

That was her second try to earn a place in the SLSO's youth group. "I didn't make the audition finals the first time," she said.

But, this time, she was one of a very few accepted for this year's orchestra.

Before the first SLSO's Youth Orchestra concert, Nicole said she was familiar with the three composers but not the pieces they were to play.

The program included Berlioz's Roman Carnival Overture; Schumann's Symphony No. in D minor, and Prokofiev's Symphony No. 7. Her second violin group was featured in all three compositions, although she didn't do any solo work.

Nicole began taking instrument lessons when she was five. First, she started with the piano and, then a year later, with the violin. She plays the violin in both youth orchestras.

But, she said she likes the piano and violin equally well.

Her violin teacher is Hiroko Yoshida. Her piano lessons are with teacher Nancy Bohm.

Her music lessons and her class work at Rockwood Valley Middle School take up a lot of time. But, she also likes to play basketball and volleyball at school.

She said the most fun she's had with her music involved trips to music camps. One week-long camp was in the European country of Austria. Campers were housed in a castle.

The converted castle was amid farms. Nicole said, "At night, you could hear the sheep."

Nicole had an advantage over some other campers, who came from around the world.

Her father, Volker, is German and her mother, Atfuko, is Japanese. Nicole was born in Chicago but the family spoke German at home. She learned English after starting school.

Nicole remembered enough of her early German so that she understood much of the conversation at camp.

Concerning her European and Japanese background, Nicole said, "Most of the kids at school think I'm Hawaiian."

Two other "fun" out-of-town camps were in Chicago and at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. In all cases, Nicole said she really liked being around kids from distant areas.

Although she likes her music, Nicole admits she can get bored with practice. She said, "Practice is more fun if I like the piece."

But, she said she's also pretty determined to keep practicing until she masters a new piece. When the music is difficult, she said she slows her playing way down until she's concentrating on each note.

Then, she resumes a regular pace after she's mastered the piece. She said she's sure she'd have to work harder on the pitch of her playing if she is to advance in music.

If music doesn't provide a professional career, she said she'd like to be a doctor or nurse.

For the SLSO Youth Orchestra concert she played a new violin built by Anton Krutz, an instrument maker with stores in Kansas City and St. Louis. The family rented the instrument especially for her concert playing.

Nicole has played a variety of violins since starting her lessons. At first, she used a partial-sized violin but has been playing a full-sized instrument for the last year or so.

Her role as concert master with the Webster University's Young People's orchestra is unusual. A concert master leads the players in pre-concert warm-ups. Then, the master then calls the players to order just before the conductor comes on stage.

That and a SLSO Youth Orchestra position are good for a kid who's not yet a teenager.

 

Profile

Seventh in a Series

A new school, new goals for Young Achiever

Last spring, 11-year-old Logan North was one of four elementary kids named a 2003 St. Louis Young Achiever of the Year. This year, he's in middle school and is facing a whole new set of challenges and goals.

He's now a sixth-grader at Barnwell Middle School in St. Charles County. He said he's had to step up his effort in both school and sports at his new school.

For one thing, Logan said class work "is a lot tougher in middle school." And he's trying to excel in some new activities.

He's also making a sports comeback from knee surgery and a stress fracture in his leg.

But, Logan is optimistic. He said his knee and leg are healthy again and, with hard work, he's getting along well with school work.

(Since the Achiever award announcement last spring, Young Saint Louis.com has been running a series of profiles on elementary and middle school. To read the original story from May, 2003, click here.

(For the June profile of Kristen Delia, click here. For the July profile of Meghan Biotnott, click here. For the August profile of Alexander Ecklund, click here. For the September profile of Mark Counsil, click here.

(For Julia Epplin-Zapf's October profile, click here. and for November's profile of Ryan Nikodem, click here.)

Logan already has achieved two of his new goals. He's playing alto saxophone in Barnwell's beginning band. Also, he's earned a spot on the school newspaper staff.

His first article for the newspaper was a review of the movie, "Finding Nemo." Logan said he liked the movie a lot. He added, "I wrote that when I was watching the movie, I felt like I was in the oceans, swimming with the little fishies"

In sports, Logan has been selected for the Busch Soccer Club's 12 and under team. That's a special honor because his team will defending champions in next year's Missouri Cup tournament.

He also wants to get back into the form that let him by a winner in state and national track meets. He entered the national AAU Olympics track and field meet last February, but didn't excel.

He competed although it was only a month after knee surgery to eliminate a bump on a bone. The bump caused irritation to his ligaments and tendons. Now, he admits, "I competed but I shouldn't have."

He took the summer off from sports to give himself a chance to heal. In addition, the knee problem led to a stress fracture in his lower leg.

The fact that he's made the Busch Soccer Club's select team this fall is proof that he's well on the mend. Logan plays midfielder. Busch select teams are regularly among the best in the state.

In earlier track competition, Logan did a little bit of everything. He was a winner in sprints, distance races and in the long jump.

He won the Holly Huntington Award at the 2002 U.S. Track and Field metro-area meet. He won the 1500-meter race and the long jump. He was third in the 100-meet dash.

This year, he's cutting back on his running and concentrating on the long jump. He said he especially likes the field event because he has had some excellent coaching.

Logan said, "It's all about timing and speed. You have to hit the board at just the right time and at top speed."

He hopes to add another sport this year. He's trying out for basketball team in the Duchesne High School feeder program. Practices already have started.

Concerning his school work, Logan wants to maintain his straight-A grades. He's tested out as proficient in math, social studies, science and communication arts whenever the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) tests are given.

He said geography is his favorite subject and math his most challenging one.

However, he's optimistic to can meet his goal of straight-A's through high school.

As for a career, Logan said he'd like to be a professional soccer player. However, he acknowledges that might be tough. So, he's working on an alternate plan.

Although he hasn't identified a college yet, he said he'd like to major in physics. He isn't sure whether he likes the theoretical or practical side of physics.

 

Followup

Young hunter doesn't miss this year

Forrest Ahrens said mistakes cost him a chance for success in last year's St. Louis-area youth-only deer hunt. But, this year, he bagged his deer with a single shot.

Twelve-year-old Forrest bagged a 150-pound doe while hunting in the Weldon Springs Conservation Area in a special two-day season.

A lot of young Missouri hunters had success this year. A total of 9,054 deer were killed during the October 25-26 season, according to statewide totals. That bag total was nearly 20 per cent higher than in the 2002 hunt.

(In the October edition, Young Saint Louis.com profiled Forrest in an advance story about the special Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) youth-only deer hunt. If you'd like to read that earlier article, click here.)

Last year, Forrest said he and his dad built a deer blind. But, the blind was too high and he had to stand up to shoot. And, there were twigs in his line of fire. By the time he was ready, the deer had smelled him and moved out of range.

This year, he and his dad didn't build a blind. They stayed near trees and relied on camouflage clothing. They also stayed very still.

After a 2 1/2 hour wait, Forrest's deer came by and he was ready.

They had the deer was dressed out. Then, Forrest and his family had a venison meal. "In the first meal, we had some steaks," he said. He said they tasted good.

The St. Louis area had the smallest number of deer killed (555) during the statewide youth-only season. The most deer killed in this region were in Franklin County (175). Forrest was hunting in St. Charles County.

In contrast, in the Central Missouri region, a total of 1,760 deer were bagged. The biggest total in that region was 197 in Osage County. Of all counties, Pike County in northeast Missouri had the highest total of 210.

The MDC sponsors a number of youth-only hunts for various types of game. For information on other upcoming hunts, visit the MDC website at www.mdc.mo.gov.

 

St. Louis History

This Month in St. Louis History

Madame Walker, Ozzie Smith
and the Post-Dispatch

One of the first black woman millionaires, one of St. Louis' best baseball players and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch were born in December.

The millionaire was Madame C.J. Walker. She was one of the first American women of any race or rank to become a millionaire by her own efforts. She was born Dec. 23, 1867, in Delta, Louisiana.

She lived in St. Louis for 18 years where she learned business skills that made her rich. While here, she supported herself and her daughter with work as a washerwoman. She lived in The Ville area.

She made her fortune in women's cosmetics, the same field that yielded another black St. Louis woman millionaire, Annie M. Turnbo Malone.

Ms. Walker and Malone developed conditioning treatments that helped black women to straighten their hair.

Malone was in business first. But, Walker spread her business across many parts of the country. Her primary manufacturing plant was in Indianapolis. She also moved to other cities such as Denver to set up distribution systems.

Her Walker System was spread to Europe when famed singer Josephine Baker used Walker's products to produce her dramatic hair styles. Incidentally, Baker also was a former St. Louis resident.

An editorial columnist said in 1919 that it was a "noteworthy fact that the largest and most lucrative business enterprises conducted by colored people in America have been launched by women--namely Madame Walker and Mrs. Malone."

One of Walker's skills was in promotion and marketing. She developed crews that sold the products door-to-door. Also, she and her sales crews stressed virtues of "cleanliness and loveliness" as being important to the success of women.

She achieved her rise from poverty to riches in a fairly short life. She died in 1919, at the age of 51.

Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith born in 1954

Osborne Earl "Ozzie" Smith was born in Mobile, Ala., on Dec. 26, 1954. But, most of his fame came from his time in St. Louis as a member of the baseball Cardinals.

In 19 years in major league baseball, he won 13 Gold Glove Awards as the premier defensive shortstop. He set records in assists, double plays and total chances.

Later in his career, he developed as a good offensive player. He ended with over 2,400 hits and 500 stolen bases.

At age 6, Smith's family moved to Los Angeles. After he wasn't drafted out of high school, he attended California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, Calif. The Detroit Tigers drafted him after his junior year.

But, he didn't sign a contract and went back for his senior year in college. Then, the San Diego Padres drafted him and he signed for $5,000.

He was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals after the 1981 season. After the Cardinals won the World Series in 1982, Smith became baseball's first $l million shortstop.

Smith retired after the 1996 season. He still lives in St. Louis.

Post-Dispatch begins in 1878

Hungarian immigrant Joseph Pulitzer purchased the bankrupt Evening Dispatch on Dec. 9, 1878, for $2,500. Three days later, he merged the Dispatch with the struggling Evening Post.

The first issue of the Post-Dispatch was four pages and circulation was reported at 4,020.

Joseph Pulitzer went on to become one of the nation's most well-known publishers. He also established the Pulitzer Prizes, which go annually for the best journalism in the country.

The Post-Dispatch has survived numerous competitive challenges. It is now the only daily newspaper in St. Louis. It is published seven days a week.

 

From "St. Louis 365"

1904 World's Fair closes, KMOX begins

The World's Fair closed on Dec. 1, 1904, after 20 million people had viewed its attractions. And, on Dec. 11, 1904, radio station KMOX was awarded its call letters.

In a unique sports note, Al "The Mad Hungarian" Hrabosky was traded on Dec. 8, 1977. He had argued about Cardinal manager Vern Rapp's ban on facial hair. Hrabosky is back in St. Louis as one of the broadcasters for the baseball Cardinals.

These are just some of the 155 items of St. Louis history listed in the December chapter of "St. Louis 365". That's the book of historical items compiled by local historian Joe Sonderman.

(This book is available in local book stores or at www.booksonline.com. Sonderman has given Young Saint Louis.com permission to quote from his book.)

Here are 10 of the December entries from "St. Louis 365":

Dec. 1, 1904: The greatest period in St. Louis history came to an end, as the World's Fair closes. A crowd of 100,000 watched as David Francis, president of the exposition, said "farewell to all thy splendor" and threw the switch. The band played "Auld Lang Syne" as the lights went down. More than 20 million people had seen the fair.

Dec. 1, 1958: "Phil the Gorilla," one of the largest gorillas on record and a beloved resident of the St. Louis Zoo since 1941, died of ulcerative colitis. Zoo employees took Phil to the city scales in a truck. The truck was weighed with Phil, then without him. They calculated Phil's weight at 776 pounds. Schwarz Studios stuffed Phil, and he stands today in the Safari Shop near the South Gate of the Zoo.

Dec. 3, 1918: The terrible flu epidemic reached its peak in St. Louis. That day alone, 1,467 new cases were reported. In all, 1,700 people died of the flu in St. Louis. The toll would have been much higher if the city health commissioner had not ordered the schools and business closed early in the outbreak.

Dec. 4, 1877: Voters in St. Louis County voted to accept a donation of 100 acres of land from Ralph Clayton and the family of Martin Hanley for a new county seat. The city and county recently had separated. The value of the land was put at $300 per acre. The land is now prime Clayton real estate.

Dec. 8, 1698: The Reverend Francois Ste. Cosme and two other missionary priests celebrated mass on the banks of the Mississippi at Cahokia. Five months later, they established Holy Family Church. Mass has been celebrated regularly at Cahokia longer than any place in the United States. The first church burned in 1783. But, the one built on the same foundation in 1799 still stands today.

Dec. 8, 1977: The Cardinals traded pitcher Al Hrabosky to the Royals for Mark Littel and Buck Martinez. The "Mad Hungarian" whipped Cardinal fans into a frenzy with his Fu Manchu mustache and stalking routine behind the mound. Hrabosky clashed with new manager Vern Rapp, who had banned facial hair.

Dec. 11, 1925: The U.S. Department of Commerce assigned the call letters "KMOX" to the station sought by a group of civic and business leaders. Kirkwood Mayor R.L. Jacobsmeyer said the call letters stood for "Kirkwood, Missouri's Christmas Gift to the World." The first transmitter was located in Kirkwood, and KMOX would begin broadcasting on December 24, 1925.

Dec. 18, 1936: The Eugene Field home at 634 South Broadway opened as a children's museum. The home was once part of a row of 12. It was barely saved from the wrecking ball by two St. Louis businessmen.

Dec. 21, 1847: The first telegraph message was sent to St. Louis. A message from Louisville was sent to the offices of the Missouri Republican (newspaper) via the newly-opened East St. Louis telegraph office. The messages were sent across the river, allowing the paper to boast that it could publish the news from the East Coast almost to the moment the paper was published.

Dec. 26, 1932: The Arena was the site of the only recorded professional hockey game played on natural ice. The Arena investors couldn't pay the electric bill. So, the management of the St. Louis Flyers opened the doors and windows so the ice would freeze.

 

Places to go, Things to do

Places to Go, Things to Do

Challenger Center, World's Fair and more

The Challenger Learning Center had its grand opening last month and the first kids have had a "Mission to Mars" experience. Over 130 groups already have booked similar mission activities.

The learning center is now open for business to both school groups and the general public. Kid and adult groups can experience a simulated space mission, from both a mission control room and a spacecraft cockpit.

For reservations, you should call (636) 300-9651. For details on the center, visit the website at: www.clcstlouis.org.

The grand opening was Monday, Nov. 17, at 205 Brotherton Lane in Ferguson.

Two St. Louis natives--one an astronaut and the other a 4-star general--were featured speakers at the opening ceremony.

Dr. Sandy Magnus, the astronaut, is from Belleville, Ill. She said, "It was my dream as a child to go into space and explore, explore, explore." One of her space missions involved operating the construction boom used to build the international space station.

Air Force General Ralph (Ed) Eberhart was a graduate of McClure High School. The Challenger center is built on the campus of the new Ferguson-McClure High School.

Of his experience growing up in St. Louis, Eberhart said, "I'm proud of my roots." He said the Challenger center will help a new generation learn about space. "I have great confidence in the youth of America," he said.

Another featured guests at the grand opening was Mrs. Cheryl McNair, widow of astronaut Ronald McNair. He was one of the Challenger crew members who died when the spacecraft exploded on takeoff.

The Challenger Learning Centers are a memorial to those crew members. The St. Louis center is the 49th to be built across the country.

Challenger Learning Center opens for business

photo1: Kids on a simulated space mission
photo2: General Ed Eberhart
photo3: Astronaut Sandy Magnus
photo4: Opening of the center

 

1904 World's Fair Celebration

The St. Louis History Museum will end the year with a 1904 World's Fair Centennial Celebration event. The December 31 party is set up as a full-family event with lots of things for kids and adults.

The event will be from 7 until 11:30 p.m. as part of the kickoff of Celebrate 2004. The museum activities are free.

After that, there'll be time to adjourn to Art Hill for a fabulous fireworks display.

The museum events include flamenco dancing, magic shows and African drumming and dancing. Also, there will be face painting, balloon sculptors, caricaturists and more.

For further information, you can call (314) 746-4599 or visit the museum's website at www.mohistory.org.

Two Lewis and Clark activities

The Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery will be the subject of a couple neat events in December.

At the Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood, there will be a "Christmas at Camp Wood" program on December 6. You'll be able to learn about the Lewis and Clark camp, crew and keelboat.

Kids will make models of a fort and a pirogue (that's a small boat). Also, you'll see demonstrations of flintlock rifle firing and enjoy stories and songs.

Reservations can be made at (314) 301-1500.

At the Missouri History Museum, the Family Matinee Series will have two programs involving Lewis and Clark and the Mississippi River.

One program is "Footsteps West: Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery." The other is "Riverroads: Steamboats on the Mississippi."

They will be held Tuesday, Dec. 30, starting at 2:30 p.m. To purchase tickets in advance, call (314) 361-9017. Admission is $4 for one show or $6 for two.

 

Skating with Santa at County Parks

Special Skating with Santa programs are scheduled in December at three St. Louis County Parks.

One of the events will be December 14 at the Kennedy Recreation Complex in South County. The event is 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. In addition to Santa, there will be candy canes, cookies and music.

On December 20, Skating with Santa events will be at the North County Recreation Complex and the Greensfelder Recreation Complex in West County. The NCRC event is from noon to 2 p.m. while Greensfelder skating will be from 4 to 6 p.m.

No registration is needed and regular admission will be charged.

For information about County Park activities, visit www.stlouisco.com/parks.

 

Make holiday bird-feeding items at home

Kids can make natural holiday decorations and help birds at the same time. You don't even have to leave home.

The Missouri Department of Conservation suggests making edible garlands, wreaths or ornaments out of things birds can eat. Then, by decorating a tree in your yard, you'll make December special for birds.

An edible garland can be made by stringing raisins, peanuts in the shell, cranberries or small pieces of fruit. A wreath can be made with cranberries and small pieces of fruit strung on a circular wire.

For ornaments, start with a pine cone. Spread it with peanut butter and roll it in birdseed. They also can go on the outside tree.

One reminder, don't use bread, cereal or cheese puffs. They might make birds full, but have little food value. Also, be sure to put out water for the birds.

 

Math Puzzler

Mr. Math Puzzler is giving you a chance to learn from some of his past questions. Several of the December Puzzlers are ones that are similar to questions in previous months.

That will give you an opportunity to look at past issues and find similar questions and how they were answered.

Mr. Wayne Hesse is our Mr. Math Puzzler. He's an eighth grade math teacher at Green Park Lutheran School in south St. Louis County.

Since starting the Math Puzzler competition in September, 2001, Mr. Hesse has come up with over 160 Math Puzzlers. Some have been easy but some others have been quite hard.

Since winners have been hard to come by in the last two months, this series of questions that look like past ones give you a chance to catch up with Mr. Math Puzzler.

The similar questions will be especially good for kids who are trying the Math Puzzlers for the first time.

To catch on to the pace of the Puzzlers, go to the Past Stories tab at the top of the home page. Then, pick any month after September, 2001, to check on past Math Puzzlers. The questions are one month and then the answers are published the next month.

(For example, to check last month's questions, click on November, 2003. Then, to check your answers, click on the answer story on this edition.)

When you are ready to enter the December contest, come back to his story, fill out the entry blank, answer the Puzzlers and mail in your entry.

If any of our contestants get all six answers correct, we publish their names in the following month. That's also the time when we give the explanations for the previous month's questions.

Also, as an added incentive, we enter all kids who get six right answers into a drawing for $10 Border's book certificates. Up to three certificates will be awarded each month.

A reminder: These Math Puzzlers can be quite challenging, especially for younger kids. Remember, we don't mind if you get help from a parent or older brother or sister. In fact, you might want to make this a family activity.

Here's how to enter:

1. Print out the following entry form.
   
2. Fill out your name, address and telephone number.
   
3. Give your answers to the six Math Puzzlers.
   
4. Put your completed entry into a stamped envelope.
   
5. Mail your entry to:
   
   Math Puzzler Contest
   Young Saint Louis.com
   231 So. Bemiston Ave., Suite 800
   Clayton, MO 63105
   
   
6. All entries must be postmarked by the 15th of the month to be eligible.

-------------Clip here to make entry-------------

Entry for December, 2003, Math Puzzler Contest:

Name: ________________________________ Age: _______

Address: ____________________ School: _______________

City:____________________, State:______ ZIP___________

Contact phone no.(____)____________________

The Math Puzzlers
(December, 2003)

1. Jim's pennies are worth as much as his nickels, his nickels are worth as much as his dimes and his dimes are worth as much as his quarters. If the total value of all his coins is $12, how many dimes does he have?

Answer: _______________

 

2. Four straight lines can cross in as many as six points (see diagram). What is the greatest number of points in which five straight lines can cross?

Answer: _____________

 

3. Kevin is 14 inches taller than George. The difference between Kevin and Richard is 2 inches less than between Richard and George. Kevin at 6'6" is the tallest. How tall are Richard and George?

Answer: _____________

 

4. A baseball team just won a championship game and the players wanted to congratulate each other. They began shaking hands. How many handshakes were necessary for each player to shake every other player's hand? Remember, there are nine players on a baseball team.

Answer: _____________

 

5. Two trains are on a head-on collision course. The trains are currently 65 miles apart. The north-bound train is traveling 55 mph and the south-bound train is traveling 80 mph. What is the distance between the two trains two minutes before they collide?

Answer: _____________

 

6. A car travels at a speed of 30 mph over an unknown distance, and then returns over the same distance at a speed of 20 mph. What is the average speed for the total trip.

Answer: _____________

The Math Puzzler questions in November were too tough for all entrants. This was the second month in a row that no one was able to answer all of the six questions correctly.

Before that, there had been winners for several months in a row.

But, it looks like the December Math Puzzlers might provide a chance for contestants to return to winning ways. Many of the December questions are similar to previous questions.

That means that by looking back to past Math Puzzlers, you'll find answers to those previous "close cousins" questions.

Mr. Math Puzzler started giving math questions in September, 2001. That means there are over two years of questions--and answers--to review.

Just go to the Past Stories tab on the home page. Behind that, there are over two years of past Puzzlers. Click on the "answers" story for both the questions and explanations of the answers.

One way to review would be to print out the December, 2003, questions and then look for similar ones in past Puzzlers. The past answers always have an explanation of how to arrive at the answer.

Remember, if any contestant gets all six answers correct, we publish their names in the following month. That's also the time when we give the explanations for the previous month's questions.

Also, as an added incentive, we enter all kids who get six right answers into a drawing for $10 Border's book certificates. Up to three certificates will be awarded each month.

The November Math Puzzler answers

1. Let us follow the hour hand and minute hand of a clock for 24 hours. How many times do the hands form a right angle during that period?

Answer: 44

The explanation: The minute and hour hands cover each other 12 times in a 12-hour period. That means there are 11 time segments in each hour and two times each hour the hands are at right (90 degree) angles. Thus, 11 times 2 equals 22. Then, for 24 hours, that would be doubled, or 44.

 

2. Add arithmetical symbols in the spaces between the 4's to make each equation true. Remember, you may use parentheses also.

1. 4 _ 4 _ 4 _ 4 = 3
2. 4 _ 4 _ 4 _ 4 = 6
3. 4 _ 4 _ 4 _ 4 = 7
4. 4 _ 4 _ 4 _ 4 = 8
5. 4 _ 4 _ 4 _ 4 = 24
6. 4 _ 4 _ 4 _ 4 = 28
7. 4 _ 4 _ 4 _ 4 = 32
8. 4 _ 4 _ 4 _ 4 = 48

Answer: See below

The explanation:

1. [(4 x 4) - 4] divided by 4 = 3
2. (4 + 4) divided by 4 + 4 = 6
3. (4 + 4) - (4 divided by 4) = 7
4. (4 x 4) - 4 - 4 = 8
5. 4 x 4 + 4 + 4 = 24
6. (4 + 4) x 4 - 4 = 28
7. (4 x 4) + (4 x 4) = 32
8. (4 + 4 + 4) x 4 = 48

 

3. If 73 hens lay 73 dozen eggs in 73 days and if 37 hens eat 37 kilograms of grain in 37 days, what weight of grain corresponds to one dozen eggs?

Answer: 73/37 kilograms

The explanation: We'll set up a graph to show the possibilities:

Hens	Dozen Eggs	Days	Kg of wheat
73	73	73	--
37	--	37	37

Thus 73 hens will produce 1 dozen eggs in 1 day
And 37 hens will eat 1 kilogram of wheat in 1 day
Thus, one dozen eggs will be produced by 73/37 kilograms of wheat

 

4. In a certain town with 100 men, 85 are married, 70 have a telephone, 75 own a car and 80 own a house. What is the least possible number of men who are married, have a phone, own a car and own their own house?

Answer: 10 men

The explanation: Of the 100 men, 15 aren't married; of the 100 men, 30 don't have a phone; of the 100 men, 25 don't own a car, and, of the 100 men, 20 don't own a house. That means there are 90 men who don't have at least one of the criteria. That means 10 men must have them all.