Welcome
to Young Saint Louis.com 08
This is the start of our 9th year of the Young Saint Louis.com
website for kids in the metro St. Louis area on both sides
of the river. If you're a new viewer, check out the First-Time
Visitornote on the top of this Home
Page to learn all the features of this and subsequent
editions. For all, have a Happy New Year.
Joffrey
Ballet Area
kids dance in Joffrey Ballet's "Nutcracker"
Nine-year-old Joselyn Patterson
has taken dancing lessons since she
was three. Her favorite ballet is the
"Nutcracker," an old-time fairy tale
that's been a holiday classic with kids
for years.
First
Lego West
St. Louis county team heads for nationals A six-member team of west St.
Louis County middle-schoolers last month won
the top prize in the Missouri State First Lego
League tournament. Now, the kids are busy making
improvements on their entry for FLL World Festival
in April.
First
Books Kids
get free books at after-school program Nine-year-old Kristopher
Wallace got his first free books at Halloween
at his after-school program at Dignity House
in the City of St. Louis. He gets a chance to
choose free books about once a month.
Book
Reviews This
month's book reviews
January books include ones about (1) a teen-age
girl who tries to earn back the respect of
her family and friends, (2) a 230-year-old
pirate ship appearing in a modern-day New
England beach area, (3) the impact a teacher's
demise has on kids in a one-room schoolhouse
in 1905 rural Indiana, and (4) a girl forced
to live her life disguised as a male in order
to one day own her own horse ranch
Stock
Market Game St.
Gabriel's teams find unique approach One standard rule for stock
market investment calls for holding a diversified
portfolio to spread the investment risk. Another
is to not put too much of your money in one
stock.
McKissack
2 Local
author critiques kids' writing Kids' author Pat McKissack
of St. Louis had some good things to say about
11-year-old Haley Erstall's writing style.
But, the prize-winning author also offered
some "constructive criticism" to help Haley
improve.
Texts
of three original stories
"Champion" by Haley Ernstall, "Ryan's
Only Wish" by Kaitlyn Howard, and "The
Lonely Caterpillar" by Alexis Liker
Tennis Gabriela
Demose succeeds in tennis
Tennis player Gabriela Demose was interviewed
by Young Saint Louis.com more than five
years ago. Then, she was 12, ranked No. 1 in
her age group and having her first shoulder
problems.
Young
Achiever Farrell
Roland in new school, town and state
Most 8th grader Gateway Young Achiever winners
go to a new school the next school year. But,
15-year-old Farrell Roland's adjustment has
been somewhat bigger.
Math
Mania Math
Mania questions about measurement The first Math Mania
puzzles of 2008 ask the question: "Do you measure
up?" These are all questions that deal with
the numbers used to measure things, from distance
to time and beyond.
Ms.
Math Mania admits an error in December Even math teachers can make errors
with numbers. Ms. Math Mania admits
she put a wrong number into one of the December
puzzles, making it impossible to make the answer
to Question 2 to come out to 24.
We
think of Missouri as the current front-runner
in making beer and toasted ravioli. But, what
about the state as the birthplace of the hamburger
and sliced bread?
January
is the heart of winter in St. Louis and there
are some neat events and activities of interest
to kids and their families. But, there are also
some things that hint of spring. 
Area
kids dance in Joffrey Ballet's "Nutcracker"
West
St. Louis county team heads for nationals
Kids
get free books at after-school program
This
month's book reviews
St.
Gabriel's teams find unique approach 
Local
author critiques kids' writing
Gabriela
Demose succeeds in tennis
Farrell
Roland in new school, town and state
Math
Mania questions about measurement