N T H E P L N E W m o v ie N E W m o v ie NE mo NE mo mo mo O O L E S T R O L L E R C O A S T E R S O N T H E P L S E H C O NE W mo v ie NE W mo v ie mo v ie mo v ie EPIC EPIC EPIC EPIC L A N E T ! N E T ! WIN YOUR OWN IPAD! Issue 106 June 2013 R28,00 (VAT incl.) Issue 106 June 2013 R28,00 (VAT incl.) 9771811 723006 0 6 1 0 6 2 NOVEMBER 2012 NatioNal GeoGraphic KiDS 3 •W ri te to us at:T he Edit or ,N GK ID S, PO Bo x1 80 2, Ca pe To wn 800 0. •S en da ne -mail to fi ona@ngkids .co.z ao r SMS* al et tert o“ NGK Le tt ers ”a t3 39 70 . * St andar d ra tes app ly fo r MMSs , so ask yo ur pa rent s first! SMSs co st R1,50. Fr ee SMSs do not app ly . Se e www .ngkids .co.za fo r te rms and condit ions . We love celebrating our birthday at NG KIDS. We always have a brightly decorated and delicious cake. This year it was made by Shounees, our editorial assistant. You can see it in glorious close-up detail on page 44. Cake is what Shounees likes best about birthdays! Lulama like surprises on her birthday, so she enjoyed our surprise when we tried blowing out the candles on the cake: they were the trick kind that keep lighting up again! Lisel likes presents best about birthdays and true to form she has organised a bonanza month of giveaways for you – one every day! Turn to page 12 for our amazing birthday giveaway calendar. Monique likes being a princess on her birthday, and on page 18 you’ll see the ways children from nine different countries are made to feel special on their birthday. I like doing something special on my birthday, like having a party or going out for a meal. You can celebrate our birthday by joining us at the screening of Monsters University . Turn to page 33 for details. In the midst of all the celebrations, don’t forget Dad. It’s Father’s Day on 16 June. Check out the small chest of drawers we made for him on page 47. Dare to Explore! * See terms and conditions on page 49. don’t forget Dad. It’s Father’s Day on small chest of drawers we Find re d pandas on the pages! We hid te n of them in the magazine. Her e’ s one, but ca n you spot all te n? I REALLY LOVE LOTS OF surprises on my birthday! I LIKE DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL ON MY BIRTHDAY. I like presents best about my birthday! I like being A princess for the day on my birthday! i like cake and sweet treats on my birthday! June’s subscribers of the month are Emma Balcomb from Northcliff, Shangri-La Academy in Kempton Park, Kelíc Stainbank from Centurion, Hensu Knox from Pretoria and Reuben Post from Johannesburg. They’ve won* a hamper containing a variety of 10 Top Trumps packs valued at R550 each. Pick your favourite Top Trumps card pack. Pick your cards’ strongest characteristic. Dare your opponents and win their card! Whoever wins all the cards by trumping the others, wins! There are many fun packs available with different titles such as Spiderman, Lord of the Rings, Top Gear Cool Cars, Horses and Ponies, Predators and many others! Dear Fiona How are you? i am a Huge Fa n oF your magazine. THe inFo is cool anD abouT conser va Tion. ma ybe in in your nexT magazine you coulD Do a sTor y on gorillas anD i will be ver y Happy . i Have a Dog. His name is bolT. He HaD To Have an opera Tion because He sw alloweD a sTick. bye! kinD regarDs Daniella sTormonT , 10, Dana ba y page Behind the Scenes of the new movie EPIC On the Cover DEPARTMENTS 6 Pet Friends Forever 38 Subscription Page 46 Art Zone 8 Amazing Animals 40 Fun Stuff 48 Fun Factory 10 Weird But True 42 What in the World 50 Just Joking page 18 Win Prizes Galore Even though it’s our birthday, we’re spoiling you. Cover PhotograPh: istockphoto Cover insets: © 2013 tcFFc. All rights reserveD ( epic ); skYlANDers sticker sheet BY topps Uk (skYlANDer), istockphoto (rollercoAster illUstrAtioN, cAke) Page 3: jAmes gArAghtY (teAm); istockphoto (reD pANDA); All other imAges sUpplieD Page 4: mAtthew AckermANN (BirthDAY); istockphoto (BAllooNs, meXicAN mAN); © DisNeY piXAr 2013 ( moNsters UNiversitY ); © 2013 tcFFc. All rights reserveD ( epic ) Birthdays Around the World Monsters University in 3-D Win tickets to our hilarious birthday movie screening 4 december 2011 NOVember 2011 4 4 4 SePTember 2011 4 mAY 2011 30 Cool Things About Mexico Copyright Media24. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or be transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior consent of Media24. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS is published and distributed 12 times a year by Media24, with permission of the National Geographic Society, Washington, DC 20036. Published by the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY Chairman of the Board and CEO John M. Fahey, Jr. President Timothy T. Kelly President, Publishing and Digital Media Declan Moore Executive Vice President Terrence B. Adamson International Publishing: Yulia Boyle, Vice President Diana Z.Jaksic, Director Jennifer C. Jones, Manager Cynthia Combs, Rights Manager NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS Magazine Executive Vice President and Worldwide Publisher Claudia Malley Chief Creative Officer, Books, Kids, and Family Melina Gerosa Bellows Senior Vice President, Kids Publishing and Media Nancy Laties Feresten Vice President Julie Vosburgh Agnone Design Director, Books, and Kids Publishing and Media Jonathan Halling Executive Editor Rachel Buchholz Senior Editor, Science Catherine D. Hughes Editorial: Andrea Silen, Associate Editor; Nick Spagnoli, Copy Editor; Kay Boatner, Assistant Editor Photo: Jay Sumner, Photo Director, Kids Publishing and Media; Kelley Miller, Senior Editor; Lisa Jewell, Editor Art: Eva Absher, Design Director, Kids Publishing and Media; Nicole M. Lazarus, Art Director; Julide Obuz Dengel, Designer NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER AND EXTREME EXPLORER Vice President and Publisher Francis Downey Art Director and Designer Karen Thompson Editors Brenna Maloney, Sara Chauhan, Macon Morehouse Designer James Wildman Photo Editor Shannon Hibberd, Mary Ann Price MARKETING and PR Marketing Executive Lisel Daniels Tel.: 021-443-9857 Admin Assistant Lulama Joe CIRCULATION SALES& SOLUTIONS Circulation Manager Adele Minnaar(011) 217 3263 Subscription Manager Dilshaad Hassan(021) 443 9937 SUBSCRIPTIONS All subscription payments to: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS, PO Box 1802, Cape Town 8000 or NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS, Free Post, CB0006, Cape Town 8000 RSA Tel.: 0860-103-578 Fax: 021-405-1033 E-mail: ngkids_subs@media24.com NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS CAPE TOWN: ABSA Building,Lifestyle Division, 18th floor, 4 Adderley Street, Cape Town Tel.: 021-443-9871; Postal address: PO Box 1802, Cape Town 8000 DIRECTORS John Relihan, Raj Lalbahadur REPRODUCTION Media24 PRINTING Paarl Media Cape DISTRIBUTION: EDITORIAL Editor Fiona Thomson fiona@ngkids.co.za Editorial and Digital Assistant Shounees Moola shounees@ngkids.co.za Senior Designer Monique Petersen Copy Editor Pieter van der Lugt PUBLISHING General Manager Liezl de Swardt Publisher Nikki Ruttiman ADVERTISING SALES& SOLUTIONS Sales Director Craig Nicholson Craig.Nicholson@media24.com Business Manager(Women’s) Marilize Hay Marilize.Hay@media24.com Business Manager(KZN) emarais@media24.com Business Manager: Digital Terance.Winson@media24.com Sales Manager(JHB) Bianca.Quinn@media24.com Sales Manager(CPT) Abigail.Wilmot@media24.com Sales Executive(National) page 34 30 Cool Things About Mexico page 30 page 12 Monsters University in 3-D Win tickets to our hilarious birthday page 33 Business Manager(KZN) Eugene Marais emarais@media24.com Business Manager: Digital Terance Winson Terance.Winson@media24.com Sales Manager(JHB) Bianca Quinn Bianca.Quinn@media24.com 083 375 1721 Sales Manager(CPT) Abigail Wilmot Abigail.Wilmot@media24.com 083 212 1141 Sales Executive(National) Lynne Deacon 073-704-8793 ADVERTORIAL Tune in to Rocket Monkeys every Saturday and Sundayat 9.35 a.m. on Nickelodeon (DStv Channel 305) from 18 May 2013. Assum e take -of f po sitio n as Rocke t Mo nk eys , a fun ny ne w an im at ed ser ie s ab out mon keys in sp ace , bl ast s off on Ni cke lo deo n! DST V 30 5 www. nickelodeonafrica.com | www.twitter .com /NickAfrica | www.facebo ok .com /NickelodeonAfrica We know how much you love your pets. Now you can send us photos, drawings and letters especially for this page! You can also send questions about your pet to our NG KIDS vet. ISTOCKPHOTO (CHOW CHOW, dOg In blanKeT, ParrOT); all OTHer IMageS SUPPlIed SWEET BREEDS 3 Facts about Chow Chow The Chow Chow comes from China where it was known as the Songshi Quan, which means puffy lion dog. They often have blue or purple tongues, black mouths and lips that touch, but do not overlap. A few Chows were kept in London Zoo in 1840, with the description “Wild Dogs of China”. 1 2 3 Carla and Bubbles z 5 : z z R : z z z z z z z z z z z R z z z z z z zzzz z z z z z z z z z z z z z Send us your pet-related letters, questions, pictures, drawings and jokes! • E-mail to fiona@ngkids.co.za • Ask a parent to post your pet on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NationalGeographicKidsSA • Send a letter to The Editor, PO Box 1802, Cape Town 8000 We would love to meet your pets! If you have questions about your pets(furry, feathered or scaled), ask our local NG KIDS vet, Professor Paws. A: Just because a parrot can talk, doesn’t mean it will! Much depends on the species you have. In some the male speaks and in others the female. Be patient and remember most breeds mimic sounds rather than talk, so to them making the sound of the microwave bell is like talking. Q: Why doesn’t my parrot talk? Step 1: Set the date! If your dog was adopted, choose the date you got him or estimate when it was. Step 2: Make up a list of your dog’s friends. You’ll have to address the invitation to the owner, but you can invite the dogs, too! Step 3: If you are brave enough to have it at home, prepare a room by clearing away anything breakable. Decorate with banners and photographs of your dog. Step 4: Lay a table of treats for the humans and one for the guests.If you make a birthday cake for the dogs it must not include any chocolate. Step 5: The best parties have games like obstacle races and a tail-wagging contest. Ho w to pr epar e fo r yo ur dog’ s birthday party Tre at yo ur small dog to a spa tr eatment. Dear Fiona Carla always wanted a dog to love, to cuddle and to play with.On her eighth birthday in November 2012 she was surprised with a Maltese puppy. She was so excited, she could not thank me enough. Immediately the puppy got a name– Bubbles. Bubbles is part of the family, loved and played with every day. Bubbles sometimes does not know he has legs and paws because he is carried around most of the day. He has his own bed and lots of toys. He is taken out for walks daily, given treats all the time and enjoys lying on his back so we can rub his tummy. Bubbles does not like going to the vet for check-ups. He’s scared of the bigger dogs in the waiting room. Bubbles had his first Christmas last year and we even bought him a present Carla Philander, 8, Cape Town Dear Fiona Chelsea became a part of our family in December 2011 , a few months after our Jack Russel passed on. She is a golden retriever and is 18 months old. Chelsea is so intelligent. She plays dead to form a decoy when she wants to grab a toy from you and when she gets into trouble, she gives you that sweet innocent look that makes your heart melt. - Alika, 11, and Nikhil Maharaj, 8, Centurion, Pretoria Chelsea Hope R z z z z z R z z z z Ho w to pr epar e fo r yo ur 8 JUNE 2013 This is one two-faced cat.Venus’s unique mug is divided down the middle – one side is jet black and the other is light orange. Why does Venus have such a dramatic look? Every animal’s body contains sets of genes passed down from parents. These microscopic molecules determine how the animal will look, including the colour of its skin, hair or fur. “The genes that decide fur colour might have come together in an unusual way in Venus,” cat researcher Leslie Lyons says. “This might have led to her odd colouring”. Even though Venus doesn’t look like a regular cat,she certainly acts like one. The kitty enjoys sneaking food from the dogs’ bowls and scampering after toys. According to Venus’s owner, she also gives lots of cuddles and kisses. Who wouldn’t want to come face to face with this cool cat? talk about meow mix! meow mix! talk about meow talk about meow NatioNal GeoGraphic KiDS 9 you should see me with a rubik’s cube. i don’t horse around on the job! 10 JUNE 2013 Some float across water clinging to a bubbly raft of socks made from You can buy bamboo. socks made from You can buy bamboo. socks made from You can buy bamboo. Some rats appear to LAUGH when tickled. THE FIRST BICYCLES DIDN’T HAVE PEDALS. THE FIRST BICYCLES DIDN’T HAVE PEDALS. THE FIRST BICYCLES DIDN’T HAVE PEDALS. You can buy Some rats appear to LAUGH when tickled. PEDALS. PEDALS. Some rats appear to LAUGH when tickled. i’m lol-ing over here! THE FIRST BICYCLES PEDALS. PEDALS. Tug-of-war used to be an Olympic sport. National Geographic Kids Weird But True 4 Weird But True MORE? WANT MORE? WANT MORE? WANT MORE? WANT THE FIRST BICYCLES DIDN PEDALS. PORCUPINE QUILLS were once used as TOOTHPICKS. PORCUPINE QUILLS were once used as TOOTHPICKS. julide dengel / ngs staff (porcupine quills); © alexstar / dreamstime (toast); nasa / damian peach (jupiter); © georgette douwma / nature picture library (snail); © bettmann / corbis (bicycle); © pakhnyushchyy / dreamstime (rat); © ongchangwei / dreamstime (bamboo); © michaelfair / dreamstime (medal) [...]... don’t have a tradition of birthday celebrations, but kids in Ghana get a special breakfast of “oto”, a savoury patty made from mashed potato mixed with eggs friend in palm oil At the proper party later on they have stew and “kelewele”, which is fried, spiced pieces of plantain (a bit like a banana) The Ashanti people of Ghana celebrate their birthday with “krada”, which means “Soul Day This falls on... www.disney.co.za SMS* “NGK SUPERGA” Named after a famous hill in Torino, Italy, Superga has become part of Italian culture Most Italians wear their first pair as children FOUR readers can each win a pair of shoes from the Superga kids range 25 www.superga.co.za Kit your iPad mini out in a Speck iGuy Made from flexible foam, it’s cute and easy to handle Available in Grape Purple and Mango Win one of FOUR... CONDITIONS The prizes will be awarded to correct entries drawn randomly by computer after the closing date Winners will be contacted within three days of announcement The holiday accommodation prizes excludes transport or transfers and all extras are for the individual’s account Holiday giveaways are subject to availability and may not be redeemed during peak season, over public holidays and long weekends... beautiful scenic garden setting ONE reader can win a two-night weekend for a family of four at Montagu Springs 29 www.montagusprings.co.za SMS* “NGK VAAL 2” Maccauvlei on Vaal enjoys a rich history and being child-friendly, one lucky reader can win a one night stay for two adults and two children at Maccauvlei on Vaal, including breakfast(valid from September 2013) www.maccauvleionvaal.co.za TERMS AND CONDITIONS... filling facts Natural cheddaR cheeSe Made from avocado, guacaMoLe comes from the Aztec word ahuacamolli (ah-wah-kah-Moh-lee), or avocado sauce SaLSa is the Spanish word for sauce It is also a South American dance one type of is almost white The bright orange of the Cheddar you usually find in shops comes from food colouring bLack bean tastes like mushrooms Crunchy corn Taco shells have been in American cookbooks... nearby a woman notices the helpless black-andwhite baby.she scoops her up and takes her home.Within two days she realises the wild animal needs more help than she can give.she delivers the orphan in a shoe box to a local animal shelter the staff at Wichita Falls animal services Center in america calls Mary Kemp ,a local wildlife rehabilitator.she agrees to take on the care of the baby skunk.Within an hour... birthday twice First they go to church to receive a blessing and then everyone goes home for a party … and the piñata! DID YOU KNOW? In 1893 American sisters Patty and Mildred Hill wrote a song called “Good Morning to All” Patty was a teacher and used the song in her kindergarten classes It later changed to “Happy Birthday to You” which is sung around , the world and in many languages Ghana Many African... www.saskobaking.co.za WorldMags.net ANSWER THIS EASY QUESTION: Name the bread used to make this yummy sandwich? SMS “NGK FATHER” followed by your answer, name, surname and e-mail address to 33970* WIN First Prize: iPad and Sasko branded hamper Runners-up: 2 x Sasko hampers containing a Carrol Boyes bread bin and Sasko branded products WorldMags.net WorldMags.net WorldMags.net WorldMags.net CHEW WorldMags.net... educational multimedia touch screen tablet with educational games, fun activities and e-books Features include a rotating self-portrait camera, video camera and a microphone www.primatoys.co.za 08 SMS* “NGK DOLPHIN” Situated on the beach, Dolphin Beach Hotel in Cape Town is any family’s dream getaway ONE reader can win a two-night weekend for a family of four at Dolphin Beach Hotel 15 www.visitdolphinbeach.com... ? 22 Read the clues below to work out the name of this animal this animal? WorldMags.net ? ?? This This WorldMags.net animal is about the size of a ? small cat It is a mammal The Kung Fu master in the film Kung Fu Panda was one of these © IMAGEBROKER/IMAGEBROKER/FLPA(RED PANDA, PAGES TK-TK) ? i It is native to the eastern Himalayas and ? ? It is arboreal, which means it lives mostly in trees southwestern . hilarious birthday page 33 Business Manager(KZN) Eugene Marais emarais@media24.com Business Manager: Digital Terance Winson Terance.Winson@media24.com Sales Manager(JHB) Bianca Quinn Bianca.Quinn@media24.com 083. best about birthdays and true to form she has organised a bonanza month of giveaways for you – one every day! Turn to page 12 for our amazing birthday giveaway calendar. Monique likes being a princess. “NGK VITAL” Named after a famous hill in Torino, Italy, Superga has become part of Italian culture. Most Italians wear their first pair as children. FOUR readers can each win a pair of shoes