Polly wants a cracker, but who wants

Polly? Homeless?

Animal lovers know that it’s a bad idea to get a pet without doing some serious research, and that unwanted pets end up in shelters.

Parrot adoption groups fi nd that it’s particularly hard to place unwanted parrots in “forever homes,” because they’re not for everyone.

It sounds like fun to have a colorful pet that can talk, but too many people bring home a parrot before realizing that parrots can be loud and messy, that they need more space than just a cage, that they chew up things you wish they hadn’t, that they can bite and that some of them need your house to be warmer and more moist than you’d like it to be.

The head of one rescue group told a Reuters reporter they fi nd only one home for every 10 unwanted birds brought to them. Photo: Alois Staudacher

ColoradoKids CK ReporterHannah Skurcenski,

Centennial

cHarminG, Heartfelt film

“Saving Mr. Banks” opens with a little girl with golden curls,

eyes closed, daydreaming in a beautiful park in Maryborough, Australia. From that moment on, you’re hooked!

The girl is P.L. Travers, who wrote one the most famous chil-dren’s books of all time: Mary Poppins.

Emma Thompson stars as P.L. Travers and is perfect for the role, as she can convey so many different emotions with her face, a key part of this fi lm.

Opposite Thompson is Tom Hanks, portraying a happy, but determined, Walt Disney trying to convince Travers to hand over the rights to “Mary Poppins” so the classic book can be turned into a Disney movie.

Hanks is also wonderful, and the dynamic between the two stars is so realistic that you almost forget it’s a movie.

Adding to this movie’s charm is the fact that all the characters are subtly funny, so there are

many laugh-out-loud moments.But the drama unfolding at

Disney Studios isn’t the only storyline.

Intermixed with the making of “Mary Poppins” is the story P.L. Travers is fl ashing back on. It is the story of her childhood.

Travers’ father loves her very much and spoils her with ice cream and kisses. But money problems become too much and he becomes an alcoholic.

As he gets sicker, Travers’ aunt comes to assist the family.

Near the beginning of the fi lm, it is hard to make the connec-tion between the two plotlines, but about half-way through, you

realize that “Mary Poppins” is based on Travers’ childhood!

This fi lm is rated PG-13, but except for a few non-offensive swear words uttered by Travers (she was a very disagreeable per-son), it is not a reason to deter kids from seeing this movie, though they should understand its adult theme.

Young kids would get con-fused by the dual-plot line of the movie and its clever humor will fl y over their heads.

“Saving Mr. Banks” is charm-ing, combining heart wrench-ing drama with laugh out loud comedy and should defi nitely be on your movies-to-see list!

There may be a brand-new cure for headaches, according to research at Tel Aviv Univer-sity in Israel.

Or maybe not, because they only tested it on 30 people. That’s not enough to really prove anything yet.

But the good thing is, if you chew a lot of gum and get a lot of headaches, you won’t take any risk by trying this new headache cure yourself:

Spit out the gum.Dr. Naten Watemberg

noticed that the Meir Medi-cal Center at the university treated a lot of young people for headaches, and that a lot of those kids chewed gum, a lot.

So he formed a group of 30 gum chewers with headaches and had them stop chewing gum for a month.

After 30 days, 19 had no headaches and 7 had fewer headaches. And when 20 of them returned to gum, their headaches returned to them.

That’s not medical proof, but it’s a cure worth trying.

Photo/ David Haberthür

DoeS cHeWinG Gum cauSe HeaDacHeS?

By Ellory Boyd, 11, a CK Reporter from Louisville

home for every 10 unwanted birds brought to them.

December 31, 2013

Story of second chances

“Nickel Bay Nick,” by Dean Pitchford, is a touching story

about second chances for a boy, his dad, a town and a giving stranger.

The story starts when 11-year-old Sam Brat-tle, who had a heart trans-plant as a baby, crosses paths with Nickel Bay Nick, an unknown do-gooder who plants $100 bills around Christmas in boxes on store shelves, in un-locked cars and even in peo-ple’s pockets.

When Nick breaks his leg, Sam is forced to take his place.

He learns how to return resealed items to store shelves without people noticing, to spot unlocked cars and to be a “putpocket.”

Sam starts off as a rude, selfish juvenile delinquent who fights with his dad all the time.

By the end of the story, he has changed into a kind and giving person.

Sam isn’t the only one who gets a second chance.

Nickel Bay is an old, rundown town with lots of businesses closing, including the bakery that Sam’s dad owns.

The bakery is saved and the people of Nickel Bay get happier and more hope-ful when Nick visits.

When Sam is training to be Nickel Bay Nick, he learns lots of secrets.

The big-gest secret is revealed in the end when Sam discov-ers why Nick came to Nickel Bay, how Nick gets his second chance, and why he gives

money away to the people of Nickel Bay.

This story is mysterious and exciting. It is definitely on my list of favorite books.

ck Kids and adults can find live links to information about stories in Colorado Kids at www.ColoradoNIE.com

There are a lot of movies reviewed in today’s CK, and not a lot of vacation left. Here’s a fun exercise in imaginary planning: Look at the movie ads in today’s paper, check out the times the movies are playing, and figure out how many movies you could see in a single day if you could get back and forth between theaters in half an hour. (Next question: How much would it cost?)

Beyond these four pages

AB

C

D

Politicians may have to wait a little longer

Someone involved in Colo-rado politics asked us if CK readers were interested

in area politics, so we did the sensible thing: We asked you.

The answer is “some, but not a whole lot.” Our other questions have shown that CK readers are smart and curious, and, in this case, we found a few hard-core political folks, and quite a few who watch certain issues.

But between a third and a half

of you – 40 percent – said it just isn’t of interest to you yet.

Here’s what we asked you, and what you told us:

How much attention do you pay to Colorado politics?

A. I follow political news pretty closely. 8%

B. I follow all news, though not specifically politics. 20%

C. Only when politics have to do with things I care about. 32%

D. Not on my radar. 40%

Here’s our next question:

Do you make New Year’s Resolutions?

A. Yes, and I keep them!B. Yes, but they don’t last

very long.C. Sort of. I get New Year’s

Resolutions made for me.C. No, I make changes when

I need to, not just in January.

To answer this question, go to www.nextgen.yourhub.com

we asked, you answered

Colorado Kidsis produced by

Denver Post Educational ServicesExecutive Editor: Dana Plewka

dplewka@denverpost.comCK Editor: Mike Peterson

coloradokidseditor@gmail.comWe welcome your comments.

For tools to extend the learning in this feature, look under“eEdition lessons” at:

www.ColoradoNIE.com

eEditions of the Post arefree of charge for classroom use.Contact us for information on all

our programs.

Denver Post Educational Services101 W. Colfax Ave.Denver CO 80202

(303) 954-3974(800) 336-7678

By Kaden Porter, 11, a CK Reporter from Denver

The end of the year is a time for predictions, and here’s one to spark your

imagination: The next big thing in tech, they’re saying, will be “smartwatches.”

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Gear Smartwatch in September, and there are several other com-panies working to come up with their own versions of the idea.

But before you get too excited about wearing a computer on your wrist, step back and look at what these devices really are.

First, they aren’t full-powered computers. All they really do so far is to let you see when you have a text message or email on the smartphone that’s in your pocket. They’re connected to the smartphone, not to the Internet.

Also, they’re pretty large. The Galaxy Gear will fit on a man’s wrist, if he’s not too small, but it’s too big and clunky for most women and kids.

And, if they’re just a thing to let you know you got a text message, most people think they need to cost less than the rough-ly $250 they currently do.

Better keep wrist-computers in the “someday” category for now.

Will you Wear your computer in 2014?

“Long Walk to Freedom” is about Nelson Mandela (Idris Elba), who was born a simple man and along the way became a great leader.

The movie takes you places in Mandela’s life during the lowest and highest points.

Most of the people in the nation of South Africa were black, but the nation was ruled under apartheid, which meant the white mi-nority had all the political and social power.

Mandela was sick of watching his people being treated unfairly. Some of his buddies chose to do something about it and con-

vinced Mandela to join a rebellion against the white government of South Africa.

During this uprising, Mandela and his family experienced great turmoil.

In the beginning, this resistance was just viewed as freedom of speech and protesting. But soon after, it was viewed as this group leading an actual revolution.

That lead to a jury trial. Mandela and the other men were ac-cused of attempting to overthrow the government.

They were sentenced to life in prison. But even though Mandela was locked up, the uprising did not

stop. Mandela’s wife, Winnie (Naomie Harris) became the leader of

the uprising while Mandela was in prison. Shortly after, Winnie was arrested and sent away numerous

times, leaving their daughters to raise themselves. The uprising soon became violent, and uncontrollable, until

Mandela was released under certain circumstances. From that point on, good things started to happen, where there

would hopefully soon be a resolution.I personally really enjoyed this movie. The movie hit home for

me, and I think it will for other viewers as well. This is a must-see movie, but not necessarily a movie you should

take the whole family to, and it is rated PG-13.It is unfortunate that times like this come along, but in this case,

they brought the greatness out in a man.

an unjust world brought out greatness

BrainteaserGold medal gymnast Gabby Douglas is 18 years old today, so our answers will begin with “V” to celebrate a new voter!

1. Italian city famous for the canals that act as its streets

2. A term for poetry, or for a short quote from the Bible

3. Deer meat

4. To do something for free, like helping at a charity event

5. A clamp tightened by screwing its two sides together to hold things tightly in place

6. Famous gold mining town near Cripple Creek

7. Inventor of the electric battery; a unit of electricity is named for him.

8. Animals with spinal columns

9. Excess pride; thinking you’re better than other people

10. Cowboy slang for “get out of here,” it comes from Spanish (answers on Page Four)

Teachers!It’s time to register for the

Colorado Council for International Reading Association Conference

• 21 Featured Speakers• 18 Featured Authors• Hundreds of break-out sessions• Vendors• University credit

VisitCCIRA.orgto register.

By McKinnley Bartels14, a CK Reporter from Wheat Ridge

“Walking With Dinosaurs,” an hour-and-a-half

computer-animated movie tells the story of Patchi, a pachyrhi-nosaurus who has to deal with all the struggles that come with living in prehistoric times and being the runt of the litter.

Featuring the voices of John Leguizamo as Alex, Justin Long as Patchi, Tiya Sircar as Juniper, and Skyler Stone as Scowler (Patchi’s brother), this movie is a must see.

The movie begins when Pat-chi, who is still young, is trying to get food, but, because of his size, keeps getting pushed back.

He spots some food that landed on the side of his nest, so he decides to climb out. But an ostrich-like creature comes up from behind and snatches Patchi up.

It tries to run, but fails. It

lets go of Patchi and he goes flying, with a hole chewed through his head.

He doesn’t come back to the herd. Instead he decides to go on an adventure.

One day out exploring, he meets a girl called Juniper.

When he learns that her herd has migrated south already, he becomes impatient for his to do the same. When it is finally time, Patchi is overjoyed.

However, this seemingly perfect moment cannot last forever.

As they are traveling through the forest, tragedy strikes.

I enjoyed this movie’s graph-ics which looked very lifelike, and its 3D effects.

I also liked how it told you a little information about each new dinosaur species when they came into the movie.

The storyline was interesting and enjoyable.

There were several funny scenes, but also some intense scenes that might be too scary for kids under 5.

Overall this was a really good movie.

cretaceouS critterS

BrainteaserSolution

(see Page Three)10 right - Wow! 7 right - Great! 5 right - Good

3 right - See you next time!

1. Venice 2. verse 3. venison 4. volunteer 5. vise 6. Victor 7. (Allessandro) Volta

8. vertebrate 9. vanity 10. vamoose

Youth-written stories that appear here also appear on

Come read more stories, and maybe write one yourself!

By Kaitlyn Pierce11, a CK Reporter from Arvada

“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” is an action-packed ro-

mantic comedy that makes you rethink the meaning of life.

Based on a short story by James Thurber, the movie goes beyond the simple daydreaming of that story and tells the life-altering journey of a quiet guy who dreams about a more excit-ing life.

When he is held ac-countable for a missing picture used for the last cover of Life magazine he has to go on an eye-open-ing adventure to find the photographer Sean O’Connell (Sean Penn).

Throughout the movie there are hints of humor that add to the great acting on part of Ben Stiller, who plays Walter Mitty and directed the movie.

You will always be surprised

by the sorts of new characters and settings that Walter en-counters on the way.

This film keeps you on edge as he deciphers the clues O’Connell has left for him. The added twist at the end contrib-utes to the engaging plot.

“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” is a wonderful film that I would definitely see again.

It was a feel-good movie that will leave you thinking.

At the end, I was amazed at how Ben Stiller had pulled it all together.

I would highly encour-age anyone who wants watch a funny, adventure-filled movie to see it over the holiday season.

It is rated PG for some language, crude com-ments, and ac-tion violence, but it’s a great movie for

families with children 10 and over, and all ages would enjoy the comedic yet heart warming movie.

As Walter discovers more about the meaning of life so will you as you watch this uplifting movie.

DayDreamer turnS into man of action

By Megan Goldin,13, a CK Reporter from Highlands Ranch

w w w. n e x t g e n .y o u r h u b . c o m