KIDZERA

Your media, your voice

Vol. 4 2013

Who does this?Where does it come from?

How do I get in it?

The KidzEra Team is:

Maggie SnyderEditor and Designer

Jeremy TomlinsonWeb Production

Matthew SmithDirector

Christy SzokeProduction Director

Ryan MadsonVideo and Media Support

But really, it’s all the artists, writers, thinkers and creatives that submit their work who make this what it is.

KidzEra receives submissions of art, writing, photography, sculpture and video from kids all over the world.

It’s pretty amazing.

We constantly review work as it comes in. Work is scanned and filed. When it comes time for a new issue, the editor sits down and creates a magazine from the submissions that work best together for that issue.

We do our best to cram every issue as full of art and writing as we can but unfortunately we can’t publish everything we receive. If you haven’t seen your work in KidzEra yet, keep sending stuff in!

If you are between the ages of 8-18, please submit your work by creating an account at KidzEra.com.

You can also send your work here:

KidzEra PO BOX 20250Boulder, CO 80308USAIf you include a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) we will mail your work back to you once we have

scanned it for our collection.

If you have any questions, email us at communications@kidzera.com or give us a call at 1-888-400-KIDZ.

What is this?KidzEra was first invented in 1995 in Boulder, Colorado. It started as a small newspaper, with art and writing made by kids in one particular school in Boulder. It was an instant success.

KidzEra then grew into a global magazine and now exists as a digital magazine and world wide media channel.

Anyone from the ages of 8-18 is invited to submit their creative work through the website or the mail.

Mandala submitted by: Kim S-W., Age 10, International School of Penang, Uplands, Malaysia

3

What ’s in here?Besides stuff and things? Mostly art and writing. And some funny jokes. To wit:

TOP ARTIST—p. 12Featuring the work of Oolongteaholic (front cover), Stephanie C. (back cover) and Chiaki K.

ART WRITING

KIDZERA

CLICK A PIC—p. 16

The challenge? Click a pic of something pretty.

CHALLENGE MET.

ANYTHING GOES—p. 18Featuring the poem Moments by KidzEra superstar user, PomieK.

INKSLINGER—p. 10Because short, insightful poems are all we can concentrate on in the heat. Everything else is too long.

SOS—p. 6

Let’s talk about braces. And also a call to action: help out with a bossy friend!

ZEITGEIST—p. 8What’s up in your world!As it turns out, not all of us are currently on summer vacation! :O

JOKES

SHENANIGANS—p. 20Jokes, comics and quizzes.

Why did the KidzEra Team cross the road?

and assorted random fun.

Flower submitted by: Lucy W., Age 14, WR Satz Middle School, Holmdel, New Jersey

We have no idea. You tell us! Best answer gets a prize!

4

Flowers submitted by: Monica P., Age 11, Hoxton Park Public School, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

5

So here we are.

It’s the middle of summer. It’s 80 degrees outside at 9 a.m. (That just shouldn’t be possible!)

Maybe you’re asking yourself, like we are, what should we do today? What should we do this weekend? Maybe we should go canoeing or swimming. Maybe we should ride our bikes around the lake. Maybe we should beat the heat with a nap in front of the AC. Summer has so many possibilities!

While you are busy cramming those last fun summer things in, stop by KidzEra.com and leave a comment about YOUR favorite summer fun things to do.

Tell us about what you did, what you wish you did and what you look forward to doing before school starts again!

Catch you on the flip side!

-The KidzEra Team

TALKBACK

Heart hands photograph submitted by: erynwade

SOSSOS SOSSOS SOSSOS SOSSOS

I am super self conscious about getting braces next week. I am also scared about the pain and inconvenience. Any stress relievers or advice?

6

My advice is...don’t be self conscious about them! Lots of people have braces, and it doesn’t really effect the way you look! The pain is no big deal— it really just feels achy the first few days and then it wears off, until you get them tightened again.

Inconvenience? Well, there are a few foods you can’t eat, but that’s it. Don’t worry about it! Afterward, your teeth will look great! Keep smiling! :DSubmitted by: enilorak

Well, look at it this way, it’ll help your teeth and you’ll be able to take it off sometime later. Just be careful and I’m sure you can handle the pain!Submitted by: Nadhirah2001

My advice is...braces are tough but they are also a great excuse to make smoothies with all your favorite fruits. Maybe sneak a little ice cream in there! If you use frozen fruit, the coldness will help a little bit with the achy feeling.

Good luck! :)Submitted by: Jacaranda

help now:help now:

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My problem is...that there’s this girl in my class that is super ultra bossy. She’s mean to her BFF and makes

her do stuff. Now she’s trying to be my friend too. I don’t know what to do.

PLEASE HELP ME!

Bear in Field submitted by: Samantha

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Girl Abstract submitted by: Sarah W., Age 14, Bala Cynwyd Middle School, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

Currently...me and my BFF are at school and not working at all and I am getting hit with my BFF’s hair.Submitted by: anime123

Currently...drinking chilled lemonade on my porch and soaking in some vitamin D!Submitted by: little-ms-diva

Currently...picking a dress for graduation! Should I go with old hollywood, girly romantic or edgy elegance?Submitted by: little-ms-diva

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Currently...I’m trying real hard to sneeze with my eyes open. Seems impossible to me. You should try it yourself!Submitted by: Tarisha S.

Currently...summer vacation started! Perfect time to go out of the country or enjoy some non-stressful days. Did I mention it’s Ramadan as well? Ramadan is the day where all Muslims (maybe not kids) fast the whole day and eat at late-noon. It’s celebrated on July usually.

Happy Ramadan folks!Submitted by: Tarisha S.

Currently...I have so much homework I don’t even think I can catch up on it and also secretly watching anime even when I’m not allowed to.Submitted by: SailorJupiter

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Thoughts

Finding Yourself

Over hills of grassUnder soft treesThrough wet swampsand past the closed doorShed your layersuntil you are rawThere, you will find itThe one you have been searching forOn white, plush cloudsyou will find yourself.

Alone with my thoughtsin an ocean of wordsUnspoken, yet sought afterI’m stranded here aloneA lifeboat in the stormready to tip overDrown me in my thoughtsand let them take control.

Submitted by: enilorak

Submitted by: enilorak

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BOOKSBooks are always filling my head,Whether I’m reading in a car or in my bed.

Full of words they are,Coming to my life making it look totally bizarre.

Characters, as if they are actual people,That I have known all my life.

Fiction or non-Fiction I’ll read it all,Even if I may not recall reading it before.

Books go beyond breaking all boundaries,Of building a strong imagination.

It feels like they speak to me,Making me feel like I am totally free.

Each book is different in its own way,Some are great and some went a bit astray.

I just want more and more,I could read forever but it would never be enough.

Submitted by: creativegirlever

The outside is dark and gloomywith clouds that swimthe gray dark skies.The rain pounds on the houses and doors, wanting to be invited into the warm and bright houses,filled with our cozy love and conversations.

The rain feeds the plants the nutrients they need,Then soon the plants and flowers will bloom with beauty and glory.

Like the soul of a child with a warm and kind heart,The sun soon comes out and with it, a rainbow with its summer colors.Finally the sun is ready to peak at the horizon with its bright warmth and light—It’s time for the kids to come out and play.

Summer StormSubmitted by: Supernatural

Shaper drawing submitted by: NoahArk

Cove

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sub

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by: O

olon

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top artistOolongteaholic

WOW! It’s an honor to be on the cover! I’ve been

dreaming about this moment ever since I picked

up a KidzEra magazine from my school.

I don’t have a favorite artist, It w

ould be unfair to chose

one over all of them lovelies. I haven’t decided on what I

want to be, but I really w

ant to help other people.

My favorite snack is hamburgers, a

lthough most people

don’t consider it a

snack.I don’t have a favorite color, I love

them all. All of the colors are beautiful in their own way.

My favorite weekend activity is p

laying MMORPGs and

music and various other people inspire me to do what I

do now.

My favorite subject in school might have to be History

and Math. They’re really interesting subjects with rich

backgrounds.

-Oolongteaholic

top artist, con’t. “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.” -Victor Hugo(author of Les Misérables)

Horse DJ submitted by: Stephanie C., Age 11, Holy Spirit Ringwood School, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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“Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisioned by the enemy, don’t we consider it his duty to escape? If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we’re partisans of liberty, then it’s our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!” -J.R.R. Tolkien(author of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit)

Girl Wonder submitted by: Chiaki K., Age 14, International School of Dakar, Dakar, Senegal

clickapicofsomethingpretty

Pretty nail polish submitted by: little-ms-diva

Pretty kitty submitted by: little-ms-diva

Pretty parrots submitted by: Dogzrule106

Pretty peacock submitted by: Dogzrule106

Pretty barrett submitted by: enilorak

Pretty flower submitted by: enilorak

Pretty water shadows submitted by: enilorak

ofsomethingpretty

17

MomentsMoments,They from every second of every minute of every hour of every day.They are the most special time that is given to us.

Everyone has these moments,These moments,Of pure grace,and peace.

Like that moment in the shower,When the water trickle becomes peacefulAnd everything becomes clear,And the noise outside is muffled,And it’s just you.

You, who had won first at a competition,but no one cared to ask.You, who had given countless hours working on the homework just so your friends could understand it.YOU! Who had friends and then no friends, and then friends once more, and just to have them leave you again!

Then what is left?What. Is. Left?You.And those precious moments,Where nothing matters,Where the world is at peace,Where there is no war,

No politics,And nobody else.

Where you are you.

And when this moment is gone,There you are again, alone in that shower.

You see,We have to recognize these moments, And reminisce in them.Because they will never come again.

Because moments,Form every second of every minute of every hour of every day.Because they are the most special time that is given to us.Submitted by: PomieK

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Moment drawing submitted by: machinegun123

SHENANIGANS

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WHO’S YOUR HERO?Mom Batman Veterinarian Television

Dad Spiderman Taxi driver Pet

Sister

Brother

Superman

Robin

Film Director School

Teacher Friends

Buildings, hero drawings and hero quiz submitted by: Hannah

21

What did the garment cop tell the shirt?

You’re under a-vest!

What do you call meteorites that are wrong?

Meteorongs!

Why did the dog jump in the lake?

He wanted to catch catfish!

Why did the fairy turn a bird into a clock?

She wanted to see time fly!

Jokes submitted by: Lena C., Age 11, Aptos Middle School, San Francisco, California

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KIDZERAYOU ARE AWESOME