OWL October 2025

Hey Readers, Are you ready to blast off? This issue is full of out-of-this-world fun! Start your adventure by turning to page 12 to learn about weather on other planets. Earth isn’t the only place in the solar system that experiences seasons. Then slither over to page 16 to meet the Halloween snake. Yes, that’s its name, and it looks the part! While you’re in the Halloween spirit, get inspiration for this year’s costume on page 20. And throw the ultimate party for your friends with the cool decorations on page 22! Finally, have you ever wondered about the origins of the candle in your jack-o’-lantern? We’ve got the full scoop on wax on page 18. Have a safe and happy Halloween, everyone!…

Dear OWL, I love reading. When I first read OWL, I loved it so much I kept reading more and more. I hope that everyone loves reading as much as I do. —Violet Dear Violet, So happy to hear that you’re loving OWL! We hope as many kids enjoy reading as you do, too. Talk to you later! —Melissa, editor Dear OWL, If I could travel anywhere, I would go to Egypt to see the pyramids. My favourite food is a close call between tacos and sloppy joes. I have a seven-year-old dog named Storm and a two-year-old cat named Jilly Bean. —Parker Dear Parker, Those are some great choices! Tacos are a favourite in my house, too. I love reading about ancient Egypt. Maybe we’ll explore this topic in…

October 14, 1964 Martin Luther King Jr. is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work as an American civil rights leader. He donates the prize money to the civil rights movement. October 1, 1890 Yosemite National Park is established in California after environmentalists petition the US government to protect the land. The park is known for its waterfalls, granite cliffs, and giant sequoia forests. October 13, 1947 The NHL hosts its first official all-star game. The reigning Stanley Cup champs, the Toronto Maple Leafs, play against a team of the league’s best players in this fundraiser game. October 1, 1999 The first World Smile Day is celebrated. Harvey Ball, the creator of the smiley face symbol, establishes the day to encourage people to be happy and spread kindness.…

IT’S FRUIT THAT FLOATS PADDLE THAT PUMPKIN! Row, row, row your pumpkin! An American man named Gary Kristensen has been growing huge pumpkins for 14 years. He’s won contests for producing the largest gourds, and he’s even hollowed them out to form pumpkin boats to sail in short races. But Kristensen had one big pumpkin-shaped goal: he wanted to break the record for the longest journey in a pumpkin boat. Last October, he took on the challenge. Kristensen carved out a 555 kg (1,214 lb.) pumpkin, climbed aboard, and paddled down a river in Washington. The 74 km (46 mi.) route took more than 26 hours to complete, and despite the windy and wavy conditions, he and his pumpkin boat sailed into the record books. Way to row! WELCOME TO OUR PLANET…

GAMES Donkey Kong Bananza Smash, bash, and crash your way into adventure with this new DK game! Journey deep underground and uncover a new world to help Donkey Kong and his sidekick, Pauline, recover a hoard of golden bananas that were stolen by the mysterious Void Company. Available on Nintendo Switch 2 now! MOVIES Pets on a Train Head into high‑speed fun with this animated adventure movie! When a group of animals find themselves in the middle of a train heist, Falcon the raccoon and Rex the dog must halt the runaway train and save the pets on board. Zoom into theatres October 17 to catch this flick. APPS Top Picks Make and learn with these apps. Pokémon TCG Pocket Collect cards and battle friends in this fun and interactive…

On Earth, seasons change throughout the year. But do other planets in our solar system have seasons, too? In most cases, the answer is yes! But they’re not seasons that any of us would recognize. THE SECRET TO SEASONS For most planets, seasons are caused by the tilt of the planet’s axis. The axis is an imaginary line that goes through the top and bottom of a planet around which it rotates. Think of a spinning globe in a classroom—it is rotating on its axis! All planets in our solar system travel around the Sun. This path is called an orbit. Most planets don’t sit fully upright on their axes as they orbit the Sun. Instead, they lean to one side. This angle of lean is a planet’s tilt. HOW…