OWL April 2023

Hey Readers, Another Earth Day is upon us (April 22), and we’re turning all shades of green this month (in a positive, Earth-loving kind of way)! If you’re looking to do the same, dig into Maker Space on page 24! It’s all about making your own compost bin. Did you know composting is a great way to reduce waste in landfills? Plus, the nutrients in compost are great for growing plants! Next, spend a day with a research diver and find out about the important work he does on page 12. And of course, we can’t forget about April Fool’s Day! Uncover who the master of high jinks is in the Spruce Street Squad on page 10. Then spot the differences in a wacky backyard scene on page 16! Finally,…

Great Gifts! These readers made DIY holiday presents as seen in the December issue! Want to see yourself in OWL? Email us at: owl@owlkids.com Mail Bag Dear OWL, Hi! I love OWL so much! I have all my issues collected. I love reading books. When I’m older, I want to be a professional dancer. My favourite colour is orange and my favourite animal is coral. —Linnaea Dear Linnaea, Thank you! We love you and all our readers, too. I really enjoy watching dancers in musicals and on TV. They have so much strength and coordination! What type of dance are you interested in? Write back and let us know, okay? Bye for now! —Melissa, editor Dear OWL, I am an animal lover! I have a hamster and a cat. That…

Go wild! A Spanish designer has come up with an easy way to bring nature inside. Jorge Herrera created the Wild Stool, a seat that has a small garden in its clear base. The plants and mosses inside the stool don’t need water or sunlight. So there’s no need to rely on your green thumb to keep this garden alive. Just plop down, get comfy, and let the greenery thrive beneath you.…

What comes to mind when you picture a horseshoe? We’re guessing a U-shaped piece of metal. But an American shoe artist is trying to change this image by making sneakers for horses! Marcus Floyd creates functional horseshoes by taking apart human sneakers and reconstructing them for horse feet. But the custom sneakers aren’t cheap. While a portion goes to charity, each horseshoe costs about US$1,200. That said, we’re betting they’d make a serious fashion statement at the stable.…

Meet a fish that’s on a mission! A British university student recently invented a robotic fish that gobbles up plastic in waterways. Called Gillbert, this bot flaps its tail to swim along. As it motors about, it keeps its mouth open and gulps down tiny pieces of plastic. The fish has screens in its gills that filter plastic particles from the water, gathering them inside the bot’s body. For now, Gillbert is run by remote control, but the hope is that a school of future robotic fish could swim along by themselves to help fight pollution in our waterways. Send in the fish!…

It’s art for the animals. Last fall, British artist Es Devlin created a huge sculpture for a London art gallery to draw attention to local endangered species. Made up of over 240 sketches of birds, bugs, and reptiles, the sculpture was on display in a garden outside the gallery for a couple of months. During the day, sound recordings of some of the creatures played. At night, the art piece lit up. Devlin created the artwork as a reminder that we are connected to all species on the planet. One happy family!…