Table of contents for October 2023 in OWL

Hey Readers, Halloween is upon us again. That means it’s time to carve those pumpkins, break out the frightfully fun decorations, and decide on a costume! What will you be this year? Not sure? Fear not! We’ve (literally) got you covered. Head over to page 22 and follow some simple instructions to craft a costume that’s sure to make your friends LOL! After you’ve settled on a costume, check out some fun facts about the ghost bat on page 20. This creature is serving Halloween vibes with a side of cute! By the way, do you smell something? It could be our feature about some of the stinkiest things out there. Let your nose lead the way to page 18 for more. Have a safe and happy Halloween, everyone! COVER…

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED GIANT GOURD It’s a record-breaker times three! Last fall, an American teacher named Travis Gienger broke the record for growing the heaviest pumpkin in North America. The orange beast, which he nicknamed Maverick, weighed over 1,160 kg (2,500 lbs.)—about the same weight as a female giraffe! But for Gienger, one record wasn’t good enough. So he called on an expert pumpkin carver to work some magic on Maverick. After 11 hours of carving, the artist had transformed the pumpkin into a gigantic eagle. With that came two more records: the world’s largest and heaviest jack-o’-lantern. Way to grow! PERFECT FOR YOUR SWEET TOOTH CANDY CLEANER You know who gets really frightened by Halloween? Dentists! All those sugary treats can do a number on our teeth. But a…

INSTRUCTIONS: 1 Add the numbers in the green and blue circles. Locate the answer in one of the othercircles, and put the corresponding letter in boxnumber 1 below. 2 Subtract the number in the blue circlefrom the number in the orange circle. Put thecorresponding letter in box number 2 below. 3 Subtract the number in the blue circlefrom the number in the yellow circle. Put thecorresponding letter in boxes 3 and 6. 4 Multiply the number in the purple circleby the number in the green circle. Put thecorresponding letter in boxes 4 and 7. 5 Add the numbers in the purple and bluecircles. Put the corresponding letter in boxnumber 5. 6 Put the letter from the blue circle in box 8. Answers page 33.…

• Every person has their own distinct odour. It’s your smellprint, and it’s as unique as your fingerprints! • In a recent study, scientists found the average human can detect one trillion different odours! • A dog’s sense of smell is at least 10,000 times better than ours. Dogs have poor eyesight and rely more on their sense of smell to “see.” • Some smells can bring back memories. That’s because tiny cells in our nostrils send messages to our brains whenever we smell something. Our brains store these messages, and when we smell that scent again, we may be taken back to a memory connected with it. • According to researchers, the three favourite scents of humans around the world are vanilla, peach, and lavender. • And the least favourite?…

OWL: You both have experience hosting television news. How does having your own radio show compare? POOJA HANDA: Imagine waking up to a job where you get to laugh, play music, and put a smile on someone’s face—that’s what we get to do every day. The best part is I get to experience it with my bestie, Gurdeep. O: Did you always know you wanted to go into radio? GURDEEP AHLUWALIA: I hosted a radio show in university, but my initial love was writing, which I did for several years. Then I shifted to television. I didn’t consider a move to radio until this opportunity with CHFI came along. O: Are you a morning person? PH: Yes! When you love what you do, it’s easy to wake up at 3:00 a.m. O:…

Dear Kevin, Everyone has unique preferences, and it’s perfectly fine to have different tastes. It’s important for you to express what you do or do not like, even if it feels uncomfortable to do so. I would communicate to your friends that creepy movies make you uncomfortable and suggest an alternative that everyone in the group would enjoy. Keep in mind that true friends will respect your boundaries and preferences. You can consider suggesting comedy movies as an alternative! Aparnaa, counsellor Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada…

What’s your favourite subject? Math. What’s something new you’d like to try? Riding a motorbike. What makes you feel brave? Standing up to people. What’s your favourite snack? A bowl of Cheetos. Which animal would you switch places with? A peregrine falcon because they are fast. If you could time-travel, where would you go? I would travel to the future so I could pilot a flying car! What’s your favourite movie? Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Who do you look up to? My mom, because she is always there for me. What is your favourite word? Boston.…

Ready, Set, Trick or Treat! OWL readers share their amazing costumes from last Halloween! Want to see yourself in OWL? Email us  at: owl@owlkids.com…

Snap photos of items that look like the letters O, W, and L for a chance to WIN! The photos can be of items found in your backyard, around your home, or anywhere else—as long as the letters spellO-W-L! ONE GRAND-PRIZE WINNER will receive an Instax Mini 12 pastel blue camera! Prize courtesy of: BEST BUY ONE GRAND-PRIZE WINNER Will receive an instax Mini 12 pastel blue camera! RULES 1 Snap photos of items that look like the letters O, W, and L. 2 You must take the photos yourself. 3 Digital photos must be print-quality (300 dpi or better). Send your entry to: O-W-L Photo Contest c/o OWL (address page 31) OR enter online at owlkids.com/contests. Contest deadline: November 15, 2023 Entrants must be between 8 and 14 years…

Dear OWL, I read your magazine from cover to cover. I also save each one and reread them often. The subscription was a gift from my aunt Lillian. If this letter reaches you, I want you to know that I really love your magazine. —Olivia, 11 Dear Olivia, Your message is received, and we want YOU to know that we love you, too! Thanks for the kind words. They mean so much to us. Say hello to your aunt Lillian for us! —Melissa, editor Dear OWL, I love animals and reading the Spruce Street Squad comic. Please put this note in your Mail Bag section. —Eve Dear Eve, Your wish is our command, fellow animal lover! Speaking of which, let us know what you think of our article about the…

Cheese, Please! According to experts, the title of smelliest cheese goes to Vieux-Boulogne. This soft, creamy French cheese has a manure-like odour. In spite of this eye-watering scent, the cheese is said to have a mild, pleasant taste! SMELL-A-SNACK A mammal called the binturong, or bearcat, has a scent that might remind you of a movie theatre. It smells like buttered popcorn! Scientists say the odour comes from chemicals found in the binturong’s urine, which often linger on its feet and tail. FEAST FOR THE FLIES! The titan arum, or corpse flower, smells like rotting meat when in bloom! But the world’s smelliest flower doesn’t bloom often—this plant takes 10 years to grow a flower! Its stench attracts insects like flies and carrion beetles, which then pollinate the plant. What…

GOT GUM? COOL CACTUS RAINY DAY MUG O’ COCOA GOT GUM? YOU’LL NEED: • white shirt• pompoms• cardboard and paper• silver duct tape• red or grey pants• belt• small foil baking tin• headband• glue 1 Glue pompoms to the front and back of the shirt. 2 Cut out a rectangular piece of cardboard. Cover it with duct tape and decorate it with paper or markers to look like a gumball machine coin slot. 3 Put on the pompom shirt, red or grey pants, and a belt. Glue or tape the coin slot to the belt. 4 Glue a baking tin onto a headband for the top of the gumball machine. RAINY DAY YOU’LL NEED: • fabric stuffing• hat with brim• blue or grey string• blue or grey felt, paper, or…

Take this quiz to find out! 1 Pick a country: a) Japan b) Greece c) Mexico 2 Your Halloween costumes are usually: a) funny b) frightening c) sporty 3 Which would you munch on?: a) cookie b) candy c) fruit 4 Your friends would describe you as: a) brave b) considerate c) trustworthy 5 Pick a creature: a) dragon b) mermaid c) leprechaun 6 What’s your a) drama b) languages c) music 7 The best movie genre is: a) action b) thriller c) sci-fi Answers page 33.…