33-1 (05)
release dates: August 13-19
TM
TM
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
© 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
By BETTY DEBNAM
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Playful Favorites
Marvelous Monkeys
Communicating
What are your favorite animals to
visit at the zoo? Most people love to
watch monkeys. Not only are they
intelligent and playful, but they
remind us of ourselves.
Monkeys are close cousins to
humans. Humans, monkeys and apes
are closely related members of the
same family, the primates.
Primate bodies are alike in many
ways. For example, most primates can
grasp things easily with their hands
and feet.
Most have
fingernails
and
toenails
rather than
long claws.
Primates usually
have good
eyesight and can see colors.
Primate babies cannot survive on
their own and need a lot
of care. Primate
parents spend a lot of
time teaching
survival and social
skills to their
young.
Most primates
are intelligent and
social. They usually
live in groups with
other primates.
photo courtesy San Diego Zoo
The monkey family
All mature male mandrills have bright facial
coloring. The leader’s, or dominant male’s,
colors are the brightest. If something
happens to him, the next leader’s colors
will brighten until it outshines other males.
Monkeys
One of the main ways to tell
monkeys from apes is that most
monkeys have tails. Apes do not. Apes
are usually better at intelligence tasks
such as solving puzzles.
There are nearly 200 different
types, or species, of monkeys.
Although most monkeys live in
trees, some spend a lot of time on the
ground. Monkeys eat leaves, fruit,
seeds, nuts, flowers, insects, spiders,
eggs and small animals. Different
species have different diets.
Each species of monkey has its own
type of language with its own set of
sounds and body movements.
Monkeys have calls to tell other
members of their group they are
friends. They also have different
warning calls for different enemies.
For example, some monkeys will have
one call warning if an eagle is flying
overhead, and another warning if
there is a leopard nearby.
It is important that
monkeys can tell exactly
what the threat is, because
they will need to react
differently to each threat.
If an eagle is flying in from
the top, monkeys will run
down from the trees. But if a
leopard is on the ground, monkeys
may climb higher in the trees.
Monkey body movements also
communicate things such as, “Will you
groom me?” or “Back off.”
When a monkey smiles, it is not
being friendly. It is showing its teeth
as a warning to other
animals. Yawning is
also a threat, for the
same reason.
The facial
markings on some
species also send messages. For
example, when most male mandrills
are old enough to mate, their facial
coloring turns from gray/black to
bright blue and pink.
Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.
®
33-2 (05); release dates: August 13-19
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Fun Facts About Monkeys
Monkey records
A mix of monkey facts
• The largest
monkey is the
mandrill, weighing up
to 80 pounds, and
about 31/2 feet long
(not counting the tail).
• Baboons band together to scare
off enemies. If an enemy such as a
leopard
enters
their
territory, the males might form a line
and face down the leopard.
They scream, show their teeth and
move in a threatening way toward
the leopard. Usually this display is
enough to scare off their enemies.
• The smallest
monkey is the pygmy
marmoset,
weighing from 3
to 5 ounces, and
about 41/2 to 6
inches long (not
counting its tail).
• The fastest
primate on land is the
patas monkey. It can
run up to 31 miles per
hour.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Mini Spy . . .
photo courtesy San Diego Zoo
• The loudest monkey is
the howler monkey. Its
howls can be
heard as far
as three miles
away in the
forest, and five miles away in open
areas.
Guenon monkeys can swim. They cross
streams and rivers to escape enemies or
to find food.
TM
Mini Spy and her friends are visiting a howler monkey at
the zoo. See if you can find: • bandage • key
• peanut
• ladder
• toothbrush
• kite
• umbrella
• letter E
• basket
• number 8
• tooth
• teakettle
• heart
• mushroom
Brown
Basset ws
The Ned’s
Houn
TM
• Capuchin
monkeys are known
to be smart. These
are the monkeys
that used to be
trained to act with
organ grinders. Today they may be
trained as helpers for people who are
paralyzed. They can fetch things that
a person might need.
Capuchins make their own
mosquito repellent by crushing
millipedes, insect-like animals with
many legs, and rubbing them onto
their fur. The millipedes have a
substance that tastes bad to
mosquitoes.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
MONKEYS
TRY ’N
FIND
Words that remind us of monkeys are hidden in the block below.
Some words are hidden backward or diagonally. See if you can find:
OLD, NEW, WORLD, PRIMATE, GRASP, TAILS, CALL,
INTELLIGENT, SOCIAL, DOMINANT, TREES, CLIMB, ASIA,
GROOM, AFRICA, AMERICA, YOUNG, SWING, HABITAT,
TROOPS, ENDANGERED.
C S E T A M I R P P S A R G A
MONKEYS ARE
FUN TO WATCH! L T C T D E R E G N A D N E F
I A S A R D H S P O O R T W R
M I W O L E H A B I T A T R I
B L I L L L E L B G N U O Y C
A S N M V D L S G W O R L D A
S V G M O O R G A C I R E M A
I T N A N I M O D L A I C O S
A N E W T N E G I L L E T N I
Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.
®
33-3 (05); release dates: August 13-19
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
TM
Go dot to dot and color.
Rookie Cookie’s Recipe
PB&J Cookies
You’ll need:
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 package white cake mix
• 1/3 cup water
• 2 eggs
• jelly of your choice
• an adult’s help
What to do:
1. Combine the peanut butter, half of the cake mix, water and
eggs. Mix until smooth.
2. Add in the other half of the cake mix and stir well. (Batter will
be firm.)
3. Drop the dough by small spoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Gently press the center of each cookie with your thumb.
5. Bake in a preheated 375-degree oven for about 10 minutes or
until slightly browned.
6. Remove from oven. After cookies cool, spoon jelly into centers.
Serve with a glass of milk. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Meet Ewan McGregor
Photo by Ralph Nelson Jr.
Actor Ewan (pronounced “YOU-in”)
McGregor is back again for a third time as the
character Obi-wan Kenobi in “Star Wars
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.” He can also
be heard as the voiceover for a pigeon named
Valiant in the animated movie “Valiant.”
Ewan grew up in Scotland, where both of
his parents were teachers. He became
interested in acting because his uncle, Dennis Lawson, is an
actor who has appeared in “Star Wars” episodes.
When Ewan was 16, his parents suggested he pursue his
love of acting. He left high school and worked in a theater as
a stagehand. He later attended a school of music and drama
in London. He left to play a part in a TV series, and then
was offered roles in movies. He is most known for his role as
Obi-wan Kenobi. He is married and has two daughters.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
A KID ’ S
G U I D E T O T HE
WHI T E HO U S E
Betty Debnam
Kids!
Kids!You're
You're
tothe
the
Invited
Invited to
White
White House
House
A Kid’s Guide to the White
House is a terrific behind-the-scenes
look at a very special house.
Written with the cooperation of the
White House Historical Association, the
book is full of fun information, photos
(some in full color) and puzzles that
kids of all ages will enjoy.
To order, send $9.95 plus $3.50 for postage and handling for each copy. Send check or money order (U.S.
funds only) payable to: Andrews McMeel Universal, P.O. Box 6814, Leawood, KS 66206.
Please send ________ copies of A Kid’s Guide to The White House (Item #2153-2) at $13.20 each, including
postage and handling. Toll free number 1-800-591-2097. www.smartwarehousing.com
Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
TM
All the following jokes have something in common.
Can you guess the common theme or category?
Dennis: What did the dog say when he sat on
the sandpaper?
Dora: “Rough, rough!”
Derrick: What trick do zombies
teach their dogs?
Denise: To play dead!
Duke: Where do they send abandoned dogs?
Dick: To an arf-anage!
City: ____________________________________________________________State: ______________ Zip: ____________
Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.
®
33-4 (05); release dates: August 13-19
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
More About Monkeys
Old and New World monkeys
photo courtesy San Diego Zoo
Monkeys in danger
Social life
Experts believe that as many as
one in four primate species will be
extinct within the next 20 years.
Monkeys make up 15 of the 25 most
threatened primate species.
Loss of their
habitat is one of the
biggest threats to
monkeys. Logging,
mining,
development and
new farmland are
destroying their forest homes.
People also kill monkeys for food.
This not only threatens monkeys’
survival, but may threaten humans
as well. Diseases such as the ebola
virus now infect humans because
people ate monkey meat, got sick
and then spread the disease.
Most monkeys are social animals,
living in groups called troops. Some
monkeys live in a family with one
mother, one father and their young.
Some troops are made up of one
male, several females and their
young. Other troops form one big
family with many males, many
females and all the young.
Males are usually the protectors
of the troop. Many monkeys have
large, sharp teeth they can use for
defense. But if monkeys have to get
so close that they use their teeth to
fight, it is dangerous for them. Most
monkeys try to move away from a
threat rather than fight.
Monkeys groom each other to
show affection or make up after a
fight. Grooming also helps monkeys
get rid of insect pests and dirt.
The Mini Page thanks Karen Killmar,
associate curator of mammals, San Diego
Zoo, for help with this story.
Next week The Mini Page is about how to
be a social detective.
The Mini Page is created and edited by
Betty Debnam
Site to see: sandiegozoo.org
Look through your newspaper for pictures
of fun animals.
Associate Editors
Tali Denton
Lucy Lien
Staff Artist
Wendy Daley
photo courtesy San Diego Zoo
Scientists divide monkeys into two
kinds, Old and New World monkeys.
Old World monkeys live in Africa
and Asia. New World monkeys live
in Mexico, Central America and
South America.
Some examples of Old World
monkeys include baboons
and colobus monkeys.
Examples of New World
monkeys are spider
monkeys and howler
monkeys.
There is also a
separate group of New
World monkeys that
includes marmosets and
tamarins.
Most New World
monkeys have a
special kind of tail
that can grasp things,
almost like a fifth hand.
Old World Monkeys do
not have this type of
tail.
The New World
monkeys’ special tails
help keep them from
falling from trees and help
the young grab onto
their parents.
These tails
are almost
pure
muscle
and can be
even stronger than a monkey’s arms.
They are also very flexible. They can
hold onto a tree branch or pick up a
nut.
Other differences between Old and
New World monkeys include their
types of noses, cheeks and rumps.
The douc langur (Duke
Lang GOOR) is one of
the most endangered
animals in the world. It
lives in the rainforests
of Vietnam and Laos.
Humans are its biggest
enemy.
Spider
monkeys, a
type of New
World monkey,
swing from
branches with
their special
grasping tails.
You may have
seen spider
monkeys at
the zoo.
Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.
photo courtesy San Diego Zoo
Read all about
monkeys
in
®
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
by Betty Debnam
Appearing in your
newspaper on ____________.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam
© 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
(Note to Editor: Above is cameraready, one column-by-41/4-inch ad
promoting Issue 33.)
release dates: August 13-19
33-5 (05)
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The MIni Page Publishing Company Inc.
®
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
Standards Spotlight:
Monkeys
Mini Page activities meet many state and national educational standards. Each
week we identify standards that relate to The Mini Page’s content and offer
activities that will help your students reach them.
This week’s standards:
• Students understand the characteristics of animals. (Science: Life Science)
• Students understand the interaction of animals and the environment. (Science: Life Science)
Activities:
1. Make a set of monkey trading cards. Use 3-by-5 cards, or cut paper into small squares. Draw a
picture of a monkey on the front. Write facts about the monkey on the back. You can draw pictures
of monkeys doing different activities.
2. Use pictures or words from the newspaper to make a poster about monkeys. Draw a monkey in the
center of the poster. Then paste newspaper pictures or words from the newspaper around your
drawing. Include (a) items that monkeys eat, (b) objects monkeys would like to play on, (c) a place
where monkeys might like to live, and (d) things that are a danger to monkeys.
3. Use a Venn diagram to show the differences between monkeys and apes. Draw two large circles
that overlap. In one circle, write information that applies only to monkeys. In the other circle, write
information that applies only to apes. In the middle overlapping section, write information that
applies to both monkeys and apes.
4. List five monkey behaviors that demonstrate their intelligence. Write several sentences explaining
why you think monkeys are intelligent.
5. Use resource books and the Internet to learn more about a specific kind of monkey. Select one of
the monkeys discussed in today’s Mini Page. Use these questions to guide your research: What is
the name of the monkey? In what part of the world does this monkey live? What kind of habitat
does the monkey live in? What does the monkey eat? What is the social life of the monkey? How
many monkeys of this species are on the planet? Is it endangered or not? What elements threaten
the monkey?
(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)
(Note to Editor: Above is the Standards for Issue 33.)
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
TM
Supersport: Derrek Lee
Height: 6-5
Weight: 245
Birthdate: 9-6-75
Hometown: Sacramento, Calif.
Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 245 pounds,
Derrek Lee is an imposing physical specimen. Put a baseball
bat in his hands, and he becomes downright awesome.
The Chicago Cubs All-Star first baseman is rocking opposing pitchers
and rattling fences as he attempts to win a rare triple crown: lead the
National League in home runs, batting average and runs batted in.
At mid-season, Lee ranked first in batting (.372 average), was tied for
first in homers (28), and was second in runs batted in (73).
Lee, who turned down college basketball scholarship offers coming out
of high school, played for the Florida Marlins before going to Chicago in a
trade. An eight-year major-leaguer, he has hit at least 20 homers in each
of the past six seasons.
Derrek, who is married and has one daughter, also does some charity
work. But the Cubs’ big bear gives pitchers nothing but a fit.
(Note to Editor: Above is copy block for Page 3, Issue 33, to be
used in place of ad if desired.)
Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.