The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 61

COMICSPLUS H3 LOSANGELESTIMES THE READING ROOM can because the future will change many things. Anthony, fourth grade Pleasant View Elementary Baldwin Park grader becomes a pro football because football is my favorite sport. Alex, 11 Oakmont Elementary Claremont found swimming in nuclear waste Jesus, 12 Gage Middle School Huntington Park birthday, because she is my best friend and she just had a birthday. Tanya, 10 Los Feliz Elementary Los Angeles news! Three-year-old cat has two because I would be able to buy one. Montana, 9 Cimarron Elementary Palmdale duck with two heads rescues Mario, 12 Gage Middle School Huntington Park makes $1 million on car, quits job selling Tony, 12 Oakmont Elementary Claremont becomes because I want to be president some day.

Alejandro, 11 Los Feliz Elementary Los Angeles sixth-grader wins national tetherball because tetherball is my game. Dayana, 12 Oakmont Elementary Claremont June Question Corner: Write the headline you would most like to see in the newspaper. Why would this news be important to you? July Question Corner: You have just written a bestselling book for children. What is the title? Is it fiction or nonfiction? Is it adventure, fantasy, mystery, biography, science fiction or something else? Tell us what about. August Question Corner: What is your dream vacation? If you could go anywhere for one week, where would it be and what would you do? QUESTION CORNER What headline would you most like to see? By Lola De Julio De Maci Special to The Times EMEMBER what Ruby asked Mrs.

Valeria. said Arctic Ocean is a sea of smiling Now think of the wonderful picture you get in your minds when you hear that metaphor. Now if we can just think of a couple more. We need three metaphors to enter the about Alma said. are Joe chimed in.

use the word Mrs. Valeria reminded the students. we did, have a simile. We must say, are Then a Mrs. Valeria continued.

we need just one more. Anyone got something else to have Bernie exclaimed. are fireflies that live in the Jessica quickly raised her hand. think it should be are fireflies that live in the nighttime Brandon yelled. Jerry exclaimed.

a good Ruby blurted out, her face turning as red as a strawberry. Then she took off her glasses. She need to hide behind them anymore. She was having fun. Mrs.

Valeria wrote the metaphors down on a clean sheet of paper. you take this to the office, she said, handing the paper to Ruby. will know on Friday which class won the It was a long week. Ruby thought Friday would never come. When the big day finally arrived, Mr.

Tomm, the principal, announced the win- ning class over the intercom. afternoon, boys and girls and teachers. The judges for the metaphor contest have reviewed all the entries, and we are proud to announce that Mrs. class had the best metaphors in the school. The cheers in Room 5 could be heard all the way to Room 23.

Friday: What is the prize? This story will be on The website at latimes.com/kids Sea of Smiling Part 4 The story so far: school is having acontest to see which class can write the best metaphors. Mrs. Valeria says Ruby started her oral report with a good one. Katie Sauceda Los Angeles Times Why did the boy want another sock? Because his mother said grown another foot. Paco, 12 Rea Elementary, Costa Mesa How did the basketball player pop the balloon? With two points.

Drew, 8 Grant Elementary, Santa Monica Kids, send us your funny jokes and puzzling riddles. Jokes Riddles HEATHCLIFF By George Gately DENNIS THE MENACE By Hank Ketcham FAMILY CIRCUS By Bil Keane MARMADUKE By Brad Anderson MUTTS By Patrick McDonnell PEANUTS By Charles M. Schulz Kids, to take part in a feature on this page, write to Reading Room, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st Los Angeles, CA 90012; or fax to (213) 237-0732; or e-mail Include your first and last name, age, school and the city in which your school is located. Get published The Reading Room encourages submissions from children for the following features: Book Reviews by Kids, Question Corner, Jokes Riddles and Creativity Corner.

Submission guidelines Submissions should be brief and are subject to editing. Drawings should be in color and on unlined paper. Make sure you do all the work yourself. How to write to us 1-877-READBY9 or visit the Literacy Network of Greater Los Angeles Web site at www.literacynetwork.org LITERACY A A co-worker is concerned that he'll pass his poor reading skills on to his children. How can I help? 02RB9074 There are family literacy programs available that teach parents or guardians of young children how to improve their own reading and writing.

The Reading by 9 Literacy Referral Line can help him find a nearby program..