This Issue:

Table of Contents

Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

Mini-Lesson

Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

Caring for Kids in Need

John, 11, lives in New York City. To him, being poor means having an empty refrigerator. Shannon, 9, is from a farming town in Mississippi. To her, being poor means barely being able to see the blackboard because eyeglasses are too expensive. Growing up poor changes life in many ways.

One out of every six children in the United States lives in poverty. That means these children don't have enough money to pay for basic needs like food, clothing, medical care and housing.

Why are so many families poor? "Too many kids have parents who either don't have enough work or their work doesn't pay enough," says William O'Hare. He works for the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which studies poverty in the U.S.

Making a Difference
Organizations around the country are fighting child poverty. Some groups help families build houses. Others give away free groceries.

Silento Thomas is a fourth grader in Mississippi. He arrives at school by 7 a.m. to eat a free breakfast. Later, he is served lunch. Meals like these help many kids get enough to eat.

But the meals alone won't solve the problem. Geoffrey Canada runs New York City's Harlem Children's Zone. The group runs programs and an elementary school for poor kids. "We're working to lift kids out of poverty," says Canada. There is still a long way to go.

Next: A Tale from the Halls