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Table of Contents

Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

Mini-Lesson

Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

World Of Their Own

If you have ever been sick inbed for a few days, you know it can get pretty lonely and boring. Kids in the hospital can face this misery for weeks or months.

Now some hospitalized kids can escape to exciting fantasy worlds. They can make friends with kids at other hospitals and play together using a new online computer program called Starbright World. The program was created in part by Steven Spielberg, the movie director who created E.T. and Jurassic Park.

The program started last month at four U.S. hospitals. Starbright players move animated characters through different worlds: colorful Tropical World, spooky Cave World or Sky World, where kids can fly.

At New York City's Mount Sinai Hospital, Latisha Bennett, 18, likes to race her character against other kids' characters. "I usually win," she says.

Starbright players can type messages to each other and even see each other's face on the computer screen. "We talk about what it's like being sick," says Chrissy Oriol, 15.

Adam Wasko, 13, discusses current events with other kids on Starbright. "One time we all talked about Hillary Clinton's hair. We decided it's a bit out of our time," he says.

Starbright World takes these kids' minds off being sick for a little while. But Chrissy knows what world she likes the most. "Home," she says. "That's the world I want to go to right now."

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