Karena Phan

Karena Phan is an Editorial Assistant at Time for Kids. Before joining TFK, she was an intern at the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting in Washington, DC. Karena grew up in Sacramento, California, and graduated from the University of California, Irvine, in 2018 with a bachelor's in literary journalism and a minor in digital information systems. In college she was one of the first news interns at her campus radio station news program, KUCI News, where she found her passion working in a newsroom. She is excited about helping bring media literacy into the classroom and contributing her skills to the TIME for Kids team. In her free time she loves to rock climb, read comic books, and explore new food places.

Latest Stories

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Spring Reading

April 21, 2021

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Here are three recent books with AAPI themes or characters. Which one would you like to read? The Last Fallen Star In The Last Fallen Star, 12-year-old Korean-American Riley Oh…

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Environment

Kid Heroes for the Planet

April 8, 2021

On Earth Day, people around the world work to help our planet. But April 22 isn’t the only day this happens. Many people, including kids, protect the Earth all year long. Read about five inspiring Kid Heroes for the Planet,…

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On Planet Earth

April 6, 2021

For our Earth Day special issue, we’re featuring three new books about our planet—and the plants and animals that live here. Hello, Earth! Hello, Earth! Poems to Our Planet explores the extraordinary place we call home. Each poem is dedicated…

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Relief Bill Passed

March 19, 2021

Americans began receiving direct payments from the United States government on March 12. The payments are part of a plan by President Joe Biden. The money will go to people who have been struggling during the pandemic. Biden signed…

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Advancing Equality

March 12, 2021

March 8 was International Women’s Day. President Joe Biden marked the occasion by signing an executive order that promotes gender equity and equal rights for women and girls. The order establishes the White House Gender Policy Council. Its job is…

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A Third COVID-19 Vaccine

March 5, 2021

The United States Food and Drug Administration has authorized another vaccine to prevent COVID-19. This one, made by Johnson & Johnson, is different from previous vaccines. It requires one shot instead of two. This is the third vaccine to be…

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Everyone Can Play

March 3, 2021

Clinton Lexa loves to play video games. But doing so hasn’t always been easy. Lexa was born with a disability. It affects a person’s hands, which means Lexa usually does tasks and activities, such as playing video games, left-handed. “I…

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Closer to the Truth

February 17, 2021

Many of the Southeast Iowa Union’s older readers live in rural areas and don’t get their news online. So when they need to know how the coronavirus is affecting their community, they rely on the newspaper. “People appreciated the reporting…

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Little Lizards

February 12, 2021

Scientists have discovered what may be the smallest reptile on Earth. The species is called Brookesia nana, or nano-chameleon. It lives in the rainforest in northern Madagascar. The finding was published in the journal Scientific Reports. Researchers found two of…

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Leading the Way

February 9, 2021

February is Black History Month. Here are three new books that honor the contributions of Black Americans. Which one would you like to read first? Sprouting Wings Sprouting Wings, by Louisa Jaggar and Shari Becker, tells the true story of…

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