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

World

Let It Grow

March 4, 2022

Aadya Joshi looks out at eucalyptus trees. They were planted to replace a forest. Eucalyptus trees don’t grow naturally here in India. Native trees should have been planted, she says. Joshi started The Right Green. It teaches people about biodiversity…

Audio
Spanish

World

Dancing Lions

December 17, 2021

Have you seen lions roaming the streets? It happens at this time of year. The lions dance to the beat of a drum. They are not real lions. They are dancers in lion costumes. The lions are part of…

Audio
Spanish

Big Dog on the Big Screen

December 1, 2021

Clifford is a popular picture-book character. Now he’s in a movie called Clifford the Big Red Dog. The live-action movie is about a middle school student named Emily Elizabeth. Emily is given a red puppy named Clifford. One day, she…

Audio

Bellen's Sneak Peek

November 22, 2021

Bellen Woodard, 11, is a crayon activist. When Bellen was in third grade, a classmate called a peach-colored crayon “the skin-colored crayon.” “I was kind of confused,” Bellen told TIME for Kids, “because my skin isn’t peach.” She was inspired…

Audio

Health

A Big Win

November 12, 2021

Simone Biles is a gymnast. She is one of the greatest athletes in the world. She has won more than 30 Olympic and world medals. Biles spent years getting ready for the 2020 Olympics, in Tokyo, Japan. They took place…

Audio
Spanish

Environment

Bad Bug Alert

October 15, 2021

The spotted lanternfly might look pretty. But the insect is causing big problems. Experts in the United States are saying we need to do away with the bug. “Kill it! Squash it, smash it. . . just get rid of…

Audio

Arts

What a Twist!

October 15, 2021

Ada Twist, Scientist is a new TV show. It is on Netflix. The series is animated. It is based on popular picture books. It follows Ada and her two best friends. In each episode, they use their talents to solve…

Audio

United States

First Pets

June 30, 2021

When the First Family moves into the White House, its pets come too. Many animals have lived in the White House. Read on to learn about five presidents and their pets. President Barack Obama Presidential term: 2009–2017 Obama had…

Audio

United States

Meet An Athlete

May 21, 2021

The Paralympic Games will take place in Tokyo, Japan. They are for the world’s best athletes who have a disability. Nicky Nieves plays sitting volleyball. She’s on the United States women’s team. She’s a gold medalist. TFK’s Karena Phan spoke…

Audio

Arts

New Muppets in Town

April 22, 2021

Sesame Street has two new residents. Elijah Walker is a weather forecaster. He has a son. The boy’s name is Wesley. He’s 5. They are part of a new effort. Sesame Street wants to answer kids’ questions about race and…

Audio