LADYBUG

February 2020 Volume 30 Number 5 cricketmedia.com $6.95 I'd better
see if they're
I'm glad I had just
enough money OK.
to buy Molly
a box of

Valentine candy!

Oh! Just one Oh no! The
My favorite— more. . . . Molly chocolates

pink nougat! doesn't like seem to
Molly won't coconut be all
miss one. anyway.

What can I Oh, Emmett! Thank Cover art by John Sandford
put in this you for this darling
empty box?
little blue mouse
in such a
pretty box.
Happy
Valentine's
Day, Molly!

™

I Spy These 2 silly groundhogs
are scared of their own shadows!
Art by Can you find 6 more hidden groundhogs?
David Helton

art © 2020 by David Helton

Answer on page 35.

Keep tahnroeuyeghoutthifsomr augsa! zWineeawreithgoyinogu! to roll
2

Max and Kate

Art by Brita Granström
Story by Mick Manning

Yoo-hoo!
Mo?

Max, Kate, and Charlie are shopping at a
department store. Suddenly, Max realizes that
Mo is missing!

3

Kate's daddy knows what to do.
They meet a kind clerk at the
information desk.

“We have lost a cuddly toy named Mo!” Kate says.
“He has antlers,” says Max.

4

The kind clerk helps them search the store.
First, they look in the café. No luck!

5

Next, they try the toy department.
“Could Mo be here?” the kind clerk asks.
At last, Max spots his pal!

6

I knew we would
find Mo!

Kate winks at Max.
“I bet clever Mo climbed up there so you could
see him!” she says with a giggle.

7

Party in the Cart

by Sarah Meade
Art by Annie Won

Shop-shop-shopping. Cart rolling.
Look-look-looking. Store strolling.
Bread bouncing, raisins riding.
Fruits bumping, veggies sliding.
Cheese jumping, yogurt swaying.
Milk shaking, pretzels playing.
Chips dipping, cookies dancing.
Rice romping, pasta prancing.
Soup swinging, crackers bopping.
Juice chilling, popcorn popping.
Beep-beep-beeping. Belt creeping.
Bag-bag-bagging. Foods sleeping.

text © 2020 by Sarah Meade, art © 2020 by Annie J. Won

8

9

Sugar-on-Snow

by Thea Schwartz I Art by Lindsey Manwell

“When h ind is in the east, h n h sap ill run

the least,” Mama whispers in Chester’s ear. “When the
wind is from the west, then the sap will run the best.”

Chester opens his eyes. “Is today the day? Is the
wind from the west?” he asks.

“Yes,” Mama answers. “Grandpa telephoned from
the farm. It’s been clear and cold at night and sunny
during the day. The sap is flowing, and he’s waiting
for us.”

Chester jumps out of bed. He puts on his long
underwear, wool socks, jeans, and sweater. He gobbles
down his scrambled eggs and gulps his orange juice,
then pulls on his snow boots and snow jacket.

10

“Don’t forget the pickles,
Mama,” Chester calls as he climbs
into the truck.

Mama and Chester drive out
of town along the river’s edge and
up out of the valley toward the
mountains. The pavement turns to
dirt. Patches of snow cover the road
ahead of them.

They drive by a barn with a
caved-in roof. Chester recognizes the
collapsed barn and knows they are
almost at Grandpa’s farm. Grandpa will be waiting
with the draft horses, ready to bring down buckets of
sap from the maple trees on the hillside.

Sure enough, Grandpa waits in the driveway.
Chester climbs out and runs to him.

“Where are the horses?” he asks as Grandpa wraps
his arms around him and hugs him.

“I thought you were going to ask that,” Grandpa
says. “The horses won’t be helping this year—”

11

Chester interrupts, “Grandpa, I love
the horses.”

Grandpa replies, “I know, Chester.
And you can visit them in the barn
when we’re done with the day’s work.”

Grandpa points to the trees on
the hillside. “All the sap is flowing
down as we stand here. I put in tubing.
I’m getting older, Chester. I can’t haul
gallons and gallons of sap to make
syrup anymore. That’s a lot of work
for a grandpa. The sap flows from
the taps in the maple trees through the
tubes right into the sugarhouse.”

Chester tries not to cry. He loved
watching Grandpa lead the horses down
the hillside with their load of sap. The
horses held their heads high even as
they waded through the mud and
melting snow.

12

Grandpa leads Mama and Chester to the sugarhouse.

When he smells the sweet steam of the boiling sap,

Chester forgets about crying. Grandpa lifts him up

to peer into the pan. The sap bubbles and foams as

it thickens. Soon the watery sap will boil down to the

thick, en yrup hester ves o e on p .

Grandpa feeds wood to
the fire under the pan of boiling
syrup. Mama and Chester carry wood from
the woodshed into the sugarhouse for the fire.
They make many trips from the woodshed to the
sugarhouse and back again. Soon Chester’s arms are
tired. His hair is sticky from the sap steam.

13

When enough syrup is ready, Grandpa
fills a small pot. “You get the snow, Chester,
and meet Mama and me in the kitchen,”
he says and hands Chester a bowl.

Chester walks outside to a patch of
clean snow. He scoops up the snow, packs
it in the bowl, and brings it into Grandpa’s
farmhouse.

In the kitchen, Grandpa is at the stove
boiling the syrup. He sticks the candy
thermometer into the pot. “Just the right
temperature! It’s maple sugar now,” he
says and removes the pot from the heat.

Mama opens the jar of pickles she
has brought. Grandpa pours a little of
the cooled maple sugar onto the snow
in the bowl. He gives Chester and Mama
each a fork.

Chester twists his fork into the sugar-
on-snow and puts it in his mouth. Then
he takes a bite of a pickle and says, “Mm!
Sweet and sour, sour and sweet.” With a
big grin, he adds, “A maple treat I love
to eat!”

14

art © 2020 by Larissa Marantz Betty Botter

A Traditional Tongue Twister
Art by Larissa Marantz

Betty Botter bought some butter,
But, she said, the butter’s bitter;
If I put it in my batter
It will make my batter bitter,
But a bit of better butter
Will make my batter better.
So she bought a bit of butter
Better than her bitter butter,
And she put it in her batter
And the batter was not bitter.
So t’was better Betty Botter bought

a bit of better butter.

15

Let’s Do the French Can you do
Toast Dance byCynthiaYoder this?

Art by John Nez

First we chip-a chip-a
the egg against a bowl.

Then we drip-a drip-a
the eggie-weg out whole.

Then we splash-a splash-a
some water on the egg,

And we shake-a shake-a
cinnamon or nutmeg.

Next we whip-a whip-a
the mixture with a whisk.

16

Then we dip-a dip-a
the bread into the mix.

Do the flip-a flip-a;
you can use your hands!

Time to slip-a slip-a
the bread into the pan.

Last we slap-a slap-a And slop-a slop the syrup.
the toast upon a plate. Yum! French toast is great!

17

Valentine’s Day by Serena Geddes

text and art © 2020 by Serena Geddes

18

In the Barn 19

by Ellen L. Ramsey
Art by Faith Pray

In the barn,
In the creaky, drafty barn,
In the corner,
In the cobwebby, quiet corner,
In the circle,
In the warm, furry circle,
Lie three small kittens.

text © 2020 by Ellen L. Ramsey, art © 2020 by Faith Pray

Lost Kitty

by Brian Gene Olson g Art by Alexandra Thompson

& 44 C q q q G Dm C

q q qh qqqq qqq q

Damp and shiv - ’ring in the park, take you home to Ma - ma. You’re a
soon we’ll find your ma - ma. They say,
Post - ing signs a - round the park, Look! Here is your ma - ma. You’re a

Door - bell ring - ing af - ter dark.

F C G7 qq C

&h q q h q q h kit - ty, w
kit - ty,
lost kit - ty, lost kit - ty, lost kit - ty, found.
“Lost kit - ty, found.”
kit - ty, lost kit - ty, lost found.
lost
lost kit - ty, lost

20

text © 2020 by Brian Gene Olson, art © 2020 by Alexandra Thompson 21

That’s Strange by Suzanne Hardin
Art by Stephanie Roth

1. Cooper fell asleep hugging 2. When he woke up, T-Bear
T-Bear. was missing.

“That’s strange,” said Cooper.

3. Cooper played astronaut 4. When Cooper came back from
with Kit-Kat. space, Kit-Kat was missing.

22 “That’s strange,” said Cooper.

5. Cooper went swimming with 6. When Cooper came up for air,
Frog-Man. Frog-Man was missing.

“That’s strange,” said Cooper.

7. Cooper played detective with 8. When he turned around,
Fox-Tail. Fox-Tail was missing.

“That’s strange,” said Cooper.

23

9. Cooper found all his missing toys.
Then he fell asleep with his arms around his best friend.

10. “That’s strange,” said his dad.

24

art © 2020 by Sally Springer Annie’s Decision

by Kristina Jordan Cobarrubia
Art by Sally Springer

On Saturday, the animal shelter

is filled with voices. Dogs scratch
at their doors, baying and yelping,
but in a large, wire enclosure, the
kitties meow softly. The dog area
smells musty, but the kitty pen
smells sweet, like alfalfa.

I thread my fingers through
the cool wire of the gate. I can't
see the kitties because I'm blind.
I listen hard. Do any of those meows
sound like kitten meows?

“I don't think I hear any kittens,
Mom.”

25

“You're right, Annie. But there are lots of cats . . .
fat ones, skinny ones, some with long tails, and one
with no tail!”

I hold Mom’s warm hand as the shelter director,
Mrs. Pat, takes us inside the cat pen. I sit down and
stretch out my hands to pet the kitties. A big, warm
kitty sits down against my side.

“Sammy likes you, Annie. He’s the big one,”
Mrs. Pat says.

“I like him, too.” I pet Sammy’s soft, furry coat,
his loud purr rumbling under my fingers. “Will
Sammy get adopted today?”

26

“Maybe,” says Mrs. Pat. “He’s an older kitty, and
most people want kittens. But he’s so loving, maybe
today will be his turn.”

My mom and I take a pregnant cat, Muffin, home
with us. We’ll care for her until she has her kittens.
Then we’ll care for the kittens
until it’s time for them to come
back to the shelter to find new
homes.

But I can keep one kitten
for myself!

I give Muffin her food
and water every day and
brush her coat. One morning,
I get a surprise! I can feel soft,
mewing little bundles inside
the box with Muffin! “Mom!
The kittens are here!”

I try not to bounce while
Mom checks each of the kittens.
“How many are there?” I ask.

“There are six. They’re
all about the same size, except
for this one. He’s big!”
“Like Sammy,” I say.

27

“Not quite that big,” Mom says with a laugh.
The kittens lie like furry beanbags on the soft
flannel. Mom tells me that the kittens’ eyes are shut
at first. They’re kind of like me, I think.
When I hold them to my cheek, they feel silky

and smell sweet and oaty, like a field of summer
grass. Their mews are high and tiny.

“So, do you know yet which kitten you’ll keep?”
Mom asks me one day.

28

I bounce on my knees. “Oh! How do I choose?”
“Well, try to listen to your heart.”
Once the kittens’ eyes are open, they begin
to play, climbing on my legs
and up my arms, their little
claws pricking lightly like
needles. Sometimes they fall
asleep in my lap.
The kittens will go back
to the shelter next week, but I
still can’t decide which one to
keep. Should it be Jet-Jet, with
the long tail? Or Mimi, with the
tiny voice? Or should it be
Mr. Motor, the one with the
humming purr?
A purr like Sammy’s,
I think.
All the kittens are fun.
But which is the right one?

29

On Monday, the shelter is quiet.
“What have we here?” Mrs. Pat asks.
“Six kittens and Muffin!” I tell her.
“And did you keep one at home for yourself?”
“No,” I say. “I can’t decide.”

“Now is the time,” says
Mom. “You stay here and
pick your kitty while I take
care of the paperwork
with Mrs. Pat.”

I sit down in the cat
room. When I open the
carrier, the kittens jump
past my fingers to explore
their new place. In a
moment, the carrier is
empty, and all the kittens
are gone! I stretch out my
hands, but I can’t find
them anywhere. Then I
feel a warm body curl up
against my side. I pet the
kitty, and hug the kitty,
and the kitty loudly purr,
purr, purrs.

30

“It’s Sammy, isn’t it?” I whisper. “I know it’s you!
Why don’t you have a home yet?” Sammy just rubs
his head against my cheek and purrs. His purr is so
loud, it rumbles against my heart.

When Mom and Mrs. Pat come back,
Sammy is snoozing in my lap.

“I’ve picked my kitty!” I announce.
“You have? Which one?” asks Mrs. Pat.
“Sammy!”
“But I thought you wanted a kitten,”
says Mom.
“Nope,” I say. “I want
Sammy. I listened to my
heart!”

31

thTahtedreo’essna’thholaidveaycainrdFseborruhaerayrts! Get up early when the sun
February 2 comes up,
, because— it starts!

&

Happy Groundhog Day,
everyone! I know you
have questions. Let’s
get started!

Mr. Groundhog, thank OK! As a professional
you for speaking with weatherperson, I love
Ladybug News. Please my job. I work one day
tell us about your job! a year, and I work very
hard. Every February 2,
I tell people if winter
is over . . . or not.

32

The night before, I set my alarm I get a good sleep: tomorrow will
for early in the morning. Then I be a big day! When the alarm rings,
brush my teeth before going to bed. I get right up! Tomorrow is here!

YAWNNN!

Nignhigthyt!
SlMeer.pGt!ight,
Swdreeeatms!

I go outside. If I don’t see my shadow, And I saw my shadow today! So
winter is over! If I DO see it, there I’ll go back to bed now! See you
will be six more weeks of winter. . . . in March, bugs.

by John Sandford

33

Funny Ah-ha!
Fishbowls

Art by
Noah Hunt

What differences can you
find between these two pictures?

34

Answer to puzzle on page 2. Did LADYBUG, the Magazine for Young Children (ISSN 1051–4961) is published 9 times a year, monthly except for
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James M. O’Connor, Director of Editorial; Kathleen Andersen, Editor; Emily Cambias, Assistant Editor; Suzanne Beck,
Senior Art Director; Shavan Spears, Designer; John Sandford, Artist, LADYBUG bugs; David Stockdale, Rights & Permissions
Manager. February 2020, Volume 30, Number 5, Copyright © 2020, Cricket Media, Inc. Editorial Office, 70 East Lake
Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60601. All rights reserved, including right of reproduction in whole or in part, in any form.
Not associated with LADYBIRD Books, Inc. For information regarding our privacy policy and compliance with the Children’s
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submit manuscripts online at cricketmag.submittable.com.

Grateful acknowledgment is given to the following publishers and copyright owners for permission to reprint selections
from their publications. All possible care has been taken to trace ownership and secure permission for each selection. “Sugar-
on-Snow,” text © 2015 by Thea Schwartz, art © 2015 by Lindsey Manwell; “Let’s Do the French Toast Dance,” art © 2015 by
John Nez; “That’s Strange,” art © 2006 by Stephanie Roth; “Annie’s Decision,” text © 2007 by Kristina Jordan Cobarrubia;
“Funny Fishbowls,” Maria Starus/Shutterstock.com, nem4a/Shutterstock.com, Magiclea/Shutterstock.com; “Happy
Groundhog Day!,” Vyazovskaya Julia/Shutterstock.com, vanillamilk/Shutterstock.com, Elena_Titova/Shutterstock.com, Cute
Designs/Shutterstock.com; “Molly and Emmett,” text and art © 2004 by Marylin Hafner.

Printed in the United States of America.

1st printing Quad Sussex, Wisconsin
January 2020

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Photo courtesy of: Gecko1968/Shutterstock.com Science
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35

CUT OUT. CUT OUT.

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY! LADYBUG TAKEOUT PAGES Please remove carefully at fold. LADYBUG TAKEOUT PAGES Please remove carefully at fold. LADYBUG TAKEOUT PAGES Please remove carefully at fold.

Art by Shavan Spears

February 2 is Groundhog Day! An old story says that on this day,
groundhogs leave their winter dens to peek outside. If they see
their shadows, they know there will be six more weeks of winter,
and they go back to sleep. If they don’t see their shadows, spring
is on the way. Hooray! When you make this mask, you can be a
groundhog, too. Will you see your shadow?

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

scissors pencil

tape yarn or string

WHAT TO DO:

1. With a grownup, cut out the mask. Cut out

the eyeholes in the mask.

2. Reinforce the two small circles with tape.

Make a hole in each circle with a pencil.

3. Push a piece of string or yarn through each

hole and tie a knot at the end of the string
so it won’t pull out.

4. Tie the mask on your head and pop out of

your den. What do you see?