doc_2021-03-25_21-11-31.archivetempSpider 2020-03

SON a

er

Wh t does the
forecast say? Should
I take an umbrella
or sunglasses today?

March 2020 Volume 27 Number 3 cricketmedia.com $6.95

Art by Jane Dippold Answers on page 35

text and art © 2020 by Jane Dippold

®

the magazine for children

Out of Bounds by Emiliano Migliardo

text and art © 2020 by Emiliano Migliardo

Front Cover by Luciana Navarro Powell March 2020

art © 2020 by Luciana Navarro Powell Volume 27 Number 3

2 Out of Bounds by Emiliano Migliardo James M. O’Connor, Director of Editorial
4 Doodlebug & Dandelion by Pamela Dell Maria Hlohowskyj, Editor
9 Forest Glade by Cindy Breedlove
10 Rainbow Pancakes Emily Cambias, Assistant Editor
11 Watch Out for the Hedley Beast Stacey Lane Smith, Assistant Editor

by Madeline Juran Julie Peterson, Copyeditor
18 Harry, the Wind Is Blowing Suzanne Beck, Senior Art Director

by Helena Clare Pittman Shavan Spears, Designer
22 Bug Adventure Michael Chesworth, Artist, SPIDER bugs
23 When the Cold Wind Blows by Rolli Adrienne Matzen, Permissions Specialist
24 Flying with Kites
26 Cloud Fishing by Zach Falcon Grateful acknowledgment is given to the following publishers and copyright
32 Spider’s Corner and Spider’s Mailbox owners for permission to reprint selections from their publications. All possible
34 Ophelia’s Last Word: Fairy Bells care has been taken to trace ownership and secure permission for each selection:
35 Buggy Bulletin “Rainbow Pancakes” art © 2012 by Mark Shaver; “Watch Out for the Hedley Beast”
text © 2005 by Madeline Juran, art © 2009 by Scott J. Wakefield; “Cloud Fishing”
The Fun Zone: Arrow Kite art © 2004 by Mike Wohnouka.
by Carol Brozman
Photo acknowledgments: 24-25 (spots) LOVE YOU/Shutterstock.com; 24 (LB)
Mind-Buggler: Weather Whirlwind moment_tum/Shutterstock.com; 24 (RB) VectorShow/Shutterstock.com; 24 (RC)
by Jane Dippold graphic-line/Shutterstock.com; 24 (RT) Kosin Sukhum/Shutterstock.com; 25 (inset)
Civdis/Shutterstock.com; 25 (RT) Gang Liu/Shutterstock.com; 25 (LC) tofikrozaq/
Spider and the Gang by Michael Chesworth Shutterstock.com; 25 (CC) Bertold Werkmann/Shutterstock.com; 25 (RC)
homydesign/Shutterstock.com; 25 (LB) Tropical studio/Shutterstock.com; 25 (BC)
EDDY H/Shutterstock.com; 25 (RB) Jessica Kaplan/Shutterstock.com; 25 (spot)
Wallenrock/Shutterstock.com; 35 (TC) Texturis/Shutterstock.com; 35 (BG) Kostenko
Maxim/Shutterstock.com; 35 (spot) Gluiki/Shutterstock.com; 35 (spot) nevodka/
Shutterstock.com; 35 (border) adehoidar/Shutterstock.com; 35 (spot) stickerama/
Shutterstock.com; 35 (spot) Richokphoto/Shutterstock.com; 35 (spot) Mike Pellinni/
Shutterstock.com.

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What is that racket Why, that’s There must be Educational Press International Reading
coming from the the Bee Scouts’ an emergency Association of America Association
other side of at the hive! Paul A. Witty
the Meadow? alert call! Golden Lamp Award
Distinguished Achievement Award Short Story Award 2008

Doodlebug & Dandelion
Little Green Man
by Pamela Dell Art by Dom Mansell

“HEY, DANDELION! RUDYARD!” Doodlebug Pinkley
said, catching up with his sister and their cousin. “I just
saw something really weird.”

Doodlebug and Dandelion’s mom had brought them
to Woody-Woods Park for a nature hike billed as “an
afternoon of fascinating fun.” Doodlebug had found the
fun kind of boring though. He’d slipped out of line to
look for insects along the edge of the trail, but had spied
something much better.

“What?” Dandelion said, totally uninterested. The
hikers’ guide was explaining why two rare treetop bristlebirds
were braiding each other’s long tail feathers. Dandelion and
Rudyard couldn’t look away.

¡Prisa! Hurry! Grab your Got it. Here are Hey! What’s all Some Bee Scout tizzy
field cap, Sonya. our neckties. the ruckus? is going down.

4

“Listen, listen, Dandelion!” and even green clothes. And he had
Doodlebug insisted, huffing and gray-green whiskers and a black hat
puffing with impatience. “I just saw with a gold buckle on it. He said,
a little green man crouching behind a ‘Catch me if ye can, laddie, and I’ll
bush. I said, ‘Hey!’ and he jumped.” grant ye three wishes!’” Doodlebug
tried to copy the little man’s strange
Now he had their attention. accent, then added, “But he ran off!”
“An alien?!” Rudyard sounded
overjoyed. “Laddie!” Rudyard repeated,
“Wait,” said Dandelion. “Describe giggling with glee.
this person.”
“He looked human, not alien— Dandelion grabbed Doodlebug’s
but really small and short and old,” arm. “That’s a leprechaun! Quick!
Doodlebug gushed. “And greenish. Which way did he go?”
Green skin and strange green eyes
Doodlebug pointed toward some
shaggy weeping willow trees. “In there.”

We gotta get to Bee Scout Fastest way is to fly. I thought you guys just
Headquarters—pronto! I’ll carry you. sold cookies once a year.

5

“We have to find him!” Dandelion silent, eyes wide open. But after
pronounced. She alerted their mom many minutes they still hadn’t
they’d be playing around by the trees. caught sight of the leprechaun.
Mrs. Pinkley nodded approval, still Then, just as they were about to
listening to the bristlebird talk. give up, there he was, spinning in
circles between two tangly willows.
As they headed off, Dandelion
explained that a leprechaun was an “Let’s spread out and surround
Irish mischief-making creature kind him,” Dandelion whispered.
of like a fairy. A creature who really
would grant wishes if you caught Cautiously, they snuck closer.
him. Seeing one was almost unheard But before they could trap him, the
of. And catching one was near
impossible. But with three of them
together, Dandelion was optimistic.

“When we get him,” she told the
boys, “I’m wishing for a swimming
pool in the backyard.”

“I want two more cats!” Rudyard
said.

“You could get those without a
leprechaun,” Dandelion pointed out.

“Oh, yeah,” Rudyard giggled.
“Then I’ll ask for a tame lion!”

Dandelion gave him a thumbs-up.
“I want a trip to the Viking land
of Swein Forkbeard, to see his castle!”
Doodlebug decided.
They crept through the trees,

Whoa! What just hurtled— That was Sonya They gotta Sure you can carry
moved fast—past us? carrying Ara~na. get to the hive me all the way?
fast, so they Not sure. Just say I’m
optimistic—hopeful.
be flying.

6

and cackled like an old hen. He
scratched his whiskers, and a gold
ring flashed on his finger.

“Ye got me, aye?” His voice was
hoarse and teasing. “So what’ll
ye be askin’?”

“Go first, Dandelion!” Rudyard
said, tugging on the sleeve of her
brand-new shirt.

“I wish you wouldn’t do that,
Cuz,” she replied.

“And I wish you’d hurry up and
tell him!” Rudyard said.

“Well, I wish you two would
keep it down so we could ask for
what we want!” Doodlebug said.

Rudyard stopped tugging. Both
he and Dandelion instantly went
little green man tumbled head over quiet. But Dandelion still felt a great
heels and sped off away from them. need to speak to the leprechaun.
A moment later the kids spied
him again, beneath another willow,
eyes closed and doing a strange
little jig. They hurtled forward and
surrounded the clueless little man.
“Gotcha!” Doodlebug cried.
The leprechaun opened his
shamrock-green eyes, stopped dancing,

Give it up, Sam. You can
holler ’til you’re hoarse—

scratchy-sounding.
Yep.

Outta sight.

7

The leprechaun dropped to the “You tricked us somehow!”
ground, rolling and kicking and Dandelion shouted after him, angry.
laughing so hard he had to hold
his little round belly. The little green man looked back
with laughter in his eyes.
“YE GOT YER WISHES!” he
howled with mischievous joy, “May the road rise to meet ye and
bounding up and away. the wind always be at yer back!” he
cried out, still running. “And until
Shocked, Doodlebug, Dandelion, we meet again, may ye find a better
and Rudyard watched the leprechaun way to have yer real wishes granted!”
skip off with a tip of his top hat.
They had all wished for something, A long, loud stretch of chortling
that much was true. But not the laughter floated back to the kids.
things they’d really wanted. Not And with that the leprechaun was
at all. gone.

Oh, pickles! I just finished my new Dude! Ara~na could’ve
one-seater airship—Lil’ Blimpy— used that . . .

Big Mr. Blimpy’s little cousin.

Dat bee a bummer.

8

Forest Glade I walk, enchanted, through
the glade
text © 2020 by Cynthia Breedlove, art © 2020 by Lulu Chen
as afternoon begins to fade.
In twilight’s gloom, a mushroom

stands,
the gateway to strange fairy lands.
Beyond its tiny door must be
a wondrous land I long to see.
But I won’t fit, and so I sit
and happily imagine it.

9

Rainbow Panc s

TOP O’ THE MORNIN’! Welcome to Larry the Leprechaun’s Diner.
Today’s special is rainbow pancakes, topped with a dollop o’ gold.

What You’ll Need: J skillet
J spatula
J 2 cups of your favorite pancake batter J liquid gold (syrup will do)
J 6 small bowls
J red, yellow, and blue food coloring

What to Do:

1. Divide batter evenly among 6 bowls, one for each color: red, orange,
yellow, green, blue, and purple.

2. For red, yellow, and blue batter, add
one drop of food coloring at a time
and stir. For orange, mix red and
yellow; for green, mix yellow and blue;
for purple, mix blue and red.

3. With an adult’s help, heat a lightly
greased pan on medium-high. Pour
batter for one colored pancake onto
the pan. Flip pancake when the batter
bubbles all over (its underside will
be brown). But don’t overcook the
opposite side—you’ll lose the glorious
color!

4. Serve warm with a drizzle of gold
(syrup).

Makes 6 medium-large pancakes.

Art by Mark Shaver

10

Watch Out for the
Hedley Beast

An English Fairy Tale Retold
by Madeline Juran

T HERE WAS ONCE a cheerful old woman named 11

Tessie who lived by herself in a tiny cottage outside of
town. Tessie was very poor, but she earned a living by
doing simple chores for the farmers’ wives around the
village. They paid her with a small meal, a cup of tea,
and a few coins here and there. That was enough for
Tessie. She was a happy old soul who didn’t seem to
have a care in the world.

Art by Scott J. Wakefield

Tessie had a long walk home after work, so the
housewives always sent her home early. They didn’t want

her to meet up with the fearsome
Hedley Beast that lurked about at
night. It was a terrible creature that
hollered and screamed and was able
to turn itself into all sorts of shapes.
The village folk were scared to
death of ever meeting the creature.

One fine evening when Tessie
was hurrying home before dark,
she spotted a big, black pot by
the side of the road. She stopped
to look at it.

“Now that’s a fine pot,” she
said. “I wonder who could have
left it here.”

She looked all around to see if
anyone was nearby. No one was in
sight. “Ah, well,” she said. “It most
likely has a hole in it. But it would
make a fine pot for a plant or two.
I think I’ll take it home.”

Tessie bent her creaking, old
back and lifted the lid. “Good
gracious!” she cried, jumping back.
“If it isn’t full of gold pieces! Well,

12

well, how lucky can I be!” she declared as she walked
around it. “Oh, I do be feelin’ rich and grand. But how will
I ever get this heavy pot home?”

She thought for a minute. Then she took off her long
shawl and fastened one end to the pot, dragging it along
and humming as she went.

“What luck!” she cried. “Why, I can buy a new
house and some furniture and fill me cupboards
with good food. Aye, and I can even invite the
farmers’ wives to tea!”

After a while, Tessie was getting
tired from dragging the heavy pot.
She stopped by the road and sat
down on a log to rest. She lifted
the pot’s lid to take one more look
at her treasure.

“Mercy!” she cried. “What’s this?
Me pot of gold is filled with carrots!
Why, that’s strange! I could have
sworn that it was full of gold. It must
have been the sun blindin’ me eyes.

“Ah, well,” Tessie continued.
“It was nice to be rich, if only for a
moment. It’s just as well, I suppose.
Gold would be a nuisance. I’d always
be worried about who might be
wantin’ to rob me.”

I don’t think . . . Good job, Sonya—Squadron Leader Mel,
I could carry you . . . what’s the buzz?
The hive is splitting. Half of the
another inch . . . bees are forming a swarm.

13

Off she trudged again, dragging the “Well, that’s a blessing!” she
pot behind her. “I’m still very lucky,” said. “What luck I’m havin’! It
she said. “Carrots are good! Why, looks fine by the door. And if I
I can throw some into a bit of stew get tired of it, I can always chop
or soup. And I can make muffins it up for firewood.”
and carrot cake. Oh, I do love
carrot cake!”

Soon Tessie’s arms were aching
again, and she had to rest. When
she stopped, she glanced over her
shoulder to check the pot.

“Heavens!” she cried. “Look what
it’s gone and done now! It’s nothing
but a big chunk of wood! What
happened to me lovely carrots?”

Tessie thought about it for a
minute. “Well, I’ve been lookin’ for
somethin’ to hold the door open
with. Isn’t that a bit of good luck!”

Now she was in a hurry to see
how the chunk of wood would look
by her door. So she trudged down
the hill to her cottage as fast as her
old legs could carry her. When she
reached the door, she stooped to
untie her shawl and saw that the
wood was unchanged.

Wow! Our orders are to scout out a
And the swarm new home for the new hive.
has gotta go! ¡Caray!

14

a brown, bushy tail burst out of the

wood. A huge head and face formed.

Its eyes were fiery, and smoke was

spilling from its nostrils. The

creature looked something like

a bull as it snorted and shrieked

and kicked its feet in the air.

“I can’t believe what I’m seein’!”

cried Tessie. “If it isn’t the Hedley

Beast, come to pay me a visit!

What luck I’m havin’!”

The beast suddenly stopped its

kicking and shrieking and glared

down at her. “You’re not afraid of

me?” it bellowed.

“Not a’tall,” said Tessie, quite

calmly. “In fact, I feel rather lucky.

Fancy me, meeting the Hedley Beast

itself and me being so free with it!”

“Most folks run away screaming!”

cried the beast. “You should be scared

But suddenly the wood began to out of your wits!”
move. Then it jumped and squealed “Well, I’m not,” declared Tessie.
and started to grow and grow and
“In fact, you made my walk home
very pleasant, indeed! Now then,

GROW! Soon it was almost as big I’m goin’ to go in and have a bit

as the house. Four long legs and of supper.”

OK, girls, you heard what the Uh, excuse us,
commander bellowed—roared. Commander . . .

Let’s get set to fly.

Ruh roh . . .

15

She pushed open the door and turned to say goodbye.

But when she looked around, the creature was gone!

Instead, there stood a little man with a snow-white beard

wearing a neat brown suit. He was shuffling his feet and

looking rather bashful.

“Well, now,” Tessie declared, looking him up and

down. “I’m thinkin’ there’s more bark than bite here.”

Her merry eyes were twinkling. “Would you care to join

me for a bit of cheese and biscuits?”

“That’s very kind of you,” said the little man. “I think

I would like that.”

Speak freely, Bee Scouts. Commander, I want to bee And I’m not strong
Don’t be bashful—shy. the best Bee Scout I can enough to carry her.

bee. But I can’t fly.

16

When they sat down to supper, somehow the cheese

grew bigger, and the biscuits multiplied. And out of

nowhere, a bowl of apples, a huge chunk of ham, and

several loaves of bread appeared.

They had a delightful meal and when they finished,

they sat by the fire. The old man told Tessie

stories of his pranks and how he scared people.

She laughed until tears rolled down her cheeks.

“What a lovely evenin’ it has been!” said

Tessie.

“Delightful!” replied the little man.

As time went on, he came often to visit

Tessie. She loved their little chats. Many

times Tessie would find her woodpile

stacked high and her cupboards full of

good food. But she never mentioned

a word of it to anyone.

The town folk were still frightened

of ever meeting the Hedley Beast. And

the farmers’ wives continued to warn

Tessie, “Watch out for the Hedley

Beast!”

But Tessie would just chuckle and

say, “Ah, well, maybe he’s just lonely

and lookin’ for a bit of mischief once

in a while.” The hive multiplied—grew in numbers—so much

that we ran out of space. We have to form a
Sorry, scout. If you swarm and find a new home—today!
can’t fly, you can’t help. It’s a bee thing.

I’m so sorry, 17
Ara~na.

Harry, the Wind Is Blowing

H ARRY WAS AFRAID of the wind. It whistled under

his door. It made the iron fence hum eerie music.
The wind followed Harry home from the school bus.

It blew off his hat. At night it made the trees creak in the
woods near his house. It made sheets drying on the line
sound like thunder.

“How can anyone be afraid of the wind?” asked Harry’s
friend Emma.

Harry shrugged. But it didn’t change the way he felt.
Harry’s friend Liam thought being afraid of the wind
was a waste of time. That didn’t help Harry either.
Harry’s friend Antony didn’t make fun of Harry. “You’ll
get over it, Harry,” he said.
Sometimes that made Harry feel better. But not for long.

Down there, Sam! ARAN~A!!!
SONYA!!!
18
by Helena Clare Pittman
Art by Marty Kelley

text © 2020 by Helena Clare Pittman, art © 2020 by Marty Kelley

On windy days Harry stood at his They played cars. They played
window and watched Emma riding robots. They drew pictures.
her bike. Her hair flew out behind
her in the wind. He watched Liam Clouds rolled in. The tree in front
sailing his boat in a puddle. of Harry’s house swayed. A garbage
can top clattered down the street.
Harry drew a picture of a boat
sailing in the wind. He wished he “Harry,” said Antony, “the wind
weren’t afraid. is blowing. I don’t want to stay
inside. I want to fly my glider.”
One day Antony came to Harry’s
house to play. Harry was silent.
“Want to come?” asked Antony.
“Look at my glider,” said Antony. “No, thanks,” answered Harry.
“It does tricks and loop-de-loops Harry stayed inside and played
when I fly it outside in the wind.” with his construction set. He pictured
launching the glider with Antony.
“Nice,” said Harry. But when he imagined the wind

Spider, Bill, Sam! We thought you might need I don’t believe it.
What are you a little flying help.
doing here?

19

blowing against his face, he shivered. a rudder. He found a ball of string
Harry drew pictures of Antony’s and tied it to the rudder.

glider lifting with the wind. He Harry pretended the kite was flying
drew it doing figure eights. against the clouds. But after a while,
he got tired of pretending. Outside the
He felt sad to be in his room window Antony’s glider was making
while everyone else was outside. circles. It was flying upside down. Harry
sighed. He was tired of feeling afraid.
Harry got a big piece of paper Suddenly he wanted to stomp his feet.
and drew a kite. He cut it out and He wanted to yell out loud. He wanted
colored it. He took two sticks from to yell, “I AM NOT AFRAID!!”
his craft bin and crossed them. He
tied them together, then took four So he tried it. Harry was surprised.
more and made a diamond shape. It felt good to yell.
He glued the paper onto the sticks
and attached a piece of yarn to make “NO, I’M NOT!” Harry added.

Meet Lil’ Blimpy. You pedal him And this nifty rudder—
like a bike to make him go. part of the tail—steers him.

¡Que` maravilloso!

20

Harry stomped and shouted about not being

afraid until his mother asked him if he was alright.

“YES!” said Harry. “I AM!” And Harry took

his kite and went outside.

“Harry, the wind is blowing!” said Antony.

“Harry, the wind is blowing!” said Emma.

But Harry didn’t turn back. He marched

forward and pulled himself into the branches of

the tree in front of his house. He sat there in its

branches with his kite. The tree’s leaves rustled.

Its branches swayed. They snapped as the wind

picked up. Harry held on.

Now the tree was rocking Harry. The wind

tipped Liam’s boat. Antony’s glider was spiraling.

Harry held on.

Harry was enjoying himself. He liked the way

the wind smelled of spring blossoms. He liked

moving with the tree.

“This isn’t so bad!” said Harry.

The wind blew harder. It blew so hard it shook

Harry. Harry was surprised that he didn’t mind.

That made him laugh!

Then Harry let his kite go. The wind caught

it. Harry watched it zig-zag. He heard it flap. The

kite’s crayon colors sparkled in the sunlight.

Harry let out the string and the kite climbed

higher. It moved as the wind moved, just above

the tree.

Not exactly regulation wings, Well, A-OK, Bee Scout. Fly on over
but it works for me. here and join the squadron.

21

Liam watched Harry’s kite.
Emma watched Harry’s kite.
Antony watched Harry’s kite.
Harry watched his kite, too. He sat
in the tree and watched it until the
wind became a gentle, whispering
breeze. Then the kite settled into
the garden.
Harry climbed down and rewound
the ball of string.
Then Harry, Antony, Liam, and
Emma played outside together all
afternoon.

22

When the Cold Wind Blows

When the cold wind blows
(and blows and blows and blows and blows
and blows)
it nips me little fingers
and it whips me till I’m froze.
Tonight, I’m gonna stay inside
and watch me TV shows
because the cold wind blows
(and blows and blows and blows
and blows).

by Rolli
Art by Simona Ceccarelli

text © 2020 by Charles Anderson, art © 2020 by Simona Ceccarelli

23

Flying
with Kites

WHEN THE WIND is

blowing just right, something

magical takes to the skies. Kites!

Kites fly in much the same way

that airplanes do. Air moving over the

flat surface of a kite creates low pressure

above and high pressure below and lifts the

kite. Airplanes have engines that keep them wind li wind
moving forward. Kites have strings that tether them pressure
drag
to the ground.
thrust
You’ve probably flown a kite with one long string.

This is called a single-line kite. Maybe yours

was shaped like a diamond, a butterfly, or a gravity
dragon. Single-line kites come in all shapes

and sizes imaginable, including

boxes, wheels, and giant

creatures that inflate

in the wind.

Top: Kitemaker Peter Lynn is famous
for his giant flying sea creatures.

Right: Wind moving across a kite
creates lift and drag. The string
creates thrust. These forces work
against gravity to keep the kite
flying high.

24

Kites with two strings are called dual-line or stunt ZOOM! With one string in each hand, this
kites. The person holding the strings can steer the kite kite flyer can make his stunt kite turn in
as it flies. A skilled flyer can make a stunt kite change any direction he steers it.
directions, do loops, and land without crashing.

Some kites are so big they can lift a person off
the ground! Power kites are used in sports like
kiteboarding and kite buggy racing.

All around the world, people fly amazing kites
in festivals, in competitions, and just for fun.
There’s no better way to spend a windy day than
with a kite!

Ara~na, we can tether—attach OK, Sam.
with a rope—Lil’ Blimpy to us Muchas gracias.

again if you get tired.

25

Cloud

Fishing
by Zach Falcon
Art by Mike Wohnouka

Lil’ Blimpy looks like a B AREFOOT JEAN AND her brown dog, Barley,
little whale that just
breached—leaped out ran to the top of the green, grassy hill. The sun shone
down as she looked up into the deep sea-blue sky.
of the water.
Above her sailed billowing cloud ships with tall sails
26 unfurled. Nimbus whales breached, blocking the sun,
while wisps of cirrus clouds rippled like seaweed. Jean
watched as a lazy school of cloud fish drifted by, carried
along the sky’s gentle currents.

Jean scratched her nose, squinted her eyes, and said
to herself, “I want to catch a fish.”

Only it’s leaping out of
the nimbus and cirrus—

types of clouds.

Barley barked excitedly as they ran down the Umm . . . coming through that last cloud,
hill, through the woods, and back to the house this thing ji ed—moved with quick,
for supplies. jerky motions—way too much for me.

Jean found her sturdy green-and-gold kite 27
in the closet. “If you’re going to catch
a cloud fish,” Jean instructed Barley,
“you’ve got to have good bait.”

From a sewing basket, she
selected colorful bits of yarn and
ribbon and tied them to the kite’s
long tail for the bait. She found a
kite string and tied it to the kite
with an extra-strong knot.

With a burlap bag in one
hand and her kite in the other,
Jean marched purposefully, with
Barley at her heels, back to the
hill.

Standing at the top, Jean cast
her hook into the sky. The wind
lifted it higher and higher, until
most of the line had been let out.

Ducking and pulling in the wind,
the gold kite flashed in the sun,
while the baited tail jigged invitingly.
Jean scanned the sky for her prey. Not a
cloud fish in sight. She tightened the slack
in her line and waited.

No better feeling than flying
with wings unfurled—open.

Right, Ara~na?

Suddenly, a shadow fell over the hill. Directly above
was the most enormous cloud fish Jean had ever seen.
Its white scales glistened in the sun, and its strong tail
seemed to move the wind.

Jean held her breath as the fish warily circled her hook.
Interested, it came forward for a sniff. Then a nibble. Then
the fish turned and gobbled the whole kite—tail and all.

Jean felt the yank on the line and braced herself. She
dug her heels into the ground, gritted her teeth, and
began to reel in her catch.

The cloud fish fought fiercely, zigzagging and pulling
with all its might, but it was no match for Jean. Slowly
and steadily, she wrestled the fish from the sky.

Let’s go, Bee Scout. We gotta I’m pedaling, but warily—carefully—
catch up to the squadron. avoiding any more clouds.

28

When the fish was near enough,
Jean popped her kite out of its
mouth and stuffed the fish into
the burlap sack. She tossed the
squirming sack over her shoulder,
scratched Barley behind the ears,
and proudly set off down the hill.

At home, Jean carried the fish
upstairs to her room. She closed the
door, set the sack down, and opened
it carefully. After a moment, the
cloud fish slowly poked its head out.
Then, leaving the bag, it floated up
to the ceiling. As it rose, the cloud
changed shape, spreading outward,
searching for an exit to the sky.

Realizing it was trapped, the
cloud darkened. It rumbled, loosing
a great clap of thunder. A bolt of
lightning flashed and burned a hole
in the carpet. Then the cloud
began to rain on Jean’s bed.

Barley whimpered, and Jean, who
was a bit frightened herself, patted
him on the head. “Maybe it’s hungry,”
she said. “I’ll fix it a snack.” As soon
as Jean opened the door, the cloud
stormed past her into the hall.

29

The cloud was now a furious
thunderstorm, hunting for an escape.
It tore through Jean’s parents’ bed-
room and then roared downstairs.
Moving faster, the cloud spun like
a tornado. Ripping through the
kitchen, it shattered china and
overturned the table. In the living
room, the cloud knocked pictures
off the wall and short-circuited
the television.

Barley, too terrified to bark,
turned tail and ran down to the
basement. The cloud thundered
after him. Jean called Barley back
up and quickly shut the door. The
cloud bellowed and banged, but
there was no way out.

Jean listened as the storm
in her basement gradually grew
quiet. Soon she could hear only
gentle rain. She opened the door
and tiptoed down the steps. The
basement was flooded, but the
cloud was nowhere to be seen.
Jean and Barley stepped around
the puddles, searching, until they
found it behind the furnace.

Keep flying, Bee Scouts!
We’ve got to find a home

for the swarm!

30

The cloud was now misty and weak. It had shrunk so
much that it fit in one hand. Jean tried to comfort it, but
the cloud just grew smaller. She thought for a moment,
then whistled for Barley.

“C’mon,” she said. “The only way to make this cloud
happy again is to let it go back to where it belongs.”

Jean and Barley ran back to the top of the hill. Jean
held the cloud carefully, waiting for a good breeze. At
the right moment, she released the cloud and watched
it float away.

The cloud was still at first, but began to stir as the
wind carried it higher. Little by little, it grew in size and
strength until it was as beautiful as before.

Far below, barefoot Jean and her brown dog, Barley,
stood at the top of the green, grassy hill and watched as
the cloud fish, with a flick of its powerful tail, swam back
into the deep sea-blue sky.

31

Holiday Party or Celebration

Emily Lynagh, age 9 Lucy Coryell, age 9 Amelia Fleschner, age 8
San Carlos, California Mount Vernon, Maine Gahana, Ohio

Thanksgiving Bells, bells everywhere Celebration in Me
Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving, Christmas cheer is in the air, Every holiday (like Christmas)
Here it comes. pudding, punch, Christmas cakes I feel merry as a pumpkin pie
The party is today, now’s the time to celebrate! With happiness round the corner
This should be fun. Glittering lights strung on the tree, I heave a great big sigh
each one glowing warmly. So I have a tree in the middle of the room
The food is ready, The snow outside is falling slowly, All covered over with bobbles
Warm and sweet. but inside we’re nice and cozy, And a star on top, no “pop, pop, pop.”
Pie for dessert, sipping hot cocoa from a mug, And that’s why I M Christmas!
What a treat. thinking of all the things you love.
On this shining Christmas day Freya W., age 7
I can’t wait, I can’t wait now’s the time to laugh and play! West Hartford, Connecticut
For food galore.
There’s enough food Mary Busch, age 9 Christmas Morning
To feed a family of twenty-four. Laurel, Maryland happy
the tree is dark green
The party is starting Christmas you hear the bells ringing
Right now. Get up, go to Grandma’s— from Santa’s sleigh disappearing
Here comes the first guest, But don’t forget to change out of your pajamas!
Wow oh wow. Exchange gifts, and “Have some pie!” the room is sparkling
Hello, Christmas—then goodbye— with ornaments
The party is over, Wow! Holidays go by so fast! it feels magical
What a success. Driving home—rest at last. I hope that everyone
I’m starting to think that has a day full of wonder.
Thanksgiving is best.

Hi, Spider, Dear Bill the Pill Bug,
You’re my favorite buggy. I love the comics Can you please adopt Larug? He

at the bottom of the page. Please adopt Sausage. is a tall troll and he likes to eat about
He is a dachshund who eats pizza and mango. everything. Keep him in a cage!

Eleanor, age 6 Eliot, age 7
Durham, North Carolina Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
P.S. You will need a very big cage. Note: He
Dear Spider, does not eat bugs.
I like to read. What is your favorite book? P.P.S. He is ten feet tall.

Mine is Harry Potter. My imaginary unicorn My favorite jokes: What kind of bagel flies?
likes to eat candy and gives rides. The plain!
How do you make an eggroll? You push it.
Bree, age 9 Why is 6 afraid of 7? Because 7, 8, 9!
Marion, Massachusetts
Daniela E. Rodríguez, age 12
Hello, Everybuggy, San Juan, Puerto Rico
I love your mags! Ophelia, what’s your
Dear Thistle,
favorite color? What is your favorite book? Can you please adopt Midnight, a winged
Me? Harry Potter! I loooooove Harry Potter!
kitten, and her friend, the unicorn? She likes
Sarah S., age 8 chocolate cupcakes and apples. Her birthday
Nashville, Tennessee is April 30.

Dear Bree and Sarah, Molly, age 6
I like the Harry Potter books, too, but my Harrisonburg, Virginia

favorite book is Charlotte’s Web.
Ciao!
Spider

32

Aryana Joy Brown, age 7 Katie Incardona, age 7
Provo, Utah Ramsey, New Jersey

All Together Valentine’s Day
Thanksgiving is a time for family, Valentine’s is almost here,
a time to eat mounds of turkey,
rolls, and turkey stuffing, green beans are yummy Contest RulesIt’s really time to give a
so much food, it won’t fit in my tummy. cheer!
TEhveegwrryeiavonienstneskoijtnuoudsts,tnheossusetEn!mdaitilt23oy0oW.S2uYp02eroiea.dwiusnneBisrltdrlure’esay1peansnuCd.gtHutodorbduoYrfe/ylerasorrSoiensrmeprtupsdhoeioasriuidrdarno.i,seeneneulPntircr,rtnta..@lhraOuefryeauDrd.caivtmroveBhrnoaienooudrwcyilrxsobktyiseatzuye3asribrpunty0Meimiclig0ncenoas,tsegitumrithP:gdcsrieeephntip’arlseJoueu2.ducfty,b5elaooyIbl,Lin/umymc2Aar6a0au,amto12iggopow3e0iuranc5,n.sra4aetiling.ndcetepr,eaora.irntultergea. l
We each name something that makes us grateful
like family, plants, books, and friends,
everyone sharing all together,
I hope this feeling never ends.

Miko S., age 8
Gainesville, Florida

Crazy Christmas
Crazy Christmas, festive light!
Santa Claus, who comes at night.
Pretty gifts wrapped big and small,
Here’s to a good Christmas for us all.
Holiday dinner full of magic and cheer,
Hope you have a wonderful year!
Candies, chocolates, cookies, too,
A perfect Christmas right out of the blue.

Hi, Thistle and Ophelia, Dear Spider, Dear Ophelia,
You can call me Anni Will you please adopt Thony? He will I love your Last Word activities. I do them

because I like to think of you never come out of this minivan. He can all the time when I get magazines! What’s
as my friends, and that’s carry anything from an amoeba all the way your favorite color? Mine is purple.
what they call me. I looove reading Spider! to an elephant weighing five tons! If you
I sometimes think I’m too old for it so I polish his car, he will give you a ride. If you Can you adopt Mali? She is a magical
shouldn’t read it, but I don’t care. I like to polish and wash it, he will give you a ride llama that can fly!
read, write, and cook in my spare time. I want anywhere! He eats buckthorn sprouts, thorn
to be a special needs teacher when I grow up. bushes, hawthorn sprouts, and omnivore Cali, age 11
honeysuckle. If you clean out his car early in Phoenix, Arizona
I have two cats: Pluto and Purrl. They are the morning, at noon, or late at night, he will P.S. Mali loves everybuggy,
sooo cute! Please watch Purrcila for me. turn on the radio for you. and her favorite foods are
BLTs and ice cream.
Annika M. Lindgren, age 11 Here’s a poem I wrote by myself:
Pittsboro, North Carolina There once were two marmalade jars. Dear Cali,
They got their fortune from buying We’ll take good care of Mali. Thank you.
Dear Everybuggy,
I really like your magazine! I also get sports cars. I love many beautiful colors, but if I had to
They purchased some honey name favorites I’d say many shades of blue.
National Geographic, but yours is my favorite! Without any money
Can you put Maddie the snake in your And melted down to a liquid on Mars! Love,
Ophelia
magazine? She is a basilisk, which has Victor Mitsui, age 8
very venomous teeth. She wears special Hobart, Indiana Send your letters to
goggles so she can’t turn anyone to stone! Spider’s Mailbox
Stay away from her teeth, and you’ll be P.O. Box 300
fine. She likes scrambled eggs and plain Peru, IL 61354
chocolate sprinkles for a treat.
Please write your complete name, age, and address
Audrey Utley, age 8 on your letter! You can also send us mail
Verona, Wisconsin at [email protected].
P.S. I am Voldemort’s sister.
33

OPHELIA,S LAST WORD

IN BRITISH FOLKLORE, fairies and magic folk are often accompanied
by the sound of tinkling bells. Hang these fairy bells outside and bring some
fairy magic to your yard.

What You'll Need: beads

a stick jingle bells
embroidery floss or other
or yarn small bells

scissors

What to Do:

1. Cut a piece of embroidery floss about the length of your

arms. Tie a bell to one end and thread on a few beads.

2. Tie the embroidery floss to the stick so the beads hang

down a few inches. Wrap the other, longer end around
the stick and tie to fasten.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with different colors of floss until

the stick is covered and has several bells attached.

4. Cut one more piece of floss about a foot long. Tie each end

to the stick to make a hanger. Hang on a tree or fence outside
and wait for the wind to blow. Listen! Do you hear a fairy?

LOopvhee,lia

34

Buggy Bulletin Fabulous Facts:

Answers to sY
Rainbows are caused
WEATHER WHIRLWIND droplets in the air. by light bouncing off of
Mind-Buggler
water
YosRceeaeaintnhbseomawnsdindwomnai’tstetrj,uffasoltlgsa,.papnedasrparfateyrfritomrains. You might

YharoTleluhcoreovsreldborenetdfghoeewrsecat-iisttlyadinssitsaiYnawapgnptgrheameainribnbeegodaws.uhteaifvnue,lrTraaiipnebio,winf2o0r 1al7m. oPsetonpilnee Q. What does a cloud wear
under his raincoat?

A. Thunderwear!

Send your jokes to
[email protected]!

Save 25% off your subscription at Shop.CricketMedia.com/Try-Discount 35

bridle bridle hole
hole
5
4 3

21

Arrow Kite 4. To make a bridle, thread the needle
with an 18-inch piece of thread. Poke
THIS BASIC KITE is super simple to one bridle hole and pull the thread
make and fly! just a little way through it. Remove
the needle and tie the end in a knot.
What You’ll Need: Rethread the needle with the other
end, poke it up through the other
kite pattern bridle hole, and knot the thread the
scissors same way.
transparent tape
ruler 5. Make a hook out of the paper clip
spool of strong thread by opening it into an S shape and
sewing needle pinching the ends. Wrap the bridle
small paper clip three times
around one end of
What to Do: the hook. Tie the
other end of the hook
1. Cut off the page with the kite to the spool of thread.
pattern on it. Cut the large square
apart from the section of narrow 6. Find a large, open area
strips. Set the strips aside. without trees or telephone
wires, and send your
2. Pick up the large square. Fold along the arrow kite soaring
dotted line marked with a 1, keeping on the wind!
the dotted line inside the fold. Now
fold along dotted lines 2 and 3, keep- Art by Carol Brozman
ing the dotted lines outside the folds.
Lastly, fold along dotted lines 4 and 5,
keeping the dotted lines inside the
folds. Crease
each fold, then
open the kite
partway, so it
looks like a
fan. Set the
kite aside.

3. Pick up the secti n of strips and cut
them apart along the solid black lines.
Tape the strips together, end to end, to
make one long tail. Tape one end of
the tail to the rear center of the kite.