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the magazine for children

Mesozoic Mustard by Brian Michael Weaver

text and art © 2020 by Brian Michael Weaver

Front Cover by Mark Rogalski May/June 2020

2 Mesozoic Mustard by Brian Michael Weaver Volume 27 Number 5
4 Doodlebug & Dandelion by Pamela Dell
9 For the Birds! James M. O’Connor, Director of Editorial
10 Cosmic Mudballs from Space! by Ada Roman Maria Hlohowskyj, Editor
14 Galactic Soup by Julie Douglas
16 Candles in Space by Pamela Love Emily Cambias, Assistant Editor
20 Bug Adventure by Michael Chesworth Stacey Lane Smith, Assistant Editor
21 Extra Special Extraterrestrial by Stacey Lane
22 The Time Loop by Jesse Decker Julie Peterson, Copyeditor
24 The Memorial Day Mission Suzanne Beck, Senior Art Director

by Debbie A. Taylor Shavan Spears, Designer
31 Summer’s Way by Sherri Stockdale Michael Chesworth, Artist, SPIDER bugs
32 Spider’s Corner and Spider’s Mailbox Adrienne Matzen, Permissions Specialist
34 Ophelia’s Last Word: Perfect Popcorn Cake
35 Buggy Bulletin Grateful acknowledgment is given to the following publishers and copyright
owners for permission to reprint selections from their publications. All possible care
The Fun Zone: Mars Landing has been taken to trace ownership and secure permission for each selection:
by Shavan Spears “The Memorial Day Mission” text © 2008 by Debbie A. Taylor, art © 2008 by David
Udovic; “Summer’s Way” art © 2008 Joung Un Kim.
Mind-Buggler: Professor Fumblenumber’s
Time Machine by John Sandford Photo acknowledgments: 10-11 (BG) James Thew/Alamy Stock Photo; 10 (RC), (RB)
Michael Farmer/ASU; 11 (LT) Alexyz3d/Shutterstock.com; 11 (RT) Belish/Shutterstock.
Spider and the Gang by Michael Chesworth com; 11 (RC) Kevin Charles Kichinka Hahner; 11 (RB) Susan E. Degginger/Alamy Stock
Photo; 11 (spot) mallinka/Shutterstock.com; 12-13 (BG) MarcelClemens/Shutterstock.
com; 12 (LT), (RT) © Field Museum, photo by John Weinstein; 12 (RB) Science Photo
Library/Alamy Stock Photo; 30 (spot) Victor Metelskiy/Shutterstock.com; 30 (RT)
US Air Force; 35 (RC) NASA/JPL-Caltech; 35 (CC) Texturis/Shutterstock.com;
35(BG) Kostenko Maxim/Shutterstock.com 35 (spot) Gluiki/Shutterstock.com; 35
(border)TetianaYurchenko/Shutterstock.com;37(BG)AlexanderTrou/Shutterstock.com;
38 (spots) Perzeus/Shutterstock.com; 38 (spots) Wiktoria Matynia/Shutterstock.com.

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I ordered Educational Press International Reading
this summer’s Association of America Association
big blockbuster Paul A. Witty
Golden Lamp Award
movie . . . Distinguished Achievement Award Short Story Award 2008

ROBOT MONSTERS And not digital,
FROM but on real film!

OUTER SPACE! Pfft. Purists.

Doodlebug & Dandelion

by Pamela Dell Part 2

Art by Dom Mansell

“CAN’T YOU GUYS quit bragging for even two minutes?!”

Dandelion complained to her brother Doodlebug and

their cousin Punky.

The three of them, along with their other cousin

Rudyard and their good buddy Bog, were sitting in Bog’s

parents’ pickup truck at the Starlite Drive-In Theater

eagerly awaiting a very special movie.

“But Dandelion, Punky and I are gonna be celebrities!”

Doodlebug crowed. “You think people will want our

autographs, Punky?”

“NO!” Dandelion shouted, annoyed. She grabbed a bag of

popcorn they’d brought and stuffed a handful in her mouth.

We’ll show it tonight on our Thanks to mi abuelo Bring your Reminds me of the old drive-in theater—the
big screen, on the grass giving me his old-time own blanket. huge outdoor movie screen where the audience
under the stars!
movie projector. paid to watch from their parked cars.

4

Earlier that spring, a company

called Blockbuster Bird Stars had

come to town and invited kids to a

movie bird–training camp. Doodlebug,

Dandelion, Punky, Rudyard, and Bog

had all worked with different birds, but

only Punky and Doodlebug’s flamingos

would appear in the movie they were

about to see. And they wouldn’t let

anyone forget it.

A microphone crackled, and a

familiar voice filled the night air.

A spotlight shone down on Emma,

one of the company’s bird experts.

“Welcome, folks, to a compli-

mentary screening of the hit movie

Bog laughed and Rudyard giggled. Dark Day at Desert Lagoon,” she said,

“Of course they will, bozo-boy! “where flamingos go berserk! But

Everyone’s gonna wish they WERE first, let’s watch some clips from our

us!” Punky snorted. “We trained the training day here, when some local

flamingos—for the best scene in the kids learned what it takes to train

whole movie!” birds. Roll tape, Sam!”

“Ugh,” Dandelion muttered The drive-in’s floodlights shut

through her popcorn mouth. She down, and what looked like a

hoped the movie would start soon movie preview began. First one kid

so they’d have to stop showing off. then another appeared onscreen,

But secretly she couldn’t wait to each with a bird. Soon, there was

see the flamingo scene, either. Rudyard with his crested puffin.

Upon a sweet summer’s night, Umm . . . Pero, this movie is And no cars. Just
we little bugs would fly in and OK . . . complimentar —free ROBOT MONSTERS FROM

out of the flickering light. of charge. OUTER SPACE!
I love it when robots
go berserk—wild
and destructive!

5

Everybody in the pickup hooted As other kids appeared onscreen,
and clapped as he coaxed the puffin Dandelion began to feel sad. Why
to hop in circles, jump onto an couldn’t they show her and the great
upturned bucket, and open her horned owl she’d trained? They’d
big red beak for a fishy treat. really bonded! Instead, the next
segment featured the totally unhappy
Next came Bog, a hooded peregrine Doodlebug and Punky surrounded
falcon perched on his thick leather by out-of-control flamingos.
glove. Everyone watched in awe as Bog
followed the trainer’s instructions and Onscreen, Punky shouted, “GO,
gently removed the hood. Then he fed FLAMINGOS! GET!”
the falcon a meaty morsel as a reward.
“Yeah, STOMP OFF!” Doodlebug
“Look at these young folk!” Emma added, imitating Punky’s wild arm
praised. “Kids and birds both learning motions. Suddenly, the flamingos
skills!” did get going. They fluttered

I’m not a fan of robots I’m a’scared You’re not The three of us bonded—
from space, myself. of robots from coming to formed a close relationship—
the show? over a new hobby, stargazing.
anywheres.

6

madly, then three of them blasted Doodlebug and Punky ignored
through the gate of their pen, the her. They were standing now, with
rest following. At first the trainer arms raised and everybody cheering
looked angry. But then she grinned them. They were just so annoying!
like she’d never seen anything
better. The flamingos stampeded Emma spoke up again. “Wait,
away, heads turning back and forth wait, everyone!” she said. “This
in unison. Punky and Doodlebug last clip will really tug at your
huffed and puffed behind them. heartstrings.”
The entire Starlite Drive-In crowd
went into an uproar of delight. Dandelion sighed. She just wanted
to move on to the real movie. But
Dandelion grumbled, “You guys then, onscreen she saw herself and
don’t deserve all this attention for the big, magnificent owl. The bird
messing up!” flew soundlessly past her and the
trainer, then it swept around and

When it gets dark, we shall You’d rather look at Thistle calls us the
be looking up into real space an empty sky than a Star Girls.
through my new telescope. blockbuster movie? It’s our
Star Girls? Blech.
new club!

7

perched in front of Dandelion. She scarier and more exciting than
fed it a tidbit. The owl cooed at her anyone had expected. Especially
and accepted another bite. Emma when the flamingo stampede
said, “Owls are shy creatures, but our attacked the camel riders!
boy Hoot connected with Dandelion
right away. She’s a natural!” On the ride home, Doodlebug
murmured, “You were a big star,
The rest of the clip showed too, Dandelion. Seeing you with
Dandelion and the owl working that owl was super cool.”
together as if they were long-time
partners. A deafening round of “Thanks, Doodlebug,” Dandelion
applause followed. Hoot clearly replied sleepily.
loved her. And when Dark Day
at Desert Lagoon finally came on And as the pickup rolled through
everybody loved that too. It was the night, every kid drifted off . . .
into wondrous dreams of amazing
birds and thrilling movies.

¡Muy bien! It’s your Muchas gracias, Let’s set up your new And I’ll get my artificial
projector now. Disfruta Abuelo. old projector, Aran~a. intelligence popcorn machine.
tu película, Aran~anita.
Huh?

8

For the
Birds!

Art by Robert Meganck

Why did the chewing gum
cross the road?

It was stuck to the chicken.

What did the Mama bird call
her babies?

Little tweeties.

What did the egg say to the pan?
You crack me up!

What’s a duck’s favorite snack?
Cheese and quackers.

Why did the turkey cross
the road?

To prove he wasn’t a chicken.

Send your favorite jokes to
[email protected]!

9

Cosmic Mudballs from Space! by Ada Roman

O N A TUESDAY night in April 2019, a bright fireball streaked across

the sky over Aguas Zarcas, Costa Rica. A meteor! As it entered Earth’s
atmosphere, the meteor broke into hundreds of small pieces that
rained down on the small town. A piece fell through someone’s roof
and smashed their table. Another fell through a doghouse and woke up a
sleeping dog named Rocky. (Don’t worry. Rocky didn’t get hurt!) What
had fallen to earth were big, black chunks of an unusual space rock. And
they smelled . . . like Brussels sprouts?

Space Rocks

Space is full of rocks, from giant asteroids to

microscopic specks of dust. There are also billions

of comets, balls of dirty ice and snow. Pieces of

asteroids and comets sometimes break off and

form meteoroids, which can be as small as a

grain of sand or as large as a big boulder. Believe it or not, Rocky the dog

When a meteoroid falls through Earth’s got his name before a piece of

space rock crashed through the roof
atmosphere, it becomes a meteor, also known as a of his doghouse!

shooting star. If you’ve ever looked up at the night

sky and seen a tiny streak of light, what you saw

was a meteor burning up as it sped toward Earth.

Most meteors burn up completely. But sometimes,

chunks of space rock make it to Earth, like the

Ooh, the atmosphere—the layer Perfect for stargazing.
of air surrounding Earth— We’ll see lots of comic
is crystal clear tonight. things, right Ophelia?

10

Every once in a while, a meteor falls to Earth and makes a big splash.
Most are tiny and burn up in the atmosphere, becoming shooting stars.

ones that fell on Aguas Zarcas. These now-Earthbound
rocks are called meteorites.

Meterorites are hard to find. Many of them get lost in
oceans or forests, or get destroyed by bad weather. So when
the meteorite fell on Aguas Zarcas, townspeople, scientists,
and meteorite hunters jumped at the chance to grab
fresh space rocks. Altogether, they found almost 55
pounds of meteorite!

Cosmic Mudball Above: A kid in the town of Aguas
Zarcas shows off his big find.
Scientists soon realized that the Aguas Zarcas meteorite was
special. Most meteorites that make it to Earth are made of Below: A carbonaceous
stone, iron, or nickel. Aguas Zarcas is made of clay and chondrite.

organic compounds. This type of meteorite is called Why do people like
a carbonaceous chondrite, sometimes nicknamed a shooting stars more
“cosmic mudball.” than vegetables?
Carbonaceous chondrites are very rare.
Because they’re
meteor!

Not comic things, Look there, Thistle. And draw me
silly goose. Cosmic It’s the da what?
things—things up
Andromeda Galaxy!
in outer space.

11

Meteorite collector Terry Boudreaux (middle)
donated a large piece of Aguas Zarcas to the
Field Museum. Dr. Heck (left) and Terry’s son
Evan (right) celebrated its arrival. Hopefully
he also gave them an air freshener!

They’re delicate and easily damaged by compounds are probably what gives it
rain. When Dr. Phillip Heck and his its unique smell. They can also help
team at the Field Museum of Natural us learn about the beginnings of our
History in Chicago got pieces of solar system, and possibly even life
Aguas Zarcas to study, they were on earth.
thrilled. The meteorite hadn’t been
rained on and was in excellent Ancient Grains
condition. It even still had its unusual
scent—some compare it to roasted Fifty years before the meteorite landed
Brussels sprouts, others say fresh in Aguas Zarcas, another large
veggies mixed with vanilla.
Stars are born in nebulas, giant clouds of presolar
Aguas Zarcas’s stink is a fun mystery. grains and other space dust.
But scientists are most excited
about what’s inside the meteorite.
Carbonaceous chondrites contain
amino acids, chemical compounds
that form proteins and are found in
every living thing on Earth. These

Uh, Sam, that popcorn Your crazy hot-fudge-sundae Zat piece of True, true. But I have
machine looks a lot like robot that went junk destroyed totally rebuilt him.
berserk—TWICE!
ScoopBot 2.0! my cafeŮ!

12

carbonaceous chondrite meteorite Aguas Zarcas in the Lab

landed in Murchison, Australia. Scientists are excited to see what
they will learn from Aguas Zarcas.
Dr. Heck and other scientists around
Scanning electron microscopes magnify up to
the world have been studying the three million times and display the images on a
computer. Here, Katarina examines a tiny slice
Murchison meteorite for decades. of Aguas Zarcas that’s been mounted in plastic.

Recently, they discovered ancient In the lab, research assistant
Katarina Keating takes tiny slices
bits of dust inside Murchison called of Aguas Zarcas and examines and
photographs them with a powerful
presolar grains because they are older electron microscope and a machine
called a spectroscope, which uses a
than the Sun. In fact, they’re the laser to identify the many bits and
pieces inside the meteorite. She’s
oldest known looking for presolar grains, amino
acids, and more. It’s a lot of work,
material on but Katarina doesn’t mind. Unlocking
the mysteries of space is worth the
Earth: 7 billion hard work—and the funny smells!

years old!

Dr. Heck and

his team found Too much Earth air is
the presolar bad for meteorites, so
grains inside of they’re stored in special
Murchison by vacuum-sealed containers.

grinding a piece of it into a powder

and creating a paste that smelled

like rotting peanut butter. They

dissolved the stinky paste with acid,

leaving only presolar grains. These

little bits of dust are the closest that

scientists can come to taking a sample

from an actual star. They’re helping

scientists learn how and when the

stars in our galaxy were born.

Say hello to PopBot 1.0. Non . . . No! Now eet makes zee ’ot-
buttered popcorn! SacreŮ bleu!
Dios mío! Meh, what could
go wrong?

13

Galactic Soup by Julie Douglas
Art by Annie J. Won

Grate a slice of Mars rock and chunky moon cheese.
Add juice of one fresh meteor. Remember: gently squeeze.
Whisk in an ocean—Earth has plenty to spare.
A puff of atmosphere will make it lighter than air.

A tiny ring from Saturn is all you really need.
Catch and chop a comet zooming in at super speed.
Pour in a solar flare—two, if you are braver.
Crumble in some asteroids, bring out the cosmic flavor.

Sprinkle in a pinch of the brightest starlight glow.
Simmer it in Jupiter’s biggest volcano.
Pop it in a crater and tuck in with a lunar spoon.
Share your creation with the little girl on the moon.

14 text © 2020 by Julie Douglas
art © 2020 by Annie J. Won

15

Candles in Space

M Y BIRTHDAY WAS going to birthday, Rebekah caught me with my

be extra special for two reasons. For cheeks puffed way out. “What are you

one thing, like Commander Park doing? Practicing to blow out all the

said, “Nobody’s ever turned nine candles this year?” She laughed.

in space before, David.” “This time I will,” I said. “Every-

Mom, my sister Rebekah, and body on the ship will be watching,

I were moving to Mars for a year. so—”

We’d spent almost two weeks in “Oh, David,” my sister interrupted.

the spaceship so far. It would take “Your cake can’t have candles.”

another thirty days before we got “Why not?”

to the Martian colony. “Everyone knows fire on a space-

I was trying to keep the other ship is too dangerous.” When I turned

reason secret. But the day before my away, she patted my shoulder. “At

We came all the way over
from our colony—the place It’s the must-see I’ve been so
where we live together. movie of the summer! antsy to see it.

by Pamela Love

16 Art by Drew Sheneman

text © 2020 by Pamela Love, art © 2020 by Andrew Sheneman

least you don’t have to worry about experiments. If I couldn’t blow out
blowing them all out.” the candles like I wanted, at least I
was old enough not to whine about it.
“Yeah. Look, don’t tell Mom
about this, okay? I don’t want her After dinner on my birthday,
to feel bad about it. It’s not her Mom floated into the cafeteria,
fault candles aren’t safe in space.” carrying my birthday cake. I was
Our mother has an important job, amazed. “Candles!” I shouted, staring
maintaining the ship’s electrical at the nine shining on top of the
systems. cake. “I thought fire wasn’t allowed
on a spaceship.”
Besides, I wanted to act mature
about this. Most of the people on “Look closer,” my mother said.
the ship are older than I am, with The candles were really electrical
important work to do. Even my lights, with tiny flame-shaped
sister is helping with some science bulbs on top.

I programmed him to always POPBOT POPS ONLY GOOD.
act mature—like an adult. THERE CAN BE NO BAD POPS.
Are you certain Isn’t that right, PopBot?
ziss contraption Well, this batch sure
eez safe, Sam? is good . . . yum.

17

“Awesome,” I said. “But I wish “No, these have been around
I could blow them out.” since way back in the twenty-first
century.”
She laughed. “Wouldn’t be real
birthday candles if you couldn’t!” Shrugging, my sister mouthed
She blew, and all nine went out. the word “sorry” at me. I smiled
Another puff, and they lit up again. back. Even big sisters don’t know
everything.
“Did you invent those?” Rebekah
asked. “Everybody, sing!” ordered
Commander Park.
And you can make ziss
old projector work too, Sam? Once the passengers and crew
were done, I took my deepest ever
breath. I’m nine now. I can do
this! I thought.

Everyone watched the candles.
Whoosh!

Only eight went out.
Quickly, I took another breath.
Whoosh! Now the last candle
went out—but the other eight lit
up again! I blushed—I should’ve
remembered that one puff turned
them off and on.
“Want to try again, David?”
asked the commander. He turned
the last one on. “You can do it.”
I took another breath and blew
as hard as I could. All the ship’s
lights went out!

Yes, Miro. Now, the switch should
complete the circuit—the wire path
that an electric current flows around.

18

Everyone gasped. Even when it’s said Mom. “I’ll take a look. Does
“night” on the ship, there’s always a anyone have a flashlight on them?
soft glow. But now my candles were I left mine in my toolbox.”
the only visible light except for the
stars. “Mine’s in my quarters,” said
Lieutenant Alvarez.
“You didn’t have to blow that hard,
David,” said Rebekah. I laughed, and “So’s mine,” said someone else.
so did Commander Park. But the Yates “Could you use the candles?”
twins started crying. They’re only five. I asked. I pulled one out.
I guess all the darkness was kind of “Good idea,” said the commander.
scary, because some of the grownups Mom plucked a candle off the cake. I
were asking, “What’s wrong? When’s let Emmanuel and Miriam Yates each
the backup power coming on?” have one, too. They started giggling.
Watching tiny lights moving around
“A circuit probably overloaded,” in zero gravity was fun.

¡Bueno! Let’s start the show! Hit the switch, Bill! Okey-dokey!

19

“Wow,” whispered
Rebekah. “Looks like fire-
flies in space, David.” It
wasn’t long before Mom
had the spaceship’s lights
working again.

And that’s how I
helped fix the spaceship’s
lights with lights of my
own. Definitely my most
awesome birthday ever!

20

Extra Special Extraterrestrial

NEVER SEEN AN alien or a flying saucer?
That’s OK! You can make your UFO look any
way you want. The sky’s the limit.

What You’ll Need: markers
2 foil pie tins

glue clear plastic cup

2 pompoms jewels, stickers, and

pipe cleaner buttons (optional)

googly eyes

What to Do: 21

1. Spread a line of glue around the rim of a pie tin.
Place the second pie tin upside down on top of
the first one so the rims are touching. Let dry.

2. Make your alien! Twist pipe cleaner around a
pompom. Fold ends to make arms and antennae.
Glue second pompom on top with the antennae
pointing up behind it. Hold pompoms together
tightly for a few minutes to help the glue set.

3. Glue three (or more!) googly eyes on the alien’s
face. Draw a mouth with a marker. Let dry.

4. Put a blob of glue in the middle of your flying
saucer. Stick your alien on.

5. Spread a line of glue around the rim of the cup.
Carefully place cup over the alien.

6. Decorate flying saucer with markers, jewels,
sequins, or buttons. Let everything dry for at
least an hour before you take your new UFO
out for a spin.

by Stacey Lane
Art by Anne-Marie Bourgeois

art © 2020 by Anne-Marie Bourgeois

The Time Loop

●● ● ●n Ot
●
● ●●● ●
●
I came from the future. I won’t explain how. t

I already told you five minutes from now.

I’m trapped in a time loop, or so it would seem. u
If I see 8:15 one more time I might scream.

If I see it again, I might scream. I might scream.

If I see it again, I might scream. |b

Oh, the monotony of this routine! t
Please, help me fix my time-travel machine. a
We’ve failed the first fifteen time loops or so.
But I know we can stop it this time, I just know.
I know we can stop it, I know. I know.
I know we can stop it, I know.

My quantum converter is right through this door. h

Be careful, you broke it on loop number four.
Under the dashboard, go grab the instructions.

But no matter what, stay away from that button. t

I say, stay away, stay away from that button.

Hey! S T A Y A W A Y F R O M

by Jesse Decker
22 Art by Christopher Cyrtext © 2020 by Jesse Decker, art © 2020 by Christopher Cyr

23

The✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪✪✪✪ “ I S THAT THE last one, Poppy?”

Memorial Day asked Boomer. His great-grandfather
nodded. Every Memorial Day, they
Mission placed little flags by the headstones
of a dozen pilots. Boomer and Poppy
by Debbie A. Taylor walked out the gates of the cemetery
Art by David Udovic toward home.

PopBot! Help! Mi abuelo’s Boomer smiled. Poppy was coming
No! Stop! projector! to school tomorrow to tell all about
his years as a real Tuskegee Airman—
one of the first African-American
pilots in the world. Who wouldn’t
want to hear how he escaped the
swarms of enemy airplanes that
chased him through the skies above
Europe over sixty years ago? Boomer
never wanted to speak in front of his
class, but there wasn’t a shy bone in
Poppy’s body.

They climbed the steps to Boomer’s
house. Suddenly, Poppy’s foot slipped.
Down he went, right off the porch.
“Poppy!” yelled Boomer. Mom and
Dad burst through the front door.
Mom knelt beside Poppy.

“Don’t move! I’m calling the
paramedics,” said Dad.

Before Boomer could blink, Poppy

ROBOT MONSTERS ARE BAD.
POPBOT MUST DESTROY BAD!

It’s gone
bananas again!

24

was on a stretcher in the ambulance with Mom holding
his hand.

“I’ll call from the hospital,” said Mom as the ambulance
doors closed.

Boomer picked up the box of small flags and squeezed
it against his chest. While they waited, he and Dad rubbed
grease off the barbecue grill without talking. An hour
later the phone rang, and Dad snatched it up.

“A sprained ankle? OK. See you then.”
Dad hung up the phone. “Well, Poppy is fine, but he
needs to stay in the hospital overnight for some tests.
He wants that old suitcase from under his bed.”

Call the paramedics—specially Stop, PopBot! POPBOT BAD? THERE CAN BE NO BAD.
trained people who provide help BAD ROBOT! BUT POPBOT. . . IS . . .
YOU'RE BEING BAD!
during a medical emergency. 25

Boomer raced to get Poppy’s about the Tuskegee Airmen. Now
suitcase. He was quiet during the you’ll have to speak for both of us.”
ride to the hospital.
“How?” asked Boomer. “Poppy,
Poppy sat in bed stirring something you know I don’t like talking in
green. Mom fretted the way she did class. Last week at Show and Tell
when Boomer forgot to wear his hat my voice cracked, and I dropped
on a cold day. my model car. I’m too scared.”

“Now, Grandpop, you’ve got to “Scared!” said Poppy. “The
eat,” she said.

“But I need some real food, like
spareribs, baked beans, and pie, not
these green jiggly-wigglies.”

He grinned when he saw Boomer
and Dad. Dad shook Poppy’s hand,
but Boomer threw his arms around
his great-grandfather’s neck. Dad
placed the suitcase on a table. “We’ll
be back in a few minutes,” he said.
“Mom and I’ll go try to find some
snacks.”

“Don’t worry, Boomer,” said Poppy.
“I’ll be home soon. But I’m sorry I can’t
visit your school tomorrow.”

“Oh, I forgot!”
said Boomer.

“Well, we
promised to tell

RUN!!!

26

first time I climbed in a P-51, my “Well, hold on now. Let’s see
hands shook. But nobody was what’s in my suitcase.” Poppy lifted
better trained to intercept enemy out an aviator helmet and a leather
planes and protect our pilots than jacket.
the Tuskegee Airmen. So I took
a deep breath and buckled up.” “See this?” asked Poppy. Boomer
traced a jagged scar with his finger.
Boomer shook his head. “But I “A piece of shrapnel tore through
just can’t.” the floor of the cockpit and scratched
that sleeve.”

Boomer slipped on the helmet,
then squinted through the goggles.
“These kept the bugs out of your eyes?”

“Not many bugs flew into the
cockpit,” said Poppy. “But I sure was
grateful for those goggles the night
my whole canopy tore off in mid-air.
Between the freezing rain and winds
beating against my face, I couldn’t see
a thing, but the goggles protected my
eyes. Luckily, two other pilots guided
me back to base.”

He patted Boomer’s shoulder.
“Could you show your classmates
that jacket and helmet? And there’s

more in this suitcase.”
“I don’t know, Poppy,”
said Boomer.

PopBot blew There’s popcorn and shrapnel—small You shouldn’t have
itself up! pieces from an explosion—everywhere. told him he was bad.

The popcorn’s
still good.

27

“Visiting hours are over,” said Boomer, will tell us about the
a nurse. Tuskegee pilots who served our
country so bravely.”
Boomer hugged Poppy. “You
decide,” Poppy whispered. Boomer walked to the front of

At home, Boomer slipped on
the leather jacket. He pulled on
the helmet and faced the mirror.
“I am . . . a Tuskegee Airman!” he
croaked. “Aww, my head looks like
a buckeye.” He stuffed his hands
into the jacket pockets.

Something soft as a cat’s tail
touched his fingers.

“What’s this?” Boomer pulled
out a velvet pouch.

He opened the pouch and drew
out a red-tailed model airplane.
“The P-51!” He spun the propeller.
Then he set the plane on his
nightstand.

The next morning, Boomer
trudged to school. Poppy’s suitcase
felt heavier with each step.

In the classroom, Boomer’s
teacher, Mrs. Kane, announced,
“Unfortunately, Mr. Harris won’t
be joining us, but his great-grandson,

It’s so weird! A big hunk of metal KA-BLAM! Right on How . . . weird . . .
came flying out of nowhere . . . the telly scoop! Smashed it to

Done stargazing already? pieces.

28

the room. Most of his classmates open and slipped from Boomer’s
looked only half-awake. One of hands. The helmet slid across the
them even yawned. floor.

Suddenly, the suitcase snapped “Uh-oh, I can’t do this,” he
whispered as he scrambled to pick
up the helmet. Then he thought of
Poppy’s proud face. He swallowed
and took a deep breath.

First, he held up the leather
jacket. “My great-grandfather wore
this jacket in the 301st Squadron.
Poppy and his friends were the first
black Air Force pilots.”

Then, he untangled the strap
on the goggles. “He was really glad
he had these when the cover over
the cockpit fell right off the plane
in midair!”

Boomer’s classmates leaned
forward.

Finally, Boomer pulled out the
pouch. “This is a model of his P-51.”
The other kids craned their necks
to see the little airplane.

“This plane,” Boomer said in a
strong, clear voice, “flew as fast as
lightning!”

So, what’s your review of the movie? Let’s just say
Was it a blockbuster? it bombed at the
Yes . . . weird . . . I give it . . . no stars.
box office.

29

Poppy came home the next day. Before 1940, African Americans were not allowed to pilot
Boomer told him all about the airplanes in the United States Air Force. Then in 1941, during
presentation. Then they tucked World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt broke that
the jacket and helmet back into the restriction by commanding that African Americans be trained
suitcase. But Poppy left the model as pilots at an Army airfield in Tuskegee, Alabama, home
plane out. of Tuskegee Institute, a college for black students. Despite
having to eat and sleep in separate barracks and
“Boomer, you keep this someplace train apart from white pilots, nearly 1,000 men completed
where you can see it. Maybe on your the training from 1941–1945, learning to fly red-tailed
dresser,” said Poppy. airplanes and protect other planes from enemy fire. Of these,
450 served overseas. Notably, these dedicated heroes never
Boomer smiled. The P-51 gleamed
next to his plate all through their lost a single plane they escorted!
dinner of spareribs, baked beans, and
strawberry pie.

30

Summer’s Way

Summer soars into the sky
on an emerald dragonfly.
She gently sighs and fills my sail,
plops a tadpole in my pail,
builds a castle out of sand,
puts a sparkler in my hand,
circles me on pointed toes,
then paints a freckle on my nose.

by Sherri Stockdale 31
Art by Joung Un Kim

Adventure Macy P., age 6 Koralina K., age 8
Franklin, Wisconsin Napa, California
Caleb Alicea, age 8
Cleveland, Ohio Vines, vines, trees, trees. The world is big, the world is bold,
Adventures await . . . let’s go! There are so many adventures to unfold.
Hunting
Hidden animals Miriam Rose B., age 7 The forests have interesting animals and trees,
Unusually brave Asheville, North Carolina While the ocean has a cool breeze.
Need meat
Two deer The Jungle A desert is hot and has a few small oases,
In the woods We go through the green grass. We Water is precious so animals never waste it.
Native Americans
Game meat wade through the blue stream. We see The grasslands are grassy and green,
a big mountain. We see a red frog. With flowers that no one has seen.
Hazel Badgett, age 7 We are in a huge jungle.
Belfast, Maine The world is big, the world is bold,
A big leopard jumps in front of us. We Please save it in order for more adventures
Stuck in the Mud scream and run away. The leopard runs after
Once we hiked up Blueberry Hill us. The leopard is chasing us. We run faster to be told.
than the leopard. We get away.
with our dogs Grif and Chaga on Easter Layla Haufe, age 8
evening. Grif ran away, and Chaga was A colony of ants can be seen in the Cleveland, Ohio
nervous. Grif ran to someone’s house, distance. We again run away. We stop at
and they called us. a lake. There is no bridge. We make a Washing Machine
bridge out of logs. It is not stable. We When I was three
When we went to pick him up, our car carve a boat out of the logs. So I’d be clean
got stuck in the mud. A tow truck had to I climbed into
pull us out. We get to the house. We are home! the washing machine

Dear Spider, Thistle, and Miro, Dear Everybuggy,

I love art. I’m in my second year of 4-H. I Heyo! I reaalllyyy love your magazines!

have two market steers. One is a shorthorn Can you please adopt my pets and insect and

named Emmet. I don’t know Rex’s breed. Can put them in your little comics at the bottom?

you adopt them? I don’t want them to be beef. Can you take care of Pom-Pie the dog, Sparky

My parents own three hundred cattle: heifers, the firefly, and Nala the cat?

steers, and dry cows. Dry cows are girls that Your fan since 2017,

are going to have babies. They don’t get Lily

milked till they have them. P.S. Nala is a rescue! Pom-Pie eats

My mom just started getting Spider and anything Miro makes. Sparky eats tiny

Cricket. She homeschools me. I have four berries, and Nala eats strawberries and

siblings: Emerson, 7; Silas, 5; Tabitha, 3, crème. They all drink strawberry milk.

and Jonah, 1.

Miro, I love my mom’s desserts. Can you Dear Thistle,

make a giant cake? Will you please adopt this cardinal? She

Naomi Campbell, age 9 loves to sing and she’s really good at it.

Elizabethville, Pennsylvania She’s super nice, too, and loves little people

and is really playful.

Hi, Everybuggy! Haddie Johnson

How are you all doing? Ophelia, you’re my Rolesville, North Carolina

favorite. Thistle, you, too! (Don’t tell the other

buggies.) Can you adopt my imaginary friend Dear Ophelia,

Tzzipy the canary and her babies Aviva, Giloy, Will you put June, my unikitty, in your

Chava, and Sophia? They eat the food you do. mag? She loves cookies. I M your activities.

Aviva’s allergic to worms (not caterpillars). My favorite color is green.

Sarah Meisel, age 8 Frances Ives, age 7

Houston, Texas Minneapolis, Minnesota

32

Nervously Sammy Nemr, age 9
I closed the door Westlake, Ohio
No one knew
where I’d explored New School

All of a sudden School is an adventure
It started to spin
Gallons and gallons Contest RulesYou can make new friends
of water came in See different places:

I took a deep breath Classrooms seEnmdaitilto3oyfop.SSuuYp2prboiiea.dlduinnesBertdrhrree’.say1noasnCd.gttuHudorduryoYre/erasofrromeanreprtusvdoeuioasoridrsarn.ir,eenetnilPntirca,etnt.@rlhsraOueryeuiid.cvantmoeBehrnitnDooudcyhblrxsroekyyisatzue3awOMribrunty0cemacalig0tenyoos,psegimbit2P:igdscei5epntitrp’a,urlseu2eu2r.dcety,0b0eooI2blo2Linum0ycf0ar6aa.ai,mtso1Wisopsow3epruaen5,nere4awceiing.indialetellp,aocr.iranklteeg. al
And plugged my nose Read new books
Then I knew what See different things
it was like to be clothes See different lifestyles
But most important
My mom came in Don’t be shy
to do the wash Make new friends
She opened the door And learn new things.
and said, “Oh, my gosh!”

I crawled out
all soggy and wet
and then I knew
I’d never forget.

Dear Sonya, Dear Thistle, Dear Editors,
You are my fave bug because my Do you like ice cream? I am interested in stopping pollution.

baby sister’s name is going to be I do. I love Spider magazine. Could you please write a story about stopping
Sonya! Can you adopt my alicorn What is your favorite color? Mine is blue. pollution? I would be very grateful if you did.
Cupcakes and Lollipops?
Please take care of Flower and Tree. Margaret K. Parker, age 9
Minette Albanese, age 7 Cecilia Austin, age 9 Alexandria, Virginia
Virginia Sunnyvale, California
Dear Margaret,
Dear Everybuggy, Dear Cecilia, We’ll be on the lookout for such a
Sonya, have you read Diary of a Wimpy I love ice cream! And my favorite color
story. Meanwhile, your letter will remind
Kid? I think you should read Book 14, is purple. everybuggy to recycle and take good care of
Wrecking Ball. It has some really cool bits, Love, the Earth! We’re proud of you for being such
like when Greg practically flew. I liked when Thistle a good, concerned citizen. Thank you!
the Leeches played hockey against the Fire
Ants (November/December 2019). I am Dear Everybuggy, Love,
considering making the spiced pomander I love your magazine! My favorite part is the Ophelia
ball (November/December 2019).
comics at the front. Miro, what is your favorite Send your letters to
Miro, could you add strawberry tres leches thing to cook? Will you please adopt my firefly? Spider’s Mailbox
ice cream to your menu at Café de Miro? Her name is Sunshine. P.O. Box 300
Peru, IL 61354
Ophelia, could you adopt Matt, my Lucy Wheaton, age 10
foxdog (half fox, half dog)? He likes to eat Dekalb, Illinois Please write your complete name, age, and address
gum and despises the taste of bugs, so he on your letter! You can also send us mail
won’t eat you. Bonjour, Lucy, at [email protected].
My mousse au chocolat is tres
Arjun, age 9 33
Fremont, California magnifique!
Bon appétit,
Miro

,
OPHELIA S LAST WORD

PRESENT THIS PERFECTLY pleasurable popcorn cake at your next
movie night, sleepover, or birthday—even a birthday in space!

What You’ll Need: 1½ cups pretzels

½ cup butter

16 ounces mini 1½ cups chocolate
marshmallows candies, nuts, and/or

Bundt or other 10 cups dried cranberries
large cake pan popped popcorn
2 large
microwaveable

bowls

spatula

What to Do:

1. Butter the cake pan. Pour popcorn, pretzels, candies,

nuts, and/or cranberries into a bowl and mix.

2. Put butter and marshmallows in the other bowl.

Microwave for 30 seconds, then stir. Repeat until
fully melted and smooth.

3. Pour melted marshmallow mixture over popcorn

mixture. Stir until everything is coated in
marshmallow. The “batter” will be sticky!

4. Pour “batter” into cake pan. Let set at least one hour.

Flip pan upside down to remove cake. Ask an adult to
help slice with a sharp knife and serve.

LOopvhee,lia

34

Buggy Bulletin Special
errestrial
Answer to Mars, Here We Come!aPinNsedArhsSleeaAavnd’edsreaondnnectwoMeewMasrtialslrrolisanvuteFnhrec,ibshPrseuinurasmrJeyuvml2ey0er2a2r0n.12c.0e,
wn alien buddy
ProfesTsoimr eFuMmabclheinnuember’s age 21!

Mind-Buggler

6 batteries, 4 screws, and 2 lightbulbs

amVniodsritaemicnoafuorsrn.mtndaaostiwao.nngoatovb/omlauuatnrtsch2he0d2roa0vyfe.orr

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

35

rocket body

tail 1 tail 2

rocket body

tail 1 tail 2

Mars Landing

by Shavan Spears

THREE . . . TWO . . . ONE . . . blastoff! Build these
paper rockets and have fun launching into your own
miniature Mars adventure.

What You’ll Need: tape
plastic drinking straws
scissors
unsharpened pencil

What to Do: figure 1
tape
1. Cut out blue rocket body. Wrap lengthwise around
tape
the pencil and tape into a tube. Remove pencil. figure 2

2. Cut out blue rocket tails. Line up the center rectangle

of tail 1 with the stripe on the rocket body.Tape it on.
Line up tail 2 and tape it to the opposite side of the
rocket body (figure 1).

3. Gently bend the triangular fins of each rocket tail in along

the dotted lines (figure 2).

4. Pinch the very top of the rocket flat, then tape the end

closed. Trim off extra tape. Repeat to make red rocket.

5. Prepare for takeoff! Place the Mars target on the ground

and stand a few feet away. Place a plastic straw inside
a rocket. Blow into the straw to launch. Once you’re
able to land your rocket on Mars, try launching at
different angles and from different distances.