SON a’s

ler

Wac y
Wo ds

There’s so ething silly

about this campsite. Can

you spot 18 differences

between the two pictures?

September 2020 Volume 27 Number 7 cricketmedia.com $6.95

Art by Eve Vandermolen Answers on page 35

®

the magazine for children

The Greater Outdoors by Chris Robertson

I love the Do you know what would
great outdoors! make this EVEN greater?

S’MORES!!! One second . . . Here we go!

Did you remember
to pack ‘em?

text and art © 2020 by Chris Robertson

Front Cover by John Sandford September 2020

2 The Greater Outdoors by Chris Robertson Volume 27 Number 7
4 Doodlebug & Dandelion by Pamela Dell
9 The Termite by Stella Michel James M. O’Connor, Director of Editorial
10 Turtles Crossing by Katherine Rawson Maria Hlohowskyj, Editor
15 Moth Metamorphosis by Christy Mihaly
16 Catching Frogs in the Clouds Emily Cambias, Assistant Editor
Stacey Lane Smith, Assistant Editor
by Tracy Vonder Brink
20 The Flying Tortoise by Rachel Craft Julie Peterson, Copyeditor
25 Peter’s Wish by Jennifer E. Brewer Suzanne Beck, Senior Art Director
31 Bug Adventure by Michael Chesworth
32 Spider’s Corner and Spider’s Mailbox Shavan Spears, Designer
34 Ophelia’s Last Word: Cozy Campfire Michael Chesworth, Artist, SPIDER bugs
35 Buggy Bulletin Adrienne Matzen, Permissions Specialist

The Fun Zone: Crazy Croaker Grateful acknowledgment is given to the following publishers and copyright
by Carly Castillon owners for permission to reprint selections from their publications. All possible
care has been taken to trace ownership and secure permission for each selection:
Mind-Buggler: Wacky Woods “Peter’s Wish” art © 2004 by Nathan Hale; “Fun Zone: Crazy Croaker” art © 2013
by Eve Vandermolen by Carly Castillon.

Spider and the Gang by Michael Chesworth Photo acknowledgments: 16-19 (BG) Attitude/Shutterstock.com; 16-19 (BG)
Doloves/Shutterstock.com; 16-18 (spots) sasa graphic/Shutterstock.com; 16 (TC)
Pickles! Pickles! PICKLES!!! Maybe Droney crashed John Baran/Alamy Stock Photo; 16 (LT), 16 (RT) Marcio Pie; 17 (all), 18 (LT)
I’ve lost radio contact into a tree? Marcio Pie; 18 (RT) Luiz Fernando Ribeiro; 19 (CC) Wolfgang Diederich/
with Droney! Or into a swamp. Alamy Stock Photo; 19 (LC) Angela N Perryman/Shutterstock.com; 19 (CC)
What a bummer. Petr Salinger/Shutterstock.com; 19 (LB) Mark Green/Shutterstock.com; 20-24
(BG) 13Imagery/Shutterstock.com; 20 (spot) struvictory/Shutterstock.com; 20, 22,
24 (border) flovie/Shutterstock.com; 35 (TC) Texturis/Shutterstock.com; 35 (BG)
Kostenko Maxim/Shutterstock.com; 35 (spot) Gluiki/Shutterstock.com; 35 (TC) Matt
Jeppson/Shutterstock.com; 35 (border) Aksiniya Polyarnaya/Shutterstock.com; 35
(spot) penguin_house/Shutterstock.com; 36 (BG) NastyS/Shutterstock.com; back
cover (all) yusufdemirci/Shutterstock.com.

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Educational Press International Reading
Association of America Association
Paul A. Witty
Golden Lamp Award
Distinguished Achievement Award Short Story Award 2008

Doodlebug & Dandelion
The MVP
by Pamela Dell Art by Dom Mansell

? “OUR TEAM IS going to beat your team so bad!” Dandelion
Pinkley warned her brother Doodlebug.

“Sorry, Dandelion, Oranges rule!” Doodlebug retorted.
Dandelion, Doodlebug, and six cousins and friends stood
before a challenging obstacle course newly built on the Sand
Pit, a sprawling public beach. Their two teams—Dandelion’s
Purples and Doodlebug’s Oranges—were about to do a trial
run. To tell the teams apart, the kids wore “buffies,” color-
coded cloths wrapped around head, neck, or wrist.
“Yeah, Dandelion!” Cousin Rudyard bravely chimed in.
He was still smarting from the shame of being picked last
for a team. “He’s too little!”
he’d heard someone say. And,

It seems so. It’s somewhere
out there in the sprawlin —

Qué pasa? Sam lost his spread-out—meadow.

new drone already?

4

“He can’t run fast enough!” pilot, had offered the ride as the
“Listen up, competitors!” Mr. winners’ prize.

Tanji, the course referee, shouted. With Mr. Tanji’s “Competitors,
“On my ‘GO!’ you’ll race through ready? GO!” the teams blasted toward
three obstacles. First team to finish the first obstacle, a zigzag-crazy
the course wins! Want to know what balance beam.
you’re playing for?”
Balancing was tough. Anybody
“YEAHHHH!!” everybody who fell off—and almost everyone
screamed. did—had to start over. And no team
could move on till all members were
“Winners will ride in that!” through the obstacle.
Mr. Tanji pointed dramatically to
a helicopter parked near the shore. Finally conquering the balance
More excited shouting erupted. beam, the Purples rushed for obstacle
Their friend Bog’s dad, an airline two, a rope fence. To get past the

Oh no, Sam! It took you This was the trial run—an Hang on . . . I see something
months to build that flying experiment to test it out. coming out above the trees.
robot! And now it’s lost?
!Que trágico! 5

fence, each kid had to dig into the neck and neck now. But before
sand and squirm underneath to the the Oranges could look twice, the
other side. There was grunting and Purples were galloping for the final
groaning, sand flying everywhere. obstacle—a wood block puzzle.
Everybody was breathing hard, gritty
sand lodged in their clothes, toes, Frantic, the Oranges dug like
mouths, and hair. wild dogs. Soon, three of them
managed to wriggle under the ropes.
“Hurry, Purples!” Bog roared. But Doodlebug was still struggling,
Back at the balance beam the stuck like a pig in mud. His team-
Oranges screamed feverishly at mates wailed in despair, begging him
Rudyard, dead last. He nervously to move it. He was holding them up!
took his last step and hopped off.
Done! With no time to lose, the “You’ve got this, Cuz!” Rudyard
Oranges scrambled to their fence encouraged. “Come on!”
and dug in. The competition was
To ear-splitting shrieks, Doodlebug
finally twisted free, and the team
charged to part three. The goal was

Is it Droney? Yes! And something’s Over here, Droney!
hanging off it . . . Come back!

?Qué es eso?

6

to rearrange the big wooden puzzle “Wait!” Rudyard cried suddenly.

pieces until they formed some kind “Let me try. I can do it. I know

of animal shape. But by the time what it is!”

the Oranges reached their table, His teammates, though doubtful,

the Purples were almost half-done moved aside. Rudyard stepped to

with that task. the table. In a few swift moves he

“I can’t get it!” Orange member rearranged all the pieces. It began

Tomiko moaned, after moving the to make sense.

parts all over the board and coming up “Rudyard, GO!” Doodlebug

with nothing. “You try, Doodlebug!” urged. “Don’t let them win!”

Rudyard stayed quiet, concentrat- The Purples locked in a few

ing on the action. Doodlebug got a more pieces. The challenge was

few pieces into place then stopped, nail-bitingly close now.

confused. The Purples were closing And then…Rudyard slid the last

in on victory. Rudyard stared hard at two pieces into place on the Orange

the half-finished puzzle. Something board. Put together, the puzzle

seemed familiar. made a funny-faced orangutan.

Why, it looks like a Goodness! The poor thing My controls are
tiny frog . . . hanging on must be frantic—wild and working again!

by its tongue! distraught with fear. Well, bring it in
for a landing! Be gentle,

Sam!

7

“Done!” Rudyard hollered, raising Rudyard made a suggestion. The
his fists overhead. other Oranges and their pilot
agreed. They jumped down from
Mr. Tanji hurried over and con- the copter to face the envious,
firmed the Oranges’ win, just as the forlorn-looking Purples.
Purples finished, a few seconds too late.
“Cheer up, we have a surprise
Whooping and dancing, the for you!” Doodlebug told them.
Oranges tumbled into the helicopter “An idea from our MVP—our
and flew off. They cruised over the most valuable player—Rudyard.”
ocean, then back across town, thrilled
to spot so many familiar places from “Purples ride next!” Rudyard
sky-high. announced to a chorus of cheers.

Down below, the Purples looked He was smiling so hard he thought
up in disappointment as Mr. Tanji his face might break. It didn’t matter
said, “Got nothin’ for ya, Purples.” if you got picked last, he realized. It
was how you played the game.
At the end of a fantastic ride,

Oh, dear. He looks I got you! How did his tongue get
so forlorn—sad. You’re safe now. stuck on Droney’s leg?

Peep . . .

8

The Termite The termite is a hungry brute.
He’s small and white but hardly cute.
by Stella Michel He gnaws and nibbles as he crawls
Art by Amanda Shepherd Beneath the floor, inside the walls.

Beware! Beware! For room by room,
Your house will weaken, then—KABOOM!
You’ll wake one chilly, cheerless dawn
In your p.j.’s on the lawn.

text © 2020 by Stella Michel, art © 2020 by Amanda Shepherd

9

Turtles Crossing

A LEX PEDALED HIS bike along the country lane that led

to his house. As he rounded a bend, the tips of the cattails that
grew around Johnson’s Pond came into view. His dad took him
canoeing there sometimes, and Alex loved it. The pond was
always so alive with activity. Frogs croaked along the shore,
dragonflies hunted among the cattails, and sometimes Alex
discovered turtles basking on sunny rocks.

Alex was curious about the turtles he saw. One week, when
it was too rainy to go canoeing, he and his dad went to the
library to check out books on turtles. Alex learned that turtles
don’t have warm blood like people do. That’s why they have
to sit in the sun to warm themselves. Now it looked like tomorrow
might be another sunny day. He decided he would ask Dad if
they could go canoeing and look for turtles again.

What’s your name, He says his
little guy? name is Peep.

by Katherine Rawson
Art by Daniel Powers
10
text © 2020 by Katherine Rawson, art © 2020 by Daniel Powers

Just then Alex saw something in He also knew not to get too close.
the road up ahead. It looked like a He had read that a snapping turtle
big gray rock. But it was a funny has a powerful bite even though it
place for a rock to be. doesn’t have teeth. It could even
bite off someone’s finger. He stood
And then, as Alex watched, the at a distance and watched the turtle
rock started to move. lumber over the road.

When he rode his bike up to get a Out of the corner of his eye, he
closer look, he saw that it wasn’t a rock saw a car approaching. The turtle
at all. It was a large turtle creeping its was still only halfway across the
way across the road. It had a bony, road. Alex knew he couldn’t pick
beak-shaped mouth and a long, it up to move it safely to the grass.
jagged tail. Alex knew right away What could he do?
it was a snapping turtle.

Where did he come from? He says he lives with his Hmm . . . he probably means
little family under the cattails—tall grass-like

tails of some cats. Well, that’s . . . plants that grow near
disturbing. ponds and streams.

11

Thinking fast, he started jumping “But I wonder why it’s walking
up and down and waving both hands away from the water,” Mrs. Ramos
wildly. “Stop! Stop!” he cried. The said.
car slowed to a stop, and the driver
stuck her head out the window. “It’s probably going to lay eggs,”
said Alex. “Snapping turtles lay
“Are you alright, Alex?” It was their eggs on the land away from
his neighbor, Mrs. Ramos. the water.”

“I’m fine, Mrs. Ramos,” said Alex. “You do know a lot about turtles,”
“I’m just trying to save a turtle.” said Mrs. Ramos. “And it’s spring,
so I guess a lot of turtles will be
Mrs. Ramos looked where Alex busy laying eggs.” She and Alex
was pointing. “That’s some snapper,” watched the turtle make its way to
she said. “I’m glad I didn’t hit it. the side of the road and disappear
Thank you, Alex.” into the tall grass.

Alex smiled.

Peep says he was just sitting there by himself,
on top of a cattail, feeling a little hungry . . .

12

“Well, I’ve got to be going,” said He jumped on his bike and raced
Mrs. Ramos. “Thanks for looking home.
out for the turtle.” She waved good-
bye and drove off. Alex found his dad working in
the garden. “Can I have some of that
Alex thought about what Mrs. old wood that’s in the shed?” Alex
Ramos had said about lots of turtles asked. “And some of that leftover
laying eggs. There would probably paint?”
be more turtles trying to cross the
road at this spot, he realized. But he “I suppose so,” said his dad.
couldn’t stand there all day trying “What do you want it for?”
to stop cars.
“I’ll show you when I’m done,”
Suddenly his face brightened. “I said Alex. “Oh, and can we go to
know what to do!” he said out loud. the pond tomorrow?”

“Sure. You want to go canoeing?”

When he saw this huge juicy fly Probably too scared !Guau! Pickles!
going past and so—ZAP—he shot to let go, aww.
Yikes!
out his tongue and just hung on.

13

“No,” said Alex. “I mean, yes. But back and surveyed his work.
first I want to do something else.” “Slow! Turtles crossing,” he read

Dad looked puzzled. out loud.
“I’ll explain later,” said Alex. “It looks great,” said Dad. “You

u u u did a good job.”
The next morning, Alex’s dad Alex grinned. “Do you think it’ll
parked his car by the side of the road
near the pond. Alex jumped out and keep cars from hurting the turtles?”
ran around to the back saying, “Hurry, “I think so,” said his dad. “I
Dad.”
Together, Alex and his dad lifted think this is an excellent idea of
a wooden sign out of the trunk and yours.” He put a hand on Alex’s
hammered it into the ground by the shoulder. “Are you ready to go
side of the road. Then Alex stepped canoeing?”

“Yes!” Alex shouted, and he ran
to get the paddles out of the car.

I’ve surve ed—looked over— Of course! At the far We must take Hold on a minute. Thistle,
all my maps of the Meadow, edge of the pond. him back! how is it that you
and there’s just one clump of understand frog?
cattails. Here! Don’t you?

14

Moth Metamorphosis

HARPER IS WALKING her dogs when she spies a little brown roll
hanging from a branch. What is it? It’s a cocoon, formed by a caterpillar as
part of its metamorphosis. The cocoon protects a pupa inside. Before long,
that pupa will become a moth. Can you help change the pupa into a moth?

Start with the word PUPA, then change one letter in PUPA to make
a new word that fits the sentence. Continue down the list of hints and
change just one letter each time until you can make the word MOTH.

1. PUPA “There’s a _P U_ P_ A_ in here!” Harper says. “What kind of
insect is inside?”

2. _ _ _ S “I’m glad it’s hanging high, so my _ _ _ _ can’t reach it.”

3. _ _ T _ Harper _ _ _ _ the cocoon in her bag; she’ll bring it home
to watch it.

4. _ A _ _ She finds a safe spot in her cherry tree. She _ _ _ _ the
cocoon into place.

5. _ _ _ H Harper’s tree is near the _ _ _ _. She checks the cocoon often.

6. M _ _ _ She counts the days and does the _ _ _ _. Her insect will
come out soon.

7. MOTH One morning, Harper runs to see: a pretty M_ O_ T_ H_ is
Welcome, moth! spreading its wings.

by Christy Mihaly Answers on page 35.
Art by Anne Lambelet
15
text © 2020 by Christy Mihaly, art © 2020 by Anne Lambelet

Catching
Frogs
in the
Clouds

by Tracy Vonder Brink

P ROFESSOR MARCIO PIE and

his team stop on top of a mountain in Marcio Pie (left) is a Brazilian researcher who is working
to discover—and save—new species of cloud forest frogs,
Brazil. It’s cool and damp under the like the one above.

trees. The scientists listen. The air perfect place for them. Twenty-one
kinds of cloud forest frogs have been
fills with high-pitched chirps. But discovered during other trips. Now
the professor and his team hope to
it’s not birds calling. It’s frogs! They find even more.

are so noisy it sounds as if there could The team walks toward the sound,
but the amphibians go quiet and hide
be hundreds of them. These frogs as soon as they feel footsteps coming
near. To frogs, something moving on
are why the team has climbed nearly the forest floor might be a hungry
snake. They can stay quiet and out
eight hours to visit this cloud forest, of sight for up to an hour. Even if
the professor and his team can’t
a mountainous area where clouds see the frogs, they know where the

hang low among the trees.

The scientists have come to study

miniature frogs—some no bigger text © 2020 by Tracy Vonder Brink

than a jellybean! These frogs need

cool temperatures and moisture to

live, so a damp cloud forest is the

It’s a pretty long hike, so I’m I’m rockin’ my official Y’all sure this frog He’s amphibious,
bringing a backpack with some much explorer’s helmet. comes from way out Bill.

needed supplies—gumdrops! by the pond?

16

amphibians are likely to be. Cloud lift the muddy leaves one by one.
forest frogs spend their day in the Sometimes they can’t find a single
leaf litter, the fallen leaves that pile frog, no matter how many leaves
up on the forest floor. There they they check. Being a scientist can
find bugs to eat, and their skin soaks be frustrating!
up moisture from the wet leaves.
But the team is patient. They
Now they burrow deeper into the wait. They listen. They dig through
leaves to hide. The scientists get more leaves. When they finally
down on their hands and knees and do catch some frogs, they examine

The seven new species that Professor Pie’s team discovered are members of the Brachycephalus family, also called cloud forest
frogs or saddleback frogs. Aside from being very tiny, some of these frogs are poisonous. Their bright orange color tells predators,
“Warning: don’t eat me!”

Oh, Thistle dear, Sonya means
Peep is an amphibian.
He ain’t fibbin’ us! Amphibians are a group of animals
Peep’s telling the truth! including frogs, toads, and
salamanders.

17

To see how itsy
bitsy my actual
size is, place your
finger next to the
circle in the lower
right hand corner
of this image.
Careful, don’t
squish me!

The Brachycephalus cloud forest frogs that Professor Pie’s team recorded are so little, they could sit on the tip of your finger!
The researchers found them by following the sound of their voices. Look closely at the photos above. How many toes can you
count on the frogs’ tiny feet?

them closely and take pictures. They lemon yellow with a sprinkling
want to find out whether these frogs of brown spots. Their color is a
are different from the ones other warning because cloud forest frogs
scientists have already found. The are poisonous. Their bright skin
team measures the frogs to see how tells other animals, “Don’t eat
long they are. They even count the me! I’m deadly!”
frogs’ toes! Most frogs have four toes
on each front leg and five toes on Studying cloud forest frogs isn’t
each back leg. Cloud forest frogs easy, but the team’s patience and
have two toes in the front and three hard work pays off. They find seven
toes in the back. Why? The frogs’ new kinds of cloud forest frogs.
feet are so small that they don’t The team introduces the frogs to
have room for any more toes. the world through the Internet and
shares what they’ve learned with
The team also notes how the other scientists. Professor Pie thinks
frogs look. Some have smooth skin. the mountains could be home to
Others are rough. Many are brightly even more frogs nobody has ever
colored—orange like a pumpkin or seen.

Unlike other animals, amphibians live Aww… Can’t you Peep’s family makes use of
both in the water and on land. decide, Peep? both worlds to survive.

18

He worries about the tiny crea- Scientists have also thought about
tures. Logging, farming, and warmer raising some frogs in captivity so
world temperatures could harm their they don’t become extinct. With
habitat. The professor and his team some help from humans, cloud
have suggested making cloud forests forest frogs could live among the
protected land to keep the frogs and clouds for years to come.
other animals that live there safe.

A Home in the Clouds

Cloud forests are found on tall
mountains in the tropics. They’re
so high up that the trees “catch”
the clouds when the winds blow.
Clouds hang among the trees,
keeping the area cool and damp.

Jaguars live in cloud forests.
The brightly colored quetzal bird
lives there, too. Cloud forests in
Ecuador have over 4,000 different
kinds of orchid flowers. These areas
have animals and plants found
nowhere else in the world. Many
are still waiting to be discovered.

It’s their way of not going Me, I take a bath SŮi, pero not often enough.
extinct—no longer existing. so I don’t stink.

19

A Nigerian Folk Tale

A LONG TIME ago, when the animals could still talk,
Tortoise was the cleverest of them all. He was also the most
handsome. His shell was smooth and shiny as a jewel, and he
was very proud of it.

Then one day, a terrible drought came to the savanna where
Tortoise lived. The rivers dried up, the trees died, and the grasses
disappeared. All the animals on the ground, from the meerkat to
the hippopotamus, were hungry. But the birds stayed as plump
and happy as ever. Tortoise wondered how this could be.

One night, Tortoise was so hungry he couldn’t sleep. While his
wife slept in their burrow, he went for a walk outside. He saw all
the birds flying up to a wide silver cloud, where the Sky People
were having a feast!

Tortoise’s eyesight wasn’t good enough to see the food, but
he could see the birds smacking their beaks. It made his mouth

First, we must cross the mighty Umm . . . it’s just our Retold by Rachel Craft
savanna—this grassland with meadow, Spider. Art by Robert Meganck

scattered trees. text © 2020 by Rachel Craft, art © 2020 by Robert Meganck

20

water. He couldn’t stand another “I am much bigger and stronger
day of this drought knowing the than you birds,” Tortoise said.
birds feasted every night. So he used “Perhaps I could join you at the feast
all of his cleverness to come up with and carry some food down with me.”
a plan.
Parrot laughed. “Ca-ca-caw! A
The next morning, Tortoise went fine plan, my friend, except you
to his friend Parrot. cannot fly.”

“We’re so hungry down here,” he “Then why don’t you lend me
said sadly. “Why don’t you and the your feathers?” Tortoise asked. “If
other birds share your feast with us?” each bird gives me one, I might be
able to fly.”
“We would,” Parrot replied, “but
the Sky People’s food is too heavy Parrot thought this plan could
for us to carry. And if we dropped it work, so she gathered all the birds.
from the clouds, it would smash into They each plucked a feather from
many pieces.” their wing and gave it to Tortoise.

Bill! Stop sneaking What a lovely day for a hike!
gumdrops from my pack!
More like for a hop,
right, Peep?

21

“All-of-You,” said Tortoise, in

his most cunning voice.

Parrot frowned. “Really? I thought

your name was Tortoise.”

“That is my surname,” Tortoise

lied. “My first name is All-of-You.”

Tortoise sat down at the birds’

table. When the Sky People came

with their trays and platters, Tortoise

made sure to ask, “Who is this food

for?”

“Why, it’s for all of you,” the Sky

People said as they went off to fill

the other tables.

Tortoise pretended to be surprised.

“This is all for me? Don’t worry,

birds.” He smiled his most cunning

smile. “I’m sure they’ll bring your

plates soon. But I’m starved, so I

From these he crafted a pair of hope you don’t mind if I start eating.”

bright, rainbow-colored wings. He Which he did, with gusto.

took a running start and—flap, flap, Of course, the Sky People did

flap—lifted off the ground. Soon he not bring any more food. But by the

reached the cloud where the Sky time the birds realized this, Tortoise

People were cooking their feast. had eaten every crumb! The birds

“We’ve never seen a bird like were so angry, they flocked around

you before,” they said to Tortoise. him and took back all the feathers

“What is your name?” he had borrowed.

Shhh . . . Quiet, everybuggy! Lions and Stay frosty, campers.
tigers and cheetahs and wombats
could jump us at any moment.

22

Now Tortoise had a problem. With will take your message. Wait here until

no wings, he had no way to get back to your wife has finished moving the soft

the ground. So he thought of another things. Then jump down.”

plan. He would send a message to his Tortoise sighed with relief.

wife. He would tell her to move all the “Thank you.”

soft things, like blankets and pillows, Parrot flew down to the burrow.

out from their burrow. Then he could “Your husband has terrible news,” she

leap from the clouds and have a safe told Tortoise’s wife. “His worst enemy

place to land. Tortoise begged the birds is planning to attack you from the sky.

to fly down and deliver this message, You must bring all the hard things from

but they were too angry. your burrow and place them out here.

Parrot, who was even angrier than That way, his enemy will have no safe

the other birds, came up with a plan place to land.”

of her own. She said to Tortoise, in Of course, this news alarmed

her most cunning voice, “Friend, I Tortoise’s wife. She followed Parrot’s

Wombats? Really? Yes, wombats are AHHHHHH! A
especially cunning—clever WOMBAT!!!
and tricky. Why, they’ll— BONJOUR, MES AMIS!

23

instructions. From high above, his mane, or a peacock without his
Tortoise saw her moving things out tail feathers.
of the burrow. But with his poor
eyesight, he couldn’t see she was While Tortoise told his wife what
moving hard objects like metal pots had happened, she went outside to
and wooden tables. Then he leaped collect the pieces of shell and used
from the clouds. tree sap to stick them back together.

When Tortoise landed in the “It serves you right.” She handed
pile of hard things, his shell broke Tortoise his new shell, now cracked
into many pieces. Now he was and misshapen. “Let this be a
naked, his skin wrinkled as a prune. reminder to not be so selfish.”
He dashed into his burrow. “I can’t
go outside!” he wailed. “I can’t be That is why Tortoise’s children
seen like this!” You see, a tortoise and grandchildren, and their
without his shell is like a lion without grandchildren after them, have had
lumpy, bumpy shells ever since.

Miro! What are you Collecting zee fresh herbs to make zee Here? In cunning
doing way out here? wombat country?
rustic souffleŮ for you silly buggies.

24

O NCE, LONG AGO, rumors swirled throughout Peter’s
Wish
the countryside that the great white unicorn had been
spotted. Even the tiniest children knew that whoever
was able to pluck a hair from the animal’s silvery mane
would receive whatever his or her heart most desired.

When Peter, the carpenter, heard the news, he

hesitated. He stopped hammering to watch several by Jennifer E. Brewer
princes rush by his window. Their silk cloaks billowed Art by Nathan Hale
behind them as they charged toward the forest on their
magnificent horses. Crowds of men, many of them
well-trained hunters, followed on foot. Who was he to

imagine that he could possibly find the unicorn before

they did?

I knew it was all just silly rumors— Well, Miro, if you’ve got all the
stories not proven true. herbs you desired—wanted—

Non, I see no you should join us. We’re taking Peep
wombats ’ere. back home.

25

Then he thought of Julianne. He had been in love
with the shopkeeper’s beautiful daughter since they were
both schoolchildren. Her father, however, could see only
the ragged clothes he wore, the bare cupboards, the often
empty workshop. He refused to let his only daughter
marry someone as ordinary as Peter.

As soon as the image of Julianne flashed across his
mind, Peter knew that he had to at least try to find the
unicorn. It was his last—his only—chance. So he put on
his tattered cloak, packed the last of his food into a pack,
and set off.

Everyone in the surrounding towns had slipped into
the forest, looking for the magical creature. They were
making so much noise, however, that even the birds
and squirrels took cover. Finally, after a few days, most

26

people gave up. With heavy hearts, they went back to
their regular lives. Peter hunted for the unicorn long
after they had gone home, but by the seventh day,
even he was beginning to get discouraged.

Maybe there is no unicorn, he thought to himself.
Maybe I’m chasing a dream.

But he just couldn’t bring himself to give up. Not
yet. He sat down under a tree to rest and soon fell
asleep.

The snap of a branch woke him. There, in the
middle of the clearing, not fifty feet away, stood the
great white unicorn, its silver mane shimmering in
the late afternoon sun. Peter’s heart pounded as he
inched forward. He had nearly reached the edge of
the clearing when the beautiful animal vanished.

27

Suddenly, something touched his elbow. Peter jumped.

“Excuse me,” said a raspy voice. Peter looked down

into the face of a very old man. “I’m sorry to bother you,

but I’m so hungry. Do you have a bite

to spare?”

Peter took off his pack and rummaged

inside. “All I have left is one roll and

some dried berries,” he said, “but I’d

be glad to share them with you.”

The old man’s eyes lit up as Peter

divided the food on a nearby tree stump.

They ate in silence as Peter watched the

clearing, hoping for another glimpse

of the unicorn. When he looked back,

the man was gone.

Peter shook his head in surprise and

stood up. He tiptoed around to the

other side of the clearing. Twice he

thought he saw a flash of silvery white,

but when he got there, all he saw was a

young woman, leaning against a tree.

“Are you all right?” Peter whispered.

“Not really,” said the woman. “I’m so thirsty. I haven’t

had a drop to drink since yesterday, and now I feel rather

dizzy.”

“I have a little water,” said Peter, still glancing around

him. He reached into his pack and pulled out a flask.

The woman quickly drank it all. I rummaged—searched—through
the bottom of my backpack and
Qué tal?— ? Sadly, I am found one last, old, sticky one.
sans bonbons.
What’s wrong, Bill?
Can’t go on . . . need . . .
Well, this certainly more . . . gumdrops.
looks grim.

28

“Thank you,” she said.

“You’re wel—” began Peter, but he stopped short

when he realized that the woman was gone. The empty

flask lay on the ground.

Peter looked around for her but saw nothing except

trees . . . and a flash of white across the clearing. Slowly,

carefully, he headed back the way he had come. When

he got there, however, he heard someone crying softly.

He followed the sound and found a child curled up

against a half-rotten log.

“Can you help me?” asked the child, raising his tear-

stained face. “My father and I came out here to hunt the

unicorn, but we got separated. Now I don’t know how

to get home.” Hey, everybuggy! Has anyone noticed
there are cattails all around us?
Honestly, Bill. No one needs We must be there. Peep,
candy that much. call out to your family!

29

Peter hesitated. He knew the way out of the forest,
but it would take a couple of hours. The sun was already
beginning to creep toward the horizon. Without food or
water, he knew he wouldn’t be able to come back. Yet he
couldn’t very well leave the child out here alone. With
a sigh, Peter took his hand.

The first stars were popping out when they reached
the edge of the forest.

“Thank you,” said the child. “I know my way from
here.”

“All right,” said Peter with a tired smile. He sat down
in the grass, unable to go back but unwilling to go for-
ward just yet.

Then something nuzzled his shoulder. Peter turned his
head and found himself staring into the emerald eyes of the

Wait! I see emerald—deep green—gumdrops . . .
everywhere . . . floating all around me.
Just eat the Umm, he’s not imagining.
old gumdrop, I got most of the fuzz off it. Alors, now ee eez But those aren’t gumdrops . . .
Bill, and move on!
seeing things! Trés mal.
30

unicorn. Slowly, he raised his hand to the beautiful beast’s mane.
As he plucked one silvery strand of hair, he saw—deep in the
creature’s eyes—the faces of the old man, the young woman,
and the child. Suddenly he realized that he had indeed been
with the unicorn the whole time.

As quietly as a cloud in the summer sky, the unicorn drifted
back into the forest. Peter scrambled to his feet and ran the
rest of the way home. When he got there, he found not a
one-room cottage, but a five-bedroom stone home. Inside,
he found that his empty cupboards were now nearly bursting
with food and his clay penny jar was overflowing with gold
pieces. In his fireplace, a warm fire crackled. And in front of
the fire sat Julianne, welcoming him home.

Little family?
Hurray! We found
Peep’s little family!

31

Bird or Bug Ziva C., age 7 Benjamin Kwack, age 8
Ann Arbor, Michigan Lisle, Illinois
Piper Lynn Watkins, age 9
Bixby, Oklahoma Flitter and Fly How Do Birds Fly?
A hummingbird hovering in a tree, How do birds fly?
A Spider sucking nectar next to a bee. “Why oh Maybe it is because they have feathers.
Crafty silent stealthy and smart why do you suck my nectar? Maybe it is because they have wings.
How she builds her web sets her apart You two are tickling me!” How? How? How?
With silvery thread and nimble legs
She builds her web with ease and skill “I suck your nectar so I can fly, Do they have a secret that people do not know?
A spider flittering all day into the sky.” I think they have airplanes beneath their
very thick wings or
Hatched with the stealth and skill “As for me,” said the bee, they might have mega ultra hair dryers
To build the web that will keep her alive “I bring nectar to my queen hidden in their tail.
A masterpiece a spider’s pride so our honey will taste sweet.” How? How? How?
They come in many a different size
A spider’s prize “But what do you do for me?” Linden H., age 11
said the flower impatiently. Hinsdale, Montana
Covered in dew as the sun rises
Glistening sparkling they are diamonds of dew “We are pollinating, as you can see. The Bat
Clinging on to what looks like nothing Just look at our tummies, Beware of the big brown bat, my son,
And in the middle of it all they are as yellow as can be.” He eats us bugs one by one.
A spider
Rose B., age 8 He never seems to stop, never seems to wait,
Abigail D., age 9 Marquette, Michigan We always seem to be upon his dinner plate.
Mullica Hill, New Jersey
Birds sing brightly So stay in the big tall grass and hide,
Paradise Tanager In the foggy morning For in his hunting he takes great pride.
A flash of colors Roaring with laughter
Flits along in the treetops. Dancing in the sky
A beautiful bird! Soaring above us

Dear Spider, Hi, Spider!
I love your magazines! They are very good. I love your magazines! I have a riddl

What is your favorite color? Mine is blue! I love for you: What ten-letter word starts with GAS?
to read. Can you ask Thistle what her favorite Automobile.
book is? And please adopt my baby panda.
She is very sensitive, and she loves O ! Will you please adopt
Thunder the bunny?
Demetra Perry, age 9
Natick, Massachusetts Eleanor, age 7
Durham, North Carolina

Demetra, my favorite color is red, and Dear Sam,
Thistle’s favorite books are the Little House I especially like the comics below. It’s really
on the Prairie books.
funny when you forget something and say
Spider “pickles.”

Hi, Spider, Will you adopt my blue-and-green panther,
I just started reading Spider, but I already Ken? He might seem scary at first, but he only
eats mice and snakes. He also likes mosquitoes.
like it! Please adopt Watermelon and her
friend Sonic the Hedgehog. Watermelon eats What’s your favorite color? Mine is blue.
watermelon. That’s where she gets her name. What’s your favorite food? Mine is pizza. It’s
Sonic eats junk food, just to let you know. been fun talking with you.
He is sooooooooo fast he could run for weeks!
W t melon’s birthday is December 2, and Jamie, age 8
Atlanta, Georgia
’s is January 1.
Atticus, age 6 Dear Jamie,
Worcester, Massachusetts I like green and pickles, but I like pizza, too!
Love,
Sam

32

Maya Levine, age 8 Rosalie D., age 6
San Diego, California Killeen, Texas

Metamorphosis Little Bugs

First it is an egg, small and light, Flying, crawling, digging bugs

Next it is a caterpillar, hold on tight, Cuddling on the market rugs

Then it is a chrysalis, sleep very well, Getting ready to go to sleep

Last it is a butterfly, beautiful and swell! Counting sheep
CLittle, cute, and cozy bugs.
onClare S., age 8
tesLakeville, Ohio
t ROur Chickens
uleTwelve funny fowl run in the yard.
sRunning like fowl is very hard.

They sleep in the coop at night.
What do they do at first light?
Maybe they cluck, maybe they squawk.
Maybe they talk as a big flock.
When we open the door they run out.
I gather more eggs than I can count.
Nicholas W., age 5 seEnmd aitilti3oysosW.SuuYp2ereoiea.dwounnefBirltdrSlree’say1ppnasnuCd.gittHuddorbduyoYre/elerasorroirmensrep.rtusdhoeuioasridrsarno.i,eenetnulPnirca,rtnt.@rlhraOuerfyeauDid.cvavtmroeBehrnoainooudrwcybilrxsokytyiseatzue3aSsribrpunty0eeimiclig0npcenos,ttsegituemithP:gdsmrieeepntip’abrlseJoueue.dafcty,brneaooIbl2uLninumyc5aar6aor,a,myto1u2iopow3t20edran5,02nor4a20eioing.1n.dretepa,aocr.irtnivlteitgya. l
Moorpark, California

Bird
bird
beaked blue bird
flying playing flapping
a fun stuffed animal
blue jay

Todd O., age 9
Arlington, Virginia

Magical Creature

Dear Everybuggy, Hi, Thistle! Dear Ophelia,
I like how you put the meanings of the I love you! M M Please adopt Please adopt my wolf pup, Gryffindor. Every

words in the little comic strip at the bottom my adorable kitten, Snuggles. She does not night, give her mint chocolate chip ice cream
of the page. It helps me a lot. Ophelia, I love eat bugs. She only eats fish and chips. and raspberries and lemonade. Each night,
you most of all, especially your “Ophelia’s read Harry Potter to her, too. Then, turn on a
Last Word.” Evelyn Miranda, age 5 lantern and bring her to howl. Then, lead her
Encinitas, California to her den to sleep.
I have a joke for you guys. Why were
the restaurant owners afraid that the koala Dear Spider, Can you also adopt the pup twins, Quidditch
would come in to eat? Because the koala I made a joke that I think you’ll probably and London? They both drink Coke and eat
eats, shoots, and leaves. (He eats shoots pepperoni. Don’t forget to take a dose of Felix
and leaves.) like. Here it is: What do you call a fish with Felicis (luck potion from Harry Potter and the
no eyes? Fssshhhhh. I hope you like it! Half-Blood Prince)!
Nadia W., age 9
Houston, Texas Kathryn D., age 8 Eva Balmes, age 8
Biddeford, Maine Iowa City, Iowa
Dear Thistle,
Do you have a pet or pets? I have a dog, Dear Thistle, Send your letters to
Can you adopt Aquarine, my sea turtle? Spider’s Mailbox
Mateo, a sea snail, Shelly, and a betta fish, P.O. Box 300
Suesan. She eats seaweed, aqua snails, and fish Peru, IL 61354
scales. Aquarine has a goldfish friend
Please adopt Gia and Pine. Pin named Clowey. Her favorite color is green. Please write your complete name, age, and address
is a bear. She eats berries, and she
has a band called The Pines! She’s I love space. Jupiter and Saturn are my
the drummer. Gia eats lots of fish, favorites. I love Spider magazine. Tell Sonya
and she is a Caticorn. Gia is the guitaris to read Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi. I love it.
in Pine’s band. Gia and Pine only eat Au revoir.
fish and berries—they don’t eat bugs
Frances Ives, age 8
Neve M., age 7 Minneapolis, Min esota
Geneva, Illinois
on your letter! You can also send us mail

at [email protected]. 33

,
OPHELIA S LAST WORD

RAIN OR SHINE, day or night, enjoy all the fun of

a campfire with none of the smoke. brown paper
lunch bags

What You'll Need: glue scissors

red and yellow
tissue paper

piece of cardboard

brown, orange, empty paper towel and
and red markers toilet paper tubes

What to Do:

1. Color corners of the tissue paper with orange and red markers.
(Make sure to have something underneath.)

2. With brown marker, draw circles, ovals, and lines on each
tube to make them look like logs.

3. Cut a lunch bag in half. Crumple each half into a ball to make
rocks. Make enough rocks to circle around the cardboard.

4. Put a dot of glue in the center of a red piece of tissue paper.
Lay a yellow piece on top, with corners sticking out at an angle.
Add more glue and more tissue paper one piece at a time.

5. Pinch the middle of the tissue paper and scrunch into a
bouquet shape. Glue pinched spot to the center of the
cardboard. Arrange rocks and logs around tissue paper fire
and glue down. Let dry, and get ready to tell campfire stories!

LOopvhee,lia

34

Buggy Bulletin

Answer to

Wacky Woods

Mind-Buggler

Cecropia Moth Q. What is a frog’s favorite
candy?
lbiCeneaeNvcsereoosvrpteohinaf Amimnmacoephtrhleeiscs!aaa.nTrTdehhecteihhrierecrwlaratyirengrtgerpessileptlasamr.nsocetahanst
A. Lollihops!
AMnostwheMr etotamorphosis
1. PUPA Send your jokes to
2. PUPS [email protected]!
3. PUTS
4. PATS
5. PATH
6. MATH
7. MOTH

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

35



Crazy Croaker

Art by Carly Castillon

MAKE THIS CRAZY croaker to hang
in your room!

What You’ll Need: figure 1 figure 2
figure 3
scissors
glue figure 4
pencil
string

What to Do:

1. Cut out all of the frog pieces along the
solid lines.

2. Fold one circle in half. Glue one side
of folded circle to top of other circle to

make frog’s mouth (figure 1).
3. Fold eye tabs to the back along dotted

lines. Glue to top of “mouth” near the

fold (figure 2).
4. Accordion-fold 4 legs along dotted lines.

Glue legs to underside of body (figure 3).
5. Glue tongue to inside, bottom portion of

mouth (figure 4).
6. With pencil, poke small hole through

center of circle. Insert string into hole

and knot the end (figure 4). Make sure

the knot is large enough not to slip

through hole.
7. Hang your frog near a window in your

room. Watch his crazy legs dance when

the breeze blows!