Special de

livery! Fin
way throu d your
gh this ma
and bring ze
a sweet tre
to your Va at
lentine.

February 2018 Volume 25 Number 2 cricketmedia.com $6.95

Art by Sergey Kostik Answer on page 35

art © 2018 by Sergey Kostik
 ®

the magazine for children

text and art © 2018 by Christine Jopling
Front Cover by Bill Mayer February 2018
art © 2018 by Bill Mayer Volume 25 Number 2
James M. O’Connor, Director of Editorial
Jestine Ware, Associate Editor
Maria Hlohowskyj, Assistant Editor
2 Baking Friends by Christine Jopling Julie Peterson, Copyeditor
Suzanne Beck, Senior Art Director
4 Doodlebug & Dandelion by Pamela Dell Anna Lender, Designer
Michael Chesworth, Artist, SPIDER bugs

10 Lizard’s Trick by Beverly McLoughland Adrienne Matzen, Permissions Specialist

11 Clucky Chicken Jokes Grateful acknowledgment is given to the following publishers and copyright owners
for permission to reprint selections from their publications. All possible care has been
12 Poultrygeist by Bob Morrow taken to trace ownership and secure permission for each selection: “Poultrygeist” text
© 2004 by Bob Morrow, art © 2004 by Matt Faulkner.

18 The Noisy Chicken by James R. Cluck Photo acknowledgements: 25 (LT) Afishka/Shutterstock.com; 25 (CC) Nancy R.
Schiff/Getty Images; 25 (RT, RC, RB) © Donna Mussenden Van Der Zee, All Rights
Reserved, Courtesy Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York; 26 (TC) Serap Dursun/

19 Sweet Potato Sweetheart Crackers Alamy Stock Vector; 26 (all) Oskal/Shutterstock.com; 39 (TC) Texturis/Shutterstock.
com; 39 (BG) Kostenko Maxim/Shutterstock.com; 39 (frame) ivgroznii/Shutterstock.
com; 36 (TC); 37 (TC) motuwe/Shutterstock.com; 36 (CC) Nadezhda Teo/Shutterstock.
com; 36 (BC) Marish/Shutterstock.com; 37 (CC) Yganko/Shutterstock.com; 37 (BC)
by M.P. Spuds Dreamzdesigners/Shutterstock.com.

SPIDER, the Magazine for Children (ISSN 1070-2911) is published 9 times a year,
20 Pinky Lovett’s New Neighbor by Alicia Potter monthly except for combined May/June, July/August, and November/December issues,
by Carus Publishing dba Cricket Media, 70 East Lake Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL
60601. Additional Editorial Office located at 1751 Pinnacle Drive, Suite 600, McLean,
25 The Picture-Takin’ Man by Jestine Ware VA 22102. Periodicals postage paid at McLean, VA, and at additional mailing offices.
For address changes, back issues, subscriptions, customer service, or to renew please
visit shop.cricketmedia.com, email [email protected], write to SPIDER,
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send address changes to SPIDER, P.O. Box 6395, Harlan, IA 51593-1895.

27 Counting in Swedish by Eva Apelqvist February 2018, Volume 25, Number 2 © 2018, by Carus Publishing dba Cricket
Media. All rights reserved, including right of reproduction in whole or in part, in any
form. Submit manuscripts online at cricketmag.submittable.com. Not responsible for

31 Bug Adventure unsolicited manuscripts or other material. All letters and contest entries are assumed
for publication and become the property of Cricket Media. For information regarding
our privacy policy and compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act,

32 Spider’s Corner & Mailbox please visit cricketmedia.com.

1st printing Quad/Graphics Midland, Michigan

34 Ophelia’s Last Word: Make a Space Plane January 2018
Printed in the United States of America.
35 Buggy Bulletin From time to time, SPIDER mails to its subscribers advertisements for other SPIDER
products or makes its subscriber list available to other reputable companies for their
offering of products and services. If you prefer not to receive such mail, write to us at
the Harlan, IA address.
The Fun Zone: Valentine’s Day Party Blowers Check out our online Teacher Guides at
cricketmedia.com/teacher-resources.
Art by Anna Eidelman To subscribe, call Customer Service at 1-800-821-0115
or visit shop.cricketmedia.com.

Mind-Buggler: Valentine’s Day Delivery

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

Spider and the Gang by Michael Chesworth

YAHOO! I can finally finish my

BugX Space Project!
 Doodlebug & Dandelion
Pine Nutters’ News
by Pamela Dell Art by Dom Mansell

“DANDELION, LOOK!” DOODLEBUG Pinkley said, nudging

his sister. They stood in the lobby of Pine Nut Elementary School,
along with their cousin Rudyard.
Doodlebug handed Dandelion the latest issue of the school
newspaper, Pine Nutters’ News. The headline blared, “Mystery
Photographer on the Loose!”
Dandelion frowned. “I wonder who it is.”
“And why is this person doing this?” Doodlebug asked. “Maybe . . .”
“I love mysteries!” Rudyard interrupted. “Read the whole thing,
Dandelion!”
Attention, students!
Have you noticed strange photographs posted around school?
Inquiring minds want to know: who’s doing this, and why?!

FREE CASH! Where? Who? I'm not sure I should say . . .

Some bug gave you money to
finish your space plane? my supporter may wish to
remain anonymous—not named.

4
 The anonymous photographer sent Dandelion read aloud. A buzz of
us a note saying the photos together excitement filled the air.
make a coded message. To figure out “Whoopee, a puzzle!” Rudyard
the message, you will need to find five shouted.
objects in each of the first three photos. Everyone copied the list of items,
The fourth photo has six items. Each ready to do some serious code breaking.
item can appear in more than one “But where are the pictures?”
photo. Here are the objects to look for: Dandelion asked, looking around.
Boggington Bogsworth the Third,
a good friend of Doodlebug and
Dandelion, pointed to an odd photo-
graph hung in the trophy case. “That
must be one of them!” he said.

Find five or six of these objects in

each picture to decode all four parts of
the message. Then meet at noon today
in the cafeteria for further instruction.
There will be no classes until the mystery
photographer has been identified!
A crowd of students grabbed
their own copies and read along as

We are family! Get up everybuggy Alors, one wacky family!

Oh, fiddlesticks. You I got all my sisters and sing!
can tell us! with me . . .

5
 Everyone gathered to study the Working together, Doodlebug
first photo, searching for objects and Rudyard found another weird
listed in the article. picture posted in the science lab.

The third photo hung with portraits

of old school principals.

“This picture has a tree, dog, cat,

moon, and star,” Dandelion said,
double checking the list. “I wonder
what the message means.”
Rudyard hollered “Let’s find
more pictures!” and started off
with Doodlebug.
Other kids scattered in all
directions. The hunt for the
mystery photos was on!
Ah, pickles. OK. So there
I was at my BugX booth
at the Meadow High Tech ¿Quién?
Convention. I heard a cheer go WHO?
up. I whirled—quickly turned
around—and there he was!
6
 “Better hurry, Dandelion,” Rudyard
said, looking worried.
“Has anyone checked those empty
classrooms upstairs?” Dandelion
suggested.
Doodlebug and Rudyard lit up.
“Let’s go!”
The two boys sprang up the stairs
at top speed. They skidded into a dusty,
But after scouring the school and deserted classroom that had more
racing past other hunting kids, they cobwebs than desks. Sure enough,
still hadn’t found the fourth photo. there was photo number four.
Together they slumped on a
bench in a shadowy hallway, out of
breath and out of ideas. But they had
to find all the secret-code objects
before noon and get to the cafeteria.
As they sat, someone came toward
them out of the shadows wearing a
disappointed expression.
“It’s hopeless,” Dandelion moaned,
flopping down next to them. “I haven’t
discovered even one photograph.”
“Don’t worry, Dandelion,” her loyal
brother said, “there’s one in . . .” Doodlebug whirled to thank
“Don’t tell me!” Dandelion ordered, Dandelion. But Dandelion wasn’t
clapping her hands over her ears. “I’ll there. She wasn’t anywhere. She
find them myself.” was just gone.
The wealthy
The famous investor?
inventor? The bug with gazillions
E. Long Musk-Beetle of dollars?
himself! And crazy-
long feelers?
7
 “It’s five minutes before noon,” one end of the room, with the tallest
Rudyard said. “Should we look kids in the back.
for her?” “Time to decode all four parts of
“No time!” Doodlebug bellowed. the message!” he boomed, unveiling
“We need to get to the cafeteria a giant board showing the list of
right now!” objects and what they stood for.
They got there seconds before As the students began working
the noon bell rang. Tons of other out the code, a curious murmuring
kids were there, too. All of them rose in the air. They eyeballed each
had their lists of objects. And now other, wondering. They had the
the four photographs hung in a row message . . . but what did it mean?
on one wall. Rudyard elbowed Doodlebug and
Principal Hogwobble directed all pointed to a weird object between
the students to stand in neat rows at some lunch tables. “Look at that!”

The very same. And he liked my

WOW! FIVE BUCKS!
BugX space plane project so Yikes! That's
much he gave me this! almost a gazillion!

8
 Doodlebug gulped. He wasn’t Without warning, she snapped
ready to have his picture taken, but a picture of the whole group.
an old camera on a tripod was aimed Suddenly, they all understood
directly at the students. A photogra- the coded message in Dandelion’s
pher, head hidden beneath a black strange photographs.
cloth, seemed to be adjusting the And years later, everyone still
camera lens. agreed that on that day, thanks to
“SAY CHEESE!” the camera Dandelion Pinkley, they had posed
person shouted, pulling off the cloth. for the best class picture ever taken
A blonde head appeared—Dandelion! at Pine Nut Elementary—even if,
“I’m your mystery photographer! like the ones they’d found, it was
And you are all my stars!” truly a little bit strange.

ers
n to p ag e 3 5 to see the answ
Tur secret messag
e.
to Dandelion's
Outer space,
here we come! Huzzah! Rubber bands?
Now I can get the last
things I need: rubber
bands!

9
 Lizard’s Trick
by Beverly McLoughland
Art by Amy Ning
What a lizardy, wizardy trick
How clever, how crafty, how cunning
When her tail is caught by a foe
She will–snap!–let it go
While the main part of her keeps on running.

What a wizardy, lizardy ploy

Poor fox! Now he’s bound to grow thinner!
What a devious mind
To leave an appetizer behind
And dash off with the rest of the dinner.

10 text © 2018 by Beverly McLoughland, art © 2018 by Amy Ning

Cluc k y C hic ke n J ok e s
Art by Amanda Shepherd

KNOCK KNOCK. WHO’S THERE?

Interrupting Chicken.
What did the pirate chicken use
to replace her missing claw?
Interr—
A - D O O D L E - D O O !
COCK- AN EGG LEG!

If the rooster wakes up the farm,

What do chickens say on Halloween? what wakes up the rooster?

CHICK-OR-TREAT! AN ALARM CLUCK!

Why did the hedgehog

Where do purple chickens come from? cross the road?

EGGPLANTS! IT WAS STUCK TO THE CHICKEN!

art © 2018 by Amanda Shepherd

Send your favorite jokes to [email protected]! 11

 Poultrygeist
The Amazing Case of the Haunted Henhouse
by Bob Morrow
Art by Matt Faulkner

I T WAS PRECISELY 3:31 a.m. on the

morning of October 31 when Farmer Bob’s
chickens spilled out of the henhouse, screeching
and squawking and flapping their wings in
great distress.
Farmer Bob awoke with a start and grabbed
his slippers. He rushed out into the night, bump,
bump, bumping down the back porch steps on his
rear end as he tried to yank them on. With one
slipper on and the other halfway off, he raced to
the henhouse.

12
 “What’s the matter with you chickens?”
he cried, as the frantic fowl flapped around
in a flurry of dust and feathers. Farmer
Bob quickly counted his chickens. Yup,
they were all there: twenty-six gawky,
white Leghorns and Carmenella,
the fat Rhode Island Red.
Carmenella desperately hopped
up and down at Farmer Bob’s feet,
trying her best to tell him what
was wrong. “The henhouse is
haunted!” she squawked. “There’s
a ghost in there! It rose up out
of the straw and crept around,
and then it got all white and
wavy! It near about scared
the eggs out of us!”
Farmer Bob didn’t under-
stand. He poked his head
inside the henhouse, turned
on the tiny electric light,
and saw nothing out of
the ordinary. “It’s too
early for chickens
to be up,” he said,
trying to shoo
the birds back
to their roosts.
Takeoff! That's what But the ship looks ready Hmm . . . Looks an awful lot
OK everybuggy, let's get I shoulda' done. already. So what's in like a regular slingshot.
things ready for takeoff! these boxes?
High-powered rubber
bands to power the
BugX Super Space
Slingshot Unit. 13
 They wouldn’t go inside. Instead, they ran off flapping
and squawking in all different directions.
“Chickens,” muttered Farmer Bob. “It must be the full
moon.” He went back to bed in a grumpy mood.
Carmenella was not happy about spending the rest of
the night in a bush. By dawn, she was both determined
to get to the bottom of this mystery and afraid to go back
into the henhouse. She decided she’d need help, and she
knew just who to see.
Carmenella sought out Beauregard, Farmer Bob’s
lazy but clever old cat. He’s as wily as they get, thought
Carmenella, except for maybe a fox, but she didn’t know
any foxes.
Beauregard seemed eager to lend a paw . . . until Car-
menella told him what she wanted. He narrowed his big,

Oo-la-la! Zeez will give zee It was awful nice for E. Indeed Sam, what
These babies will shoot
strong spring! Long Musk-Beetle to pay wily—smart and
us right into space!
for them. tricky—way did you
use to get the money?

14
green eyes and said, “I’d pick a fight with a
rat or even a big dog, but I’m not messing
with any ghost. It’s your henhouse and
your problem. You deal with it. Unless, of
course, you’re chicken,” Beauregard added,
purring wickedly.
“That’s not funny, cat,” said Carmenella.
She then called a chicken meeting out-
side the henhouse and told the Leghorns,
“Let’s gang up on it tonight. It won’t have
a chance against all of us.”
The Leghorns just looked at the ground
and kicked the dirt. It was obvious they
weren’t going to help defeat the ghost.
“Well, then,” Carmenella said huffily,
“I’ll deal with it myself. I’ll be chicken
soup before I’ll let a spook chase me out
of my own house!”
By nightfall, though, Carmenella felt a
lot less brave than she had earlier. While
the Leghorns cowered in bushes outside the
henhouse, she crept quietly and slowly
inside, looking for signs of danger. There were none.
Hours passed, and by 3:00 a.m., a sleepy Carmenella
had just about decided the whole thing was a mistake.
Then, all of a sudden, there was a rustling scritch, scritch,
scratch under the henhouse. Something, something as
dark as a shadow, rose slowly up out of the straw on the

At first, I cowered—crouched
And then ya hit him up
down in fear. But he was just
for the dough.
such a nice, regular bug. I told
him all about my project for
over two hours.
15
 floor. Then something white rose gently from the
shadow and began to wave to and fro.
Carmenella almost fainted from panic and fear,
but she remembered her vow and prepared for
battle. She fluffed out her feathers, let out a mighty
SQUAAAWK! and leaped upon the ghost.
“OW, OW!” cried a small voice from somewhere
under the large chicken. “Ow, that hurt!”
Surprised, Carmenella warily backed up, ready to
pounce again. She took a close look at the intruder
and shook her head in disbelief.

Take it easy stretching those bands, Bill. We Yeah, yeah! I got this.
must go warily—carefully to avoid danger. This ain't my first
rodeo, ya know.

16
 “You . . . you . . . why, you’re a skunk!” she said,
gaping at the small black-and-white creature.
“Well, of course I’m a skunk, and my name
is Peaches, thank you very much,” said
the little skunk indignantly. “I
was just looking for a place to
sleep and there was a hole in the
floor and I didn’t know I was both-
ering anybody and you didn’t have
to be so rude. That hurt.”
“Well now,” said Carmenella,
“I’m sorry I was rude, and yes, you
can sleep here. In fact, you can
share my nest. Come on, let’s get
you to bed, little one.”
It took a great deal of persuasion
on Carmenella’s part, but the
Leghorns finally agreed to go back
inside the henhouse, although they
were still a little spooked at first.
The baby skunk quickly triggered
their mother-hen instincts, and they
spent the rest of the night clucking and
cooing over the new arrival, who was now fast
asleep in Carmenella’s nest.
Well, well, thought Carmenella, as she strolled outside
at dawn. If Farmer Bob thought he had a surprise the other
night, just wait until the next time he gathers eggs!
Honestly, Bill. I'm just giving advice. Well wadda ya know! It
You don't need to talk so indignantly— wasn't me this time!
angrily in response to an insult.

17
 By James R. Cluck
Art by Jim Steck

USE THIS TRICK to make your friends

think they’re hearing a real, live laughing
chicken.

What You’ll Need:

plastic drinking cup nail
yarn or cotton string scissors
paper clip water
paper towel

What to Do:
1. Cut a piece of yarn about 24 inches long.
2. Ask an adult to punch a hole in the bot-
tom of the cup using a nail.
3. Tie one end of the yarn to the paper clip.
4. Thread the other end of the yarn through
the hole in the cup.
5. Cut a piece of paper towel
in half, then fold it once and
get it a little bit wet.
6. Hold the cup in one hand,
and then wrap the moist paper
towel around the string near the
opening of the cup.
7. While you squeeze the string with the
paper towel, pull down in short jerks
so that the paper towel slides along
the string. BAWK BAWK BAWK!

18 art © 2018 by Jim Steck

 Sweet Potato Sweetheart Crackers
by M.P. Spuds Art by Nadja Sarell
ENJOY THESE SWEET potato 5. Punch out heart shapes with heart
crackers with your sweetheart for cookie cutters, and remove the scraps
Valentine’s Day. from around the hearts.
What You’ll Need: 6. Place the parchment paper on a
1 ½ cups flour cookie sheet and bake the crackers for
2 ½ teaspoons baking powder 5 minutes on each side, or until crispy.
1 cup sweet potato puree 7. Remove from the oven, cool, and
1 teaspoon sugar then sprinkle cinnamon and sugar
1 tablespoon butter, softened on the crackers and enjoy!
parchment paper
heart cookie cutter
cinnamon
What to Do:
1. Mix flour, baking powder, sugar,
and salt together, then stir in
butter and sweet potato puree.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Roll the dough into a ball and chill
for 15 minutes.
art © 2018 by Nadja Sarell

4. Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough

on a piece of parchment paper.

19
 Pinky Lovett’s New Neighbor

P INKY LOVETT ADORED color.

Her hair was red. Her nails were green. Her clothes
were yellow, purple, peach, pink, lilac, orange, scarlet,
teal, and fuchsia.
And that was on Tuesday.
Her house, with its red roof, blue shutters, and yellow
door, was her pride and joy. Her garden? The most vibrant
in town.
“Ah!” said Pinky as she pruned her roses. “Everything
bright feels just right.”
Beyond the petals, Pinky scowled at the house next
door. So dull! So dreary! So bleak! Pinky hoped someone
would move in soon. Someone who would paint it orange
OK, everybuggy, the
or purple or aqua.
launch is set for tonight.
This is so exciting! The biggest event the
Meadow has seen in years!
by Alicia Potter
Art by Rupert van Wyk
20 art © 2018 by Rupert van Wyk
 “Maybe all three . . . ” she said Just then, the painters arrived.
dreamily. “Soooo,” said Pinky, “what color did
One day, Pinky was arranging her you choose? Maize? Emerald? Tomato?
crayon collection when she heard a Oh, don’t tell me—polka dots!”
commotion next door. She hopped Simon shook his head. “The house
over her calico kittens and ran to the will stay gray with black shutters.”
flower-festooned window. Pinky flinched. Gray? Black?
Outside she saw a moving van “What about magenta? Or azure?”
and a man dressed in gray. “I find beauty in black and grace
“My new neighbor!” Pinky in gray,” said Simon.
exclaimed. I find that boring, thought Pinky.
Pinky dashed to greet him. “Pinky Even though Simon hadn’t asked,
Lovett,” she said, extending a green Pinky decided to make Simon’s house
gloved hand. bright. “He’ll soon see. It will be just
“Simon Murky,” said the man. right,” she said.

¡Mira! We're almost done. Once we have festooned—

Everything ready for the decorated—the yard with a
launch party? string of stars.

21
 Pinky started out small.
“Calico kitten?” she offered.
“Thank you,” said Simon. “But
I don’t think my black Labrador
would like her.”
“Rainbow striped sun umbrella?”
Pinky asked.
“Thank you,” said Simon. “But
I only go out when the sky is gray.”
“Your name in lime-green neon?”
Pinky asked.
“Thank you,” said Simon. “But
I like to sit in the dark.”
Pinky tried and tried. She offered
Simon a purple picnic table, a flock
of pink plastic flamingoes, even her
inflatable rainbow. But Simon said
no to all.
Finally, Pinky begged, “Let me
decorate your house. Please, please,
please! I could make it so colorful.”
“Thank you,” said Simon. “But “Yes?” asked Pinky, brightening.
I’ve decided on the décor.” “Would you tell me where you
Pinky frowned. She tried hard not get your flowers?” he asked. “I’d
to stamp her blue boots. As she was like to buy some myself.”
about to leave, Simon cleared his throat. Of course! thought Pinky. She
“There is one thing you could do,” handed over the number for the
he said. nursery. Then she skipped home,
All set for takeoff, Captain. Moi, I'm not crazy about
Shipshape and looking sharp. zee décor—the way zee
crew cabin eez decorated.
Is the space Eet eez rife—full of—zee
plane ready gadgets, buttons, screens,
to go, Bill? and zee science things.
22
 over the orange ottoman, slipped
on her salmon sandals, and ran out
the yellow door.
Simon’s flowers had arrived!
Yet her excitement turned to
horror as she watched the nursery
workers haul out pots and pots
of . . . black tulips.
“Argh!” cried Pinky. The house
next door was as dull and dreary
as before Simon moved in. Maybe
drearier. Pinky couldn’t believe her
bad luck. “This isn’t just right! This
is all wrong!”
Pinky crawled into bed. She
pulled the patchwork quilt over her
and turned on the TV. She got out
her best coloring books and biggest
box of crayons. Then, she stayed
inside all day until she heard a
knock at the door.
imagining Simon’s dull and dreary Pinky threw off the patchwork
house trimmed with tiger lilies, full quilt, scattered the calico kittens,
of freesia, and rife with roses. slipped on her red fuzzy slippers, flew
“Just right!” said Pinky. across the purple carpet, and opened
The next day Pinky heard the yellow door.
a commotion next door. She “Salutations,” said Simon.
dropped her coloring book, leaped “Yes?” said Pinky.
Why, that's simple . . . uh, Uh . . . because . . .
right, Araña? tell her, Bill.
But why are you
waiting till night time I got nothin'.
to launch?

23
 “You’ve been so generous with photographer. Pinky told Simon
your help,” said Simon, “that I about her dream to name crayon
thought you might like these.” colors. They drank pink lemonade
From behind his back, Simon and ate Simon’s black jellybeans.
pulled a bouquet of black tulips . . . They laughed and laughed.
in an orange vase! “Simon,” said Pinky, “you have
“Oh!” said Pinky. “They’re beau- quite the colorful personality!”
tiful and bright!” Simon blushed bright red.
Pinky cleared her paints to make Lovely, thought Pinky.
a place for the flowers. Then she and From that day on, Pinky adorned
Simon chatted the afternoon away. her home with Simon’s black-and-
Simon told Pinky exciting tales white flower photographs. In green
from his life as a black-and-white frames, of course.

We launch at night Does that make

so we can aim at sense?
the stars! Umm . . . no, not
really.

24
 Th
eP
icture-Takin’ Man

J AMES VANDERZEE WAS interested in all

sorts of things when he was growing up—telescopes,
painting, music, and early movies. But after winning
a black-and-white camera in a mail-order contest and
snapping his first photos, he was hooked.
James was one of the first people in his hometown
to own a camera. He became the school photographer
in fifth grade and took pictures of students. James
turned his bedroom closet into a dark room to develop
the film, and even sold photos for ten cents a piece
to save for a better camera.
In 1916, James opened his own photography
business in Harlem, New York. He beautifully
staged each photo, arranging the background,
lighting, props, and the model’s position and
clothing. Sometimes he only had time to take
four photos a day!
The next time you snap a photo, take some
tips from James VanDerZee. Look at a subject
from a new angle, rearrange objects, see what
pleases your eye, and remember: try the black-
and-white setting!

by Jestine Ware
25
 Patchwork House Puzzles
by Cristofer Brush

C RISTOFER BEGAN PAINTING

these houses but didn’t quite finish. Can
you help him fill in the missing colors?

What You’ll Need:

colored markers or pencils

What to Do:
Fill in the empty white squares with the
missing colors—pink, green, yellow, and
blue. Each color can only appear once in
each row, column, and bigger 4-square box.

Answers on page 35.

26
 Counting in Swedish

T HE SCHOOL SWARMED with kids, all speaking Swedish

too fast for Kelsi to understand. Everyone took their shoes off
outside the classroom, so Kelsi did, too.
A smiling woman with a blond ponytail greeted Kelsi at
the door to Room 3. “Hej. Jag heter, Gunilla. I’m your teacher.”
Kelsi smiled back. She had practiced Swedish at home with
her mom, so she knew that meant, “Hello. My name is Gunilla.”
“Hej, Gunilla,” she said. It felt strange to call her teacher
by her first name, but Mom had told her that they did things
differently in Sweden. “Jag heter, Kelsi.”
Mom greeted Gunilla, then kissed Kelsi’s cheek. “Have a great
first day, honey! I’ll pick you up after school.”
Now Kelsi was on her own. She took a deep breath.
Whoa! The place swarmed—was
crowded—with buggies who came Eet looks like zee whole
to see Sam's launch. meadow showed up!

by Eva Apelqvist
Art by Terri Murphy
text © 2018 by Eva Apelqvist, art © 2018 by Terri Murphy 27
 The classroom looked cozy, like her
classroom in Wisconsin, with beanbag
chairs in one corner and posters of
children on the walls. But instead
of individual desks, this room had
round tables with four students to
a table. At least I don’t have to sit
alone, she thought.
A few of the children went to a rack
at the back of the room and grabbed
headphones. Gunilla must have seen
Kelsi looking confused because she
explained, “The headphones are for
when you need quiet.”
It seemed to be okay to talk in
groups when Gunilla wasn’t teaching.
Gunilla walked Kelsi to a table
with three other children. “Ida,
Sanaa, och Lukas,” she said and
pointed. Kelsi recognized that the
word och meant “and.”
“Hello,” Lukas said. Lukas pinched his fingers together
“Hi,” Kelsi said, surprised. “You so they almost touched. Ah, bara lite
speak English?” must mean “a little,” she thought.
Lukas laughed. “Bara lite.” Ida, the girl in the pink shirt, gigg‑
“Leet?” Kelsi tried to say the new led and said something in Swedish
word like Lukas. to Lukas in words that Kelsi didn’t
Step back, Gemini crickets! Did Hope we didn't space out Don't worry, Araña. We've
everybuggy. Make you pack enough? on anything we'll need, got the right stuff.
way for the Spider.
astronauts.

28
 for “goodbye.” They learned Swedish
numbers, colors, and letters. Kelsi even
had Swedish language lessons in the
afternoons, but after her first day Kelsi
realized she needed many more words.
How would she learn them all?
The next day at school, Gunilla
spoke in Swedish all morning. Some-
times she translated for Kelsi, but
most of the time Kelsi didn’t under-
stand. Now and then, Ida smiled at
her, but nobody spoke to Kelsi much
because she didn’t speak Swedish.
During recess, Kelsi stood at the
edge of the play area watching Ida
and Lukas jump rope with their
friends. She noticed a girl sitting
alone and decided to sit beside her.
She had seen the girl in her morning
class, but couldn’t remember
her name.
recognize. Sanaa didn’t say anything, The girl didn’t look up when Kelsi
just ducked her head. sat down. Today, she wore a silky
[h\ blue headscarf covered in purple but-
When their family moved to Swe- terflies. The scarf hid her hair and
den, Kelsi was excited. She and Mom shoulders, and her hands were shaking a
learned to say hej for “hello” and hej då little. Maybe the girl was nervous, too.
Fellow Buggies! We choose to go to
space not because it is easy, but
because it is hard!

29
 Lukas waved to Kelsi and then pointed
at the rope. Kelsi had jump roped a lot at
home. She wanted to join, but her head
was so full of Swedish it felt like it might
burst. She shook her head no.
“Hej,” Kelsi said, glancing at the girl
beside her. “Jag heter, Kelsi.”
“Sanaa,” the girl replied quietly, finally
looking at Kelsi. “Inte svenska.” That
meant she didn’t speak Swedish.
Kelsi pointed to herself. “Inte svenska.”
Sanaa’s dark eyes opened wide. They
were like coals, with dancing flecks
of golden brown. She pointed to herself.
“Iraq.”
“Am-eee-ri-ka,” Kelsi said, trying to
make herself sound Swedish.
They both laughed.
“Your scarf is really pretty,” Kelsi said,
touching her own hair and then pointing
at Sanaa’s. She struggled to find the word,
“Söt . . . pretty.”
“Hijab,” Sanaa said, tugging at the
end of her scarf.
Now that there were two of them
who didn’t speak Swedish, Kelsi felt
a little braver. She pointed to the
kids jumping rope and Sanaa smiled,
Araña, are you wearing It does kind of look like Helmets on,
hijab?—the traditional it, but it's actually the Space Bugs!
covering for the hair and neck inside lining of our To the stars
that Muslim women wear. space suits. and beyond!
Oh, gosh . . . Hey! Is
there time for a quick
bathroom break?
30
nodding in agreement. Kelsi grabbed
Sanaa’s hand and together they joined
the others.
“Hej,” Kelsi called. “Ja?” Ja meant yes.
It was the only way Kelsi could think of to
ask if they could take a turn jumping rope.
“Ja,” Ida agreed. She nodded and made
room for Kelsi and Sanaa in line.
“Ett, två, tre,” Kelsi counted with the
other kids, just like she had learned
with her Mom.
“Ett, två, tre,” the others counted
when it was Kelsi’s turn. Sanaa followed
right after her, the purple butterflies
on her scarf fluttering in the wind.

31
Spooky Story
Aoife Martin, age 8 Kris Busch, age 10 suddenly I was back at my house, sitting on the porch
Birmingham, Alabama Bowie, Maryland step. The only wind was a gentle autumn breeze.
Had it all been a dream? I looked at the sky, in the
Where the skeletons crept, where the The Ghost Woman
direction of the cemetery. The clouds above it were
bats squealed, there was a lost pumpkin. He One day in late October, as I was walking home
glowing. Maybe not.
was trapped in the middle of the forest. The from my friend’s house, the wind started blowing
moon seemed to howl at him. Everywhere extra hard. Suddenly, a woman cut across the
Saffin D., age 7
the pumpkin was surrounded by vicious sidewalk in front of me. Grumbling about how no
Worthington, Massachusetts
monsters and ghouls. Witches flew overhead. one bothers to say “excuse me,” I was about to keep
The pumpkin was absolutely sure he walking, when something on the ground glowed. The Candy Skull
would be stuck there. He couldn’t see a single It was a handkerchief. The woman had probably In a small town at the end of October, a family
thing. Then he found a night dark path. There dropped it. I could still see her, and now I noticed sets up Halloween decorations. Among their usual
were no creepy monsters guarding it, except that she was glowing just like the handkerchief. boxes sat a large toy skeleton that they did not
for a sweet angel monster. The angel monster I picked it up and followed her. I could see my recognize. It had red eyes and a jaw oddly covered
saw the pumpkin. Thump! He walked in. hand through the handkerchief! I hurried along, with dried chocolate. They all looked at each other,
The pumpkin stepped in. He saw a house. and the wind got colder and colder. I followed the puzzled, cleaned its mouth, and placed him on the
The house was like a bright diamond in the glowing woman all the way to the old, abandoned front porch.
sky. He found a doorstep. Wow! There were cemetery, about a mile from home. It is night, and the family goes trick-or-treating
no pumpkins anywhere in sight. He sat on the The woman bent down to touch what looked like and notices that the skeleton is gone! “Darn
porch. To him, it was like entering heaven. He the oldest gravestone. The ground in front of it gave teenagers,” says Mom.
always wanted to be a decoration. The smile way. She was about to climb into the hole when I Later, down the street, a concerned parent warns
on his face leaped up ahead of him. called out. them that there’s someone dressed as a skeleton
There, at that very spot, if you come there, “Ma’am! You dropped your handkerchief!” I ran stealing candy and scaring children.
I promise, he would be on that porch smiling toward the lady, who I decided was most likely a “OK, kids, let’s get home before anything happens
at you. ghost. and let the police deal with this.”
“Thank you,” the ghost-woman said. Her voice They arrive home to find the toy skeleton back in its
was hollow, and it made my spine tingle. spot on the porch. Curiously they get a closer look.
Then the wind rushed around me, spinning like a The skeleton turns toward them with a fresh
top. I squeezed my eyes shut against the view—and chocolate grin . . . !

Dear Everybuggy, Dear Thistle,

I love your magazine so much! Every time I love reading the comics with you at the
a Spider magazine comes in the mail, I try bottom of the page. Please adopt Sappira
to open and read it, but my mom says I have the Polar Bear into your magazine. I promise
to practice piano first. Thistle, you are my she’s loving and kind. Take good care of her.
favorite! Sam, I heard you love to ski, and so Sky Wen, age 7
do I! Ophelia, I hope you get well soon (March Santa Monica, California
2017)! Miro’s new pumpkin and cinnamon
hummus (January 2017) looks and sounds Dear Spider and the Gang,
good! Spider, quit being mean to that good Thistle, can you please adopt
old Sonya or else I’ll squash you! Cupcake? Cupcake is two months
Please adopt Sweet Cake, old and needs special care.
my dog. She loves bugs, Tyler V., age 7
especially kind ones! Orlando, Florida
Siena Hatch, age 7
Highlands Ranch, Colorado Dear Everybuggy,
I love your magazine! I like “Ophelia’s
Dear Thistle, Last Word” and all the comics. Ophelia is my
You’re my favorite bug. Please adopt favorite buggy because of her last words.
Nuna, my ladybug! Tell Spider I love his Thistle, I don’t know what Spider magazine
magazine. would do without you. Will you please adopt
Jasper Piscitelli, age 9 my unicorn? Please bring her back
Durango, Colorado after you are done playing with her.
Her name is Sweetheart. She loves candy.
Kamaile C., age 8
Honolulu, Hawaii
32 art © 2015 by
Ryan Elizabeth Favata, age 7 Graham Durheim, age 6
Ramsey, New Jersey Hopedale, Illinois
The Woman Who Went Walking The Leaf Monster!
There once was an old woman, and she One day, Phil went to school. (No
wasn’t afraid of anything. The woman was surprise there.) At least he didn’t take the
going on a walk. So the woman set out at quick route because the quick route had
night to the path nearby. the leaf monster on it! Con
When the woman was walking, she came That afternoon, Phil’s teacher D
or a raw a tes
tR
across a witch on her broomstick. The woman said, “No homework today, class.” nim pic
Her al tur
was not afraid. She just kept on walking.
e ar , real o e of a
ule
Everybody cheered.
The woman kept walking, but the witch Phil took the quick route 1 . Yo e t r im colo
followed her. All of a sudden, a skeleton came
out of nowhere. The woman wasn’t scared.
after school. Big mistake!
The next day, Phil came
ur e he onl
gua ntry y ru
rdia mu les:
s agin rful
ary. neig
hbo
2. a n n
d sa , au t be s r, h
She just kept on walking. to school with a rip in his tho um
Be y i n r s i g an
The woman kept walking, but the witch shirt. “What happened?” sur g i t i z i n n e d
3. nd ad to inc your its p y a p
a e ’ s g b
and skeleton followed her. But then when the I asked. You dre u a
woman was walking, she saw a giant! spooky! s lude y own id blicat rent o
“Dude, the leaf
We r entry s. our e a i o n in r lega
pumpkin head. The woman was scared, in fact monster got me!”
issu will pu must a com . prin l
so scared the woman ran all the way home, Phil answered. e of blis rriv p l ete t
Em h e n
a S pid our by F ame
and she heard the click-clack down the path The end! sen il you e r. favo ebr , age
d it r rite uary
of three monsters. The monsters came and Get why to S entry s 2
,
knocked on the door. his name pid t o s in t 5, 2
er’s pid h e M 018
The woman had an idea. She opened the is Phil? Because Cor er@ ay/J .
door, and the monsters came in. The skeleton chlorophyll is what n er, c ric une
P.O ket 201
gave the woman some bones, and the witch is in leaves! .B me 8
ox 3 d
gave the woman her hat, and the pumpkin 00, ia.com
Per
head gave the woman his pumpkin head, and u, I , or
it made a scarecrow. L6
135
4.

Dear Ophelia, Dear Spider, Dear Spider,

My favorite colors are blue and green, How are you and the gang doing? My What is black and white and spins
too! I like light shades of blue and green. family’s doing great! Will you around? A zebra in a revolving door.
Miro, what kind of mushroom are you? adopt this kitten, Luna? She is I am 4 feet 2 inches tall and I love to
Who’s your best friend at school? Your soooooo sweet! laugh and smile and crack jokes. I have
princi-pal. Gretchen H., age 8 brown hair and brown eyes.
Emily P., age 10 Hood River, Oregon Love and best friendship,
Gulfport, Mississippi P.S. I absolutely love your magazines! Lucy Austin
Arizona
Dear Emily,
Miro is a French mushroom. We love Dear Spider and Friends, P.S. Send love to Thistle.
your joke! Thank you. Hi! I love your magazines! Bill, you’re
Love, so funny! Ophelia, I love your projects! Send your letters to
Ophelia Please adopt this panda. She cries Spider’s Mailbox
a lot. Her name is Pander. Thanks. P.O. Box 300
Iris LaRue, age 9 Peru, IL 61354
Dear Spider,
I’m honored to write to you. I love your Austin, Texas Please write your complete name, age, and
address on your letter! You can also send
pictures at the bottom of the page. us mail at [email protected].
Selby, age 9
Roeland Park, Kansas

33
 ,
A S
L I
HE RD
O P T WO
LAS

What You'll Need:

piece of paper
scissors
tape

What to Do: 2. Fold down 3. Fold point

corners. over.
1. Fold in half the
long way, crease
down the middle,
and reopen.

6. Flip over, and fold it

4. Fold in each corner
5. Fold up a little triangle in half with the little
starting about an inch
point to cover corner triangle on the outside.
from the center crease.
points.

7. Fold down sides 8. Cut out the crew in one piece,

to make wings. fold them over at the center. 9. Launch into
Insert and attach with a space!
small bit of tape.

And do what you like with Bill.

e,
L ov lia
e
Oph
34
 Buggy Bulletin Answers to
Patchwork Q. What did the nose
Answer to House Puzzles say to the booger on
Valentine’s Day Delive Valentine’s Day?
ry A. I’m stuck on you!
Mind-Buggler
Send your jokes to
[email protected]!

Answers to
Dandelion’s secret code:
1. You are all my stars
2. I will capture you all
3. At a special event today
4. Are you ready to pose?

Check out s, and other unearthly things.

for stories, poem

art © 2016 by Susan Blanchard

Subscribe at Shop.CricketMedia.com/Try-Cricket 35
Valentine’s Day
Party Blowers
BLOW AWAY YOUR friends on Valentine’s Day by giving out
these party blowers.

What You’ll Need:

scissors
clear tape
pencil figure 1
rubber band
plastic straw

figure 2
What to Do:
1. Cut out each party blower along the solid lines.
2. Fold along the middle dotted line and tape the edges closed,
but leave the end with the diagonal lines open for the straw.
3. Message side up, roll the strip of paper into a tight coil
around a pencil (figure 1).
4. Use a rubber band to keep the paper from uncoiling and
leave it coiled around the pencil for a few hours or overnight.
5. Remove the rubber band and insert the straw (figure 2). Fold
along the diagonal dotted lines and tape tightly around the
straw with clear tape (figures 3).
6. Give the party blowers to a few friends and have a blast on figure 3
Valentine’s Day!

Tip: The party blowers only work if they are airtight. You might
need to tape up any tiny holes that are letting air escape.
You’re out of this world, space cadet!

I’m nuts about you!

Hoppy Valentine’s Day!

 You make my heart blast off!

You’re my berry, berry special Valentine!

Bee my buzzy Valentine!