Pumpkin

Prize
Follow the snaki king stems
to see which p mpkin came
in first, seconn , and third
in the Halloween competit etition.

And can you also find

October 2019 Volume 26 Number 8 cricketmedia.com $6.95 13 of my buggy friends?

Answers on page 35

Art by Dom Mansell

 ®

the magazine for children

by Stacy Curtis
text and art © 2019 by Stacy Curtis
Front Cover by Bats Langley October 2019
Volume 26 Number 8
James M. O’Connor, Director of Editorial
Maria Hlohowskyj, Associate Editor
2 What Are You Going to Be for Halloween? Emily Cambias, Assistant Editor
Julie Peterson, Copyeditor
by Stacy Curtis Suzanne Beck, Senior Art Director
Shavan Spears, Designer
4 Doodlebug & Dandelion by Pamela Dell Michael Chesworth, Artist, SPIDER bugs
Adrienne Matzen, Permissions Specialist
9 Long After Midnight by Rolli Grateful acknowledgment is given to the following publishers and copyright owners
for permission to reprint selections from their publications. All possible care has been
10 Pumpkin Pockets taken to trace ownership and secure permission for each selection: “Cover” art © 2013
by Bats Langley; “Pumpkin Pockets” art © 2005 by John Kastner; “The Fable Of The
Three Cats” art © 2010 by Julie Kim; “Behold . . . the Cat” text © 2009 by Sharon L.
12 The Ugliest Pumpkin by Kemuel DeMoville Barry, art © 2009 by Jennifer Hewitson; “Fall Leaves” art © 2001 by Jane Dippold;
“Pumpkin Prize” art © 2005 by Dom Mansell.

19 The Very Wicked Witch and the Village Play
by Mark Gartside
24 Bug Adventure by Michael Chesworth
Photo acknowledgments: 12-18 (BG) Nella/Shutterstock.com; 25 (RB) jatmika jati/
Shutterstock.com; 26 (RT) cowardlion/ Shutterstock.com; 27 (LT) Nadezda Zavitaeva/
Shutterstock.com; 27 (LC) Duc_Cro/Shutterstock.com; 27 (LB) ngoc tran/Shutterstock.
com; 28-30 (BG) Attitude/Shutterstock.com; 29, 30 (spot) caramelina/Shutterstock.
com; 29 (RB), 30 (LB) Irina oxilixo Danilova/Shutterstock.com; takeout (BG) Mangata/
Shutterstock.com; 35 (border) Malinovskaya Yulia/Shutterstock.com; 35 (RT) Alexander
Raths/Shutterstock.com; 35 (TC) Texturis/Shutterstock.com; 35 (BG) Kostenko Maxim/
Shutterstock.com; 35 (spot) Gluiki/Shutterstock.com; 35 (spot) nevodka/Shutterstock.com.

25 The Epic World of Puppet Theater
by Ada Roman
28 The Fable of the Three Cats by J.W. Liotta
31 Behold . . . the Cat by Sharon L. Barry
SPIDER, the Magazine for Children (ISSN 1070-2911) is published 9 times a year,
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October 2019, Volume 26, Number 8 © 2019, by Cricket Media, Inc. All rights reserved,

32 Spider’s Corner and Spider’s Mailbox
34 Ophelia’s Last Word: Pumpkin Hat
including right of reproduction in whole or in part, in any form. Submit manuscripts
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1st printing Quad Sussex, Wisconsin September 2019

35 Buggy Bulletin
Printed in the United States of America.

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
The Fun Zone: Falling Colors offering of products and services. If you prefer not to receive such mail, write to us at
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by Jane Dippold
Check out our online Teacher Guides at
Mind-Buggler: Pumpkin Prize cricketmedia.com/teacher-resources.
To subscribe, call Customer Service at 1-800-821-0115

by Dom Mansell or visit shop.cricketmedia.com.

International Reading
Association

Spider and the Gang by Michael Chesworth Educational Press

Association of America
Golden Lamp Award
Paul A. Witty
Short Story Award 2008

Distinguished Achievement Award

Where’d you get the nifty apple?

It fell on Bill the Pillbug.

Under the
apple tree.
 Doodlebug & Dandelion
G lk
by Pamela Dell Art by Dom Mansell

THE SIX PINKLEY cousins stood in the hushed darkness

beyond Old Barnacle Bridge waiting for the Halloween
Ghost Walk to begin. One by one, each kid would enter
the covered bridge, alone. No one knew what would happen
in there on the way to the other end.
“I hate dark shadowy places,” Doodlebug Pinkley said,
shuffling nervously.
His sister Dandelion shivered. “The dark doesn’t scare
me, but there could be hideous spiders in that old Barnacle
Bridge. Some could even drop into your hair!”
Cousin Punky scoffed. “No Ghost Walk’s gonna faze
me!” he bragged. The twins, Mo and Bo, stood together
Some big black birds saw it happen
Bill, are you hurt? I’m O.K. Still shufflin a
and cackled—laughed in a harsh
bit—moving slowly and
and noisy way.
dragging my feet.
How rude!

4

looking tense. Rudyard, the youngest
of them all, was definitely afraid.
Of ghosts especially.
The full moon hung above like
a huge grapefruit, shedding eerie
pink light on the crowd of kids
collected on this end of the bridge.
Most everyone looked anxious,
Rudyard thought. And there was
that creepy old woman standing
near the Barnacle entrance.
“Children, children, we’re about
Meh, the birds didn’t faze me—
Yeah, nuthin’ worse cause me to be upset. It was
than cackling grackles!
to start. Try your best to brace your
heart!” she announced in a croaky
voice that instantly shut everyone
up. “The bridge will show you what’s
inside. Mind the fears you cannot
hide.”
She cackled like a witch, making
Rudyard shudder.
“What’s she talking about?”
Doodlebug asked.
The cousins all shrugged. Nobody
knew. But everyone was on edge now.
Kids began shuffling toward
the entrance, which was covered
with a shimmering curtain so you
couldn’t see inside. The first gutsy
kid disappeared behind the curtain.
Everyone outside heard a moaning
OOOOOH sound followed by a
wild, shrieky shout, then laughter.
“Weird,” said Dandelion, frowning
a little.
Each time another kid did the
Ghost Walk, different sounds issued
from inside the Barnacle. And outside,
a wave of skittish murmuring, the brave
and the not-so-brave waiting their turn.
What went on in there?
¡Caramba! It makes me skittish—
nervous and shy—about walking
the fruit bomb. under trees. We don’t call it
Fall for nothing.
5
 “I’m going in,” Doodlebug said
at last. “Wish me luck.”
They heard some whooping
inside, a strange little squawk, and
then nothing more. Encouraged,
Dandelion got the nerve to go next.
After her, Mo and then Bo
entered the Barnacle. Just before he
went in, Punky glanced at Rudyard
and said, “Don’t wait too long, Cuz,
or you’ll be a loser!”
Almost immediately a howl shot
out of the covered bridge. Then
another. Rudyard put his fingers in
So what’s your plan We should make a pie with it!
for this apple?
Sweet revenge!
6
his ears so he didn’t have to hear. But
now he was the only Pinkley left on
the wrong end of the Barnacle. Loser?
No way. Reluctantly, he pushed the
curtain aside and stepped in.
Inside was pitch-dark except
for two gauzy, ghostie-pale figures
floating near the ceiling. They were
moaning and had only holes for eyes.
Suddenly, one of them zoomed down
towards Rudyard’s face. With a
startled cry, he covered his eyes.
But then, he braced his heart like
the old woman had said and walked
Did zomebuggy say, PIE?
Ziss eez a job for Miro!
 straight ahead. Something clammy
swept over his face. Madly, he swiped
his arms back and forth. When he
dared open his eyes, the first ghostie
was gone, but the other one came
at him. Rudyard blew a huge breath
and it whooshed backward, dissolv-
ing into nothing. Laughing, Rudyard
sprinted out of the bridge and into
the fresh, clean air on the other end.

All his cousins were waiting

breathlessly.
“Ghosts don’t scare me!” Rudyard
shouted, surprised and triumphant.
“What happened in there?”
Doodlebug asked.
Rudyard recounted his experience.
“That’s funny. Mine wasn’t like
that at all,” Dandelion said. “I closed
my mouth tight to keep the spiders giggled. “Spiders won’t scare me ever
out. But some huge half-inky, half- again!”
pale thing with eight spider eyes held Each kid told the others their
up two spidery arms and blocked me. Ghost Walk tale. Doodlebug had
It was horrible! I screamed, but then conquered frightening shadows.
I covered my head, stomped up and Mo, Bo, and Punky described the
down . . . and it disappeared!” She horrors they had faced down, too.
Nothing better than warm, And this will be the Let’s do it!
Bon! First, we make
homemade apple pie! biggest pie ever!
Hurrah for pie! zee crust.

7
 To everyone’s surprise, each experi-
ence was completely different.
“No surprise,” a hoarse voice
interrupted. It was the old woman,
now sitting on this far end of the
bridge and handing out T-shirts to
every successful Ghost Walker.
“Inside the bridge you meet your
own fears. You banish them or you
end up in tears.”
Combine with two sticks
of chilled butter.
Sift two cups flour
with one teaspoon
of salt.
8
“We banished!” Rudyard erupted
joyously.
Laughing in relief, the cousins
started off. But when they looked
back to thank the old woman she
had vanished. All at once the night
didn’t seem so spooky. It was time
to go home, drink hot chocolate,
and share every detail of their
freaky Ghost Walk stories.
Mix in half a cup of cold water, a
bit at a time, to make a dough ball. Until you have Wrap it and put it in
pea-sized chunks. the fridge overnight!
 Long After Midnight
Long after midnight
skitters by
the phantoms float
the witches fly
the ghoulies rule
the bat-black sky
long after midnight
skitters by

by Rolli
Art by Rivkah LaFille
text © 2019 by Charles Anderson, art © 2019 by Rivkah LaFille 9
 Pumpkin Pockets
by Gordy Carver Art by John Kastner
What You’ll Need:
½ cup raisins pinch of salt
¾ cup canned pumpkin chilled, prepackaged
¹⁄³ cup brown sugar pie dough
2 teaspoons pumpkin ice water
pie spice sugar

What to Do:
1. Put raisins in a cup with 2 tablespoons
tap water to soak for ½ hour.
2. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
3. Drain raisins and mix with the pumpkin, brown sugar,
pumpkin pie spice, and salt in a saucepan. Ask an
adult to cook mixture over low heat, stirring all the

10
 time until the brown sugar melts completely, there are
no more lumps, and the mixture just begins to bubble.
4. Using a cookie cutter or the rim of a glass, cut 3-inch
circles in the pie dough as close together as possible.
5. With an adult’s help, put a small spoonful of filling in
the middle of each circle.
6. Dip your finger in ice water and run it around the edge
of each circle.
7. Fold each circle in half to make a pocket and pinch the
edges to seal them. Make sure there are no holes in
the seal or the filling will ooze out.
8. Bake the pockets on ungreased cookie sheets for 15 to 20
minutes or until lightly browned.
9. As soon as an adult removes the pockets from the oven,
sprinkle sugar on top of each of them.
10. Let the pumpkin pockets cool and enjoy!

Makes approximately 12 pockets.

11
The Ugliest Pumpkin UGLIEST ORANGEST
PUMPKIN PUMPKIN
CROW ONE

CROW ROUNDEST
TWO PUMPKIN

FARMER

(SETTING: A magical pumpkin patch.)

FARMER: There were once three pumpkins growing

side by side in the same pumpkin patch. Each of the
pumpkins was the best at something. I don’t know
how it happened or why. Maybe it was something in
the soil. Maybe they got too much sunlight or too
little water. Whatever the reason, these pumpkins
were special.
Take the
Let it come to Press half into a
dough from
room temperature. fat pancake.
the fridge.
by Kemuel DeMoville
Art by Sara Palacious
12 text © 2019 by Kemuel DeMoville, art © 2019 by Sara Palacios
ROUNDEST: I’m the roundest pumpkin in the entire world.
My radius is radiant. My diameter is dynamic. I’m a
perfect sphere!
ORANGEST: No other pumpkin in the world is as orange
as me! A pumpkin is just not a pumpkin unless it’s
shiny and orange. Look at how I gleam in the sunlight.
ROUNDEST: You’re crazy. Round is the only shape for
a pumpkin.
ORANGEST: Round is the only shape for a pie! If you’re
not orange, you might as well be a cantaloupe.
FARMER: Pumpkins! You’re all special. Each and every one.
UGLIEST: Even me?
FARMER: Even you.

Make its diameter—the distance

Roll out along the radius—
across the middle of the dough circle—
the distance from the center Not too much! two inches wider than the pan.
of the circle to the outside. Less rolling eez best.

13
 ORANGEST & ROUNDEST: What
makes him so special?
UGLIEST: I’m the ugliest pumpkin in
the whole world.
ORANGEST & ROUNDEST: What in
the world can you do with a very
ugly pumpkin?
UGLIEST: I don’t want to be ugly.
Ugly isn’t special.
FARMER: You’re not ugly. You’re
different. And different is good,
too.
UGLIEST: But I don’t want to be
different. I want to be shiny
and orange! I want to glow like an
orange harvest moon on a cloudless October night.
ORANGEST: Well, that’s easy.
UGLIEST: It is?
ORANGEST: All you have to do is accentuate your orangeosity.
UGLIEST: Orangeosity?
ORANGEST: Your orangeness. Your hue. The color that makes you you.
UGLIEST: Me me? How how?
ORANGEST: You just find your orangeosity in the center of your belly
and push it up, up, up—until you’re glowing! Look out at the world,
puff out your chest, and shine orange from blossom to vine. (Ugliest
tries, but can only make silly faces.) No! No. I don’t know what you just
did, but stop it.
UGLIEST: I was just doing what you told me!
We need more apples to Cortlands for that Northern Spy are
add to this one. sweet apple flavor! traditional.

14
 ORANGEST: I did not tell you to do
that. That face you made was
terrifying!
UGLIEST: Let me try again. I think
I know what I did wrong. (Ugliest
makes an even uglier face. Orangest
runs off screaming.) Like this?
Does this look shiny? Do I look
beautiful? Orange and shiny like
the autumn moon? Hey! Where
did she go?
ROUNDEST: Let’s just say your
“orange and shiny” needs work.
UGLIEST: I’ll never be as orange as
she is.
ROUNDEST: Well her name is “Orangest Pumpkin.” You can’t really
out-orange that. Besides, nobody cares about oran pkins. People
want round pumpkins. Round pumpkins are the mpkins
have all the fun. We’re super huggable and ex t
all the moves. (Roundest does a round a
UGLIEST: I never really thought of it th
I would love to be a round pumpkin.
ROUNDEST: OK. Let’s see your moves.
UGLIEST: My moves?
ROUNDEST: Yeah. If you want to b
you’ve got to be ready to rockk
UGLIEST: OK. (Ugliest dances badly ly
falls.) Ow!
Russets ’cause they We will mix with zee green
don’t get mushy! Granny Smith apple to
Yum . . . mushy . . . accentuate zee tang—make
zee tartness stand out.

15
 ROUNDEST: That’s not rock-’n’-roll, that’s
hop-‘n’-flop! You’re the worst round
pumpkin I have ever seen. I’m leaving
before you accidentally smash me with
all of that thumping and bumping.

(Roundest dances off stage.)

UGLIEST: Don’t go! What am I going to do now?

I’m not as round or as orange as a good
pumpkin should be.
FARMER: Give it time, little pumpkin. Everything
ripens in its season.

(Crow One and Crow Two enter.)

CROW ONE: Did someone say pumpkin?

There’s nothing we crows like more than
pecking and munching on a nice, round
chunk of pumpkin.
CROW TWO: Pumpkins! Pumpkins! There’s
nothing we crows enjoy more than hopping
all over a shiny orange pumpkin and scuffing
it up with our claws!

(Crows begin to search around for the pumpkins.)

Allez! Six apples, I'm a-peelin'! I'm a-slicin'!

peeled and sliced.

16
UGLIEST: Oh no! These guys want to hurt my pumpkin family.
I can’t let that happen. (Stands.) Here I am! I’m the roundest
and orangest pumpkin in the patch. You can nibble and
scratch on me all you want. Just don’t hurt any other
pumpkins.
CROW ONE: You’re the roundest?!
CROW TWO: You’re the orangest?!

(Crows laugh. Orangest and Roundest Pumpkins enter.)

ROUNDEST: Did someone ask for the roundest . . .

ORANGEST: . . . and the orangest pumpkins?
ORANGEST & ROUNDEST: Because here we are!

(Orangest and Roundest Pumpkins realize what they’ve done.

Crows chase and catch both Pumpkins.)

Add a half cup of One tablespoon of cornstarch One teaspoon vanilla,

packed brown sugar to to thicken things . . . one quarter teaspoon
the sliced apples. cinnamon . . . An eighth teaspoon nutmeg
and a pinch of salt!

17
 UGLIEST: I have to do something! I can’t let
them hurt my family! I know. I’ll do what
the pumpkins taught me. First, I’ll puff out
my chest and shine orange from blossom
to vine. Next, I’ll rock and roll around.
(Ugliest does both and looks horrifying.)
Let my family go!

(Crows scream and run off.)

ORANGEST & ROUNDEST: You saved us!

Even after we were mean to you and
called you the ugliest pumpkin.
UGLIEST: We’re family. That’s just what
family does.
ORANGEST & ROUNDEST: But we should
have been better to you. We’re sorry.
ROUNDEST: You’re not the ugliest
pumpkin.
ORANGEST: You’re the bravest pumpkin.
ORANGEST & ROUNDEST: You’re the
bravest pumpkin of us all!
FARMER: And from that day to this, every
year around this time, pumpkins all
over the world put on scary faces or silly
faces and shine out into the night as
jack-o’-lanterns in honor of the bravest
pumpkin of them all.
Meanwhile, press the dough into
NOW MIX THAT STUFF UP! Gently! the pan for the bottom crust.

All around so
there's no bubbles.
18
 The Very Wicked Witch
and the Village Play
by Mark Gartside Art by Rupert van Wyk
T HE VERY WICKED Witch sat at her gnarled breakfast table and chuckled.
At least, she made a sound that she thought was a chuckle. To you or me it would
have sounded like sandpaper scraping on a rock.
But the Very Wicked Witch had not earned her status as the wickedest witch
in all of England by worrying about how her chuckle sounded. She had earned it
by devising wicked plans. Very wicked
plans. And she had a new one.
The Very Wicked Witch had
a problem. Every time she went out,
people ran away screaming. It was
her black hat, pointy nose, and warty
green face. They gave her away. It
made her plans very hard to put into
practice.
One day, the Very Wicked Witch
got a leaflet in the mail. It read:

CALLING ALL ACTORS!

text © 2019 by Mark Gartside, art © 2019 by Rupert van Wyk

The Village Players are putting on

Hansel and Gretel
Casting Friday, 10 AM,
Village Hall

We’ll use these gnarled—

I’ve been devisingg—
Attend! Wait! bent and twisted—sticks
Don’t fret. c mi g up
coming up with—
with
Ziss pie eez too big that fell off the tree to Start it hot.
Sam’s got this. a giant wood-fired oven.
for my oven! fire it up! Preheat to
450 degrees.

19

She could barely believe her luck.
Hansel and Gretel had a witch in
it! A wicked witch. She could go
on stage looking like her usual self
and no one would notice. And then,
on opening night when all the
village was assembled, she could
put her wicked plan—and it was a
very wicked plan—into action.
777
Slice one and a half tablespoons
butter into chunks and arrange on top.
Pour the apple mix into
the bottom crust.
20
The Very Wicked Witch went
to Village Hall and watched the
other witches try out. They were
pathetic. Velvet hats covered in
cute little stars, cackles that sounded
friendly, fake plastic warts. Absolutely
terrible.
Unlike her. She did a splendid job.
She stomped around, growling and
cackling, her face a hideous grimace.
Several children waiting to audition
ran off, never to return.
Afterwards, everyone left. Every-
one except Molly, the girl playing
Gretel, who was hiding behind
the curtain. She watched the Very
Wicked Witch take a newt from
her robe.
The witch spoke to the newt.
The newt spoke back.
“Hmm,” Molly thought.
“Interesting.”
777
On the day of the first show,
the cast had their final rehearsal.
At lunch break, Molly spoke to
Hector, the boy playing Hansel.
“I think,” Molly said, “she’s a real
Who would believe this a le—
this disorganized group—could make
a monster apple pie?
witch, and she’s up to no good. I’m
going to find out. Want to help?”
He did. Keeping a safe distance,
Molly and Hector followed the Very
Wicked Witch home from Village
Hall. She walked through a dense
forest to a small cottage covered in ivy.
Molly tiptoed to the window and
put her nose to the glass. Through the
grime she could just make out the Very
Wicked Witch standing in her living
room, facing a row of dolls.
“I need to practice,” the witch
muttered. A witch’s mutter is like
thunder, so Molly and Hector heard
clearly. “This is a new spell for me.”
She cleared her throat.
“People!” she cackled. “I’m not to the window. Like all witches, she
just playing a witch. I am the Very had exceptional hearing.
Wicked Witch! And I’m going to “You!” she snarled.
turn you all into newts!” Molly shoved Hector out of sight.
She lifted her wand. It fizzed and “Yes. And I’m going to stop you!”
buzzed. Sparks flew. “Riiiight,” the Very Wicked
The dolls were gone. Where they Witch said. “Of course you are.”
had been was a gaggle of newts. She pointed her wand and spoke.
“Oh no!” Molly whispered. Brambles twisted around Molly’s
“That’s her plan!” ankles. The thorns bit into her legs.
The Very Wicked Witch turned “Ow!” Molly said. “That hurts!”
We are not
I beg your But where eez
disorganized. LOOK OUT!!!
pardon! zee top crust?

21
 “It’s supposed to,” the Very
Wicked Witch said. “I have to go.
I’ll deal with you later.”
And off she went.
Molly thought of her friends. Her
mum and dad. Her little brother. All
about to be newts. It was unbearable.
Apart from her brother. He deserved
it. In fact, newt was probably too
good for him. The witch should
turn him into a worm.
Then Hector appeared, holding
some garden shears. “Found these
in her shed,” he said. “And two bikes.”
777
Molly and Hector pedaled furiously.
There were only minutes until the
play started. When they arrived at
Village Hall they rode straight
through the double doors.
“Stop!” Molly shouted. “Everybody stepped out of the shadows.
out of here, now!” The Very Wicked Witch waved
Molly’s mum stood up. “Molly!” her wand and the doors swung shut.
she said. “What on earth is going on?” “You will make good newts,” she
“The witch is real, and she’s cackled.
going to turn you all into newts!” “You can’t turn us into newts!”
Onstage, a tall figure with a Molly said, remembering the words
green face and a pointy nose the witch had muttered when facing
I’ll cut the top crust To make a Si, like a basket weave.
in strips! lattice top.
Wowzers!

22
 bright blue spell shot across the
room. Molly leaped out of the way
and the spell cracked into her bike.
The witch tried again. This time she
hit Hector’s bike.
Molly gasped. The bikes were
changing shape, getting longer and
lower. They were turning into giant
newts, except with wheels instead
of legs. The giant newts scuttled
towards the stage and bumped up
the stairs. Each newt grabbed one
of the Very Wicked Witch’s boots
in its mouth.
“No!” the Very Wicked Witch
shouted. “No! Don’t eat me! Not
now! My wicked plan was working!”
The newts ignored her. They
continued to munch on her toes.
The Very Wicked Witch pointed
her dolls. “You need more practice!” her wand at herself and shouted a
“Maybe,” the witch said. “I should spell. Sparks flew all around her.
practice on you.” When they faded, she was gone.
It was exactly what Molly was Fluttering above the stage was
hoping for. “Try it,” she said. “I a giant crow. It flew around the
dare you.” room once, twice, and then fixed
The Very Wicked Witch pointed its glittering eyes on Molly. With a
her wand at Molly. It fizzed, and a caw, it vanished through a window.
Sprinkle with For ten minutes, then reduce
Zoot! But ’ow did you do . . . and into the
sugar… the heat to 350 degrees
ziss zo quickly? We scuttled around— hot oven . . . and bake another
ran with quick steps.
40 to 45 minutes.

23
 777
The next day all was peaceful
in the village.
But on a branch, watching
the village go about its business,
was a giant crow. It did not look
happy. It looked like it was
making plans. Wicked plans.
But that is a story for another
day.

24
 I could
watch this all
night!

The Epic World of Puppet Theater

by Ada Roman
A DRAGON EMERGES from a foggy lake. A monkey
army helps a prince rescue the princess. A knight in gold
armor battles a giant. People have gathered to watch
these scenes for thousands of years, long before movies
or special effects. How? With puppets!
Puppets have long been used to tell myths, legends,
and epics that would be hard for human actors to perform
on stage. Here are some of the traditional puppet shows
you can still see around the world today.

Wayang Kulit, Indonesia

I believe I shall write an epic—
a very long poem about a
legendary hero: you, Miro!
Wayang kulit means shadow
puppets. These flat puppets are cut
out of leather with intricate holes
for light to shine through. The audience watches
shadows cast on a lit screen. Want to get a better
look? Viewers are allowed to peek behind the
sheet and watch the puppet master work.
Anybuggy can make pie— It seemed pretty
eez easy as pie. intricate—full of Well it sure
tiny details—to me. looks easy
to eat!

25
 If you’re watching a wayang kulit show, prepare to stay
up late. Shows start at sunset and last until dawn. People
know the legends they’re based on so well, they take breaks
to eat and sleep, then come right back to watch more.

You can’t
see me!

Bunraku, Japan
Have you ever seen a puppet as tall as you that can wiggle its
eyebrows, nod its head, and play instruments? Bunraku puppets
are so large and detailed, it takes three people to control one.
The master puppeteer holds the puppet and controls its head,
face, and right hand. One assistant controls the left hand.
Another controls the legs. They wear black to blend in with
the stage and sometimes sit on rolling stools. Bunraku shows are
often about ghosts, samurai, and love stories.

26
Marionettes, Italy
Maybe you’ve seen marionettes dancing around
on strings. But have you ever seen them sword fight?
Traditional marionette shows in Italy are called
opera dei pupi, or “puppet opera.” The puppets don’t
sing. They act out epic poems from medieval times.
The most famous is Orlando Furioso, about a knight
named Orlando who wears gold armor and fights
with a magic sword. The wooden marionettes have
real brass armor and swords. Puppeteers move them
with strings, metal rods, and a lot of muscle.

Water Puppets, Vietnam

Water puppets really make a splash:
they perform in a pool of water! The
audience gathers around the pool while
the puppeteers hide behind a bamboo
This show is screen. The sticks and strings that move
going swimmingly! the puppets are hidden underwater, so
it looks like the puppets are swimming
and splashing on their own. Most water
puppet shows are about life in Vietnam’s
farming villages, but one favorite show is
about an emperor who helps the Golden
Turtle God return to his home in Hoan
Kiem Lake.

27
 The Fable
of the LONG TIME AGO, when the
ancient landscape of Japan was dotted
Three Cats with hundreds of castles and the country
was ruled by the sword, there was a great
Adapted by J.W. Liotta
Art by Julie Kim samurai warrior who was pestered by
a large rat. Not only did the rat get
into the warrior’s food, it also gnawed
through the floorboards of his house and
even shredded some of his clothes and
belongings. The warrior tried to catch
the rat, but it was too clever and swift
for his traps and his sword.
So the warrior decided to get a cat.
He chose one that was both strong and
quick, but the rodent proved to be faster
than the cat. The cat could not even get
within a foot of the rat, and it just
looked foolish trying.
The warrior then replaced the first
cat with one that was smarter and faster
and had the excellent reputation of
having caught many, many mice. The
rat, however, simply kept out of sight
and only came out when this second
cat was asleep.
Upon hearing of the samurai’s
problem, a Buddhist monk from a nearby

Your reputation—what buggies Eet was a

know or say about you— group effort.
Miro, you are a is well deserved. All made zee pie.
great chef!

28
temple offered him the temple’s
cat. To the samurai, this cat
looked to be the dullest, most
commonplace feline he had ever
seen. He had little hope it would
help and was reluctant to accept it
into his home, but the monk insisted.
On the temple cat’s first day in
the samurai’s home, it did nothing
but nap. On the second day, the
rat made a game of pacing back
And what a pie. I’m stuffed.
and forth in front of the cat. The
samurai began to wonder if the cat
was even aware of the rat’s presence.
It gave the impression it didn’t notice
the rat and continued to snooze all
day. In fact, as far as the samurai
could tell, the only time the cat
would stretch its legs was when the
rat grew weary and took a nap
behind the kitchen wall, snoring
loudly.
Urp. I gotta walk it off.
29
 On the temple cat’s third day
in his home, the samurai woke to
discover it had sharpened its teeth
on a prized sword that had been in
the samurai’s family for generations.
He lost his patience and decided the
cat had to be returned to the temple.
The rat had grown so bold and
fearless now, the samurai found it
sitting just inches from the sleeping
RUN!
Falling acorns! No pie
from zem!
30
cat, happily gnawing on grains
of rice.
Just as the samurai groaned in
disgust, the cat suddenly sprang up
and trapped the rat with a single
lightning-fast swing of its paw,
instantly killing it.
The moral of the tale: “Muscles
and speed are nothing without
mental alertness!”
Behold . . . the Cat
A puff
of fluff

A gleam
of green

Four paws
with claws

A flail
of tail

As fast
as that

The cat.

by Sharon L. Barry
Art by Jennifer Hewitson
31
 Park
Trent H., age 7 Tate C., age 8 Lydia P., age 8
Tucson, Arizona Wellesley, Massachusetts Omaha, Nebraska
A Walk Around Tucson’s Lakeside Park Prehistoric Park Wildlife Park
The sun is shining ROAR! ROAR! Deer leap, buffalo roam,
Kids are playing STOMP! STOMP! This is the place the animals call home.
We are fishing at Lakeside Park. Hear the prehistoric animals! Frogs leap, birds sing,
The smell of grass Dinosaurs! What a wonderful thing.
The sound of ducks Woolly Mammoths! Prairie dogs bark, owls hoot,
The taste of dust fill the air AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME! I see a dog covered in soot.
At Lakeside Park. T. REX! I whoop, bears growl,
The reflection of the mountains COOL! Also the place where wolves howl.
surrounding Tucson I’ve got a lark,
Reflects the image upon the lake Benjamin Kwack, age 7 So you come to the wildlife park.
at my favorite place Lisle, Illinois
Lakeside Park. An Imaginary Park Beatrix Finn-Beers, age 8
At a park I see fairies opening buds. Brooklyn, New York
Ofelia Rabasa, age 6
The fairies pull the corn as tall as trees. Sunset Park
Portland, Oregon
At a park the fairies clean the litter. Grass, trees, plants, flowers
The Swing They play in the sand and admire roses. You know that you will be able to see
The future flies and The cool fairies strike a lot of poses. Something you’ve only dreamed of
I fly with it Then you look over a hill
The fairies look at some dark clouds.
The petals fly And you see a sunset
It looks like it is going to rain.
With the sun
It is an excellent day at the park.
High over the park.

Dear Ophelia, Dear Spider,

I love all the cool crafts in “Ophelia’s Last I like Fall. I like jumping in the leaves and the
Word” at the end of every issue. It is so fun smell and Halloween costumes!
trying them! Why did the skeleton go to the dance? It was
Will you please put my cat, Kylie, in ready to break a bone!
your magazine? What is your favorite Can you adopt Sapphiree,
color? Mine is teal, like the ocean. a dragon? Her favorite
Mary Hess, age 10 foods are water, lily pads,
Kutztown, Pennsylvaniaa frogs, and pineapple. She also
frog a likes
pineapple cupcakes.
Dear Spider, Norah, age 8
I really love your comics! I liked when Toddville, Iowa
Bill the pill bug told you guys about Big Mo
(February 2019). Dear Everybuggy,
Could you adopt Lucy? She is a poodle Your part of the magazine is my favorite
and loves to bake sweet treats. What is your part. Ophelia, I love your last word. Thistle,
favorite hobby? Do you like dogs? can you adopt my iguanna? Her
Rafaela Famarin, age 8 name’s Lily. She loves
Kingwood, Texas to eat cucumbers and
strawberries. She doesnn’t
Rafaela, my favorite hobby is playing eat bugs. When you seee
tricks! We like your colorful poodle, but danger you can call her, and she’ll chase
not all other dogs. them to the police.
Cowabunga! Eliza, age 7
Spider Minneapolis, Minnesota

32
 Anna P., age 6 Fiala K., age 10
Omaha, Nebraska Boston, Massachusetts
At the Park Park
I love the slides, otters, too. Flowers blooming,
I love to swing; monkeys do, too. Kids laughing,
Obstacle courses I love, Springtime in Con
It’s easy for cats and dogs.
Merry-go-rounds are fun,
the park. Her
1. e are t
tes
Dogs get dizzier than me.
Breeze blowing, You he o Dra tR
Bouncy horses are fun to ride,
Bunnies hopping, gua r entry nly ru
wa
pict ule
Mice get scared very fast,
I know it will last.
Springtime in
the park. Be
a rdia
on
n
mu les:
2. nd/or , aut t be
ho
s
sig
ure
of a
cat.
s
sur r n
Birds singing, a n e to line an izing i ed by
3. d t
Cullen Durrant, age 9 Trees green, You addre includ d sayi s pub a pare
We r entry s.
s e yo g it licat nt o
n
Birmingham, Alabama Springtime in ur c ’s yo ion i r leg
the park. issu will pu must a om
p ur o n pr al
It’s a wonderful day to go to the park, Em e o f
blish river l e te n wn id int
a Spi ame ea.
We better get going before it gets dark. sen il you der our fa by Oc , ag
d it r en . vor tob e,
The flowers all sway as one, to S try ites i r 25 e
pid o sp t n th , 20
Today we’ll all laugh in the sun. er’s id e Fe 19.
Cor er@ bru
I can play with my shovel and pail, ner cric ary
I can play with my toy whale. , P. k e 202
O. B tm 0
Going to the park is really awesome, ox 3 dia e
00, .com
I love to see the flowers blossom. Per
u, I , or
L6
135
4.

Dear Spider, Dear Thistle, Hello, Everybuggy!

I have a “Boo!” shirt. It has a mouse What are you going to be for I really like your magazines! Hey,
wearing a dinosaur costume! I am going Halloween? I’m gonna be a Ninja. Spider, do you like traveling to different
to be a peacock for Halloween. One of What’s your favorite song? I like states or countries? I do!
my friends, Kaylee, was sick. I missed “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. I was wondering if you could adopt
her a lot. Here’s a pic of the Iron Giant. my three pets and put them in a magazine.
Zoey, age 5 MacKenna Brown, age 11 Emily is the cat with wings. She eats
Hockessin, Delaware Santa Rosa, California cupcakes. Chloe is the unicorn, She eats
candy. Amy is the pink panda. She eats
Dear Miro, MacKenna, I like lots of songs. I donuts. They all drink chocolate milk.
Have you ever won a can’t name a favorite, and my Halloween Please take care of them!
cooking contest? You should costume is top secret! Sunny Coleman, age 7
start a restaurant. Love, Denvver, Col rado
Please take good care of Thistle
Samantha. She is very shy.
Matteo Biondini, age 12 Dear Everybuggy,
Buffalo, New York How are you? My pets are lonely. Luna is
a snowy owl. She loves Harry Potter and to
Dear Sam, play with the golden snitch (that they use in
You are my favorite because my little Quidditch). I have a llamacorn named Athena. Send your letters to
brother’s name is Sam. He is a bit of a She is very smart and loves mythology. That’s Spider’s Mailbox
troublemaker, and that pretty much makes why her name is Athena, the god of smart! P.O. Box 300
sense, because he is only one year old
od Will yyou
ou pl
p se adopt them? Peru, IL 61354
Stella Hack, age 7 SSophia Yohe, age Please write your complete name, age, and
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin ellington, Floridaa address on your letter! You can also send
us mail at spider@cricketmedia.com.

33
 ,
OPHELI A S LAST WORD

WHETHER YOU’RE TRICK-OR-TREATING or starring in your own

production of “The Ugliest Pumpkin” (page 12), this hat will help you be
the orangest, roundest, bravest pumpkin you can be!

What You'll Need: hole punch

paper
bowl orange and green scissors
acrylic paints
elastic cord glue
cork
foam brush

green
construction
paper green pipe cleaner

What to Do:
1. Paint the outside of the bowl orange and the cork green.
Leave them to dry.

2. Cut a leaf out of green construction paper. Once the paint

is dry, glue the leaf to the top of the bowl. Then, glue the
green cork on to make the stem.

3. When glue is dry, wrap the pipe cleaner around the cork
and twirl the ends with your fingers to make a springy vine

4. Punch a hole on each side of the bowl. With an adult’s help,

measure and cut a piece of elastic cord to fit under your
chin. Tie each end of the elastic to a hole. Put on
your hat and take a bow!

o v e,
L lia
e
Oph
34
 Bu g g y B u l l e t in
Answer to Fabulous Fa
PUMPKIN PglRerIZE - Pumpk
cts: Pumpk
ins
ins are in the
squash family
Mind-Bug plants. They’r
e also related to
of
- The largest cu cu mbers.
pumpkin pie ev
2,020 pounds. er m ad e weighed
- The traditio
n of carving pu
Halloween star mpkins for
ted in Ireland
turnips. When with carved
Irish immigran
America, they ts came to
found that pum
were much easi pkins
mpire
er to carve.
Q. What does a va
never order at a
restaurant?
ich!
A. A steak sandw
jokes to
Send your favorite
ia.com!
spider@cricketmed

Check out m s, d o th e r u n e a r th ly things.

forstories, p o e a n

Subscribe at Shop.CricketMedia.com/Try-Cricket 35
A A A A A A

B B B B B B

A A A A A A

B B B B B B
Tex ol d
t and i pp
Art by Jane D

THESE FLIERS SPIN fast as they fall and

show off their beautiful autumn colors.

What You’ll Need:

scissors
paper clips figurre 1

What to Do:
1. Cut out the rectangles along the thick
black lines. Cut along the solid lines
inside each rectangle, being careful to stop
where the lines stop (figure 1).
2. Bend points A and B down to form a
figurre 2
triangle (figure 2). Place end A over end
B and fasten with a paper clip (figure 3).
3. Stand on tiptoe and drop this f lier to
the ground with the paper clip pointing
down. Watch the autumn colors whirl!

figurre 3