by

Front Cover by Mike Cressy May/June 2024

Volume 31 Number 5
Stacey Lane Smith, Editor
Hayley Kim, Assistant Editor
2 Wormy Rivalry by Scott Soeder Julie Peterson, Copyeditor
Suzanne Beck, Senior Art Director
4 Doodlebug & Dandelion by Pamela Dell Shavan Spears, Designer
Michael Chesworth, Artist, SPIDER bugs
9 Birdseed by Jody S. Thomas Adrienne Matzen, Permissions Specialist
Laura Woodside, SVP Education Products
10 Coyote and Bear Plant a Garden Barb Clendenen, Director of Circulation and Fulfillment

by Kathryn C. Tierney Grateful acknowledgment is given to the following publishers and copyright
owners for permission to reprint selections from their publications. All possible care
15 How to Grow a Three Sisters Garden has been taken to trace ownership and secure permission for each selection: Cover
art © 2015 by Mike Cressy; “Wormy Rivalry” text and art © 2017 by Scott Soeder;
“Birdseed” art © 2006 by Tricia Tusa; “Coyote and Bear Plant a Garden” text © 2016

by Susan Lee by Kathryn C. Tierney, art © 2016 by Cindy Revell; “How to Grow a Three Sisters
Garden” text © 2004 by Susan Lee, art © 2004 by Marion Eldridge; “Broccoli” art
© 2014 by Amanda Shepherd; “Picaría” art © 2004 by Carol Brozman; “Market

18 Planet Pumpkin by Kell Andrews Mayhem” text and art © 2003 by Aaron Boyd.

Photo acknowledgments: 10-14 (BG) eestock/Shutterstock.com; 11, 12 (spots)

23 Broccoli by Lori Walsh
24 Sow and Grow by Stacey Lane
25 Shi’s Special Seed by Christie Chu
31 Bug Adventure by Michael Chesworth
WinWin artlab/Shutterstock.com; 18-22 (BG) Attitude/Shutterstock.com; 24
(BG) Lenka_X/Shutterstock.com; 24 (T) Nataly Studio/Shutterstock.com; 24
(LT) wasanajai/Shutterstock.com; 24 (LT) WIN12_ET/Shutterstock.com; 24 (CT)
Evannovostro/Shutterstock.com; 24 (CT) fotohunter/Shutterstock.com; 24 (RT)
mikeledray/Shutterstock.com; 24 (RT) Potapov Alexander/Shutterstock.com; 24
(LC) Linda Harms/Shutterstock.com; 24 (CC) kadetfoto/Shutterstock.com; 24 (RC)
vara yaiklang/Shutterstock.com; 24 (LB) Mustafa reza/Shutterstock.com; 24 (CB)
teddiviscious/Shutterstock.com; 24 (RB) Yakov Oskanov/Shutterstock.com; 25-31
(BG) Daboost35/Shutterstock.com; 35 (BG) Kostenko Maxim/Shutterstock.com;
35 (TC) Texturis/Shutterstock.com; 35 (spot) Gluiki/Shutterstock.com; 35 (frame)
lena_nikolaeva/Shutterstock.com; 35 (CC) Vector Tradition/Shutterstock.com; 35
(RC) ONYXprj/Shutterstock.com.

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King Bombus the Big! 

May his buzz buzz International Reading

Association




Educational Press Paul A. Witty

on forever! Association of America

Golden Lamp Award
Distinguished Achievement Award
Short Story Award 2008
 Doodlebug & Dandelion
Strange Seeds
by Pamela Dell Art by Dom Mansell

“STEP RIGHT UP and get ’em while they’re sprouting!”

a man in a straw hat shouted. He stood in a booth full of
plants beneath a sign that read Seedpod Sam’s. In smaller
letters were the words Seedlings to perk up your garden and
spark your wild mind.
Dandelion Pinkley, her mom, and Dandelion’s best
friend, Tomiko Tanji, were browsing the farmers’ market.
Dandelion and Tomiko had hopes of growing a garden
of veggies they’d never eaten before, so Seedpod Sam’s
seedlings looked promising.
Sam tipped his hat to them as they approached. When
the girls explained what they were looking for, Sam’s eyes
Don’t get up, everybuggy! twinkled with mischief. He brought out a wooden box
No applause, please. Yep.
May he But isn’t Bombus Queen Beetrix
Well, if it isn’t old just a drone?
Bombus, king of the The king is in wallow in runs the hive.
bees, and his royal the house. sweet honey
bee mites. all his days!

4
 from under the counter. “Here’s just They patted soil around each plant.
the thing,” he said, sliding the box Then, following the instructions,
toward the girls. “These plants make they watered their plants with warm
a slow start, but once they get growing, lemon water and sprinkled coffee
they’ll give you a whole new view of grounds around them. Finally, they
the veggie kingdom!” labeled them with the names Sam
Inside the box was a layer of rich- had given: Emerald Energy Spree,
smelling soil and three rows of small Red Rascal, and Spotted Mayhem.
newly sprouted plants. The plants
in the first row were bright green.
Those in the second row looked
slightly reddish. The third-row plants
were speckled, with tiny pointed
leaves.
The girls bought one of each. As
he handed over the seedlings, Sam
gave them a big wink. “They need
special tending, but you’ll find they’re
worth it.”
Dandelion and Tomiko laughed
as they accepted Sam’s very long list
of instructions. How hard could it be
to take care of a few plants?
❦❦❦
Back at Dandelion’s, the girls got
to work. They picked out a sunny
spot in the backyard and dug small
holes for the seedlings’ root balls.
Ye all are pleased to help One ton of flowers with root balls – clumps of
Delivery
EXCUSE US! But us plant a magnificent roots and soil stuck together under plants’ stems.
here for a
KING BOMBUS royal flower garden. King Bombus.
To please Where do ya
has a royal want ’em?
request! the queen . . .
upon her
birthday. 5

“I bid you grow big and wild!”
Dandelion declared loudly, out-
stretching her arms and wiggling
her fingers over the baby plants as if
casting a spell. This was part of Sam’s
special instructions, but Dandelion
But you must help me, old chap!
No! That’s our Please! We can’t go it alone.
That empty ball field!
place will do.
6
couldn’t help laughing a little.
With less enthusiasm, Tomiko
called out the second part. “Burst
on the world with sudden surprise.”
Both were giggling furiously when
Dandelion’s brother, Doodlebug, and
his good buddy Bog came tromping
into the backyard.
“What’s so funny?” Doodlebug
asked.
Dandelion ignored the question.
“Wait till you see the veggies we’re
growing. We were told there’s noth-
ing like them!”
Doodlebug scoffed.
Bog said, “Veggies are all the
same—awful!”
“Just wait and see,” Tomiko chal-
lenged, even though neither she nor
Dandelion knew what to expect and
Tomiko didn’t expect much.
❦❦❦
The days passed slowly, and the kids
grew impatient. For weeks, the plants,
although healthy, barely changed at
all. Then overnight, they unexpectedly
burst into action. The Emerald Energy
Spree’s brilliant green leaves grew larger
There is little time. And we are
but small, weak parasites.
 than dinner plates, shading everything
that needed sun. The Red Rascal
stretched halfway across the lawn,
its tendrils wrapping around anyone’s
ankle the minute they stepped close.
And the towering Spotted Mayhem’s
thick, notched stem shot up higher
than the world’s tallest sunflower.
Each plant had suddenly sprouted
its own odd-looking vegetables, too.
“Wow!” Bog exclaimed, looking
Oh, pshaw. It’ll be easy
and fun! These flowers
¡Mira! Starting are already growing.
a garden is a
lot of work.
at the Spotted Mayhem. “That thing’s
perfect for climbing.”
“Let’s go!” Doodlebug hollered.
Before Dandelion could consider
the idea, the Red Rascal coiled
around Tomiko’s shins, and she
plopped to the ground, wailing. “I
think it’s time we follow Sam’s
final instructions!” she cried. “I
just never believed him—until
now!”
No kidding! Look at these tendrils –
thin, leafless stems of climbing You’re all ready
plants that wind around things. to bloom, aren't Let’s plant
you, big guys? some plants!
7
 Dandelion pulled a sealed envelope from her pocket.
On the outside, it read If things grow dire, open and take
these steps. Tomiko broke free from the Red Rascal and
stood up as Dandelion opened the note. Together, Dandelion
and Tomiko read it aloud:

g o o d to eat.
’r e
s —they .
a l l t h ev e g g i e
h e r e a ch seed
Pluck gat
e m and d!
b t h e M a y h
e l i c i o u s indee
Clim ,d
i v e y o u treats u n d ball.
’ l l g i g r o
They Make a
b .
e R a s c a l .
l o n g a fter fall
Coil th p l a y t h ing til l
a g i c a l shade.
a great r some
m
It’ll be e e l ea v e s f o
e a t invades
.
the S p r he h
Weave o w s y when t
n e v e r feel d r
m , d a r k spot.
You’ll o t s in a w
ar
y o u’ve go
t—
ll th e r o w h a t
Store a t a n d behold i t or not!
e p l a n l i e v e
ar, r be
Next ye ne w d e l i ghts—
o m e s trange
S

The kids stood speechless, imagining next year’s crop

being even weirder and more fun. None of them could
You must help me, Spider! wait to see what next spring might bring. But first things
I fear my situation is dire –
horrible and needing first—a climb up the Spotted Mayhem was a must!
attention right away. The king has forgotten the queen’s OK! We’ll help!
birthday three years in a row. Just stop blowing
How dire? May his majestic that trumpet!
memory improve.

8
Birdseed
by Jody S. Thomas
Art by Tricia Tusa
I have a bird growing
Here in this pot.
I see it gets sunshine
And water it a lot.

We did this last summer

With tomatoes and beans;
We planted the seeds
And watched for the greens.

At first the stalks

Were just green and bare,
But by late August,
The veggies were there.

Mom thinks I’m silly,

But I know it’s so—
If you plant a birdseed,
A bird’s what you’ll grow!

9
 Coyote and Bear Plant a Garden
Based on an Isleta Pueblo Folk Tale

O NE DAY, COYOTE was walking in the forest when

he found an open field. He thought, This would make a
good place to plant a garden and grow food for my family.
But Coyote knew it would be a lot of work, and he
would need help. If only he had a big, strong animal as a
partner, he wouldn’t have to work so hard. Where could
he find a partner like that?
At that very moment, Bear came wandering through
the trees. Coyote knew that he was looking at the perfect
partner.
“Good morning, Bear,” Coyote said, trying to use his
kindest voice. “See that nice open land over there?” he
asked.
Ah, to work one’s hands
“I do,” answered Bear.
in the Earth’s rich, Another cake pop, my king?
damp soil!

Retold by Kathryn C. Tierney

Art by Cindy Revell
10
 “Why don’t we plant a garden there
together?” Coyote asked. “It would
grow good food for our families.”
“I agree,” said Bear. “I will bring
the seeds.”
They decided to meet the next
day. Coyote smiled to himself for
choosing such a good partner. Bear
was big and strong and would do most
of the work. But Coyote wanted to
make sure the best part of the crop
went to him, not Bear. He decided
he would play a trick.

The next morning, as promised,

they met at the field.
“Before we begin, we should
decide how the crop will be divided,”
said Coyote. “I will take all that
grows above the ground, and you
take all below.”
Bear thought for a little while.
“That sounds fair to me,” he replied.
So the work began. After several
hours, the field had been cleared and
seeds were planted in neat rows.
Both animals had worked hard.
Coyote smiled as he walked home,
It’s not the rich soil. It’s
Yeah, this is these fun heavy rocks.
just great fun.
Geez! It must be almost . . .
dreaming of the day when the crop
would ripen.
Every day, Coyote and Bear came
to work the field. They hoed the
weeds and every once in a while
watered the ground. Soon small
green sprouts appeared. Then the
rain came. The sprouts grew bigger
and bigger. Coyote thought how
happy his family would be to have
such delicious-looking food.
SNACK TIME!
Ten minutes for lunch.

11
 After many weeks, the bushy
plants were full and green. Bear said
it was time to harvest.
These leaves will keep my family
full for months, Coyote thought as he
picked the green tops and put them
in his sack. Bear followed behind,
digging in the ground and pulling up
dirty round things.
Bear’s half is so ugly compared to
my green leaves! How clever I am,
Coyote thought, smiling.
Attention à tous!
Everybuggy, get your Pickles! Gardening sure
yummy snacks! makes a caterpillar hungry!
12
Before long, both their sacks were
full. They started home with their
harvests.
Several weeks later, Coyote met
Bear in the forest. “What kind of
seeds did we plant, Bear?” he asked.
“My family didn’t like the leaves I
brought home.”
“They are called potatoes,”
replied Bear with a smile. “My family
loved them!”
Huzzah for
Miro!
Huzzah for lunch!
 “I don’t think the crop was
divided fairly,” complained Coyote.
“But it was your idea! What do
you think we should do about it?”
asked Bear.
“Let’s plant another crop, but
this time I get the part that grows
in the ground. You can have the
part above ground.”
“Agreed,” said Bear. “I’ll bring
the seeds.”
Coyote walked home, thinking
how easy it was to trick Bear.
The following day, they cleared
the field and planted the seeds
Bear brought.
It’s not like them
to miss a snack.
Hey! Where did
Spider and Bill go?
Several days passed. Soon green
sprouts came up, pushing through
the earth. With the rains, the plants
grew tall and straight.
These look different from the
potatoes, Coyote thought.
One day, Bear looked at the green
plants and said, “It is time to harvest.”
The partners agreed to meet the next
morning.
Coyote arrived on time. To his
surprise, Bear was already there. Beside
him on the ground was a full sack.
“Good morning, Coyote,” called
Bear. “I decided to get an early start.
I have taken all I need from the top.
Excuse me! Has anybuggy
Maybe they fell seen my trumpet?
exhausted in a ditch.
13
 As we agreed, you can have every- “Wait, Bear! What kind of seeds
thing growing in the ground.” did we plant this time?”
“Great!” said Coyote, eager to “They are called corn!” Bear
get started. yelled over his shoulder.
Bear heaved his sack over his Coyote stood staring at the hole
back and started home. he had dug. “Well,” he said with
As Bear walked away, Coyote dug his head down and his tail dragging
into the ground excitedly. But he did the ground, “I’ll bring the seeds the
not find dirty round potatoes. He next time.”
found only roots as thin as threads. Carrying his empty sack in his
He bit into one and spit it right mouth, Coyote went home to face
back out. his hungry family.
Sorry. Something heavy must
Did you lose this, have got heaved – lifted ’Ee mite try.
mite guy? with hard work – onto it. Maybe it’ll blow
back up.

14
 How to Grow a
Three Sisters Garden
by Susan Lee
Art by Marion Eldridge

THREE SISTERS? WHO are they, you ask? You may know
them as corn, beans, and squash. These plants produce vegetables
eaten during the summer and fall, as well as seeds dried and
kept for cooking and eating during the winter. Some Indigenous
people call them the Three Sisters because they grow happily
close together, supporting and nourishing each other. Growing
a Three Sisters garden is easy.

What You’ll Need:

corn seeds
pole-bean seeds
squash seeds
small area of soil (If you don’t have a garden, plant
your seeds in a deep, large pot with holes in the
bottom. This allows the water to drain and keeps
the roots from rotting.)
water
sunshine

C’mon, gang, there’s It’s perfect for nourishing – Let’s go, Bill. That Waah! But I just
a pile of manure that feeding and helping to grow – muck ain’t gonna started shoveling
Gracias for needs spreading. the new plants. shovel itself. snacks into my mouth.
lunch, Miro.

15
 What to Do:
1. Make a small mound of dirt about 1 foot in
diameter and flatten it (figure 1).

2. Plant the bean seeds around the circle about 4

inches apart and an inch deep, which is about
the depth of your second knuckle (figure 2).

3. Plant a corn seed between each bean seed at

the same depth.

4. Plant 2 or 3 squash seeds in the circle’s center,

about 4 inches apart and as deep as the bean
and corn seeds. When you’re finished, your
seed arrangement should look like figure 3.

5. Water regularly (at least once a week). You can

tell whether or not your plants need water by
sticking your finger into the soil. The top may
be dry, but it should be moist and cool about
an inch underneath.

Good thing we already ate.

Whoa! This stuff smells nasty! Pee-yew! Yucky,
yuck, yuck! Wish I hadn’t now.

16
1. How Does This Work?
The Three Sisters depend on help from each
other. Beans release nitrogen, a nutrient, into the
soil. The corn uses that nitrogen to grow tall and
strong and then provides support with its stalks for
the beans to climb. The beans and corn give shade
to the squash’s large leaves, which help to trap
moisture for all 3 types of plants.
2.
When to Harvest:
■ Beans are ready to pick in about 7 weeks, when
they are about 3 inches long.

■ Corn takes about 10 weeks to be ready to harvest.

When the corn silk on top of an ear of corn is dry
and brown, the ear is ready to be picked.

3. ■ Squash is the last to ripen. It can take up to

12 weeks to grow and is ready when the stalk
attaching the squash to the vine is dry and
breaks off easily.

What’s important is this And plants just love it.

fertilizer releases nitrogen – They’ll be off and growing!
gas with no color or smell,
found in all living things
and the air.

17
 Planet
Pumpkin
S OMETIMES, I HAVE
dirt under my fingernails.
Mom says that’s OK, as long
as I scrub hard before dinner.
She understands because she’s
a gardener like me—except she
says little vegetables taste best.
I might be small, but I like
veggies BIG.
Mom grows carrots the size
of my pinkie. I grow carrots as
long as my arm. Some even
sprout their own legs.
Mom grows tomatoes that
look like red jellybeans, so
sweet and itty-bitty. We pop
them in our mouths by the handful. I grow tomatoes so big that
one slice covers a whole pizza.
This summer, Mom is growing miniature pumpkins.
“They’ll be too small to carve into jack-o’-lanterns,” I say.
“Just right for eating,” Mom answers. “Pumpkin pie and
pumpkin bread.”
Perhaps an inspection Ahhh! If I must. A king’s work is never done.
is in order, sire.
Recall, your ROYAL INSPECTION
Majesty, the TIME!
day is almost by Kell Andrews
upon us!
Art by Erin Richardson
18 text © 2024 by Kelly Andrews, art © 2024 by Erin Richardson
 So what? I’m growing the biggest I pluck off each new blossom after
pumpkin ever. I’m trying to win a it opens so that the plant will grow
blue ribbon at the harvest fair. only one big pumpkin, instead of
I choose the best patch of soil, many little ones. It needs all of its
right by where Mom grows her teeny- energy to make the biggest pumpkin
weeny zucchini. I plant the pumpkin ever.
seed. I water it.
When the baby plant sprouts, I
mulch it, surrounding it with compost
to feed and protect it. I water it.
And it grows.
One day, I’m staring at my pumpkin
plant, trying not to blink so I can
see it getting bigger. My best friend,
Kam, watches with me.
“I don’t see anything,” he says.
So what? I do.
The first blossom opens. The next
day, a baby pumpkin swells at the base
of the shriveled flower. Cool beans!
Over the next few weeks, the little
pumpkin gets bigger, but the vine
grows even faster. It creeps out of its
plot. It races between the lettuce beds.
It winds around the tomato cages and
tangles in the neat rows of green
peppers. It’s the biggest plant in the
whole garden.
Last thing to do is mulch – cover the ground around plants to Is Sonya
Please tell protect their roots, help the soil, and keep away weeds. taking this The
Yes! We want all the nasty weeds way too fertilizer
me all shall Looks like it, your
shriveled – wrinkled, dried up, seriously? finally got
be ready bee–ness.
and small. Mwahaha! to her.
upon the
queen’s
arrival. 19
 When summer gets hot, I give We pick tender baby zucchini
my pumpkin extra water, compost, to slice for the grill. Sometimes, we
and love. Just in case the zucchini don’t notice one growing under the
plants are jealous, I give them water, leaves until it’s as big and tough as a
too. baseball bat. Then Mom turns it into
When Kam comes over from next zucchini bread, cinnamon spicy and
door, we water each other until our crunchy with walnuts.
fingernails are clean. “I told you zucchini were best
Even he can see how big my big,” I say.
pumpkin is now. “It’s like a planet,” She smiles. I knew she’d come
he says. “Planet Pumpkin!” around.
I smile. I knew he’d come around. My pumpkin glows orange as it
Hark! His royal Yes. So, um . . . what are all these stick-like thingies there?
highness has a May his kingly They’re sticks,
question! curiosity be your buzzy-ness.
satisfied!

20
 ripens. And still it grows.
It’s the biggest pumpkin ever. Bright
as the late summer sun. So heavy it has
its own gravitational pull. Round as a
planet. Actually, it’s a little lopsided.
Kam says it looks like Pluto, which
would be the smallest planet, except
that it isn’t a planet at all.
So what? The harvest fair is
tomorrow, and Planet Pumpkin
is going to win.
Mom cuts my pumpkin from the
vine so I can load it in my wagon,
but it’s too big to lift by myself. Mom
helps. So does Kam. We heave. We
grunt. We sweat.
Finally, my pumpkin budges. We
almost get it in the wagon. Then it
slips out of our hands. It sounds like
a big bass drum when it hits the
wagon edge and then bursts into a
sticky splat in the dirt. Oh no! My
beautiful Planet Pumpkin is the
biggest mess ever.

Well . . . they are wooden supports set beneath the heavy buds to work against the
Earth’s gravitational pull – the force that makes things move toward each other. I have, haven’t I?
Sir, might I say,
More! The king you have done
seeks more a majestic job!
information!

21
 Then I see something huge and
dark green hiding under the leaves
where Mom grows her baby zucchini.
Striped like a circus tent. Big as a
blimp.
It’s Zeppelin Zucchini—the
biggest zucchini ever! Cool beans!
The next day at the harvest fair,
Mom, Kam, and I win a ribbon in
the zucchini competition. Actually,
Zeppelin Zucchini wins sixth prize,
Hear ye, everybuggy.
I’D BE BLOWING A The queen shall arrive
TRUMPET NOW IF tomorrow by zeppelin.
I HAD ONE!
22
but the ribbon is green and that’s my
favorite color. Zeppelin Zucchini is
the sixth-biggest zucchini ever!
Back at home, we celebrate with
pumpkin muffins and toasted seeds,
hot from the oven.
Actually, we don’t toast all the
seeds. I save the fattest one to plant
because next summer, I’m going to
grow an even bigger pumpkin.
Zeppelin? As in No. Zeppelin as in a
Well, she said
the old-timey sausage-shaped aircraft,
she was flying
rock band? similar to a blimp.
in—but she
didn’t say how.
Broccoli
I took my broccoli for a walk,
So we could have a little talk.
He told me all about his bike,
His dog, his friends, the games he likes.

I learned he is a lot like me,

And so, I know, you surely see,

I could not EAT my broccoli.

by Lori Walsh
Art by Amanda Shepherd
23
 Sow and
Grow by Stacey Lane MATCH THE SEED to the plant it will become. Then in the blank
spaces at the bottom, write the plant’s letter above its seed’s number.

1 2 3 4 5 6

r t l

red maple horn nut rosary pea

Pairs of seeds have wings so they Its underwater seedpods are Its red and black seeds are pretty
spin like helicopters. shaped like bats or horns. but poisonous.
a e i

Answers on page 35
tiger’s claw dandelion double coconut
Its seedpods have hooks on one Fluffy puffs on each seed help Weighing forty pounds each, its
end that stick to animals. seeds float in the wind. seeds are the world’s biggest.

Seeds are _ _ _ _v _ but _ _s _ _ _ _.

p They are waiting for the right combination
1 2 3 4 1 2 4 4

of w_ _ _ _ _, _ _ _, and _h _ _ _ to start growing.

1 5 4 6 1 3 6 4 1 5
24
 Shi’s

text © 2024 by Christie Chu, art © 2024 by Amber Orozco

Special Seed
Based on a Chinese Folk Tale
by Christie Chu
Art by Amber Orozco

“ S HI, STOP SINGING to the flowers! You

have a visitor,” Mui-Mui called. Shi’s little sister
loved to tease him about his garden.
Shi broke off mid-song and whispered an
apology to the flowers. Mud squelched between
his toes as he hurried toward the house. Sweet-
smelling blossoms and green leaves swayed as
he passed. Shi’s mother stepped out into the
garden, followed by a finely dressed stranger.
Shi bowed politely.
Here on the Meadow,
the queen’s airship
just majestically
touched down and HUZZAH FOR
squelched – made a THE QUEEN!
squishing sound – in
the mud.
25

“Greetings, Shi,” said the man.
“The emperor has heard of your
gardening skills. He has sent seeds
to one hundred of the best gardeners
in China, including some others from
your village. Here is yours. Tend it
and bring it to the palace in one
year. Then the emperor will choose
one of you to be the caretaker of
his imperial gardens.” He dropped
a small black seed into Shi’s palm.
“Care for it well.” He bowed and
left.
And there’s the queen
herself, looking quite
imperial – royal or
having to do with an
empire – waving to all
from the cabin door.
26
“What an honor,” Shi’s mother
said, her eyes wide.
Shi planted the special seed in his
best pot. He placed it in his garden
next to his pink peonies, where it
would get lots of sun.
“Hello, little one,” he murmured.
“Ours is not a fine house like the
palace, but I hope you like it here.”
After a month, no green sprout
had pushed through the soil.
“Little one, what’s wrong? Do you
miss your home?” The pot of dirt did
not answer. Shi sang as he watered
it, taking care not to pour too much
water.
Months later, Mui-Mui stared
into the pot. “That seed is defective,”
she said.
Shi took the pot from her. “Don’t
worry, little one. You take your time,”
Shi said to it. “Mui-Mui is anxious to
meet you, just like I am.” He moved
the pot to the cool shade and began
to sing. Mui-Mui rolled her eyes and
stomped away.
But the seed did not grow. Shi
transferred the seed to a different
Here, darling, here! I shall
aid in your descent!
Bring his
majesty’s It is here!
stepstool!
 pot. He tried composts and fertilizers.
After more months of waiting,
Shi’s stomach started to hurt. Then
his head began to pound. He ate
little. He couldn’t sleep and often
got up in the night to check on the
seed. Every day, he dragged himself
outside to water his plants, but he
was too tired to sing. His healthy
garden began to wilt.
Alas! The
furniture has
failed us!
One day, Mui-Mui took the water
pail from Shi’s hands when they
began to shake. “I will water the
seed while you rest,” she said.
Shi grabbed the pail back. “It is
my responsibility.”
“Shi, take one of your own plants
to the emperor. He won’t know it
didn’t come from that seed,” Mui-Mui
said.
It is royally
defective –
Egads! flawed so it does
not work right. Oh, cursed stool.
27
 “No. Even if he did not know, I and went to greet his garden with
would.” a song.
“This is a ridiculous contest! You Still, the special seed did not grow.
are making yourself sick worrying Mui-Mui tried one more time to
about that seed. You don’t even convince Shi to bring one of his
sing anymore.” Mui-Mui returned plants to the emperor instead.
to the house, where their mother “No, Mui-Mui,” he said. “This is
stood in the doorway, watching Shi the seed he asked me to care for. It
with a furrowed brow. is the one I’ll bring back to him. I
The thought of disappointing won’t win, but at least I’ll see the
the emperor made Shi feel queasy,
but he felt worse about seeing his
mother and sister distressed.
Shi took a deep breath. “It’s OK
if you are not ready to grow yet,
little one,” Shi said to the seed, still
hidden in the dirt. Then he walked
through the rest of the garden,
apologizing to his plants. “I am sorry
I haven’t sung to you lately,” Shi said
to his favorite peonies. “I have missed
you.” He began to sing softly.
Shi woke the next morning
without a stomachache. He ate all
the congee his mother gave him.
When he handed her back the empty
bowl, she smiled and her eyes shone
with tears. He kissed her on the cheek
Oh, not so thick as that, lovey. More
Bombus! Help me up! This
like congee – rice porridge – I’d say.
mud is as thick as oatmeal!

28
beautiful imperial gardens while I’m
there.”
Shi walked all day to get to the
palace. Along the way, he saw other
gardeners from his village carrying
full, healthy plants.
When Shi stood among the one-
hundred best gardeners in China
holding nothing but a pot of dirt, he
couldn’t enjoy the imperial gardens’
beauty. The emperor inspected all the
large green plants the other gardeners
held. Finally, he approached Shi, who
Tut-tut, my dearest, we’ll
need you blindfolded.
was the only one with an empty
pot. Shi bowed, then stared at his
feet, dirty from the long walk.
“I am sorry, Emperor,” Shi said.
His cheeks burned with shame. “I
was not able to grow the seed you
gave me.”
The emperor laughed. “I know
you weren’t,” he said. “All of the
seeds were boiled. None of them
could have grown. You are the only
one who brought me back the seed
I sent you.”
Bombus! What are you doing now?
29
 Shi’s head snapped up in surprise. good care of my beloved gardens.”
“I already know you are the best The other gardeners bowed but
gardeners in China,” the emperor grumbled as they left with their pots.
said to them all. “My advisors told me “Thank you, Emperor,” said Shi.
of your beautiful gardens. However, “Can I bring my mother and sister
I need to trust the people who live to live with me here?”
and work at the palace. That’s why “Yes, you certainly may.”
I had this contest.” The emperor held Shi grinned as he imagined Mui-
up Shi’s empty pot. “Shi was honest Mui’s face when she heard the news.
about his seed. I can trust him to take Then his smile faded.
It would be my pleasure to see you
How romantic! all—if I could see anything! Hold tight to
How majestic! Qué dulce.
Thataway, my hand, sweet
How sweet!
How . . . Queen Beetrix. Queen, and
bee-zarro. all shall be
revealed . . .
30
 “Is something wrong?”
asked the emperor.
“I cannot bring the
peonies from my garden.
I’ll be worried about them.”
“You need someone
trustworthy to tend them
for you,” said the emperor.
“Why don’t you have a
contest?”

Lovely, Bombus, but my

birthday was last month.

31
 Finding Fingerprints
Aspen B., age 11
Arvada, Colorado
Finding Fingerprints
You see there’s a girl in my class, and no need
to laugh, she just really loves to make a mess. She
opens the ends of the markers. In class, she spilled
the ink out on her hands, red and blue, pink and
green. Then the scream, like a dream.
You can find where she has been and where
she hasn’t because of the rainbow fingerprints
everywhere.
When they try to find her about the school,
I’m sure they’ll find her pretty quickly because of
the little fingerprints all over the school. When
we walk down the hall, we only find those small
little fingerprints along the wall, all over the sink,
doorknobs, the handrail, and, worst of all, the desk
and chair we all share. We run up and down the
hall wiping and wiping to see all. The hall gleamed.
Chandwen T., age 8
Alfred, Maine
I found fingerprints. They were all so different!
It’s so weird how three fingerprints can be so
different. I only used my sister’s fingerprints, but
she used three different fingers.
We tried to look at fingerprints on different
surfaces. Each fingerprint at least had one
different line.
It’s amazing how no fingerprints in the
whole wide world are the same. They’re all
different. Even my right thumb and left thumb
are different.
Lydia O., age 8
Manassas, Virginia
The Cupcake Thief
Lydia sighed. She had forgotten to do her
homework, and so her teacher, Mrs. Kelley, had
kept her in for recess.
Just then, Mrs. Kelley shouted, “Someone
ate my cupcake!”
Lydia looked up at the desk and saw cakey
fingerprints on it. Then, she realized they were
too big to be a third grader’s and too little to be
a fifth grader’s. She marched into the fourth-
grade room.
“Who ate my teacher’s cupcake?” she
shouted. Everyone started talking at once, so the
teacher had to quiet everyone.
Lydia asked a boy. He said that he was
talking with his teacher about math. She
nodded. Then, Lydia asked a girl, who claimed
she was talking with her friend.
Lydia saw a smudge of icing on her face.
She marched the girl back into her room.
“Sorry for eating your cupcake. Can I bake
you some more?” said the girl.
Anneka M., age 10
San Antonio, Texas
Once upon a crime, there was a bored
princess. One day, she was reading Sherlock
Holmes, when the door popped open.
“Princess! Someone stole the cinnamon
rolls!” said the cook.
“A case!” said the princess, whose name
was Mabel. “Take me to the scene of the crime.”
On a glass window, there were fingerprints.
“Aha! I know whose these are!”
She went outside, and there was a koala
munching on cinnamon rolls.
Mark S., age 7
Hawthorne, California
Charles Finds Fingerprints
One day, Charles was taking a walk in
the park when he saw fingerprints. He was so
excited that he asked his mom to call a scientist.
A few minutes later, the scientist was at the
park. The scientist said the fingerprints were
a bear’s fingerprints. When the scientist left,
Charles was playing on the playground. He
heard a rustle in the bushes. He looked at the
bushes, and a bear jumped out of the bushes
and ran right toward him. He screamed and ran
to his house.

Dear Everybuggy, Dear Spider,

I just got my first Spider magazine
today, and it is so cool! My favorite
books are probably the Harry Potter
series, anything by Katherine Applegate
(especially The One and Only Ivan), and a
bunch more. I recommend those books to
everyone! I’m a HUGE bookworm. I’m also
writing multiple books. I’d love to have a
dog but, sadly, I don’t.
Harper T., age 8
Framingham, Massachusetts
P.S. I usually don’t like spiders, but I do now!
Dear Sam,
This is my first letter to you. I collect
mushrooms (not Miro!) and flowers.
I like reading about the Apollo missions.
I want to be a scientist. I also like to write.
Cool fact: did you know that it takes 0.13
seconds for light to circle the Earth?
Eppie W., age 11
Mount Morris, New York
P.S. Sam, I noticed in one of your letters you
said you liked the movie Honey, I Shrunk
the Kids. I saw it. That movie was so funny!
32
Please tell everybuggy they are great
in your magazines. Please adopt Freaz.
He is a frozen dragon. Please unfreeze him. He
has been frozen since the beginning of time.
Jasper Sarkissian, age 8
Clawson, Michigan
Dear Everybuggy,
You guys are awesome! This
is my first letter. Can you adopt
Lunax? She’s my lunar space kitty. She
eats stars, moon cheese, and candy.
She would love to be in the mag. What’s
your favorite food? Mine is enchiladas.
Love you!
Logan Zook, age 10
Paso Robles, California
P.S. Can you do an issue on pets?
Dear Logan,
We each have a different favorite food,
but we all love Miro’s minestrone—garden
vegetable soup with a special French and
Italian flair!
Bon appétit!
Sonya
 The next day, when he went to the door, he
saw a bear’s fingerprints. When he opened the
door, Charles saw a huge furry bear. He ran to
the park and started playing, but when he got
to the slide, he saw the bear running toward
him. He screamed, ran back to his house,
IDENTIFIED! George picked up a piece
of paper and saw the fingerprint and saw
who it was right away! It was—SOPHIA!
(What useful info, fingerprints!) BAD
SOPHIA!

Con
locked the door, and ate breakfast.

tes
Pranavi V., age 8

tR
San Carlos, California Her Dra
1. e are t
wa

ule
Fingerprint Sleuths
You he o pictur
There was a group of fingerprint sleuths. e of
s
They would race against the clock to solve gua r entry nly ru a ve
r d i m l e s geta
2.
an epic mystery on finding fingerprints. Their a n d a n , u s t : ble
latest mystery yet was going to be thrilling! Be /or on author be sig gar
den
There was a very popular diamond called sur line izin ned .
3. a n e a
d ad to in nd s its p y a g b
felixis felicisto. It was said that if you held it, You dre clud ayi par
u b
you would have immense power.
We r entry s.
s e yo ng it licat ent o
The three members of the club (the club w m ur c ’s yo ion i r leg
i om n a
name was Fingerprint Sleuths) were named issu ll pu ust a
e of blis rriv plet ur own print l
George, Brenda, and Sophia. Their motto was: Em e nam idea
ail y Spi h ou e by
Solve a mystery? Dust for fingerprints first! our der r fa Ma e, a .
They decided to bring their gear and head entr . v o rite 25, y ge,
y to s in 202
to the museum where the diamond of power spi the 4
was stolen! der Oct .
@c obe
Brenda said, “Let’s sprinkle flour on it, rick r 20
and . . .” etm 24
Since they knew almost everyone in their edi
a.c
small town, they knew who it was. FINGERPRINT om
.

Dear Thistle and Keet, Spider, Dear Spider,

Will you adopt Sunny and Icicle? They are
axolotls. Their tails change colors depending
on their mood: red = angry, orange = annoyed,
yellow = happy, green = excited, blue = sad,
indigo = sleepy, violet = calm.
Laylah, age 7
Houston, Texas
P.S. Will you say happy late birthday to
Spider, please and thank you?
P.P.S. Sunny and Icicle eat fish.
Hi, Spider!
Can you adopt my cat? She likes
cupcakes, and her name is Bella.
Bill, you are funny in the comics at
the bottom of the magazine! What is your
favorite book?
Elsie Disselkamp, age 7
Fridley, Minnesota
Dear Elsie,
Bella just stole my strawberry cupcake!
My favorite book is Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory, but I also like The Tale of Peter
Rabbit.
Happy reading!
Bill
I have been getting Spider magazine for Can you adopt Kinsley the unibunny and
almost half my life, and it’s still my favorite. Lola the silver hamster? Kinsley only eats
I love reading the comics the best. silver carrots, and Lola eats hammydum
You guys have been super great putting treats. (Buy those at Treatmart.) Give Lola
up with, like, six address changes. So thanks a bath every Sunday or she will not eat.
very much to everybody. Kinsley should get a dentist appointment
Question for Thistle: do you know how every month.
Woolly is doing lately? Sophia Mastroluca, age 7
Penelope W., age 14 Westbrook, Maine
Kokomo, Indiana
P.S. Can you adopt Calliope? She is
a robot hamster.
Dear Penelope,
I saw Woolly yesterday sunning himself
in Ophelia’s garden, watching for the first
bean plants to poke their heads up out of the
soil. Calliope is so cute. Email your letters to
Love, Spider’s Mailbox
Thistle spider@cricketmedia.com
Please include your complete name, age, and address
Happy birthday, Spider! in your message!
Thank you for the magazines. I want to
share that my sister and I were dog sitting Planting a garden got everybuggy thinking about how
dogs named Doug and Benny. we can help the planet. Sam says we’ll save lots of
trees by only emailing Spider’s Corner and Spider’s
Zechariah Mailbox. Let’s go green!
San Antonio, Texas 33
 ,
OPHELI A S LAST WORD

UNLIKE CRUMBLY CORNBREAD, spoon bread is so creamy that it

must be eaten with a spoon. Make this simply scrumptious
side dish to share with your whole family.
1 can
What You'll Need: 1 egg
cream-style corn
¼ cup (14.75 ounces)
butter
½ cup
cornbread
mix spoons

½ cup
mixing baking dish
sour cream
spoon (microwave safe,
plates 1 ½-quart sized)

What to Do:
1. Ask a grownup to preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Put the butter in the dish, and have the grownup microwave
it for 45 seconds.

3. Crack the egg, and stir it into the butter.

4. Add the corn, sour cream, and cornbread mix. Stir until
well mixed.

5. Ask the grownup to bake the dish for 35 to 40 minutes.

When the top is golden brown, it’s time for the grownup to
take it out of the oven.

6. Serve your spoon bread warm. Don’t forget the spoons!

e,
L ov lia
e
34 Oph
Buggy Bulletin Q. What do you call a worm
Fabulous Facts: on a sunny day?
Answers to Wonder Worms A. Warm.
Market Mayhe m Why do gardeners love slimy, wiggly worms? Send your favorite jokes to
r
Mind-Buggle spider@cricketmedia.com!
• Worms burrow through hard dirt leaving
tunnels for water and air to reach roots.
• Every day, a worm eats about its body weight
in leaves, grass, fungi, and other organic
matter. What the worm poops out is much
richer in nutrients than the soil around it.
• Worm poo is so great for plant growth that it’s Answers to
nicknamed gardener’s gold! Sow and Grow
1 a
2 l
3 i
4 e
5 t
6 r
alive
asleep
water
air
heat

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35
 Picaría
A Pueblo Native American game
for 2 players

What You’ll Need:

3 pennies (for player 1)
3 nickels (for player 2)

What to Do:
1. Players take turns placing one coin
at a time on any empty point on
the board.
2. When all six coins have been
placed, the players take turns
moving one coin at a time along
any line to the next empty point.
Jumping over coins is not allowed.
3. Each player tries to make a row
of three pennies or three nickels.
A row can be made across, up and
down, or on a diagonal.
4. The first person to make a
row is the winner!

Art by Carol Brozman

 SONYa ’s
Market Mayhem Mind-Buggler
Melvin Mole’s
ss!
market is such a me
His vegetables are
u
all mixed up. Can yo
help Beatrice Bunny
od
find two of each fo
on her list?
May/June 2024 Volume 31 Number 5 cricketmedia.com $6.95
Art by Aaron Boyd

Answers on page 35